Chaska City Council — Transcript
Thursday, July 23, 2026
Story
Chaska commission backs online safety partnership with ACT United
Chaska Human Rights Commission Pride Celebration Review
River City Days Celebration Participation
Annual DEI and Human Rights Commission Forum
Votes (3)
Guest Presentation: ACT United - Online Youth Exploitation and Sextortion Prevention
Dissent: None
Sarah Sumukuto and Jessica Bartholomew of ACT United presented compelling data on the escalating issue of online youth exploitation and sextortion, including statistics on the rise of reports to the Minnesota BCA and the severe psychological and physical impacts on victims. They detailed ACT United's multi-faceted approach to prevention, education, and support, and formally requested the commission's partnership to establish an annual countywide awareness week focused on online safety, leading up to National Online Safety Day on February 11th. Commissioners asked about collaborations with law enforcement and other county agencies, and the Chair expressed enthusiasm for a potential partnership.
Treasurer's Report
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner [00:40:50] · Seconded by Commissioner [00:41:00]
Madame Durban presented the Treasurer's Report, detailing recent expenditures related to the Pride event in June and July. It was noted that approximately $1,400 of the $3,000 allocated for Pride remained unspent and was reallocated to the general budget, bringing the current balance for the remainder of the year to $4,300.
Old Business: Pride Celebration Recap
Dissent: None
The commission discussed the recent Pride picnic, noting it was a well-attended and successful event at Lions Park. Key successes included the popularity of tie-dye activities, the positive feedback on vendors and the food truck, and the general atmosphere of gathering. Suggestions for future events included exploring a shaved ice truck as a free, interactive option, dedicating staff to encourage costume participation, purchasing a wider variety of flags, and supplying drinks. The props and costumes from the event were offered for donation to the city for future use.
Notable Quotes (5)
Um, sex tortion is after sending a private image, threats are used to make a young person comply with demands like sending money or being asked to send more nude images. And this danger in Minnesota has been called a surge by the FBI.
Our ask of you is to support and partner with ACT United for an annual countywide awareness week leading up to February 11th, which is National Online Safety Day. Specifically throughout this week with Actun United, identify other community partners for initiatives that will bring online safety classes, extortion prevention, and multilingual resources to youth and families. The goal of this week aligns with both of our missions. Let's create a lasting message year after year that youth health and safety and equal access to education, prevention, and resources is a priority in our county.
I think the biggest piece that is missing is people who look like us to say it or people who are our age to say it, you know, because it's so it's great that there are so many adults out there who are invested in in youth who are invested in in the future of our society. But I think when it comes from someone who is your age, someone who kind of understands the position that you're in, someone who's not going to offer you a lecture, but instead offer you resources, I think that's I think that would be what is missing.
I think we would love to partner with you. I don't know what that means. Um, [laughter] a lot of things are going through my head right now. We've had a lot of speakers come through and I think some of those speakers kind of mesh with you, but I don't know what that means yet. But I think for that week in February, I think if um we can do something and I put them all on the spot, they're all looking this way. What are we going to do? Um but I think we can do something for that week. Um I think we we all have connections in which we can use to help further the information uh and get you in touch with the people who you need to be in touch with. So I think it's a fantastic uh thing.
I would say um out of all the locations we've been at, we've been at I think four different locations. I I think Lions Park worked really well and um it's just a nice kind of space, shade throughout the day, kind of contained based upon the size event. Um, regarding the weekend, we actually had several comments that people liked having it the same weekend as Twin City Pride because they maybe felt like they couldn't make it down there because it just kids or whatever might be going on, but yet they could still come to this event or they could make both. And so I think that's something to think about for next year if you want to do it the same weekend. It it didn't seem to hurt the attendance. I would say this was one of the best if not the best attended um pride event. So it was very good and I think what I see is people just want a place to gather and we saw that happen.