HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 05/09/2002Human Relations Commission Community Room
215 N. Mason
May 9, 2002, 5:30 — 7:00 p.m.
Council Liaison: Marty Tharp I Staff Liaison: Angelina Powell Phone: 221-6525
Chairperson: Bob Lenk Phone: 493-5809
A regular meeting of the Human Relations Commission was held on May 9, 2002 in the Community Room,
215 N. Mason.
HRC Members present Shion Hung, Mary Gomez, Ken Gordon Jr, Bob Lenk, and Parker Preble
HRC Members absent Rita Klepac, Ingrid Kolstoe , Richard Miller and Man Oberoi
/with notification
Staff Members present: Angelina Powell, HRC Staff Liaison
Call to Order. The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Bob Lenk at 5:35.
11. Approval of Minutes. With the arrival of Shion Hung at approximately 6:10 we had a quorum. Chair
Bob Lenk asked for a motion to approve the April 11, 2002 minutes. Shion Hung moved to approve
the minutes. Ken Gordon seconded the motion. The commission voted unanimously to accept.
III. Subcommittee Reports.
Diversity Subcommittee
Chair Mary Gomez reported the subcommittee met April 24. The subcommittee work has been:
♦ Rita Klepac is working on getting a mailing list to send appropriate agencies such as churches,
schools and other agencies' information that explains the mission of the HRC as well as offer.
♦ Mary contacted the CSU Advocacy office to get information about their upcoming events and to
introduce herself as a member of the Commission should they need anything.
♦ The subcommittee continues work on Board & Commission data analysis with the addition of
the most recent 2001 data. Bob Lenk to enter 2001 on Excel and begin analysis/graphing work.
Bob's heard of work a Colorado Springs private group has done similar to the Commissions and
will be checking with them for ideas.
The next Diversity Subcommittee meeting is set for 5 p.m., Wednesday, May 22,215 Spruce Hall on
the CSU campus. Enter the building on the north end.
Human Relations Award Subcommittee. The subcommittee received kudos from the Commission for
a very successful Human Relations Award Breakfast. Approximately 90 people attended the event.
Keynote Speaker Lori Abe, Human Resource Director for the Coloradoan. In addition to recognizing
all nominees and announcing the recipient of the award in each category, special recognition was given
to the ROCK Youth Group for their support of the Muslim Community after September 11, 2001. See
www.fcgov.com/hra for a list of award recipients with biographical sketches in each of the
Organization, Senior, Adult and Youth categories.
Commission member Ken Gordon, Jr. raised some concerns regarding the keynote speaker's remarks;
specifically the absence of African Americans in her listing of minority groups in Fort Collins. While
their numbers may be small, Mr. Gordon believes a slight such as this only adds to the impression that
African Americans in Fort Collins are not visible. In addition to raising his concerns to the
Human Relations Comm tion •
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Commission, he mentioned his concerns to Lori Abe.
Police Subcommittee. Subcommittee Member Parker Preble reported the last CRB meeting took place
on April 17 after a demonstration of non -lethal, Bean Bag, Sage Gun (rubber bullets) and Pepper Spray
weapons took place on the range near the Detention Center.
IV. Liaison Reports
Northern Colorado Multicultural Corp. Liaison Parker Preble was unable to attend the last NCMC
meeting.
V. Old Business.
Citizen Liaison Program Training. Staff Liaison Angelina Powell has not received feedback from Cory
Christensen about potential dates for CLP training. She'll follow up with him and when she gets the
information, she'll use email to confirm the best date for training with the Commissioners.
VI. New Business.
Bylaws. The Commission reviewed a draft of new bylaws. All the changes were "housekeeping" in
nature. There were changes in Section II related to attendance due to Council's Resolution 2000-77
reference the same; the removal of Human Resource Grant Subcommittee (now handled by the
County/City Manager's Office) from Section IV; and a change in the Commission's meeting place in
Section V. Shion Hung moved the adoption of the revised bylaws. Parker Preble seconded. The
Commission voted to approve unanimously.
HRC Focus. Ken Gordon, Jr. shared some ideas of how he believed the Commission might
considering doing business relative to promoting the acceptance and respect for diversity and to
discourage all forms of discrimination based on race, religion, age, gender, disability or national origin.
Staff Liaison Angelina Powell suggested his ideas might best be explored fully in a retreat setting.
• Select the best time for a retreat and consideration of Mr. Gordon's ideas.
• Mr. Gordon also suggested distributing information in a timely calendar fashion as relates to
Cinco de Mayo, Juneteenth and other ethnic celebrations. Angelina suggested that could best be
accomplished in the Diversity Subcommittee and consideration when revising the 2002 Work
Plan or developing the 2003 Work Plan.
• Diversity Subcommittee Work Plan (2002 or 2003)
VII. Announcements
Good bye to Commission Member Shion. Shion is moving to Boston to work on his graduate
degrees in Electrical Engineering & Business at MIT.
VIII. Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
Approved:
Bob Leak, Chair
Angelina Powell, Staff Liaison