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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWomens Commission - Minutes - 04/18/1994r MINUTES COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN APRIL 18, 1994 Present: Amy Beuschlein, Kathy Everett, Lu Fisk, Dana Hiatt, Stevie Honaker, Doreen Kemp, Stephanie Lane, Sally Miles, Lynne Warner Absent: Sue Cottingham, Carolyn Duff, Audrey Faulkner, Brownie McGraw, Chris Wood Guest: Barb Musslewhite Staff Support: Joan Busch PROGRAM - Barb Musslewhite, representative from the Colorado Women's Foundation, presented information about this state-wide program that assists women in achieving economic self-sufficiency. Some of the organizations in Fort Collins that have received funding from the Foundation include: Volunteers Clearing House, Project Self -Sufficiency and The Women's Center. Colorado Women's Foundation has made a commitment to diversity and seeks appropriate funding to make systems changes at a higher level. Barb suggested that the Commission might serve as a networking resource for fund raising activities and members may wish to become involved in fund raising activities on a personal level. MINUTES Minutes from the March 21, 1994 meeting were approved as written. COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT - No Report. o Brownie McGraw submitted her resignation from the Commission due to her recent appointment to the Poudre Valley Hospital Board. o Kathy Everett was offered a position with the City of Fort Collins in the Police Services area and will be submitting her resignation. o Lynne Warner announced that Rita Harris of the City Clerk's office reported there have been a few applications for the various boards and commissions vacancies. At this time, five applications have been received for the Commission on the Status of Women. o Lynne Warner announced that the inaugural "Cinco Cinco Gil Gutierrez 5K Memorial Scholarship Run" will be held Saturday, May 7 at the CSU Oval. Commission on the Status of Women Monthly Meeting Minutes April 18, 1994 Page 2 LEGISLATIVE VPDATE Kathy reported that the concealed weapons bills died in committee. OLD BIISINESS - No follow up. NEW BUSINESS o Selection Process/Human Rights Officer Jaime Mares, the City's Employee Development Director, reported on the Human Rights Officer position. This person will be responsible for investigating and enforcing the City's anti -discrimination ordinance. The position was advertised and 100 applications were received. This is a contractual position with $60,000 set aside for funding. Jaime is screening the pool of applicants down to 25 individuals who will receive a supplemental questionnaire. The City's Cultural Diversity Task Force will then review applicants' responses to the supplemental questionnaire and select approximately 6 individuals to participate in interview panels scheduled for May 26. Jaime would like 2-3 interested Commission members to participate on a community interview panel. Representatives from the Oral History Project Committee, Human Relations Commission, Commission on Disability and the Cultural Diversity Task Force also will be asked to participate on this panel. The Community Panel's recommendation will weigh heavily in the decision making, with the City Manager making the final selection. Jaime would like the names of interested Commission members during the week of May 2. o Budget Preparation for 1995 Lu asked members if they had recommendations to Council on 1995 budget issues. Members discussed possible funding of the Human Rights Officer position. It was moved and seconded that the Commission will recommend to Council that the Human Rights Officer position be funded on a more permanent basis. Dana will draft the letter. o Human Relations Commission Report Lu reported that the HRC is writing a letter to Council regarding Council's recent appointment of a new council member. Also, letters were written to CSU in support of its efforts of non- discrimination based on sexual orientation. Commission on the Status of Women Monthly Meeting Minutes April 18, 1994 Page 3 o Task Force on Racism It announced: Sue Cottingham has joined this task force. The Diversity Summit is scheduled for April 27, 1994 at the Lincoln Center. Multi -Cultural Advisory Committee is continuing good progress on audio taping. o Economic Equity Task Force Task Force members presented their proposed work plan for 1994. Members' first step will be to collect and evaluate statistical information regarding economic and/or employment issues affecting Larimer County women. This action will occur in May, 1994. Next, members will review and analyze the economic and/or employment issues and recommendation from the 1986 "Fort Collins Task Force on Women's Issues". Updated statistical information and data from the 1986 Task Force Report will determine and prioritize economic and/or employment issues requiring recommendations. This is scheduled for June 1994. (Doreen Kemp received a letter from The Women's Center in support of updating the statistical information found in the 1986 Task Force Report.) In July 1994, members will generate recommendations for those economic and/or employment issues selected for action and seek approval by the Commission. An appropriate delivery system of the recommendations will be negotiated. An appraisal of the Economic Task Force, the 1994 proposal and action objectives will occur at the end of each project. Commission members approved the Economic Task Force work plan. o DOMESTIC VIOLENCE The Domestic Violence Task Force presented their proposed work plan for 1994. The overall goal is to identify critical areas for change, to see how the City can have an impact on the domestic violence issue, and to make recommendations. The emphasis may be on education and prevention. Commission on the Status of Women Monthly Meeting Minutes April 18, 1994 Page 4 The Task Force presented the following time line: June 1994 . Identify the scope of the problem, locally in a written report. . Identify legal remedies already in place. August 1994 Identify local efforts toward prevention and intervention. (Prevention refers to education and programs of outreach. Intervention takes place after the act of violence has occurred.) . In compiling report, Task Force will contact outside resources (Domestic Abuse Intervention Project, Denver Women's Commission). September 1994 . Will present to Commission results of information gathering and ask for Commissioners' revisions, suggestions etc. . Propose recommendations to City Council Members discussed that this is an overwhelming issue and possible solutions are also overwhelming. Task Force members will have a better idea of the scope of the issue after the information gathering process. Commission members approved the Domestice Violence Task Force work plan. Meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.