HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 11/14/1996A
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HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES
Regular Meeting - November 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
Chairperson: Shari Olson Phone: 498-5128 (w) 223-6206 (h)
Presiding Chair: Bob Lank Phone: 493-5809 (h)
A regular meeting of the Human Relations Commission was held on November 14, 1996 in the
Human Resources Conference Room, 200 W. Mountain Ave.
HRC Members present: Leslie Frantz, Bob Lank, Man Oberoi, and Ramona Robertson.
HRC Members absent: Carl Cooper, Shari Olson and April Troy
Staff Members present: Lt. Brad Hurst, Police Services
DeEtta Jones, Human Rights Officer
Gabe Serenyi, Human Resources Department
Guests present: Lu Fisk, Commission on the Status of Women
1. Meeting was called to order by Bob Lank, Vice Chair, at 5:35 p.m.
11. Vice Chair Bob Lank asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the October 10, 1996 meeting.
Man Oberoi made the motion to approve, and was seconded by Leslie Frantz. The minutes were
approved by the HRC with no changes.
III. Subcommittee Reports
Committee on Executive D I gation. Bob Lank reported that he and other HRC members had met with
Council Health and Safety Committee and presented them a letter that DeEtta Jones had drafted
outlining plans for presenting the Human Rights Ordinance to different groups in the City. Time frames
were discussed, and some council members indicated that they did not want the ordinance to become
an election issue. They felt it would be more appropriate to have council hearings about the ordinance
following the April elections. Health and safety committee members also suggested additional groups
be added to the HRC's list.
Bob also reported that he had met earlier that day with City Manager John Fischbach and Gabe Serenyi
to discuss the presentation schedule. John was supportive of having City Staff participate in the
presentation schedule. He also suggested some additional ideas of how to communicate the ordinance,
including having an open house at the Lincoln Center which would be hosted by HRC members as well
as City staff. He also suggested that local manufacturing companies be enlisted for their support.
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November 14, 1996
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Human Resource rantCommittee, Ramona Robertson reported that $30K had to be cut from the
low -end estimate of funding for the recipient agencies because more agencies had requested funding
for 1997. The letters recommending funding levels for 1997 had been signed by members and
forwarded to the County Commissioners. This completed the Grants Committee activities until spring,
1997.
Police b ommitt . Lt. Brad Hurst reported that he and Carl Cooper had met. Carl requested that
Brad provide a monthly instead of quarterly report (as is done now) summarizing activity data from the
Internal Affairs Unit. Lt. Hurst mentioned that he will review the request in light of other work
demands placed on the Internal Affairs Unit, and provide a response to Carl.
Lt. Hurst also distributed copies of the January - June, 1996 complaint summary, and discussed the
contents with the HRC.
Diversity Subcommittee, Ramona Robertson reported that the subcommittee had met and developed
its 1997 work plan.
No report.
CAB. Man Oberoi reported that the CAB had been dissolved. In its place the County
Commissioners have established the Human Development Advisory Board. This advisory board
will have oversight responsibility for the Office on Aging, the Senior Chuck Wagon, the Human
Resource Grants Committee, Community Development, and the Senior Tax Write-off Program.
There was a lengthy discussion about the contents of Ginny Riley's letter to Man Oberoi
regarding the above changes. The question arose because it was not clear from Ginny's letter
wether one person from the HRC or the Human Resource Grants Committee needed to be
appointed to the Human Development Advisory Board. Gabe Serenyi offered to contact Ginny
to obtain a clarification about this issue.
Youth Advisory Board. Bob Lank reported that the board had sent a letter to him supporting
the changes to the Human Rights ordinance.
IV. Old Business
Gabe Serenyi asked if a HRC member would be able to make a presentation about the Human Rights
Ordinance to the Housing Authority on November 20th. Leslie Frantz volunteered to make the
presentation.
V. New Business
A. Gabe Serenyi informed the HRC that Shari Olson had requested that the same language that was
used in the 1996 work plans be used in the 1997 work plans for both the Human Relations Award
Subcommittee and the Human Resource Grant Committee. Gabe also indicated he would contact Carl
Cooper and get the 1997 Police Subcommittee work plan from him.
B. Bob Lank suggested that the December HRC meeting should be a holiday oriented get-together.
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November 14, 1996
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HRC members agreed that a pizza/pot-luck meeting would be appropriate. Gabe would get the pizzas
and drinks, and each member would bring a salad or dessert.
VI. Announcements
A. Gabe Serenyi announced that Assistant City Attorney Bobbie Burnette would be leaving her position
with the City at the end of November.
B. DeEtta Jones announced that she also will be leaving her position with the City. Laurie Joseph had
been selected to be the City's new Human Rights Officer, and will start her new position on December
2nd.
The meeting adjourned at 7:02 p.m