City Hall  
City of La Crosse, Wisconsin  
400 La Crosse Street  
La Crosse, WI 54601  
Meeting Minutes  
Human Rights Commission  
Wednesday, July 6, 2022  
5:15 PM  
Zoom  
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Call to Order  
Littlejohn called the meeting to order at 5:17 pm.  
Roll Call  
6 -  
Present:  
Tracy Littlejohn, Julia McDermid, Chelsey Myhre-Foster, Mac Kiel, Tashyra  
Bernard,Kristen Ringgenberg  
2 - A Xiong,Kristen Lettner  
Excused:  
Approval of Minutes  
Bernard motioned to approve the minutes, Ringgenberg seconded. The motion  
carried by a voice vote.  
Agenda Items:  
Updates from Racial Equity Team, REACH, and Comprehensive Planning  
Process  
22-0655  
No one present from REACH or RET. Staff shared about the Comprehensive Plan  
consultant visit to La Crosse and workshops; there is also a kiosk in the library to  
participate in the process. Later in the meeting, commissioners suggested getting  
updates from the City's Homelessness Coordinator.  
Review of HRC's Juneteenth Celebration Involvement  
22-0891  
HRC activities were well received; could have benefited from having brochures and  
banner. Staff will look into reimbursing Littlejohn for prizes. Disability Pride Fest is  
7/23 at Copeland Park, 11-5pm. Organizations can bring their own table and there is  
no fee. There is an event the following day at Trane Park as well. Commissioners  
could use prizes from Juneteenth  
Update on Houska Park - Sandra Brekke  
22-0892  
The street medicine team serves Houska Park on Wednesdays. Homeless people  
used to be more scattered; numbers have also increased due to the pandemic. The  
team is mostly addressing emergency needs, but have concerns about inhuman  
conditions--violence; sleeplessness; open wounds; access to clean water, sanitation,  
refrigeration, sleep, and other resources. Life expectancy for homeless is 25 years  
less than non-homeless. Team will be doing Hepatitis C and HIV screenings. They  
have been giving out Narcon and Fentanyl test strips.  
Use of Econolodge helped to stabilize people, but they are just as stressed as before;  
conditions are overwhelming. Homelessness should be considered a violation of  
human rights. Bernard added that by providing housing, the community avoids the  
costs of emergency services, etc. To confront the belief that providing services  
attracts homeless people, there is a homelessness database that tracks where people  
go to; likely more people are leaving than coming.  
Brekke shared stories of elderly woman evicted from City housing and elderly man  
kicked out of assisted living facility. McDermid mentioned that some homeless people  
suffer from chronic conditions, like diabetes, that need to be monitored; they face long  
wait for appointments and discrimination. Street medicine team can offer referrals for  
service. Street team handles stress of job through debriefing, but there is still  
burnout.  
HRC could draft a declaration of housing as a human right. Myhre-Foster suggested  
mental health first aid and trauma informed care training; this could be championed at  
the City through the Racial Equity Team. Commissioners suggested having  
Wisconsin's Balance of State Continuum of Care (COC) executive director, Carrie  
Poser, speak at HRC meeting and share data. McDermid suggested the HRC hold the  
local governments accountable for following the strategic plan and committing  
resources.  
Discussion on Fair Housing Complaint Application Improvements  
22-0199  
Attachments:  
Discrimination Complaint Form - Draft  
Fair Housing Webpage  
HRC Webpage  
Staff provided overview of form updates. Myhre-Foster suggested a review for  
readability and accessibility; maybe show a complete form with a fictitious example.  
Ringgenberg suggested including information on what the potential outcomes of the  
complaint would be. McDermid added that form should make clear that the HRC  
doesn't issue any compensation.  
Strategic Planning  
22-0343  
22-0062  
Attachments:  
Human Rights Commission Ordinance  
HRC Mission, Vision, and Action Items (2020)  
Staff provided overview and will send email follow up requesting input on mission and  
vision.  
Discussion on Civil Rights Dept. - Subcommittee  
Attachments:  
Madison Civil Rights Dept Interview Notes  
Ringgenberg motioned to table this item until the next meeting, McDermid  
seconded. The motion carried by a voice vote.  
Planning for Town Hall w/ Elected Officials  
22-0054  
Ringgenberg motioned to table this item until the next meeting, McDermid  
seconded. The motion carried by a voice vote.  
Adjournment  
Littlejohn adjourned the meeting at 6:23 pm.  
Notice is further given that members of other governmental bodies may be present at the  
above scheduled meeting to gather information about a subject over which they have  
decision-making responsibility.  
NOTICE TO PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY  
Requests from persons with a disability who need assistance to participate in this meeting  
should call the City Clerk's office at (608) 789-7510 or send an email to  
ADAcityclerk@cityoflacrosse.org, with as much advance notice as possible.