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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 06/13/1996_...__. .... . E E HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting - June 13, 1996 Human Resources Conference Room, 200 W. Mountain Ave. 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Council Liaison: Ann Azari I Staff Liaison: Gabe Chairperson: Shari Olson Phone: 498-5128 (w) 223-6206 (h) A regular meeting of the Human Relations Commission was held on June 13, 1996 in the Human Resources Conference Room, 200 W. Mountain Ave., Suite A. HRC Members present: Rickie Calkins, Letty Coykendall, Bob Lank, Man Oberoi, Shari Olson and Ramona Robertson HRC Members absent: Daniel Cordova and Betty Sutton. Guests present: Lu Fisk, Commission on the Status of Women, Carl Cooper and Leslie Frantz. Staff Members present: Ann Azari, Mayor Gabe Serenyi, Human Resources Department Roberta Burnette, City Attorney Office Alma Vigo -Morales, Human Rights Office I. Meeting was called to order by Shari Olson, Chair at 5:35 P.M. Chair Olson asked Mayor Azari to make some comments since the Mayor would have to leave the meeting due to a previous commitment. Mayor Azari indicated that, because of Chief Rainguet's departure, Council will take longer to make a decision on the HRC's recommendations on the police review process, the Citizen Liaison Program, etc. She mentioned that John Fischbach is planning to have a new police chief aboard by the and of the year. The Mayor further indicated that several recent incidents she had knowledge of highlighted the need to make the police complaint filing process a more user friendly activity. Mayor Azari also encouraged the HRC to contact the City Manager and request that an HRC representative be included on the Citizen Panel that will be interviewing police chief applicants. Shari Olson asked for a motion to send a letter to the City Manager requesting that a HRC member be included on the police chief interview panel. Rickie Calkins made the motion, and was seconded by Bob Lank. The HRC unanimously approved the motion. If. At this point two recently appointed HRC members, Carl Cooper and Leslie Frantz, introduced themselves. Current HRC members and staff liaisons also introduced themselves. III. A discussion took place about John Fischbach's letter to the HRC indicating that a decision about the HRC's recommendations dealing with oversight of the Citizen Liaison Program and the police review 11 Human Relations Commission June 13, 1996 Page 3 process will be delayed until a new police chief is appointed. That probably won't happen until the end of the year. Several HRC members were disappointed at the prospect of having to wait that long for a decision, and discussed several options to speed-up the process. No decisions were made. Gabe Serenyi suggested that the HRC could do several things to enhance the CLP, such as market the program more effectively, until Council and the City Manager made a decision on how to proceed with the HRC's recommendations. Shari Olson indicated that the Police Subcommittee will be retained until Council acts, and new members will be appointed when the '96-'97 sub -committee appointments are made. IV. Shari Olson asked for a motion to approve the May, 1996 minutes. Letty Coykendall made the motion to approve, and was seconded by Bob Lank. The HRC approved the minutes with no changes. V. Subcommittee Reports Committee on Executive Deleaation. Bob Lank indicated that he will make his report during the discussion about the Human Rights Ordinance. Human Resource Grants Committee, Shari Olson reported that the committee will be meeting later on in June to begin the major portion of their evaluation process. The committee will be very busy during the next few months because of the start of on -site visits and other key activities. Diversity Subcommittee. Rickie Calkins reported that the project to identify the diversity make-up of the current boards and commission, as well as boards and commissions applicants, is nearly complete. Bob Lank distributed a spreadsheet showing the diversity data of current B+C members. He had previously handed out similar data about B + C applicants. A discussion took place about the make-up of the various boards and commissions, and how B + C membership does not reflect the population of the City, which is 10% minority. Bobbie Burnette indicated, however, that the raw numbers do not necessarily mean that the membership of the B+C's is not representative of the population. Typically, more educated and committed people will apply for B+C membership. Shari Olson commented that the HRC should do a better job of reaching the educated minority population. Rickie Calkins also distributed a sheet outlining the subcommittee's accomplishments and goals. Human Relations Award. Letty Coykendall reiterated the great success of this year's awards breakfast and ceremony. CAB - Man Oberoi reported that the CAB is in the process of being re -organized. No new meetings will take place until the by-laws are revised. At this point no one knows what form the CAB will take once this process is completed. Youth Advisory Board - Bob Lank reported that the June meeting had been canceled. • Human Relations Commission June 13, 1996 Page 4 Library Diversity Grant - Ramona Robertson reported that no new significant activities have taken place. VI. Old Business Continued discussion of proposed changes to the Human Rights Ordinance. Bobbie Burnette passed out copies of the ordinance with the latest revisions. A discussion took place about two of the changes that were unclear: A. Non-consensual name changes B. Issues related to clothing and their impact on discrimination in employment. Bobbie Burnette offered to draft an introduction to the sections dealing with these issues, explaining the need and rationale for each of the items. Following discussion of the various provisions, Shari Olson asked for a motion to approve the proposed ordinance with the modifications suggested by Bobbie Burnette. The motion was made, and approved unanimously by the HRC. Shari then asked what the next steps should be to bring the proposed ordinance to Council. Alma Vigo -Morales informed the HRC that a meeting will be held on June 20th to discuss the next steps in the process. All HRC members are invited. Also in attendance will be Jaime Mares, Pete Dallow (the City's Administrative Services Director), Bobbie Burnette, and Gabe Serenyi. The intent of the meeting will be to determine the most effective and favorable way to present the ordinance to Council. Shari Olson directed the CED to proceed with whatever steps would be needed to bring the ordinance before Council. VII. New Business Shari Olson suggested that the discussion about goals and mission of the HRC be delayed until the July meeting because of time constraints. Shari also expressed her desire for HRC members to get together on a less formal basis and have some "mixing time". After much discussion about dates and times, the decision was made to have an extended meeting at the regularly scheduled July meeting. Alma Vigo -Morales offered to combine a special human rights training session with a pot luck at her office on 405 Canyon. All embers were asked to bring one dish to be shared by the group. Gabe Serenyi will provide the drinks, plates and utensils. The meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.