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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 10/10/1996HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting - October 10, 1996 Human Resources Conference Room, 200 W. Mountain Ave. 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Council Liaison: Ann Azari Staff Liaison: Gabe Serenyi Chairperson: Shari Olson Phone: 498-5128 (w) 223-6206 (h) A regular meeting of the Human Relations Commission was held on October 10, 1996 in the Human Resources Conference Room, 200 W. Mountain Ave. HRC Members present: Carl Cooper, Leslie Frantz, Bob Lank, Man Oberoi, Shari Olson, and Ramona Robertson. HRC Member absent: April Troy Staff Members present: Lt. Brad Hurst, Police Services DeEtta Jones, Human Rights Officer Gabe Serenyi, Human Resources Department Guests present: Doreen Kemp, Commission on the Status of Women, and Brian Carroll I. Meeting was called to order by Shari Olson, Chair, at 5:32 p.m. II. Chair Shari Olson asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the September 12, 1996 meeting. Carl Cooper made the motion to approve, and was seconded by Leslie Frantz. The minutes were approved by the HRC with no changes. Ill. Subcommittee Reports Committee on Executive Deleoation. Bob Lank reported that the sub -committee had met during the past month, and that he would report on the proposed Human Rights Ordinance when Old Business is discussed. Human Resource Grant ommitte Shari Olson reported that the agency visit and evaluation process is complete. The Grants Committee was working with about the same level of funding it did in 1995, but more agencies had submitted proposals. Shari also commented that the county commissioners had added a complication to the review process by deciding not to fund Foothills Gateway directly as they had done in the past. The $175,000 which had been given directly to that agency will now be allocated to the Grants Committee, and Foothills Gateway will have to go through the same funding request process that the other agencies do. 11 • Human Relations Commission October 10, 1996 Page 2 Because of the late date, the commissioners will continue to fund the agency directly for 1997, but the change will be implemented for the 1998 fund allocation period. Police Subcommittee, Carl Cooper reported that the subcommittee met and reviewed the City ordinance dealing the Citizen Liaison Program (CLP) , and made plans to re -activate the CLP. Carl indicated that he will be meeting with Lt. Brad Hurst to go over procedures. At this point a lengthy discussion took place about the current status of the CLP. Ramona Robertson reminded members that the CLP has not been disbanded. Only council has the authority to do that. The CLP is currently not active, mainly because of a lack of calls for its services. Carl indicated that he will contact the CLP's from our most current list, and find out which ones may still be interested in serving. He also indicated that some more extensive advertising of the program was being considered, including having a CLP listing in the Police Blotter. Brad Hurst informed the group that the City was considering eliminating the City News, which currently is included with the monthly utility bills, and replacing it with a City Page in the Coloradoan. This change would increase awareness of City activities within the community. The City Page would be another resource for disseminating information about the CLP. Shari Olson asked Carl Cooper to contact John Fischbach and make him aware of the HRC's plans to re -activate the CLP, and the efforts to advertise CLP services. Gabe Serenyi indicated that it was his feeling that nothing that had been discussed so far regarding the re -activation of the CLP, or plans to advertise its services, were outside of the current parameters authorized by council. Doreen Kemp suggested that other avenues to explore were the distribution of flyers and the establishment of focus groups within the communities the CLP was designed to serve (such as users of the Northside Aztlan Center, etc.). Inputs from these focus groups could help the HRC determine what the needs of the community are. Shari Olson pointed out that major efforts to promote the CLP would not be undertaken until the new Police Chief comes aboard, and a decision is made by the City Manager and Council Health and Safety Committee as to which of the HRC's recommended options it will go with (or do something different). Carl Cooper made a motion to authorize the Police Subcommittee to: Advertise the CLP on a limited basis. Contact the CLP's on the current list and determine which ones are still interested in serving. For the time being, manage the CLP in accordance with the parameters outlined in the City code. When the new Police Chief arrives, work with him, Council Health and Safety Committee and John Fischbach to determine what course to take in the future. Man Oberoi seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously by the HRC. Human Relations Commission October 10, 1996 Page 3 Liaison Reports. • CAB. The board is still in the process of being reorganized. • Youth Advisory Board. Bob Lank reported that he made the presentation about the proposed Human Rights ordinance to the board. There was no major reaction from the members, and they voted 5 - 3 to send a letter supporting the ordinance. IV. Old Business A. Bob Lank reported that the CED had met and discussed the changes Assistant City Attorney Bobbie Burnette had made that addressed the concerns Council Health and Safety Committee had about the dress code provision in the proposed ordinance. Bobbie had eliminated that section, and included the key elements of the section under the sexual harassment clause. Bob moved that the changes made by Bobbie be accepted. Shari seconded the motion, and the motion was approved unanimously by the HRC. Bob also moved that the stylistic changes made by Bobbie in the proposed ordinance be approved. Leslie Frantz seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously by the HRC. Bob Lank went on to discus Council Health and safety Committee's request that the HRC develop a plan for presenting the ordinance to different groups in the community. The committee was committed to public outreach and informed consent on this matter. A lengthy discussion took place at this point about the most effective process to utilize in presenting the ordinance to the public, what the role of City staff would be, etc. Gabe Serenyi suggested that the CED develop a list of groups that should contacted regarding presentations, and present that list to the Health and Safety Committee meeting on October 30. Bob Lank indicated that he had already made arrangements to present the ordinance to: Interfaith Council, the City's Wake-up to Diversity program, and Plymouth Congregation Church. B. Leslie Frantz gave an overview of the Fifth Annual Colorado Diversity Summit that she and Gabe Serenyi had recently attended. She reported that the summit was excellent. The biggest problem was that she could not sign up for all the sessions that were of interest because many were being presented concurrently. Leslie also reported that the presentation made by Nobel Laureate Rogoberta Manchu Turn was first-rate. V. New Business None. VI. Announcements None The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.