HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 04/08/2021
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISION
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES - 04/08/2021 Page 1 of 3
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
Regular Meeting – Zoom Format
April 8, 2021 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Zoom Online, Fort Collins, CO
CALL TO ORDER
• Meeting was called to order by Chair, Beth Jaeger, at 5:30 pm.
ROLL CALL
• Present Jean Runyon Oscar Felix
Beth Jaeger Phil Walker
Vic Smith
• Absent: Denise Apodaca
Julia Mackewich
Wendy True
• Staff Present: Carol Thomas, Equal Opportunity & Compliance Manager, HRC
Liaison
• Public Participant: Kit Baker, Fundraising Manager, Colorado Indigenous Peoples
Day
AGENDA REVIEW
• No additions. Accepted as written.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
• Motion to approve March 2021 minutes by Phil Walker; second by Vic Smith. Approved
7-0.
• Eli Foltz welcomed as new HRC meeting recorder.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
• Kit Baker, Fundraising Manager, Colorado Indigenous Peoples Day, presented
information about a resolution for possible adoption in Fort Collins. Kit will be invited to
our May meeting to provide additional information to the HRC.
BUDGET REVIEW
• None
NEW BUSINESS
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISION
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES - 04/08/2021 Page 2 of 3
Fort Collins Immigration Legal Defense Fund- Patricia Miller, Executive Director, Alianza
Norco and Claudia Perez, La Cocina
• Patricia and Claudia presented information regarding the need for a Fort Collins
Immigration Defense Fund to provide low-cost/pro bono legal assistance to assist
immigrants with cases related to detention and deportation, Special Immigrant Juvenile
Status, DACA, Lawful Permanent Residency, Temporary Protected Status, and
naturalization to become a US citizen.
• Patricia and Claudia requested the HRC to support our immigrant community through the
creation of this Fund and, in particular, encourage City leaders to allocate the necessary
funding to establish a municipal Immigration Legal Defense Fund. Suggested actions
included:
Letter writing campaigns
Rally Networks
Promote immigration friendly policies in Fort Collins
Beth Jaeger agreed to write a letter from the HRC to the Mayor and City Council
advocating for this Fund. Vic Smith and Jean Runyon offered to edit it.
OLD BUSINESS
Follow- up from March Meeting:
A) HRC Letterhead/Signature Block – Carol will follow-up with the City’s communication
staff to draft a template for HRC review.
B) Response to City Manager RE: Equity and Inclusion Office Leader – confirmation
received regarding the HRC’s participation in the selection process.
Committee Reports:
• Education Outreach - TWP Training Sessions
Phil Walker offers ideas on how TWP sessions will look in the future
Should have at least 10 people come to the meetings
Smaller Groups are better
3-4 sessions are ideal, and participants should be encouraged to try to attend all the
meetings
Advertise the sessions by posters and word of mouth
• May is decided to be too early to have TWP training meetings.
• September is decided to be a better time
• If Meetings will be on Zoom:
Zoom moderator needs to be identified and retained
Small group facilitators are needed
• September may also be late enough so an in-person meeting may be gathered
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISION
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES - 04/08/2021 Page 3 of 3
Appointed a sub-committee to organize upcoming TWP trainings – Phil, Vic, Jean
and Beth
• Media/Community Recognition Committee- Need New Chair – follow-up in May
• Government Relations – Beth to contact Emily Gorgol to request that she continues as
the HRC’s Council Liaison.
• Executive- HRC By-Laws Update – follow-up in May
NEXT STEPS
• Meeting Action Items – Beth will send summary to the HRC
• May 13th Agenda Ideas- City Council Liaison, Kit Baker
ADJOURNMENT
• Meeting adjourned at 7:22 pm.
This information is available in Spanish or other language at no cost to a person who would
like this information translated to or communicated in Spanish or other language. Please call
970-416-4254 or titlesix@fcgov.com to make a request for information in other languages.
Esta información está disponible en español u otro idioma, sin costo para la persona que le
gustaría esta información traducida o comunicada en español u otro idioma. Favor llame al
416-4254 o a titlesix@fcgov.com para solicitar información en otros idiomas.
Auxiliary aids and services are available for persons with disabilities. TTY: please use 711 to call
970-416-4254.
City Contact Person: Carol Thomas, Equal Opportunity & Compliance Manager
970.416.4254, cathomas@fcgov.com