Memo- Community Commission
Department of Administration
Memorandum
To: Hopkins City Council
From: Jim Genellie
Date: June 17, 2010
Subject: Community Commission
With the demise of the Human Rights Commission, a suggestion was brought forward that
the City Council consider the establishment of a "Community Commission."
Does the City need a "Community Commission"?
If the City Council believes that there are City issues, goals, etc., which can be addressed
by a committee of volunteers who meet on a regular basis, but are not being addressed by
staff or any current board or commission, then a new commission could be useful.
The City of Minnetonka created a Community Commission to:
1. develop an outreach program to communicate and explore areas of mutual interest with
appropriate constituency groups, such as community organizations, faith-based
organizations, schools, and businesses;
2. communicate with the city's varied ethnic communities and explore ways to be
responsive to their needs;
3. review and make recommendations about how the city communicates with, and
provides programming to, the rental housing population;
4. explore ways that businesses in the city can become more involved with the city;
5. participate in city recognition programs, if appropriate;
6. evaluate city-sponsored community events and recommend how these might be
improved and better reach the city's various constituencies;
7. develop an outreach program to better inform the city's school districts about the city's
activities and to look for areas of mutual interest;
8. seek ways to connect volunteer opportunities in the city with residents and other
constituent groups;
9. identify ways to raise resident awareness of city-sponsored cultural activities; and
10. provide advice to the city council, and perform duties assigned to it, in matters related
to the city's history.
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Department of Administration
Since its establishment in 2007, the Minnetonka Commission has accomplished the
following:
The commission hosted and judged the Minnetonka Photo Contest.
In cooperation with Hennepin County Library, the commission hosted a community reading
initiative in 2008 and 2009.
Commission Chair David Hakensen began making business visits in 2008.
The commission solicited applications for the 2009 Reflections Award, then reviewed the
applications and chose an award winner.
Commission members hosted a booth at the 2009 ice cream social to talk with visitors about the
neighborhood initiative program; and also conducted a Zoomerang survey regarding
neighborhoods that was sent to all the neighborhood watch block captains and offered to the
public at large.
The commission conducted a survey of Minnetonka churches and synagogues to determine what
type of community outreach they are involved in, resulting in 14 responses.
If such a Commission is created in Hopkins, steps should be taken to ensure that its
activities further the goals and objectives of the City as established by the Council. The
more specific the goals and objectives that are assigned to a Commission, the better
chance there is that such a Commission would be successful.
This Commission, if established, should also be required to report to the Council on its
activities in the same manner as the Zoning & Planning Commission and the Park Board.
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