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Home My WebLink About02/13/2025 - HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION - AGENDA - Regular MeetingHUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING – February 13, 2025 300 LaPorte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80521 Microsoft Teams – See Link Below 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL 3. AGENDA REVIEW 4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – January 9, 2025 6. BUDGET REVIEW Participation for this Human Relations Commission Meeting will be in person at: CIC Room, City Hall, 300 LaPorte Avenue You may also join online via Microsoft Teams, using this link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/join-a-meeting Meeting ID: 240 263 045 832 Passcode: 9X4zk9Wm Dial in by phone +1 970-628-0892,,306081147# United States, Grand Junction Find a local number Phone conference ID: 306 081 147# Online Public Participation: The meeting will be available to join beginning at 5:20pm, February 13, 2025. Participants should try to sign in prior to the 5:30pm meeting start time, if possible. For public comments, the Chair will ask participants to click the “Raise Hand” button to indicate you would like to speak at that time. Staff will moderate the Teams session to ensure all participants have an opportunity to address the Board or Commission. To participate: • Use a laptop, computer, or internet-enabled smartphone. (Using earphones with a microphone will greatly improve your audio). • You need to have access to the internet. • Keep yourself on muted status. Masks Strongly Recommended in Indoor Public Spaces While there are currently no public health orders in place, Larimer County Public Health officials strongly recommend that well-fitting, high-quality masks are worn in crowded indoor spaces. For more information, please visit fcgov.com/covid HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING – February 13, 2025 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Update re: Potential Collaboration with JEDI Coalition 8. OLD BUSINESS a. COMMITTEE REPORTS: • Community Recognition: Discuss recommendations re: 2025 Human Relations Award Program; discuss other potential 2025 activities • Education Outreach: Discuss recommendations re: Neurodiversity educational program; discuss other potential 2025 activities • Government Relations: Update • Executive: Update 9. ANNOUNCEMENTS 10. NEXT STEPS a. Meeting Action Items b. Next Meeting – March 13, 2025 – The BIPOC Alliance 11. ADJOURNMENT 1/9/2025 – MINUTES Human Relations Commission REGULAR MEETING Thursday, January 9, 2025 – 5:30 PM City Hall: CIC Conference Room, 300 Laporte Ave and Microsoft Teams 1. CALL TO ORDER: 5:30 PM 2. ROLL CALL a. Commission Members Present – Beth Jaeger (Chair), Barb Kistler (Vice Chair), Rachel Bryan, Coronda Ziegler, Teresa Cribelli, Masood Ahmad, Miho Yoshioka (late arrival) b. Commission Members Absent – Phil Walker c. Staff Members Present – Liz Messenger, Lead Equity & Inclusion Specialist d. Public Participant – Carol McCloskey Fatima Prieto was introduced as the new EDI Advisory Board liaison who will be attending the HRC meetings as a non-voting member. 3. AGENDA REVIEW Chair Jaeger reviewed the agenda items. 4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Carol McCloskey commented on receiving an anonymous letter in December indicating it was from a City employee regarding McCloskey's driving. McCloskey expressed concern about discrimination for being a female and a senior citizen and requested some type of investigation. Chair Jaeger apologized to McCloskey for the experience and stated Liz Messenger would make necessary contacts within the City organization. Messenger noted these types of things are taken very seriously by the City. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – NOVEMBER 14, 2024 Commission member Ziegler motioned to approve the November 14, 2024 minutes. Vice Chair Kistler seconded the motion. Motion passed 7-0. 6. BUDGET REVIEW Chair Jaeger noted the Commission had a balance of $2,313 in early December and 1/9/2025 – MINUTES stated Messenger will be looking into final expenses to help for 2025 planning. Additionally, Chair Jaeger noted the Commission has been fully funded at $6,100 for the new year. 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Approval of HRC 2024 Annual Report – due January 31, 2025 Chair Jaeger commended the group on coming together to focus on the Commission’s goals and mission in 2024. Commissioners discussed amendments to the Annual Report. Commission member Ahmad motioned to approve the 2024 Annual Report as amended. Commission member Ziegler seconded the motion. Motion passed 7-0. Chair Jaeger will submit the approved 2024 Annual Report to the City by January 31st. 8. OLD BUSINESS a. Committee Reports • Community Recognition Committee: Human Relations Awards December 12, 2024 Event; Discuss potential 2025 activities based on HRC’s 2025 Work Plan Commission member Bryan led a discussion regarding what went well and what could be improved with the nomination process, program logistics, and program content. Commission members discussed possible changes for the 2025 event and outlined the proposed