HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.18.15 CEC MinutesFalcon Heights – Community Engagement Commission
Minutes of the May 18, 2015 Meeting
Members Present: Chair Melanie Leehy; Commissioners Dick Carlson, Jay Colond, Ahmed Hassan, Clem
Kurhajetz, Gary Kwong, Shirley Reider,; Staff Liaisons Tim Sandvik, Katie Thrasher; Police Liaison Chief
John Ohl; Fire Liaison Assistant Chief Anton Fehrenbach; Council Liaison Mayor Peter Lindstrom
Members Absent: Commissioners, Amino Mohamed, Gwen Wilems, Felicia Turner
Call to Order: 7:02pm
1. Approval of 3.16.15 Minutes
a. Clarification and edits
2. Agenda Items
Helen Foster has resigned
When presenting please keep it to 5 minutes
Thank you cards for door prizes: Topper’s Pizza and Dino’s
3. Update commissioner contacts: city hall contact information and public brochure
a. Encouraged to be a neighborhood liaison or express interest in CERT program
b. If there is already a liaison, you can collaborate with the current liaison(s)
4. Review Community Engagement Commission Purpose
a. Reading of Purpose from Ordinance No. 15-01 which merged the Human
Rights and Neighborhood Commissions. “2-119 Community Engagement
Commission: The community engagement commission shall serve in an
advisory capacity to the city council regarding the effective, meaningful and
equal involvement of Falcon Heights residents in their community. The
commission will identify opportunities to collaborate with community,
educational, business and social services groups and organizations; identify
ways to improve the city’s public participation, identify under-represented
groups, remove any barriers, and engage and promote increased
participation for all residents, businesses, community and neighborhood
organizations; review and recommend ways to improve the city’s
communications efforts so as to facilitate effective two-way communication
between the city and all residents, businesses, community and neighborhood
organizations; review and recommend ways to help improve resident
emergency preparedness and crime prevention programs. The commission
shall review complaints of alleged human rights violations occurring within
the city and secure equal opportunity for all residents of the city regarding
public services, public accommodations, housing, employment and
education.”
5. House Keeping Items
a. “Good email flow”
o Please cc Melanie, Tim, and/or Katie on all emails regarding CEC
b. Heavy interest in Outreach and Events which reiterates the need to merge
c. Review Committee purpose: Strategizing is for the Commission meetings
o Prevention/Incident Committee:
This team will deal with incident review, safety, CERTs and crime prevention.
o Events/Outreach Committee:
This team will work on the logistics of decided events, and apartment connectors
outreach.
d. Procedures for becoming a Liaison: will be sent a link and provided a handbook
e. Will be meeting with Kris Graangard about CERT procedures so as not to overwhelm
with emails
6. Little Free Library Report
a. Report from Clem: No new ones in the ground, there’s currently 4 or 5
b. Review: Lions club donated money and helped build the LFL
c. LFL purpose is to increase literacy for any age
d. It’s another way for people to recycle their books with purpose
7. Music for Block Parties Plan
o Update from Dick: Plans to make contact with Tim Cheesebrow at
Underground Music Café. He has committed to talk with him and
participate. Would like to get the word out soon to the city in how to reach
out to Dick if they have interest in performing music on August 4th. Also
plans to select a few songs that he feels will work well.
o A Block Party Packet goes out to all of the Liaisons: Suggestion to add a spot
if interested in music and a time slot
8. CERT Cultural Services Unit and Other Things
o Cultural Services Unit: a weekend training
o If you’d like to be informed please check CERT on the contact list- these people
will receive emails from Kris Graangard on these training opportunities whether
or not you have gone through the CERT training
9. Prevention Incident Committee Report from April 23
o Reviewed topics of Human Rights Violations, Crime Prevention, and CERT
o Addressed the continuing education concern of CERTs. We can speak with Kris
about requiring a refresher on all the categories covered in the CERT training
o CEC has oversight of the CERT program- keeping the CERTs fresh is a valid
concern to converse with Kris Graangard on
10. Apartment Relations
o Chair in collaboration with Staff Liaisons needs to reestablish relationships with
the apartment managers to have consistent communication
11. Upcoming event dates
Established Events:
o FHFD would appreciate help with the open house, particularly getting the
communication out
o They do some fundraising through the event and had big success with
the chili cook off.
o Request of having a table for the CEC to formally introduce themselves
o Request to have chili ingredients listed for allergy/lifestyle purposes
o FHFD: It’s tough to commit to having the Fire Dept. visit block parties
unless they are on Aug. 4th (will be an update to the Block Party Packet-
WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE NIGHT TO UNITE DAY)
Potential Events:
o Spring together event using the green space at City Hall: would have to be
Monday, June 15 or Tuesday, June 16 in order to allow everyone an opportunity
to participate.
OR
o Night to Unite: Hosting a block party for apartments on the green space at City
Hall
o Event cannot happen in June due to other Big City Events (Community
Build Day)
12. Events & Outreach Committee Report
o Ice Cream Social
- Tabling has been inefficient
- Give away something? More effective
o Block Parties
- Sign in sheet: please have bigger spaces for people to write in info
o Film Series in Sept. with Diversity focus with Ramsey County Libraries (Shirley
motions, Clem seconds)
o Fire Dept. Open House
- Maybe a fire extinguisher demonstration?
o Human Rights Day: December 10
o Annual CERTS meeting: January
13. Meeting Schedule Sept 21st
Announcement: Opening on council, applications can be submitted in July
Meeting adjourned at 8:39pm