Minutes_Equity and Human Rights Commission 02.11.25City of Dubuque
City Council
CONSENT ITEMS # 1.
Copyrighted
April 21, 2025
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: City Council Proceedings of March 31, and April 2, April 3,
April 7, April 8, April 9, and April 10, 2025; Airport
Commission of February 25, 2025; Community Development
Advisory Commission of March 26, 2025; Library Board of
Trustees Update of March 27, 2025; Equity and Human
Rights Commission of February 11, 2025; Proof of
Publication for City Council Proceedings of March 25, 2025.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 3 31 25 City Council Minutes
2. 4 2 25 City Council Minutes
3. 4 3 25 City Council Minutes
4. 4 7 25 City Council Minutes
5. 4 8 25 City Council Minutes
6. 4 9 25 City Council Minutes
7. 4 10 25 City Council Minutes
8. Airport Minutes of February 25 2025
9. Proof of Publication for 3.25.25 City Council Proceedings
10. February 11, 2025 EHRC Minutes
11. Library Board of Trustees Council_Update_3-27
12. Community Development Advisory Commission Minutes 3.26.25
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Dubuque
THE CITY OF
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2007-2012.2013
2017*2019
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
EQUITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
February 11, 2025
DATE: Tuesday, February 11, 2025
TIME: 4:30 PM
LOCATION: Multicultural Family Center, 1157 Central Avenue, Dubuque, IA 52001
The meeting was called to order at 4:31 pm.
Commissioners Present: Jake Kurczek, Matthew Zanger, Michaela Freiburger, Dave Heiar,
Rick Baumhover (virtual), Nikkole Nutter
Commissioners Absent: Luselena Bravo, Delano Cain Watson
Staff Present: Gisella Aiken Shadle, Chief of Equity and Human Rights; Ann Marie
Jannette, Equity and Human Rights Specialist
Swearing in of returning commissioner Michaela Freiburger. Luselena Bravo was not in
attendance, and Rick Baumhover was attending virtually so they will be sworn in at the next
scheduled commission meeting.
Approval of Meetinq Minutes
Motion to approve the minutes from the January 14, meeting by Freiburger, seconded by
Baumhover. All in favor.
Public Input
No members of the public were in attendance.
Reports
Caseload Report
• Complaints filed — number of complaints that were signed during the month
o January amount: 3
• Active investigations — investigations that are currently active but in various stages
(active, administrative review, initiated, on hold, etc.)
o January amount: 18
• Incidents in mediation — complaints currently in mediation
o January amount: 1
• Incidents in full hearing — complaints in full hearing process
o January amount: 0
• Inquiries — calls/inquiries that don't result in an official complaint being filed (including
outreach events)
o January amount: 17
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Complaints closed during the month — signed complaints that were closed during the
month (doesn't include inquiries or complaints that were never filed)
o January amount: 0
Total inquiries and complaints FY25 — signed complaints filed in FY25
o January amount: 85
Example of EHR complaint received in January 2025:
After submitting a complaint to OSHA that his forklift was unsafe, the complainant was
treated differently and was being harassed by coworkers and supervisors. In another
incident, the complainant left his break five minutes early to talk to HR and had to wait in HR
for about 10-15 minutes. After speaking with HR, he went back down to his work space
where his supervisor accused him of taking too long of a break. He was told that because
he took a 40-minute break, he was fired. Other white employees with similar work issues
were not fired or disciplined or harassed as the complainant was. Complainant feels he was
discriminated against because of his race.
Director's Report
There has been an uptick in immigration calls. ICE was spotted in Postville. Per Mike van
Milligan, we will follow the law. There are some Venezuelan families moving to the area.
The Better Togetherness Committee will be creating Know Your Rights documents
translated into Marshallese and they will be ready by the end of the week. If any
commissioners know of any persons who have immigration concerns, they are to direct
them to Aitken-Shadle.
Chairperson's Report
Chairperson Kurczek had nothing to report. Anything he was going to touch on will be
touched on in new business.
Old Business:
The event will be meant to recognize the time we are living in when deciding who to bring to
the table. It will build connections through stores. Start with the highest target audience
coming in. There is the possibility of training Maitha to be a facilitator to gather stories and
do more outreach.
New Business:
The Equity and Human Rights Department received 19 applications for the Dubuque
Equitable Community Grant. The recipients of the two grants will be notified next week.
There was one entry that came in late, and it was agreed by majority of the grant reviewers
to not accept that application. Suggestions for next year's grant were offered. Create an
online Q&A for applicants on what type of activity we are looking for. Look into whether the
MFC and similar City affiliated organizations should be allowed to apply for the grant.
Regarding the discussion on the difference between city, state and federal
guidelines/actions for human rights, the directive from Mike Van Milligan is to keep doing
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what we're doing until the law tells us otherwise. Other local governments in Iowa are
making changes but we are maintaining status quo until we hear more.
Regarding updates on legislation, Kurczek will forward information on legislation updates
that pertain to human rights. Current bills of concern include HSB15, HSB60, HSB37,
HF115, and HSB1077.Freiburger suggested hiring a lobbyist; anyone can volunteer to be an
advocate/lobbyist they just need to register as such. Heiar suggested checking with the City
Attorney for regulations regarding being a lobbyist.
Antonio Mouzon and LaMetra Murdock from the Office of Community Impact and the
Multicultural Family Center, and Anderson Sainci from the Office of Shared Prosperity will be
in attendance at the next commission meeting to discuss potential partnership.
Reflections and Uadates
Heiar has requested we update the commissioner manual. He is meeting with Aitken-
Shadle to discuss.
Adjournment:
Motion to adjourn by Freiburger, seconded by Heiar. All in favor. The meeting ended at
6:00 p.m.
The next regularly scheduled meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at 4:30
p.m., at the Multicultural Family Center.
Minutes approved as submitted:
Minutes approved as corrected:
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