## Agenda Page 1 ## AGENDA ## CHASKA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ## CHASKA CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS & ZOOM Thursday, April 23, 2026 ## 6:30 PM ## 1. Roll Call ## 2. Adopt Agenda ## 3. Open Forum/Guest Presentation ## 3.A. Sia Her, Executive Director, Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans ## 4. Approve Minutes 4.A. Approve Meeting Minutes - February 26, 2026 ## 5. Treasurer's Report 5.A. Treasurer's Report - April 2026 ## 6. Old Business ## 6.A. Pride Celebration Subcommittee Update ## 6.B. HRC Strategic Plan Update ## 7. New Business 8. Next Meeting Date - May 28, 2026 9. Adjourn Page 1 of 7 ## Minutes ## CHASKA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION Thursday, February 26, 2026 ## 6:30 PM ## 1. Roll Call ## Present: Chairperson Carlson, Martin Hubbard, Kevin Mee, Kechi Duffy, Brit ## Haanan, Katie McClosky, and City Staff Elise Durbin ## Absent: Hanne Sandison and Youth Representative Sean Haga ## 2. Adopt Agenda ## Motion: Commissioner Mee ## Second: Commissioner Haanan ## Motion: Carried ## 3. Introduction of New Members Durbin introduced the two new members of the Commission. Katie McClosky introduced herself to the Commission ## 4. Recommend Chair and Vice Chair Durbin introduced the Chair and Vice Chair recommendation process. Commissioner Hubbard nominated himself for Chair. ## Motion: Commissioner Hubbard ## Second: Commissioner Carlson ## Motion: Carried Commissioner Hubbard nominated Commissioner Carlson for Vice Chair. ## Motion: Commissioner Hubbard ## Second: Commissioner Mee ## Motion: Carried 5. Open Forum/Guest Presentation – no guests ## 6. Approve Minutes 6.A. Adopt Meeting Minutes – December 18, 2025 Page 2 of 7 ## MINUTES-CHASKA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION February 26, 2026 PAGE 2 ## Motion: Commissioner Mee ## Second: Commissioner Hubbard ## Motion: Carried ## 7. Treasurer’s Report ## 7.A. Treasurer’s Report February 2026 Durbin reported February expenses as follows: She noted that expenses for the MLK event are now shown. She stated that the Commission has a $7000 budget for the year. Durbin stated that they spent about $1000 in January for the MLK event. The balance is $5921.52. ## Motion: Commissioner Haanan ## Second: Commissioner Mee ## Motion: Carried ## 8. Old Business ## 8.A. MLK Human Rights Celebration Commissioner Carlson thanked the subcommittee for their work on the very successful event. She also thanked staff for their support on the event. She thanked Commissioner Duffy for emceeing the event. She stated that they are waiting for the final votes for the art contest winners. She asked the subcommittee for any feedback they had received from the event. Commissioner Duffy stated that she received comments that the event was very timely and the message was very necessary. Commissioner Duffy stated that everyone felt very moved. Chair Hubbard noted that he was unable to attend the celebration but was able to watch the live stream. He suggested that they continue to stream the celebration for those who cannot attend. ## 9. New Business 9.A. 2026 Events and Subcommittee Assignments Commissioner Carlson introduced the discussion regarding the events that the Commission would like to participate in or host. She asked the Commission what core events they would like to have. She listed the key activities the Commission has historically participated in. Chair Hubbard suggested narrowing the events down to ensure they have plenty of time to focus on making them great events. Commissioner Mee explained that participation in the Pride Art Exhibit would not put a heavy load on the Commission. The Commission would just be there to direct artists interested in participating to the right place. He stated that he would like the Commission to help promote this project. Commissioner Haanan asked how River City Days went last year. Commissioner Carlson stated that she Page 3 of 7 ## MINUTES-CHASKA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION February 26, 2026 PAGE 3 thinks that the Commission should join the City table this year rather than have its own booth with games. Commissioner Haanan suggested that they advertise their events at River City Days. Chair Hubbard noted that the Commission should start planning ahead further. He noted that they should plan ahead through the first quarter of 2027. Commissioner Carlson stated that they have reserved the facility for the Pride Celebration. Commissioner Haanan suggested more community outreach that is not solely event-based. She noted that they would like to focus on engaging students and school outreach. Commissioner Haanan stated that the Cultural Heritage Celebration has been successful in the past few years and they should continue the event. Commissioner Carlson discussed the Chaska Rotary’s request for the Commission to partner with them in coordinating the Cinco De Mayo event. Durbin reviewed that this would only cost time and not any funds from the Commission budget. The Commission listed the events they would like to join the subcommittee to plan. Chair Hubbard stated that he would like to add a March Women’s Celebration event to the calendar for 2027. Commissioner Haanan asked about the progress of the banners they had discussed. Durbin stated that they are almost complete; she would just like a Commissioner to help with the final design. Commissioner Carlson thanked former Commissioner Welvaert for her nine years of service to the Commission. She also stated some ongoing community events that take place in February. She noted that she will not be continuing the belonging moment unless the Commission would really like her to continue. She reviewed the Minnesota Department of Human Rights February Newsletter. 