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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION - MINUTES - 10/09/202510/9/25 – MINUTES Human Relations Commission REGULAR MEETING Thursday, October 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, Kori Wilford, Diana Prieto, Everton Brossus, Teresa Cribelli (arrived late) b. Commission Members Absent – Masood Ahmad c. Staff Members Present – Liz Messenger, Lead Specialist, Equity & Inclusion d. Guest(s) – Fatima Prieto, Larimer County Community Advisory Board 3. AGENDA REVIEW Chair Jaeger reviewed the agenda items. 4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION None. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – SEPTEMBER 11, 2025 Commission member Wilford motioned to approve the September 11, 2025 minutes. Commission member Brossus seconded the motion. Motion passed 6-0. 6. BUDGET REVIEW Chair Jaeger stated the budget currently contains $3,526.27, $1,500 of which has been earmarked for the neurodiversity event and $2,000 of which has been set aside for the HR awards. 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Discussion re: 2026 HRC Work Plan (due November 30th) Chair Jaeger provided a copy of the previous Work Plan and members concurred the first page should remain as is. She stated she and Vice Chair 10/9/25 – MINUTES Kistler did not see the need for any changes to the Executive section. Additionally, she noted they have asked the other Boards with which they are collaborating to include language similar to ‘collaborate with other Boards and Commissions’ in their 2026 Work Plans. Commission member Bryan discussed possible updates to the Community Recognition section of the Work Plan. Members discussed how to properly go about making changes to the HRC website. Members also discussed adding language related to ‘networking and belonging’ events and discussed making additional language changes to some areas while maintaining the mission and vision language given it is in the Code. Commission member Brossus suggested keeping most of the language the same in the Education Outreach section of the Work Plan. He stated he added one bullet point related to setting a measurable goal of hosting at least one annual educational program in partnership with another City Board or Commission. Members discussed adjusting that language so as not to require partnership with another Board. Commission member Wilford suggested ‘propose meaningful collaboration opportunities,’ but acknowledged that is not measurable. Vice Chair Kistler expressed support for broader wording, specifically noting many other Boards do not have a budget. Members ultimately opted to utilize the wording: ‘strengthen collaboration opportunities.’ Chair Jaeger suggested adding the 250/150 program that the Commission is working on with the Museum. Commission member Brossus also suggested including language regarding collaborating with community organizations such as the Museum of Discovery. Commission member Prieto discussed possible changes to the Government Relations section of the Work Plan, including using the wording: ‘advocate for community representation in members joining City Boards and Commissions.’ Chair Jaeger stated she would make the recommended changes. The final draft will be reviewed and approved at the November 13th HRC meeting. b. Update: July 16th NoCo Community Connections and Belonging Mixer Final Summary Report Vice Chair Kistler asked if members would prefer to have the report embedded in the memo or be separate. Members concurred having one document would be preferred. Fatima will keep the group informed re: potential presentation to the County Community Advisory Board. Chair Jaeger commended Vice Chair Kistler, Fatima Prieto, and Commission member Wilford on developing the report. c. Update: September 29th Boards and Commissions Joint Meeting Chair Jaeger commented on the recent meeting with members of the Senior Advisory Board, Disability Advisory Board, and Women and Gender Equity Advisory Board, and stated there is a great deal of energy around 10/9/25 – MINUTES collaboration and a shared spirit of wanting to contribute to the community. She noted Davina Lau, who manages Boards and Commissions, was present at the meeting and took notes on various recommendations. She noted Lau will be putting together a public participant template for individuals to use for Council public participation. Chair Jaeger stated all the Board representatives expressed interest in co- sponsoring the Human Rights Day proclamation. Commission member Cribelli motioned to co-sponsor the Human Rights Day proclamation. Commission member Bryan seconded the motion. Motion passed 7-0. Chair Jaeger stated it is likely the proclamation will occur on December 16th. Vice Chair Kistler noted Human Rights Day is actually December 10th and asked if an earlier date should be considered. Messenger stated she would look at December 2nd and November 18th. Chair Jaeger noted Lau will be creating a comprehensive onboarding Board and Commission packet by the spring, will clarify dual posting requirements for events with Council attendance, and will create an annual timeline calendar for Boards and Commissions. She noted there was a suggestion to use the Super Issues meetings to educate Board and Commission members