award categories, including individual, organizational/team, youth/youth supporting, and rising star. Commission members also discussed using a rubric for nominations. Commission member Yoshioka suggested not having a youth supporting award and only having a youth award if there are youth nominations. Commission members also discussed renaming the youth award to include a broader range of ages. Members also discussed the voting criteria and protocol and specifically commended Melanie Clark’s work on the event. Commission members concurred that having the event on a non-City Council meeting evening is valuable. Messenger stated she would work on scheduling the 2025 event. Chair Jaeger asked Commission member Bryan to bring recommendations re: the 2025 Award process and program to the 1/9/2025 – MINUTES February 13th meeting, including nomination categories and program date. Commission member Bryan discussed employee resource group meetings and the possibility of making a template for programming. • Education Outreach: Discuss potential 2025 activities based on HRC’s 2025 Work Plan Commission member Yoshioka led a discussion regarding potential education and outreach activities, including topics such as neurodiversity, workplace culture, the age of digital technology and AI, and ways to remind people they are not alone, and that support groups exist. She asked how the number of annual outreach events have been determined in the past. Chair Jaeger stated one educational effort per year has been the typical cadence and noted the HRC has committed to The Human Library collaboration event in February 2026, planning for which will likely begin in July. She stated the typical budget for one educational event is about $1,000-1,500 if food is offered. Commission member Yoshioka suggested it may make sense to have one event showcasing something that already exists and one event that is more educational in nature, such as the cross-cultural communication event the Commission hosted last year. Commission members discussed the possibility of collaborating with the Disability Advisory Board to offer an educational program on neurodiversity. Commissioner Cribelli noted she already has a presentation prepared on that topic as well as others, including belonging and understanding historical inequities. Commission Member Ziegler motioned to begin work on a neurodiversity event. Commission member Ahmad seconded the motion. Motion passed 7-0. Chair Jaeger asked Commissioner Yoshioka to bring recommendations re: a neurodiversity educational program to the February 13th meeting. • Government Relations: Discuss potential 2025 activities based on HRC’s 2025 Work Plan Vice Chair Kistler noted the Colorado legislative session has begun and she will be attending the first local Town Hall on Saturday. She stated the largest issue with City Council right now is the Connexion workers desiring to unionize and the City Manager not recognizing the union. She also noted the State recently passed a bill related to PROPWA rules and stated there continues to be no traction related to the adoption of a Gaza ceasefire resolution. 1/9/2025 – MINUTES Vice Chair Kistler stated a meeting has been planned with the JEDI Coalition to start discussions about collaborating on the DEIJ networking events. • Executive: Update re: 2024 Human Rights Day Proclamation – December 3, 2024 City Council meeting; County EDI Advisory Board Liaison; HRC social event Commissioners noted the Human Rights Day Proclamation occurred on December 3rd and was received by Vice Chair Kistler on behalf of the HRC. Vice Chair Kistler proposed hosting a social dinner at her home for members and significant others, perhaps at the end of this Board term, potentially April 4th, for existing and incoming members and staff. 9. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS Commission member Cribelli commented on the Colorado Disability Opportunity Office which was just created by the Governor and noted Colorado has been named the top state for people with disabilities due to the support and number of programs available. 10. STAFF REPORTS Messenger noted the Commission received a request from Ginny Sawyer, City Manager’s Office Lead Project Manager, to speak to the Commission regarding rounds of awareness and engagement on the Community Capital Improvement Program (CCIP) tax renewal that will be on the November 2025 ballot. Additionally, Messenger commented on items that can be discussed via email within open meetings laws. 11. OTHER BUSINESS Commissioners discussed having a representative from the BIPOC Alliance attend the February or March meeting. Vice Chair Kistler noted the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery has extended the Skin exhibit to April 27th. Commissioner Ziegler thanked those who stepped in for her at various events in December. 