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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWomens Commission - Minutes - 09/08/1986COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN September 8, 1986 Members Present: Cindy Hoff Leslie Macmillan Valerie Mauksch Marilyn Pultz Cherie Scricca Kay Short Liza Daly, Alternate Sharon Robinson, Alternate Barbara Rutstein, Councilmember Janet Abbey, Larimer County Liaison Absent: Karen Boehler Schumann Staff: Debbie Sagen Mike Powers Guests: Barbara Liebler Diane Bush Linda Hopkins Minutes from the July meeting were approved. The members began by hearing from Diane Bush, a member of the Fort Collins Task Force on Women's Issues, and a sociology professor at CSU. Bush commented on the recently completed report from the Economic Development Task Force. She was concerned that the Economic Development group's research design excluded information about women and minorities, and, therefore, some of the conclusions drawn in the report fail to address the problems women and minorities face in the Fort Collins economy. Specifically, Bush felt that the economic development entity proposed by the Task Force should have a representative from the Commission on the Status of Women. Bush cautioned that the database recommended by the Task Force must be designed to gather information regarding women and minorities in Fort Collins. and was concerned about the negative effects that the "streamlining" process recommended by the Task Force may have on local women and minorities. She commented specifically on the lack .of reference to women in recommendation 9 in the report -- a recommendation which encourages cultivation of new businesses in Fort Collins -- and she felt that the human services listed in recommendation 11 should be expanded to include many other service agencies. 0 Bush recommended that the Commission hold a public forum which would specifically address the concerns women and minorities have about the Economic Development Task Force's report. She also asked that the Commission pay close attention to the City Council's efforts to act upon the Task Force's report and actively represent the interests of women and minorities in the community. Linda Hopkins, the Assistant to the City Manager for Economic Opportunity and the staff liaison to the Task Force, replied to Bush's comments by stating that the Economic Development Task Force had tried to focus on those aspects of economic development about which the community had reached concensus. Hopkins said that the Task Force members felt that their report represented community concensus rather than the special interests held by one particular group. She commented that the Task Force talked to several groups in the community, included minority groups and women, and that their perspectives had been included in the final report. Hopkins also mentioned that she is currently focusing her efforts on creating a work plan for implementing the Task Force's recommendations; she welcomed any input the Commission members may have regarding implementation. The Commission members decided to create a -small group which could examine these issues more closely and report to the full Commission at the next meeting. Liza Daly, Leslie Macmillan, Marilyn Pultz, and Cherie Scricca agreed to work on the economic development issues. The Commission then reviewed the response from City Manager Steve Burkett to their letter regarding the number and placement of women in City jobs. Mike Powers suggested that the group use the recommendations in the Women's Task Force's report which dealt with employment issues to address the need for women to fill both managerial and non-traditional positions within the City. The group decided not to act immediately, but to use the information Burkett provided in order to set goals. The letter drafted to CSU President Phil Austin about the CSU Cheerleaders poster was reviewed and accepted. The letter was to be sent out immediately to Austin, as well as members of the local press. Liza Daly informed the group about a hearing to be held in Denver on September 22 on low income assistance programs. The hearing is sponsored by the Advisory Committee on Intergovernmental Relations. The group felt it may be able to use the Task Force on Women's Issues report as a means of providing written comment to the Committee. Debbie Sagen agreed to check further to see what type of information would be needed to prepare for the hearing. Nominations for officers were then taken. The members decided to rotate the Secretary's position from month to month. Liza Daly will serve as Secretary at the next meeting. Cindy Hoff was elected Vice Chair, and Cherie Scricca was elected Chair. The members also decided that in addition to having a Chair, they would have a rotating facilitator for each 0 meeting so that every member would have an opportunity to assist the Chair with setting the agenda and running the meeting. With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:05 PM. Rp4pectfully submitted, L46 f -- Z-t Dftlfle S L aison