City's Human Rights Group In Flux

Golden Valley's Human Rights Commission, stagnant for nearly three years, might soon dissolve altogether. With the commission struggling to maintain minimal involvement with the community—and its own members—the city council has decided to evaluate its structure, scope and effectiveness.

During a heated discussion at the City Manager’s meeting this past week, council members, grappling with the commission's future, voted to form a community focus group this fall and ask community members to help define the commission's scope and responsibilities.

"I'm out of ideas," stated Mayor Linda Loomis.

"We need to ask the community what we would like to see around social justice and human rights in Golden Valley," Council Member Paula Pentel said.

Prompted by a report by Police Chief Stacy Altonen, the discussion focused on the commission's general lack of activity. Since 2008, Altonen reported, nearly half of the scheduled meetings of Human Rights Commission have been cancelled due to a lack of quorum—a minimum number of present members. As it is, the commission now has only two official members. Personality conflicts, Altonen said, led people to leave the commission.

Three people have applied to become members, Altonen said, but council members said that without some review and freshening of the commission's structure, there likely would be little change in attendance or effectiveness. 

"Everyone who has been on that commission is interested in human rights, but what that means for them varies widely," Altonen explained.

Council Member Bob Shaffer expressed the most frustration with the commission's inability to fulfill its role of community educator about human rights and diversity. Citing past programming, he said that often one good program will emerge with little to no follow up.

"I'm not sure the human rights commision is effective in what it's doing," Shaffer said. "We're going in circles and haven't gained anything."

Counsel Member Mike Freiberg expressed concern that any dismantling or major restructuring may send the message to the community that there's no longer a need for the commission. He felt that it was important to underline that the need for education and discussion around human rights and diversity has not diminished.

"This is still an important civic issue," said Freiberg. "This commission may want to be a part of the larger state discussion [around human rights], or even weigh in on the proposed constitutional amendment [on same-sex marriage]."