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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 03/14/19744p, 1% April 11, 1974 TO: Human Relations Commission FROM: John McGraw, Acting Secretary SUBJECT: Minutes of the Thursday, March 14, 1974, regular meeting I. Chairman James W. Baird called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm in the City Council Chambers. II. The Chairman called the roll: Members present: James W. Baird Parker E. Preble Ben F. Napheys, III Margaret Batson James Nicnols David L. Moore Ann Azari Sam Van Uhy Joe Cienfuegos, Jr. Edward F. Ostertag Elizabeth Dyer Gerald T. Templer John S. Clifford Staff present; John D. McGraw, City Administrative Assistant Members absent: Chuck Solano David Lee Osborn Guests present: City Council Members - Mayor Mabel G. Preble Margaret Reeves. Jack E. L. Russell Charles D. Bowling Nancy Gray City Manager, Robert L. Brunton City Attorney, Arthur March Police Chief, Ralph Smith Press & radio representatives And other interested citizens III. The minutes of the February 14, 1974, meeting were not considered. IV. Old Business. A. The Chairman called for the report and recommendations of the Police - Community Relations (PCR) Committee. 1. Committee Chairman, John Clifford, presented the PCR recommendations. 2. Fach reco•mendation was considered and voted upon as a separate item, each was approved unanimously by the commission and each was recommended to the City Council as written. (See recommendations handed out at the meeting.) 3. A procedural question was raised by Ben Napheys on recommendation IV. Mr. Napheys indicated that the recommendation was not among the general recommendations heard and approved by the HRC at the 2/14/74 meeting and that the general nature of the concept and its implications (toward a citizen review board) should be more fully considered before its passage and recommendation to the City Council. 4. Chief Smith was asked by Commission members to respond to many of the recommendations individually and finally to all the recommenda- tions. His response was favorable in every case and he expressed a desire to work with the Commission to implement them pending the approval of the City Council. B. HRC recommendation for City Council approval of the proposed Human Rights Ordinance. 1. Chairman Baird called on Mr. Napheys to present the recommendation. 40• Human Relations Commission -2- 4/11/74 2. Mr. Napheys moved that the Commission hold an executive session to discuss the recommendation because of the confidentiality of memos related to Council's approval of the proposed ordinance. 3. Members of the press expressed the opinion that an executive session, on this subject was a violation of the "Sunshine Ordinance". 4. The City Attorney indicated that the memos, if made public, might prejudice potential court cases under the ordinance if it was passed and if the memos were to be discussed in the recommendation, an executive session might be in order. 5. Father Ostertag moved for a two minute recess to clear the air. The motion was seconded by Mr. Van Uhy and carried unanimously. 6. The Chairman declared that the Commission was in recess. 7. The Chairman called the meeting back to order. 8. Father Ostertag requested that each member of the City Council present respond to the proposed ordinance. 9. Each Council member expressed support of the concept and suggested that the HRC conduct public hearings to hear public reaction to the proposed ordinance. C. Reorganization Committee Report. 1. The Chairman called on Ccmmittee Chairman Ostertag to report on the Committee recommendations. 2. Father Ostertag reported that action toward reorganization is pre- mature and that su,;h action will be more appropriate after Council action on the Human Rights Ordinance. 3. The Chairman forwarded a memo from he and Mr. Na.pheys relating to reorganization to the Committee. V. New Business. A. Vice -Chairman Moore requested that members of the audience speak on the City Manager's Police/Community Relations memo. 1. Mr. Naphe*;•s indicated that the administrative memo was a City Council matter and that this was HRC meeting, therefore, public reaction to it during this meeting w3a--.6. be unappropriate. 2. Lf;er come discussion, the HRC determined that the response should hr, ,_Il.owDd. The Chairman cautioned that comments should be d_.i2ated to the Commission. 3. Mr. Eraest flliranda responded from the audience. He indicated that the adiri.nistration's recommendations lacked consideration of Chicano opinions and recommendations. B. Father Ostertag referred to action ta'.cen at an earlier meeting re- queoting information on City spendin.- of Revenue Sharing Funds. He said that he had not yet received such information and asked that a report on the status of all such funds be made available to the HRC. City Manager Bruntoa provided Father Ostertag with some information and indicated that more precise data would be made available in the near future. C. City Council members present asked for suggestions from HRC on how to improve communications and suggested an alternate meeting night. VI. The meeting was adjourned.