Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 04/13/20009 0 HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting - April 13, 2000 Human Resources Dept. Conference Room, 200 W. Mountain Ave. 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. ILCouncil Liaison: Bill Bertschy I Staff Liaison: Gabe Serenyi Ph. 221-6826 II Chairperson: Bob Lenk Phone: 493-5809 A regular meeting of the Human Relations Commission was held on April 13, 2000 in the Human Resources Conference Room, 200 W. Mountain Ave. HRC Members present: Tim Daugherty, Dan Devine, Mary Gomez, Bob Lenk and Man Oberoi. HRC Members absent: Shion Hung and Barry Siff. Staff Members present: Gabe Serenyi, HRC Staff Liaison Barb Spalding, Human Rights Officer Guest present: Marlene Hines, Northwest Coalition for Human Dignity I. Meeting was called to order by Bob Lenk, Chair, at 5:37 p.m. II. Bob Leak asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held on March 23, 2000. Mary Gomez made the motion to approve, and was seconded by Tim Daugherty. The minutes were approved with no changes. III. Subcommittee Reports A. Executive Delegation Committee. Bob Lenk reported that he had e-mailed everyone a copy of the revised HRC by-laws as they had been approved at the March meeting. Gabe Serenyi noted that he had talked with Assistant City Attorney Greg Tempel who informed him that the revised by-laws did not have to be approved by City Council. However, a clean copy of the by-laws will need to be sent to the City Clerk's office. Bob indicated he would e-mail a clean copy to Gabe. B. Police Subcommittee. Mary Gomez reported that the sub -committee had not met, but that subcommittee members were scheduled to attend a Citizen Liaison Program training session with Police services on May 2"d. C. Diversity Subcommittee. Barb Spalding, the City's new Human Rights Officer, reported on her meeting with HRC Vice Char Barry Siff (Barry was not able to attend this evening's meeting). They had reviewed the HRC 2000 Work plan, and spoke about different ways her office could support the activities outlined in the Work Plan, and various ways in which the HRC could reciprocate by supporting her office and activities. Barb also talked about the Multicultural Retreat scheduled for November, and invited all HRC members who had not attended in the past to participate. Human Relations Commission April 13, 2000 Page 2 Barb also spoke about some of her current work projects, and about some of the challenges caused by the very narrow scope of the Human Rights Ordinance. D. Human Relations Awards. Dan Devine reported that the subcommittee had not met since January, but that various subcommittee members were working on different assignments related to the awards breakfast. He indicated that the subcommittee will be getting together soon to review and rank the nominations, and select this year's winners. IV. Old Business None V. New Business Marlene Hines of the Northwest Coalition for Human Dignity made a presentation about her organization and its goals. The organization was formed ten years ago in Seattle in response to the growth of Neo Nazi and white supremacist groups in the Northwest. She works for the Denver office, which serves Colorado and Wyoming. The main purpose of the coalition is to educate people at all levels, including high school and college students, through workshops, conferences, and other communication means. The organization also works with local and state governments to create appropriate responses to such hate crimes as the Matt Shepard murder. Their ultimate goal is to encourage and facilitate the development of communities which are inclusive. VI. Announcements • Bob Leak announced that he would be meeting with Council member Bill Bertschy next week to talk about various HRC related issues. Bill had indicated that he has no problem signing the letters initiated by Dan Devine if the HRC wanted to pursue that. • Bob also announced that two new HRC members have been recommended for Council approval. The new members would bring the HRC to its full complement of nine people. • Bob further mentioned that Council would probably change the term date of boards and commission members from June to December. This change would give Council members (who are elected in April) more time to acclimate themselves to the Boards and Commissions selection and appointment process. • Gabe Serenyi announced that he had gotten an e-mail from Bobbie Gonzales indicating that she and her husband Bob Viscount would no longer be representing the Women's Commission and the Multicultural Corporation respectively at HRC meetings. These groups will let us know when new liaisons are appointed. The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.