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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWomens Commission - Minutes - 05/18/1992MINUTES COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN May 18, 1992 Present: Bobbi Cullor, Carolyn Duff, Kathy Everett, Audrey Faulkner, Lu Fisk, Kathy McLeod (Chair), Brownie McGraw, Betty Medina, Sally Miles, Lynne Warner, Mary Alice Zamora Absent: Donna Aurand, Dana Hiatt, Chris Wood, Kathleen Faller (on approved leave) Guest: Holly Sample Council Liaison: Ann Azari Staff Liaison: Colleen A'Hearn REVIEW OF MINUTES Review of minutes of April 20, 1992 should be amended to indicate that Kathy McLeod was present at the meeting. Minutes approved as amended. AGENDA ITEMS Old Business o Task Force on Abortion Commission members decided to limit discussion at this meeting to specifics of the resolution to be sent to EPOColorado. This included changes in wording and other related issues. Discussing the overall issue of power of the Commission to act will be taken up at a subsequent meeting. Commission unanimously approved the revised resolution to be sent to EPOColorado, incorporating suggestions from City Attorney Steve Roy. Two major issues were discussed relative to the resolution and the Campaign Reform Act: 1) Can the resolution be printed on Commission letterhead? Per Commission's understanding of the City Attorney's opinion, it would be permissible. Commission on the Status of Women Monthly Meeting Minutes May 18, 1992 Page 2 2) Can copies of the resolution be made and distributed by members of the Commission? Per Commission's understanding of the City Attorney's opinion, making copies and distributing them would be permissible provided Commission members did so on their own time, using personal or private resources, without expending City resources of any kind in the taking of an advocacy position. (City resources include, but are not limited to, use of City money, staff time, or city equipment, i.e. a copy machine or personal computer.) In order to make it clear that the resolution conveys the unanimous opinion of members of the Commission on the Status of Women, vs. the policy of City Council, Audrey suggested including a cover letter to accompany the resolution to EPOColorado. Cover letter should make it clear that the resolution does not represent Council policy, and should explain that EPOColorado needs to be mindful of that distinction in their publicity efforts. Should EPOColorado reference the Commission's support in any publicity or campaign effort, it should be attributed to the Fort Collins Commission on the Status of Women, and not represented as the official position of the City Council or the City of Fort Collins. Cover letter should also include that the Commission took action on the resolution at the request of EPOColorado. Sally & Audrey will work with the Chair on drafting the cover letter. Commission members discussed submitting an article(s) for "Women's Pace" and/or Guest Opinion section in the Triangle Review including text of the resolution, reason it was passed, and the issues involved. Article should also include qualifiers, i.e. opinion represents views of the Commission vs. Council policy, etc. Motion was passed unanimously that an article should be submitted for "Women's Pace". Task Force on Abortion will advise Chris; guidelines for all articles are that they go through Chris to the Triangle Review. Task Force members Audrey, Sally, and Chris with the addition of the Chair and Kathy E. will work on the article. (Kathy will serve as a substitute for Lynne, who will be out of town until June 1.) Any calls or questions received as a result of the resolution, article, or other publicity efforts should be referred to the Chair. The Chair will work with other Task Force members to develop coordinated responses to queries. 0 • Commission on the Status of Women Monthly Meeting Minutes May 18, 1992 Page 3 o Task Force on the Youth Commission Arch Tignor from AYC would like to give a presentation to the Commission at the July or August meeting on what AYC is proposing for a Youth Commission. Decision was made that August 17 would be preferable; Brownie will schedule with Mr. Tignor. COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT/DISCUSSION Ann reminded Commission members that she is currently serving on a National League of Cities (NLC) steering committee working on the drafting of a Human Development Policy. Approximately 30 officials from across the country are meeting to develop policy positions that will be presented to the National League of Cities Board in December. If a recommended policy is adopted by the Board, NLC lobbyists will work with Congress to get them implemented. The steering committee met last March and identified a number of issues to work on, including: o Violence in the U.S. - to encourage the federal government to develop a national strategy to combat violence, similar to what was developed to address substance abuse issues. Position should address all aspects of violence and not be limited to domestic violence. o Coordination of Services to Better Support Education and Families - to build a position that supports and encourages the cooperation of existing agencies (i.e. Social Services, School Systems, etc.) in providing for the social support of families and education. Currently national legislation exists that creates barriers and inhibits cooperation and access to available dollars. Goal is to better utilize existing resources, vs. necessarily requesting new or additional funding. o Health Financing - to recommend ways to finance health care bills geared toward providing access to medical insurance for all Americans. o Continue to work on issues involving the Criminal Justice System (including Substance Abuse and Youth oriented issues). Commission on the Status of Women Monthly Meeting Minutes May 18, 1992 Page 4 Ann is interested in tapping ideas of the Commission that can be considered by the Steering Committee at meetings in June and September. She requested that Commission members jot down ideas on the above -mentioned issues and share them with her on an ongoing basis. NEW BUSINESS o Legislative Update Kathy E. advised that bills at this point are either dead, vetoed, or have gone to the Governor. Many bills died as a result of fiscal impacts. If you have questions on specific bills or issues, contact Kathy at home. ANNOUNCEMENTS o Video Available A video entitled "Rising to the Challenge" is available for viewing at a future meeting. It runs approximately 30 minutes and explores the issue of what kids watch on television and the associated impacts. o Upcoming Conference Holly provided a brochure on an upcoming conference entitled "Building Community, Breaking Free". Conference is scheduled for July 15-19th at Snow Mountain Ranch, Colorado/YMCA of the Rockies. Registration fees are reasonable. Copies of brochure were made available at the conclusion of the meeting and will be included in next month's packet. Meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.