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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 06/17/1976THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS M E M O R A N D U M , DATE: July 2, 1976 TO: The Fort Collins Human Relations Commission FROM: Mary Ann Kennaugh, Secretary RE: Minutes of the June 17, 1976 Special Meeting I. Called to order by Vice Chairperson Batson at 7:40 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 300 W. La Porte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado. II. Role Call Members Present: Margaret Batson Sam Van Why Gloria Newman Ben Napheys Art Jackson Members Absent: Rev. Ed Ostertag Victor Baez Dave Moore Staff: John D. McGraw Rosita Bachmann Mary Ann Kennaugh Guests: Pat Kelly, Police Department Jay Davis, Police Department III. Ben Napheys moved that the reading of the minutes of the May 13, 1976 meeting be dispensed with and the minutes be approved as distributed. Art Jackson seconded and motion passed 5 - 0. IV.A There are three vacancies on the Commission with Ann Azari seeking re- appointment. Lieutenant Davis asked if he could be a member or if there were any restrictions. John McGraw responded that no city employee can be a member of a board or commission. Sam Van Why pointed out that Davis could be a mem- ber of a sub -committee. Davis then stated he wanted to be considered as a Police -Community Relations Committee member at the appropriate time. There were no candidate recommendations. The Fort Collins Huma lations Commission • Minutes of the June 17, 1976 Special Meeting Page Two B. Police -Community Relations Sub -Committee 1. Sam Van Why: Police -Community survey synopsis. Based on the facts set out in his resolution (Exhibit "A" attached to June 6, 1976 agenda), Sam moved for adoption of the resolution. Discussion followed. A few points of discussion were: Ben Napheys questioned the statistical validity of the survey and whether it was representative of the whole community in terms of showing significant dissatisfaction with the grievance procedure. Sam Van Why stated that a large proportion of the community was dis- satisfied with the current procedure and that lack of confidence is a problem. What he is proposing is an external agency (i.e. the Human Relations Commission) to act as observor in complaint cases. Sam stated that the main modification of the current process to be made by the resolution is the use of a polygraph test (if required). He also wants the Police Department procedure of sending copies of complaints and investigation reports to Gloria Newman (Human Relations Commission member) made official through passage of the resolution. Reference was made to the Pomeroy Report regarding the involvement of the Human Relations Commission in the grievance procedure. Lieuten- ant Davis stated that this involvement (sending copies of complaints and investigations to the Human Relations Commission) was the only part of the Pomeroy Report recommended policies not "initiated", but that it recently had been started. John McGraw commented that in an advisory position, the Human Relations Commission can make recommendations to the City Council regarding the proposed resolution. The Police Department grievance procedure is currently an administrative function. The Human Relations Commission is currently advisory to the City Council, having no administrative or advisory function with regard to the police grievance procedure. Margaret Batson asked what exactly would be changed through adoption of Sam's resolution. Sam: "More involvement of the Human Relations Commission and to have it recognized". Ben Napheys expressed confusion as to the present system, what exactly is proposed, and what is to be revealed and what is not. He asked that the motion be defeated and that the matter be placed on a later agenda after further study. Chairwoman ]Batson called for the question. The motion was defeated 3 - 2. 2. Gloria Newman reported on the conferences she and Art Jackson attended regarding modernizing the corrections system and complaints and citizen review boards. The Fort Collins Human Relations Commission Minutes of the gune 17, Special Meeting Page Three 3. Curfew Ordinance: Art Jackson reported that at the June 1, 1976 City Council meeting, the proposed amendment to the curfew ordinance was tabled, pending acquisition of more community input per Councilman Suinn's request. A public hearing was conducted on June 15, 1976 with a panel composed of Jay Davis (Fort Collins Police Department), Lupe Carbajal (Director, Office of Equal Opportunity, CSU), Ernie Miranda (Community Representative), Paul Salas (Attorney), Rosita Bachmann (Human Rights Officer), and Facilitator Frank Vattano (Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, CSU). With 44 people in attend- ance, 14 citizens spoke against the amendment and any change in the ordinance, and 6 citizens spoke in favor of amending the ordinance. Further, he reported that two possible alternatives were suggested by the Police -Community Relations Task Force: 1. Suspending the ordinance for 1 year 2. Keeping the same age (16 years), but amending the time to 12:00 midnight or 12:30 a.m. with the recommendation that the Human Relations Commission take a stand on supporting these alternatives. Ben Napheys questioned the Human Relations Commission involvement in that the Human Relations Commission could be more effective by limiting involvement to specific charges by City Council and the Commission had not specifically been asked to address the curfew. He then moved that the Human Relations Commission make no recommendations to City Council regarding the curfew, and that the Task Force itself take any recommendations to Council. Art Jackson seconded the motion. Discussion followed: Margaret Batson - As a citizen, commented she was in favor of abolishing the curfew based on the following: 1. The hour of confrontation makes no difference; the 2. It is difficult to distinguish age without stopping person; and 3. It is a parental responsibility. The question was called and the motion was defeated 3 - 2. Gloria Newman moved that the Human Relations Commission, as a body, support the recommendation of suspending the curfew ordinance for one year. Sam Van Why seconded the motion and it passed 3 - 1. Ben Napheys questioned if approval of supporting the Task Force was ever given by the Human Relations Commission. John McGraw referred him to the Goals and Objectives of the Human Relations Cohunission as ap- proved at the March 1, 1976 meeting indicating support of the Task Force. The Fort Collins Huma lations Commission Minutes of the June 1o1976 Special Meeting Page Four Addressing the question of the Human Relations Commission authority and involvement, Pat Kelly expressed support for the Human Relations Commission making recommendations to the Police Department. 4. It was decided that consideration of proposed organization for the sub -committee on police -community relations would be premature at this time because of the imminent change in the Human Relations Com- mission membership. V. No Other Business. VI. Meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m.