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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 03/14/1996HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting - March 14, 1996 Human Resources Conference Room, 200 W. Mountain Ave. 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. �_ Council Liaison: Ann Azari I Staff Liaison: Gabe Serenyi 11 Chairperson: Shari Olson Phone: 498-5128 (w) 223-6206 (h) A regular meeting of the Human Relations Commission was held on March 14, 1996 in the Human Resources Conference Room, 200 W. Mountain Ave., Suite A. HRC Members present: Rickie Calkins, Bob Lank, Man Oberoi, Shari Olson, Ramona Robertson and Betty Sutton. HRC Members absent: Daniel Cordova and Letty Coykendall. Guest present: Lu Fisk, Commission on the Status of Women. Staff Members present: Gabe Serenyi, Human Resources Department Alma Vigo -Morales, Human Rights Office Lt. Brad Hurst, Fort Collins Police Services I. Meeting was called to order by Shari Olson at 5:32 P.M. Chair Olson asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the February 8, 1996 meeting. Betty Sutton made the motion to approve, and was seconded by Bob Lank. The HRC approved the minutes with no changes. II. Subcommittee Reports Committee on Executive Delegation. Bob Lank reported that the subcommittee had met and discussed changes to the City's Human Rights Ordinance. That issue will be discussed later in today's meeting. Human Resource Grants Committee. No report this month. The review and evaluation process is just beginning for 1997 agency funding requests. Police Sub -committee. Lt. Brad Hurst asked HRC members for some possible dates to schedule the Citizen Liaison Program (CLP) brainstorming session. He also asked if it could be scheduled as part of a regular HRC meeting. After much discussion about the pros and cons of having a CLP and the HRC's role in that program, the session was scheduled for 6:00 P.M. on Monday, April 8 at the Police Services Training Room. Suggested agenda items included: why is the CLP not working?; identify possible changes to the current program; what are some viable options to the CLP. At this point Rickis Calkins asked to make a statement about the HRC's role in dealing with police related issues. She felt that the HRC should not have to deal with police related matters. A separate board or commission should be created by Council to deal with those issues, including • Human Relations Commission March 14, 1996 Page 2 citizen review'of police activities. Working on police issues is taking -up too much of HRC's time which could be better spent serving other needs of City residents. Shari Olson responded that the HRC has been chartered by Council to deal with police -related issues. City Code would need to be changed to remove those responsibilities from the HRC. We need to have some closure on whether or not to recommend continuation of the CLP. The meeting on the 8th will address that. The issue of whether there should be a Police Citizen Review Board is a much larger issue, and the decision needs to be made by the community and Council. At this point a lengthy discussion took place about why the CLP has not worked. Lt. Hurst stated that having a CLP in place is an important service to residents even if it is not used frequently. He stressed that only Council can abolish the CLP. The HRC can recommend that it be abolished, but final decision rests with Council. Gabe Serenyi was asked to send a letter to current citizen liaisons and to former CLP clients to inform them about the meeting on the 8th, and to request that they attend and participate in the discussion about the future of the CLP. Diversity Sub -committee. Rickie Calkins reported that the subcommittee is continuing to work with the Women's Commission on identifying ways to increase diversity on the boards and commissions. Rickie encouraged HRC members to attend the March 21st City Hall orientation meeting being sponsored by the two commissions. Human Relations Award. Shari Olson reported that all logistic arrangements have been made for the HRC awards breakfast. Ginny Riley had agreed to be the guest speaker. A display ad had appeared in the Coloradoan soliciting nominations for the awards. Shari Olson reported that the Changing Perceptions Conference lake Broadening Horizons Conference) has been canceled because the federal government decided to withdraw financial support for the conference. They claimed that the conference failed to meet the criteria outlined in the original grant proposal. Ill. Old Business. A. Human Rights Ordinance. Gabe Serenyi reported that he had met with Mayor Azari who had voiced some concerns about the draft changes to the ordinance. She felt it was premature to include any language expanding coverage of the ordinance based on sexual orientation until after the Supreme Court rules on the constitutionality of Amendment 2. The Mayor also indicated that any changes to the current ordinance dealing with this issue would very likely have to go to the voters for approval. Several issues regarding the ordinance were discussed: Are mobile homes and the sites on which they are located covered by the ordinance. The consensus was that they were, but the language in the ordinance should Human Relations Commission March 14, 1996 Pape 3 specifically state that. o When would be the best time to present Council with the recommended changes? Bob Lank suggested it should be before the November elections. o What other issues still needed to be resolved? Bob Lank indicated that issues related source of income and appearance still needed to be resolved. Shari Olson suggested that the discussion about the draft language should be continued at April meeting. B. Appointment of Chair of the Police Sub -committee. Shari Olson suggested that the HRC wait until after the April 8 CLP brainstorming meeting to make a decision on this issue. Betty Sutton agreed to be acting chair for the time being. IV. Announcements None. The meeting adjourned at 7:04 P.M.