Human Relations Commission - March 16, 2017 Minutes
Regular Meeting: Thursday: March 16, 2017
A Regular Meeting of the Board of Human Relations Commissioners of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in the City Commission Room at City Hall at
12:00 o’clock p.m., Thursday, March 16, 2017.
The Human Relations Commissioners present or absent were as follows:
Present: Keith Bjornson, Rachel Hoffman, Timothy Stone, Barry Nelson,
Paul Jensen, Laetitia Hellerud
Absent: Abdiwali Sharif-Abdinasir, David Lanpher, Tanya RedRoad, Hassan Lamba
Also present: Kara Gloe, Esther Saavedra, Commissioner John Strand
Item 1. Welcome and Introductions
Chair Hoffman welcomed Members to the meeting and introductions were made.
Item 2. Approve Agenda & Minutes: Regular Meeting February 16, 2017
Mr. Bjornson moved the Order of Agenda and the minutes of the February 16, 2017 Human Relations Commission meeting be approved. Second by Mr. Nelson. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 3. Speaker: Meg Luther Lindholm – The World in Fargo Moorhead
Meg Lindholm, Independent Radio/Multimedia Producer, presented the photography/storytelling project she has been working on, noting it focuses on people who were not born in the United States that live in the Fargo-Moorhead area. She stated they are always looking for volunteers.
Item 4. Public Comment
No public comments were made.
Item 5. Budget Requests
The following funding requests were reviewed:
1) Community Action Partnership of North Dakota - funding request for $1,000
It was noted the Fargo Human Relations Commission Executive Committee recommends approval of $150.
Mr. Jensen moved the funding request be approved for $150. Second by Mr. Bjornson.
All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
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2) Metro Area Mayors Committee for People with Disabilities – funding request for $125
It was noted that up to $250 has already been approved in accordance with the anticipated, recurring sponsorships that were approved with the annual budget.
Item 6. Election for Vice Chair
Chair Hoffman stated that Ms. RedRoad is no longer able to be on the Executive Committee or be Vice Chair. Mr. Jensen volunteered to be the Vice Chair.
Mr. Bjornson moved to nominate Paul Jensen as Human Relations Commission Vice Chair. Second by Mr. Nelson. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 7. Public Relations Campaign Update
Mr. Jensen stated that he and Ms. Gloe met with Martin
Fredrick who has agreed to help with some pro bono ad design work.
Item 8. HRC Members’ Terms
Chair Hoffman stated the terms for Mr. Lanpher, Mr. Nelson, and herself are up in July. Mr. Nelson stated that he would be willing to be reappointed. Ms. Hoffman also volunteered to be reappointed. Ms. Gloe will check in with Mr. Lanpher, and will forward the reappointment recommendations to the Mayor.
Item 9. New American Working Group Presentation to City Commission
Mr. Nelson updated the Board on the brown bag presentation the working group will make to the City Commission. He noted the presentation will be on April 13 at noon. Chair Hoffman stated there will not be a regularly scheduled April meeting. She encouraged Members to put both this presentation and the Mayor’s lunch on their calendars.
Item 10. Hate Speech Response Committee Update
Mr. Nelson stated the subcommittee has not met; however, the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition and Afro American Development Association have received a grant to work on a hate speech project. Mr. Nelson added that he sees the Fargo Human Relations Commission as being vital to that project.
Item 11. Other Business and Announcements
Freedom Resource Center is holding its 6th Annual Appreciation Luncheon on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Delta by Marriott (formerly Ramada Plaza Hotel). Mr. Bjornson requested Board Members pencil this event in and he will send out updates.
Mr. Nelson shared that HB1427 was hoghoused, noting it will be heard by the Political Subdivisions Committee in the Senate tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. He said the language of the study looks at only costs and not benefits, which is still a concern to opponents of the
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bill. He added people are going to Bismarck to address the Political Subdivisions Committee, noting he will continue to share information about the progress of this bill.
Item 12. Adjourn