10. Next Meeting Date – March 26, 2026 at City Hall Council Chambers 11. Adjourn Meeting adjourned at 7:22 p.m. Page 4 of 7 2026 Beginning Balance: $7,000 ## January Music (MLK Day event) ($200.00) Speaker (MLK Day event) ($500.00) Awards (MLK Day event) ($333.48) Refreshments (MLK Day event) ($45.00) ## February ## March ## April Balance: $5,921.52 ## Notes: ## CHASKA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION April 23, 2026 Page 5 of 7 ## Subject: HRC Strategic Plan Update ## Prepared By: Elise Durbin, Assistant City Administrator At the March HRC work session, Commissioners took time to review the current HRC Strategic Plan and previous Action Plans, while also spending time thinking about the future direction of the HRC. Below is a recap of topics discussed. ## Education • Continue to focus on getting the HRC’s name and goals of the commission out to the community. Public interest • Talk to the public about what they want from the commission o Collect information (Farmer’s Market, partner organizations, individual contacts) o Determine what the commission can/should be doing o Develop a plan to achieve it (roles, goals, responsibilities) ## Events • For new and existing events look for ways that another city department/ organization/community members can continue the event in the future. However, there are still some core events that the HRC may want to retain. • If another city department/organization/community member takes the event over, the HRC can still sponsor it. • Get people to events and get them to stay. • Make personal invitations to each Councilmember for each event. Encourage their attendance for buy in. • Continue to grow partnerships for events so the entirety does not fall on the HRC. • Create marketing strategies for HRC events. ## Networks • Partner and expand networks with existing organizations. • Cross sponsor programs. ## HRC ACTION REQUESTED Staff requests that the HRC review the notes from the discussion and provide feedback and any additional comments. Based upon the conversation from March, additional subcommittees have been established and the subcommittee list has been updated and attached. Next steps will be to update the strategic plan based upon the discussions by the HRC. ## REQUEST FOR ACTION ## CHASKA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION 4/23/2026 Page 6 of 7 ## 2026 HRC Committees ## EVENT DESCRIPTION DATES MEMBERS ## MLK Human Rights ## Celebration Annual breakfast event for the community on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Event has previously included a guest speaker, music, readings, and more. Work with other groups including Chaska Parks and Recreation, the school district, and others. Annual Chaska Human Rights Award is presented. Next event is January 18, 2027 1. Martin 2. Kechi 3. Sarah ## Cinco de Mayo Assist the Chaska Rotary in annual Cinco de Mayo event with planning and execution. Rotary will provide funding. May 2026 ## CANCELLED FOR 2026 1. Kechi 2. Kevin 3. Hanne ## Pride Art Exhibit Work with the Carver County Arts Consortium on a Pride art exhibit at the Chaska Community Center. June 2026 (work done prior to the exhibit) ## Kevin Mee—will work with ACCC ## Pride Celebration 2025 was the 5 th annual event. In the past has consisted of tie-dying, community art project, games, ice cream, and more. Work with other groups including Chaska Parks and Recreation and the school district. Lions Park has been reserved for June 27, 2026 1. Brit 2. Kevin 3. Katie ## River City Days In the past, the HRC had a booth at the event educating the community. The plan for 2026 is to have a small table incorporated into the city booth. 2026 Event is July 24 and 25 1. Kechi 2. Sean 3. Hanne ## Cultural Heritage Month Over the past three years, there have been several events that the HRC has put on focusing on the different cultures in the city. Last year’s event focused on celebrating Indian culture. Fall 2026 1. Kechi 2. Brit 3. Sarah ## Women’s History Month March 2027 1. Martin 2. Hanne 3. ## School/Student ## Engagement Engage with students and school district on HRC issues Ongoing (school year) 1. Brit 2. Katie 3. Sarah ## Survey/Public Interest Survey the public and understand what they want from the HRC (events, etc.) ## Ongoing 1. Kechi 2. Hanne 3. Sean ## Social Media Work with City Communications staff to enhance HRC’s presence on social media ## Ongoing 1. Martin Page 7 of 7