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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 09/12/1996r. HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting - September 12, 1996 Human Resources Conference Room, 200 W. Mountain Ave. 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Council Liaison: Ann Azari I Staff Liaison: Gabe Serenyi Chairperson: Shari Olson Phone: 498-5128 (w) 223-6206 (h) Acting Chair: Bob Lank Phone: 493-5809 (h) A regular meeting of the Human Relations Commission was held on September 12, 1996 in the Human Resources Conference Room, 200 W. Mountain Ave. HRC Members present: Carl Cooper, Leslie Frantz, Bob Lank, Man Oberoi, and April Troy. HRC Members absent: Daniel Cordova, Shari Olson and Ramona Robertson. Staff Members present: Lt. Brad Hurst, Police Services DeEtta Jones, Human Rights Officer Gabe Serenyi, Human Resources Department Guest present: Lu Fisk, Commission on the Status of Women I. Meeting was called to order by Bob Lank, Vice -Chair at 5:40 P.M. II. Vice -Chair Bob Lank asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the August 8, 1996 meeting. Man Oberoi made the motion to approve, and was seconded by Leslie Frantz. The minutes were approved by the HRC with no changes. III. Subcommittee Reports Committee on Executive Delegation Bob Lank reported that the sub -committee had not met during the past month. He would report on the progress of the proposed Human Rights Ordinance when Old Business is discussed. Human Resource Grants Committee, Carl Cooper reported that the work of the committee was progressing. Members had completed visiting about half of the agencies at this point. Police Subcommittee. Did not have a meeting last month. Next meeting will be held on September 25th. Bob Lank asked Lt. Brad Hurst to go over the January through June, 1996 Police Complaint Summary that he had distributed to members earlier. Human Relations Commission September 12, 1996 Page 2 Lt Hurst reported that he had included a copy of the Police Services General Directive dealing with Internal Investigations in the monthly HRC packet. He gave a brief summary of the history of the directive, and offered to answer any questions about it. At Carl Cooper's request, Brad reviewed the circumstances under which the HRC police subcommittee would review a police internal investigation initiated by formal citizen complaint. By Code, the HRC has to review internal investigations involving: A police officer or community service officer had used force or discharged a firearm in violation of administrative policy or applicable law. A police officer or community service officer committed a crime. As a result of a police officer's or community service officer's act or failure to act, a person sustained severe injury or death or suffered a serious civil rights violation. Brad also noted that a complainant could request a review by the HRC of any complaint which was investigated by Police Services. Brad further noted that the role of the HRC is to make recommendations concerning the sufficiency and accuracy of the investigation conducted by Police Services, and make any other observation about the investigation to the Chief of Police. The role of the HRC is not to make a final decision on the case. Lt. Hurst also mentioned that the most effective way to communicate the above information to the Chief is to submit one detailed report from the subcommittee rather than offering individual inputs from each of the police subcommittee members. Man Oberoi observed, however, that in the past more than one recommendation was submitted when the subcommittee could not reach consensus. Carl Cooper commented that it would be important to inform the Chief if there was strong disagreement within the subcommittee. That disagreement could reflect a disagreement within the ranks of the police investigators as well, and should be considered by the Chief when making his/her decision. At this point Lt. Hurst reviewed and explained the information contained in the Police Complaint Summary, January through June, 1996. Diversity Subcommittee. No report. Human Relations Award. No report. Liaison Reports. CAB. No report. Youth Advisory Board. Bob Lank reported that he attended last month's meeting. The Board introduced new members and elected officers for the up -coming year. Nothing else significant took place. IV. Old Business A. Gabe Serenyi announced that he had sent a letter to HRC member Daniel Cordova requesting that he notify the HRC regarding his intention to continue serving on the commission or resigning his membership. Daniel had missed four meetings year-to-date, and the Boards and Commissions manual Human Rights Commission September 12, 1996 Page 3 stipulates that any member who misses that many meetings in one calendar year can automatically be terminated. Daniel had not responded to that letter, or to numerous phone calls to his home and office. Under the circumstances, the HRC felt it would be appropriate to notify Daniel that his membership was terminated. Gabe indicated that he would send Daniel a letter informing him of the action. B. Gabe also mentioned that the City Clerk's office had received two applications for the vacancies on the HRC. Council will be interviewing the applicants and making a decision within the next few weeks. C. Gabe reminded the HRC that April Troy had missed last month's meeting due to illness, and consequently had not had an opportunity to select which subcommittees she would serve on. April indicated that she would like to serve on the Diversity and Police subcommittees. D. Discussion about additional changes to the proposed Human Rights Ordinance. Bob Lank reported that the HRC had met one more time with the Council Health and Safety committee at their August meeting, and had additional opportunity to discuss provisions of the proposed ordinance. This was helpful because Chuck Wanner, one of the members, had missed the July meeting. Health and Safety Committee members were concerned about a couple of issues: Informed consent. Committee members wanted to make sure that the community had ample opportunities to provide input re the proposed changes. People in the community should not be surprised when the ordinance comes -up for discussion at Council. Dress code issue. Chuck Wanner indicated that he would support the changes to the ordinance, but had some real reservations and concerns about the dress code provisions. Mayor Azari and Council member Chris Kneeland also voiced reservations about this issue. In response to these concerns, the HRC asked Bobbie Burnette, Assistant City Attorney, to make some changes in the wording to the section dealing with the dress code issue. The changes that Bobbie made are included in the latest revision of the proposed ordinance (copies were distributed to those present). The dress code provision was removed as an independent section of the ordinance, and the significant elements dealing with safety issues were incorporated into the section dealing with sexual harassment. Bob asked members if they were ready to vote on the changes now, or would prefer to think about the changes and vote at the October meeting. After some discussion about the issue, HRC members indicated they would prefer to vote on the changes at the October meeting. V. New Business None. Human Relations Commission September 12, 1996 Page 4 VI. Announcements • Gabe Serenyi asked those HRC members who were planning to attend the Multi -Cultural Retreat by September 23rd so that he can submit the registration forms. • Bob Lank announced that the annual Men's Issues and Awareness Days would be held at CSU September 25 - 30. He encouraged all HRC members (men and women alike) to attend. Bob also announced that a benefit concert to support a woman going to Israel would be held in Boulder on Saturday, September 21 at. The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.