March 18, 2008
6:00 P.M.

In Attendance:                                 Absent:

Dave Freese                                       Ray Lester       

Terry Bryant                                       Patrick Burch              

Art Manse                      

John Hoffmann                                                

Sue Williams

Walter Smith

Council Liaison: Paul Ward                              

Staff Liaison: Georgia Ragland

Call to Order

Dave Freese called the meeting to order at 6:09 p.m.

Approval of Minutes

John Hoffmann made a motion to approve the minutes of January 15, 2008. Walter Smith seconded the motion. All were in favor.

Citizen Comments

Citizens present introduced themselves.

Old Business

Sue Williams requested a copy of the Meacham Park Neighborhood Improvement Association meeting dates which Art Manse had distributed at the last meeting. (Staff supplied a copy after the meeting).

New Business

Dave Freese, Art Manse, Walter Smith and Paul Ward reported that they had attended one or more of the meetings being conducted by a group called Community for Healing and Unity. Dave Freese asked for feedback on those meetings. Art Manse thought it was a positive, first step. Paul Ward said the small groups were set up to encourage dialogue about all kinds of issues and that there were facilitators to keep things moving. He explained that the city council had asked him to be a liaison to the group. Dave Freese thought that there had been good dialogue and that people felt comfortable saying what was on their mind. The next meeting of Community for Healing and Unity is set for April 12, 2008 and will take place at the Kirkwood United Methodist Church.

Sue Williams expressed a desire to see the school district participate in the meetings. The rest of the members present concurred.

There was a general discussion about the topics of racism, Meacham Park, and other issues that had been raised so far for discussion at the Community of Healing and Unity meetings. Dave Freese expressed the hope that the group is keeping a record of issues raised and will ultimately be able to make some positive recommendations. Commission members agreed that they are open for ways for them to be involved in this community dialogue. Paul Ward suggested that the Commission should discuss ideas at the next meeting for what they can and should be doing. The consensus of the members was to meet next month in April rather than wait for their next regular meeting date in May. In preparation of that discussion it was requested that staff again distribute the ordinance that addresses the responsibilities of the Human Rights Advisory and Awareness Commission.

Police Chief Jack Plummer was present. Based on the commission’s discussion he related a couple of incidents where he has talked with people who have had negative experiences with the police department only to find out that they were relating experiences that had happened many years ago. He encouraged the members to call him directly if there was anything he could help them with.

Terry Bryant reported that he had asked after the January meeting that the topic of observing Martin Luther King Jr. Day be placed on the agenda. There was a brief discussion of ways to celebrate this important day. The group liked Paul Ward’s suggestion of working to get a Kirkwood contingent to participate in the established walk that takes place in Webster Groves.

Adjournment

Dave Freese moved to adjourn. Art Manse seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 8:03 p.m.  

The next meeting date was set for April 15, 2008.