HRC Minutes 100710GOLDEN VALLEY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MEETING
Minutes from the Meeting of October 7, 2010
Members Present: Christopher Jordan, Marion Helland, Debra Yahle and Bob Hoyt. Anne
Dykstra arrived shortly after the meeting began.
Members Absent: Roger McConico.
Staff Present: Chief Stacy Altonen and Council Member DeDe Scanlon.
The meeting was called to order by Chair Jordan at 7:00 pm.
PROPOSED DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP ORDINANCE
Chief Altonen introduced Kim Donat from Best & Flanagan.
Chair Jordan recommended a fee section be added to the Golden Valley ordinance (similar
to section 2 of the Edina ordinance) to allow for a family registration. Kim Donat advised
Subdivision 3B of the Golden Valley draft addresses family registrations.
Commissioner Yahle inquired if a timeline for application should be included in the
ordinance. Kim Donat advised a timeline would not be necessary since registrations are
processed quickly.
Commissioner Hoyt asked if the city clerk would have to sign off on the registration and
Chief Altonen advised the city clerk would have to certify the registration as is customary
for all city registrations.
Commissioner Hoyt inquired about the 45 day timeframe required for termination of a
domestic partnership registration. Kim Donat advised the partner pursuing the termination
is required to wait 45 days after serving his/her domestic partner with a termination form to
file the termination with the city clerk.
Commissioner Yahle asked what fees are involved in the application process. Kim Donat
advised she is proposing a $40.00 registration fee and $25.00 fee for certified copies of
registration, amendments and/or notice of terminations.
Commissioner Yahle inquired if language should be included in the ordinance to clarify that
a domestic partnership registration has limited benefits as outlined in Edina's ordinance
Section 1: Purpose. Kim Donat advised this language could be added on an instruction
sheet cover page to the application, but is not a disclaimer that would be included in the
ordinance.
Commissioner Dykstra asked if the language pertaining to the Minnesota Government Data
Practices Act noted in Edina's Section 195.03 F should be included in Golden Valley's
ordinance. Kim Donat advised Golden Valley's ordinance would address this data practices
in Subdivision 3B.
Regular Meeting of the Human Rights Commission
October 7, 2010
Page 2
Commissioner Hoyt moved to recommend the domestic partnership registration be adopted
by the city council as an ordinance; seconded by Commissioner Dykstra. Motion carried
unanimously.
Chief Altonen advised the draft ordinance will be discussed at the Council/Manager
meeting on Tuesday, October 12.
NEXT MEETING
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 4, beginning at 7 pm.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Jordan moved to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Commissioner Yahle. The
meeting was adjourned at 7:42 pm.