12. ADJOURNMENT a. The meeting was adjourned at 7:19 PM. 1/9/2025 – MINUTES Minutes approved by the Chair and a vote of the Board/Commission on XX/XX/XX Signature: FORT COLLINS HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION 2025 WORK PLAN November 30, 2024 MISSION As community leaders and advisors, the Human Relations Commission collaborates, educates, and advocates for equity and inclusion in the City of Fort Collins. VISION Embracing differences and giving value to every human being. PURPOSE The Fort Collins City Council established the Human Relations Commission (HRC) in 1964 to promote acceptance, equity, inclusion and respect for diversity through educational programs and to act in an advisory capacity to the City Council. LONG RANGE GOALS Cultivate relationships with the community and media that support the mission and vision Provide educational outreach that promotes equity and inclusion Advocate for an equitable and inclusive environment in city government and community The Fort Collins Human Relations Commission will continue a broad plan for enhancing productive human relations and supporting social sustainability issues that are pertinent to the City of Fort Collins and are consistent with the City Charter and the City Code. The Commission will strive to be informed about diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice issues within Fort Collins and will recommend appropriate action to City Council. The Commission will recommend programs, policies, and activities that promote positive human relations and equitable outcomes and greater opportunities for all. The Commission also may create and deliver programs and activities in furtherance of this objective. HRC goals and responsibilities are divided among four standing committees for procedural reasons, but are not exclusive to any one committee. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SHALL: • Determine meeting agendas for monthly and special HRC meetings • Maintain regular communication with the HRC’s City Council Liaison and City Council • Collaborate with and support the City’s Office of Equity & Inclusion programs and initiatives • Delegate issues for resolution to standing or special committees • Provide support to HRC standing committees as needed • Call special meetings as needed • Adopt an “open door” policy and meet with Commissioners as needed • Explore opportunities to collaborate with other Boards and Commissions THE COMMUNITY RECOGNITION COMMITTEE SHALL: • Plan, coordinate and execute an annual Human Relations Awards event; consider both “live” and “virtual” options; promote early nominations for Award recipients; redefine award categories as needed to better reflect community diversity and inclusion • Recommend updates and refinements to the HRC website content so that its message and branding are clear • Expand HRC’s community relations by maintaining and building updated contact lists • Organize and track efforts by developing, in collaboration with the City, detailed communication plans for specific programs and events • Explore opportunities and collaborate with other DEIJ-focused groups and organizations to build community DEIJ efforts and impact, e.g., DEIJ networking events, ERG meet-ups, etc. • Report monthly to the HRC THE EDUCATION OUTREACH COMMITTEE SHALL: • Create a better understanding of equity and inclusion through educational programs and events, including, for example, collaborating with community organizations to host a “Human Library” event • Seek to deliver programs and events that educate community members and recommend actions that promote positive relationships in the city, all in the most accessible and equitable way • Plan and deliver interactive public forums and discussion sessions facilitated by Commission members and/or guest speakers • Propose collaboration opportunities with local organizations or other boards or commissions to respond to new or long-standing community issues or topics as identified in the City’s Equity Plan and/or City Council priorities • Document committee events to increase efficiency in future programming • Evaluate the impact of programming by surveying participants • Report monthly to the HRC THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE SHALL: • Monitor City Council activity and attend meetings as needed • Review proposed legislation, policy changes or other governmental actions at the Federal, State or Local level which may affect human rights in Fort Collins and recommend actions as appropriate • Establish consistent lines of communication with community leaders and partners, including periodic meetings with elected officials, candidates for local and state offices, etc. focused on topics related to equity and inclusion (for example, public health, housing, transportation and employment issues) • Align HRC’s priority objectives with local and state priorities as appropriate • Advocate for people of color to join City Boards, Commissions and Government • Explore scope of HRC quasi-judicial work with city leaders as requested. The HRC’s quasi-judicial role is to defined as follow in section 2-175 (b)(2) of the city code: To assist residents of the City in utilizing the complaint procedure under Chapter 13, Article II of the code and to hear appeals from decisions of the City Manager as provided in Subsection 13-23 (b) of the Code; provided, however, that any members of the Commission who have rendered assistance to particular complainants shall refrain from participating in the Commission’s review of any decision of the City Manager related to such complainant. • Report monthly to HRC