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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 02/08/1996HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting - February 8, 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 February 8, 1996 in the Human Resources Conference Room, 200 W. Mountain Ave., Suite A. HRC Members present: Daniel Cordova, Letty Coykendall, Bob Lank, Shari Olson, and Ramona Robertson HRC Members absent: Rickie Calkins, Man Oberoi and Betty Sutton. Guests present: Lu Fisk, Commission on the Status of Women. Staff Members present: Gabe Serenyi, Human Resources Department Roberta Burnette, City Attorney Office Alma Vigo -Morales, Human Rights Office Lt. Brad Hurst, Fort Collins Police Services 1. Meeting was called to order by Letty Coykendall at 5:35 P.M. H. New Business Letty Coykendall requested that she be allowed to report on her meeting with City Manager John Fishbach, Police Chief Fred Rainguet and Lt. Brad Hurst dealing with the Citizen Liaison Program (CLP) because Lt. Hurst had to leave the HRC meeting early. A number of different issues were discussed at this meeting, including Chief Rainguet's letter of June, 1995 to the HRC dealing with a reevaluation of the CLP. Chief Rainguet reiterated his offer to provide training for the CLP liaisons and HRC members, and identifying potential new liaison candidates from the ranks of the Citizen Police Academy graduates. A number of existing concerns about the CLP were also discussed, including who should manage it, how to best get the program across to City residents, and whether the CLP liaisons should become advocates for their clients rather than facilitators, as currently defined by City Code. Letty also indicated that Lt. Hurst had agreed to provide the HRC with a monthly summary of formal complaints filed by residents. Lt. Brad Hurst also reported on the meeting. He indicated that Chief Rainguet was very frustrated that the HRC never responded to his letter of June, 1995. Police Services feels that the CLP is an Human Relations Commission February 8, 1996 Page 2 important program, even if it is rarely used. Police Services is also willing to host and coordinate the brainstorming session to discuss the future of the CLP. Lt. Hurst clarified an item reported in the January, 1996 minutes. The January minutes stated that there were only nine complaints filed against police during 1995. The minutes should have indicated that there were nine complaints that involved serious allegations and rose to the level of requiring formal investigations. Lt. Hurst also noted that 50% of formal complaints resulted in some type of corrective action against the officer(s) involved. This figure is five time the national average. Lt. Hurst noted that for every complaint filed, Police Services receives about ten commendatory comments from residents. Elections for HRC Chair. Rickie Calkins and Shari Olson were nominated for the position of HRC Chair. A secret ballot was held, and Shari Olson was elected. IV. Chair Olson asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the January 11, 1996 meeting. Letty Coykendall made the motion to approve, and was seconded by Daniel Cordova. The HRC approved the minutes with the changes as noted by Lt. Hurst. V. Subcommittee Reports Committee on Executive Delegation. Bob Lank reported that the subcommittee had met with Alma Vigo -Morales and Assistant City Attorney Bobbie Burnette regarding proposed changes to the City's Human Rights Ordinance. Bobbie Burnette indicated that she had reviewed similar ordinances from a number of different cities, including Eugene, Oregon and Santa Cruz, CA, and had incorporated many items from those cities' ordinances into the proposed changes/additions to the current Fort Collins ordinance. Some of the changes included the addition of new protected groups/characteristics, such as 'physical characteristics'. Bobbie stressed, however, that the proposed ordinance will go through many drafts before a final draft is presented to Council. Shari Olson asked HRC members to review the draft ordinance passed out at the meeting, and be prepared to discuss it at the March HRC 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. Chair Shari Olson stressed the need for a new Police Sub -committee chair because of the resignation of Linda Beardsley. This will be a key position on the HRC because of the proposed discussions and brainstorming about the Citizen Liaison Program. Shari asked for volunteers from the current sub -committee membership. Letty Coykendall indicated that she could not do it, and the two other members, Man Oberoi and Betty Sutton were absent from today's meeting. Daniel Cordova volunteered to serve on the sub -committee, but indicated he did not want to be chair. Shari asked that the issue be discussed and resolved at the March meeting. Shari also indicated that she will prepare a response to Chief Fred Rainguet's June, 1995 letter. Human Relations Commission February 6, 1996 Page 3 A lengthy discussion took place at this point dealing with the future of the CLP and the upcoming brainstorming session. Daniel Cordova suggested that information be gathered as to what other cities are doing with Police Review Boards. He volunteered to get information about Denver's Police Review Board. Diversity Sub -committee. Ramona Robertson reported that the subcommittee had met on February 5th to make plans for the reception and tour which the sub -committee was planning in conjunction with the Commission on the Status of Women and the Human Rights Office. This reception/tour of City Hall West was one of the activities these groups were organizing to encourage a more diverse representation on the boards and commissions. The organizing committee was trying to get John Fishbach, Diane Jones or Mayor Azari, as well as various Council members, to participate. Shari Olson encouraged HRC members to invite people they knew to these events, which have been scheduled for March 14 and 21. Bob Lank reported that the Diversity Sub -committee, along with the Commission on the Status of Women, was planning to send a letter to all boards and commissions staff liaisons and Council members encouraging them to get actively involved in bringing greater diversity to the boards and commissions. Gabe Serenyi informed the HRC that the City Clerk's Office will not have time to tabulate the diversity data that was collected for current boards and commissions members. Data has been collected on all but about twenty current boards and commissions members. They asked that the HRC assume responsibility for this activity. Bob Lank volunteered to get the data and input the information into the computer program that had been set-up to sort the information. Human Relations Award. Gabe Serenyi reported that he had met with a representative of the Coloradoan to discuss publicity for and coverage of the HRC Awards Breakfast. Two display ads will be run to solicit nominations, one on February 24th, and the other on March 24th. The Coloradoan representative promised to have a reporter and photographer cover the breakfast. Over 300 letters/nomination forms were sent out to various organizations an individuals requesting nominations for the four categories of awards. Letty Coykendall informed the HRC that the Rainbow Restaurant will be handling the catering for the breakfast. They have a good reputation for catering these types of events, and had quoted an excellent price 05 per guest). Shari Olson extended a special request to Rickie Calkins to write the capsule bios of each of the nominees. Rickie had done an excellent job doing the writeups in past years. Shari was asked to contact Ginny Riley to invite her to be the guest speaker at the breakfast. Liaison Reports. Shari Olson reported that the name of the Changing Perceptions Conference was changed to Broadening Horizons Conference which is now scheduled for June, 1996. The conference organizers are now looking for guest speakers. Human Relations Commission February 8, 1996 Page 4 Bob Lank reported that he had attended a meeting of the Youth Advisory Board. This board is an advisory group to the Youth Center. Bob announced the HRC Awards, and encouraged nominations by board members. VI. Old Business. Shari Olson and Daniel Cordova volunteered to attend the Multi -Cultural Community Retreat to be held on April 22 and 23 at the Aspen Lodge in Estes Park. VII. Announcements None. The meeting adjourned at 7:03 P.M.