Human Rights Commission Meeting Date: April 24, 2024
To: Human Rights Commission
From: Claudia Garcia, Staff Liaison
Title
Staff Report.
Body
Action Requested:
None.
Summary Report:
The following are some updates on activities to share with the Human Rights Commission
• Updates:
o MN Department of Human Rights- Enforcing civil rights since 1967.
§ Beginning January 1, employers should rely on a job applicant’s skills and qualifications to set pay- not their past or current pay.
§ Lieutenant Governor Flanagan Highlights Housing Stability Act
• The Housing Stability Act clarifies the state’s civil rights law to ensure that landlords cannot refuse to rent to or otherwise discriminate against someone because they receive and use rental assistance to pay their rent.
§ Minnesota Thrives When Workplaces are Inclusive for Pregnant Employees
• In the past couple of months, we announced two pregnancy discrimination settlement agreements. In both, employers fired employees for being pregnant, which violates the Minnesota Human Rights Act.
§ Minnesota Department of Human Rights, City of Minneapolis Select Team to Monitor the State Court Enforceable Agreement
• Effective Law Enforcement for All will support and hold the City and Minneapolis Police Department accountable to address race-based policing by strengthening public safety
• The Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR) and the City of Minneapolis (City) announced that Effective Law Enforcement for All was selected as the monitoring team for the state court enforceable agreement, which requires transformational changes to address race-based policing.
§ Minnesota Department of Human Rights Sues Printing Company for Failing to Stop a Supervisor from Repeatedly Sexually Harassing and Assaulting Two Employees
• Sheridan promoted a supervisor despite knowing that the supervisor sexually harassed and assaulted an employee
• “Sheridan knew a supervisor was sexually harassing and assaulting its employees and, through willful inaction, gave this supervisor a license to sexually harass its employees,” said Minnesota Department of Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero.
o City of Northfield
§ Community Events Calendar:
• Events Calendar - Northfield, Minnesota (northfieldmn.gov) <https://events.northfieldmn.gov/>
§ Collaborating with different community partners and city departments:
• Northfield Public Library
o The Library is now selling:
§ Hiawathaland Bus tokens
§ Processing US passports by appointment:
• Home - Passport Services - MyNPL at Northfield Public Library <https://mynpl.org/passports>
• Service hours:
o Mon: 9am-noon; 1-4pm
o Tues: 9am-noon; 1-4pm
o Wed: 9am-noon; 1-4pm
o Thurs: 1-4pm; 5-7pm
o 1st & 3rd Sat: 10am-2pm
• Engineering:
o Provide feedback on Construction & Development Projects
§ Construction & Development Projects | Northfield, MN - Official Website (northfieldmn.gov) <https://www.northfieldmn.gov/291/Construction-Development-Projects>
• HR & Communications
o Employment Opportunities:
§ ••Jobs Northfield, MN CivicEngage (northfieldmn.gov) <https://www.northfieldmn.gov/jobs.aspx>
• DMV
o Hours:
§ Monday, Wednesday & Thursday 7:30am- 4:15pm
§ Tuesday 7:30am-5:45pm
§ Friday 7:30am-11:45am
• Community Development:
o The City collaborated with a Twin Cities-based nonprofit Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers (MCCD) provides no-cost, one-on-one business support for entrepreneurs and small business owners in Northfield through its Open to Business Program.
••Calendar Northfield, MN CivicEngage (northfieldmn.gov) <https://www.northfieldmn.gov/calendar.aspx?eid=7590>
• The MCCD representative Vicky Gonzalez has started with regular office hours every 4th Thursday noon-3pm by appointment.
• Vicky is an English/Spanish bilingual rep.
o Continuous efforts for accessibility and equity:
§ Land Acknowledgement Statement
• Land Acknowledgement Statement | Northfield, MN - Official Website (northfieldmn.gov) <https://www.northfieldmn.gov/1403/Land-Acknowledgement-Statement>
§ Interpreter Etiquette Meeting Participants | Northfield, MN - Official Website (northfieldmn.gov) <https://www.northfieldmn.gov/1506/Meeting-Participants>
§ Cultural & Language Training
• <https://www.northfieldmn.gov/1297/LanguageLine>
§ Providing communications in English and Spanish
• Social media platforms
o (1) City of Northfield, Minnesota | Northfield MN | Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/cityofnorthfield>
o •City of Northfield (@cityofnorthfield) Instagram photos and videos <https://www.instagram.com/cityofnorthfield/?hl=en>
o (3) City of Northfield account | LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/in/city-of-northfield-account-7514b2278/>
§ Zoom webinar w/ interpreter feature
§ Accessibility links on City website
§ Staying connected with live projects on “Notify Me” to stay up to date on live projects. <https://www.northfieldmn.gov/291/Construction-Development-Projects>
§ Northfield Public Broadcasting
• Recording and Live Streaming Board and Commission Meetings
• Charter Spectrum channels 180 & 187 and on the City website.
• Encouraging community organizations/individuals to submit video content.
• Researching NPB and YouTube videos more accessible in multiple languages.
o City of Northfield - YouTube <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtnTBbacEOB4MxgNKzctOag>
Alternative Options:
NA
Financial Impacts:
NA
Tentative Timelines:
NA