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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 10/09/2003Human Relations Commission Minutes October 9, 2003 5:40 — 7:10 p.m. Council Liaison: David Roy Staff Liaison: Angelina Powell Phone V: 407-7393 Phone: 221-6525 Chairperson: Ken Gordon Phone: 217-6317 Vice Chairperson: Mary Gomez Phone: 491-3702 ......................... A regular meeting of the Human Relations Commission was held on October 9, 2003 in the CIC Room, 300 W. LaPorte Avenue. HRC Members present John Coleman, Mary Gomez, Rita Klepac, Parker Preble, Erik Rush HRC Members absent Elaine Boni, Kimberly Clouser, Ken Gordon, Jr., Christina Serrano with notification Staff Members present Angelina Powell, Staff Liaison Call to Order. The meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Mary Gomez at 5:40 p.m. II. Approval of Minutes. Parker Preble made a motion to approve the minutes as submitted for the September 11, 2003 meeting. Jack Coleman seconded the motion. All voted in favor of accepting the minutes. 11I. Subcommittee Reports. Human Relations Award Subcommittee. No report. Diversity Subcommittee Mary, Parker & Elaine met to review how best to streamline data from the B&C diversity analysis for a City Council report. Because there is so much information, they're finding it challenging to focus on that which might be most representative of the situation. They believe that graphical presentations might be most useful --add more pie charts. They also considered other facets of the process such as how applicants are recruited and "ramping up" advertisements for applications. Police Subcommittee. No report. Executive Delegation Subcommittee: Planned the agenda for the October 9`" meeting. Asa part of her Executive Delegation Subcommittee responsibilities, Mary also attended the Face to Face meeting on the first Tuesday (October 7.) Many of the issues on the Face to Face work plan are closely aligned with those on the HRC 2003 Work Plan. IV. Liaison Reports Northern Colorado Multicultural Corp. Parker was out of town for the last NCMC meeting but had a chance to speak with new Chair, Mike Esters. They're considered bylaws changes that would reduce the number of board members. While they sometimes have trouble getting quorum, they decided to stay with a large number of members. Eracism Film Series. Rita Klepac reported the first two films were well attended with approximately 56-70 people in the audience. Two films remain. In fact, HRC Chair Ken Gordon will facilitate discussion after the film, When Cultures Collide on October 19. Human Relations Commission Page 2 Face to Face. As mentioned earlier, Mary Gomez attended the October 7°i Face to Face meeting. There was discussion at that meeting on the philosophy of education of Poudre School Board candidate Perry Lorenz. There was also discussion on the CLEAR Act (Clear Law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal Act of 2003.) The federal bill has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. The act declares that State and Local Law Enforcement Have Pre - Existing Authority to Enforce Immigration Laws. CLEAR declares the authority of state and local law enforcement personnel to enforce Federal immigration laws. Specifically, CLEAR permits state and local law enforcement to "investigate, apprehend, detain, or remove aliens in the United States (including the transportation of such aliens across State lines to detention centers)." It penalizes State & Local Government who's Police refuse to enforce Federal Immigration Laws. While CLEAR does not directly force states and their localities to enforce immigration laws, it provides that federal funding to states and localities under INA § 241(i) will discontinue if they fail to implement statutes explicitly authorizing their law enforcement to enforce immigration laws within two years after the bill is enacted. States and localities will also be ineligible for federal funding under INA § 241(i) if they do not implement policies that require them to give certain background information about apprehended illegal aliens to the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security. Community members are working with Police Chief Dennis Harrison. V. Budget Report. There's approximately $250 available in the HRC budget. VI. Old Business. Institute for Healing Racism. Parker Preble read the book Racism: Unraveling the Fear. He agreed with the commission that it would be wise to speak to people who had attended an institute or for one of the HRC members to attend an institute. Rita believes the commission needs to know more about it before recommending support and dedicating financial resources. She volunteered to find out where and at what cost the institute will be held. She'll keep the commission informed by email. Because no decision was made by October, the item will become an item the commission tracks rather than dedicate monthly meeting time to discuss. Boards & Commissions Diversity/Demographic Data Diversity Subcommittee Chair Erik Rush took feedback provided from the last Diversity Subcommittee meeting and developed more graphic information. He stayed with the Subcommittee's wish that information be represented in percentages. Rita Klepac expressed concern that when the numbers are small (minority group such as Hispanic represent 8% of the total population) it overstates results when you consider only their application/appointment data. Further refinement discussion will take place at the next Diversity Subcommittee meeting. Brochure Update. No report. Neighborhood Walks. Tabled. Parliamentarian Position. Tabled. Human Relations Commission Page 3 New Business. CLEAR Act. Fuerza Latina hosted a meeting to discuss the CLEAR Act on Monday, September 29 at Northside Aztlan Community Center. Fuerza Latina believes: • the law would be very bad for our community • the law would waste valuable police time and resources • its implementation would result in discriminatory Police practices and racial profiling • the law would violate the civil rights of anyone in our community who even looks as though they may be an immigrant • the law would hamper law enforcement by preventing immigrants from reporting crimes and cooperating with the Police when they are victims or witnesses Fuerza Latina recommends you contact your federal representatives in support of not adopting the CLEAR Act. For more information call 308-1184, or 472-1475 (Spanish.) A volunteer was sought to draft a letter for the Commission's consideration against the legislation. Jack Coleman agreed to prepare a "skeleton" letter to post with the Coloradoan. He'll be sharing this work via email. VII. Announcements. Commission members interested and available to view the film Black Eyes/Blue Eyes were invited to Commissioner Rita Klepac's home on Tuesday, October 14 at 7 p.m. IX. Adjournment. Parker Preble made a motion to adjourn. Erik Rush seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m. The next HRC meeting will be November 13, 2003, 5:30 p.m. at 215 N. Mason, Conference Room 113. Entry is via the west door in the middle of the building. LIM Angelina Powell, Staff Liaison