on the City’s Strategic Plan. Additionally, she noted the group agreed to meet again in January. Chair Jaeger commented on issues of importance to the other Boards, including gender neutral signage on restrooms throughout City buildings and training on the City’s new Blue Envelope program. Vice Chair Kistler noted Emily Gallichotte of the Women and Gender Equity Advisory Board has created a City Council 101 presentation and is willing to present to the Commission if desired. Members concurred they would like to see the presentation. d. Update: 2026 Human Library Program and potential “Year of Conversation” Program Vice Chair Kistler stated the Human Library group is meeting again bi-weekly and is working on some fundraising ideas as it did not receive the grant from Larimer County. However, the Museum and Library are submitting a Fort Fund grant application that is due at the end of the month. She also noted book selection will begin in the next couple weeks. Chair Jaeger mentioned the possibility of utilizing some of the HRC’s 2026 budget for the Human Library Program. The group will revisit this once the program budget is further developed. At this point, the Human Library program is scheduled for Sunday, February 22nd. 10/9/25 – MINUTES Vice Chair Kistler stated the Human Library group is working with the Museum of Discovery and the Center for Public Deliberation on what makes sense to support the 250/150 commemoration effort. She stated the overall mission for the effort is meant to look at defining democracy for not only the past, but also the future. She noted the group recommended that there may be organizations that would be willing to take on a specific programming effort as part of an overall annual package that celebrates the federal and state histories over the last 250 and 150 years. She added that the Commission would then have the opportunity to work on a particular program and noted the Human Library would be the kick-off pillar event with other pillar events, possibly including Handwriting the Constitution, some type of Civics 101 course, and an interactive youth and intergenerational program. 8. OLD BUSINESS a. Committee Reports • Community Recognition: Update re: December 11, 2025, Human Relations Awards Commission member Bryan stated there are currently 27 nominations total, with 13 individual, 10 organization/team, two rising star, and two youth nominees. Fatima Prieto stated she has reached out to Upward Bound for potential youth nominees. Commission member Bryan stated nominations close on October 31st and the HRC will be selecting award recipients at its November 13th meeting with letters going out to recipients, nominees, and nominators on November 17th. Additionally, the RSVP date for the awards event is December 1st. Chair Jaeger noted all Commission members will receive the list of nominees by November 3rd or 4th and should then utilize the selection rubric for the thoughtful and careful conversation that will be facilitated by Commission member Bryan to select award recipients at the November 13th meeting. She noted every nominee will be recognized at the program. Also, at the November 13th meeting, HRC roles at the event will be finalized, and a virtual rehearsal date/time will be confirmed. • Education Outreach: Update re: October 23rd Neurodiversity Educational Program Commission member Brossus provided fliers for the Commission to distribute regarding the event and stated there are currently 55 RSVPs for the program. He stated the goal number for attendance is 120 and noted the food has been ordered. Commission member Cribelli stated she has been working to update the slideshow presentation for accessibility. 10/9/25 – MINUTES Commission member Brossus asked for volunteers to arrive at the Senior Center at 4:00pm to help with set-up and break-down of the event. (**Secretary’s Note: Vice Chair Kistler left at this point in the meeting.) Commission member Brossus stated that the program cost will come in under the $1,500 budget. • Government Relations: Update Commission member Prieto noted Dominion Voting was sold. The new company name will now be Liberty Voting and will focus on desires of the current administration, including paper ballots and identity verification. She noted Dominion is based out of Denver and serves all but two counties in the state. Commission member Prieto stated the Chamber of Commerce hosted a program titled "Adapting and Change: Navigating Shifts at Federal, State, and Local Levels.” She stated the event involved representatives from five of the largest employers in Fort Collins speaking about how changes are impacting budgets, health insurance, and other issues. • Executive: Update 9. ANNOUNCEMENTS Fatima Prieto stated Larimer County has changed the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisory Board name to Community Advisory Board, though its mission remains the same. 10. NEXT STEPS a. Meeting Action Items b. Next Meeting – November 13, 2025 – Mayor Jeni Arndt, 2026 Work Plan approval, selection of HR award recipients and event planning Chair Jaeger requested members to attend the November 13th meeting in- person and be prepared to stay later than 7:30pm, if needed. 11. ADJOURNMENT a. 7:03 PM Minutes approved by the Chair and a vote of the Commission on 11/13/2025 Signature: