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Home My WebLink AboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 08/09/2007FORT COLLINS HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION Regular Meeting — August 9, 2007 5:30 p.m. IlCouncil Liaison: Lisa Poppaw 11 Staff Liaison: Rebecca O'Donnell 11 IlChairperson: Maryanne Ingratta 11 II A regular meeting of the Human Relations Commission was held on Thursday, August 9, 2007 in the CIC Room, 300 W. Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Kelly Evans Maryanne Ingratta Cristina Matsushima James Ross Karen Wong -Brown EXCUSED ABSENCES: Paige Backlund-Jarquin Elaine Boni Joann Ginal Maya Jairam STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Rebecca O'Donnell, Staff Liaison Angelina Sanchez -Sprague, Recorder 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 5:32 p.m. PUBLIC INPUT. None. GUEST SPEAKER. Kelly Evans, newest member of the HRC, was in attendance and was welcomed by the Commission. Kelly shared some information about herself --she is a native of Fort Collins and a part time CSU student in History/Political Science. She has been looking for an opportunity to serve as a volunteer in the community and was favorably impressed with the HRC's interactions with City Council she'd observed on Cable 14. 3. AGENDA REVIEW No changes were made to the agenda as proposed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Cristina Matsushima made a motion to approve the July 12th HRC Minutes. Karen Wong -Brown seconded the motion. The minutes were approved 5:0. BUDGET REPORT/APPROVED EXPENDITURES No report HRC August 9, 2007 — Page 2 4. COMMITTEE REPORTS Executive/Maryanne. Maryanne reported that both she and Elaine attended the July 24`h City Council work session in which they did a periodic review of several Boards & Commissions. Elaine provided an overview of the work the Commission had been doing. City Council members had an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback. Maryanne invited them to call on the Commission more. Council member Manvel asked if they could help on issues related to immigration —Maryanne responded yes. No follow up was required. Government Relations/Elaine. In Elaine's absence, Maryanne was requested to distribute Police Patrol ride -along sign up forms to HRC members. Cristina recapped last month's HRC meeting discussion on the subject of the Citizen Liaison Program, stating that a consensus was reached that if after marketing the Citizen Liaison Program, and its use was still low the Commission would reevaluate. • Education/Community Outreach/Maya & Karen. James reported that he has been working with City staff to establish a Holiday Display Task Force meeting time, and the Task Force will meet every Wednesday from 5:00 to 6:30 beginning August 22, 2007. Karen reported the Committee would like to have quarterly Community Round - tables on topics of interest to the community starting in 2008. James suggested the use of resources available through the Center for Public Deliberation. CSU students are being trained as facilitators for just such an event. He suggests we pursue the idea of tapping into the services available through them. Public Relations & Community Recognition/Cristina. Cristina reported the committee had been working with Becky to finalize changes to the on-line nomination form that will be posted on the web at www.fcgov.com/hra. The form can be completed on-line, emailed, faxed, and mailed to Becky. Cristina acknowledged the footwork Elaine did to gather the 2007 nominations. She expects that in addition to the on-line nomination form, some footwork will be required for the 2008 nomination process. Becky was asked to see if a link to HRA award could be placed on the City Home page FCGOV.com continuously while they accept applications throughout the year. James will take the lead on identifying sources in the media, including the Coloradoan where non -profits can post regular meeting times/invitations to nominate Human Rights Award recipients. Maryanne asked the Committee to consider a publicity program and to bring their ideas to the next regular HRC meeting. 5. OLD BUSINESS • Tag Line for Business Cards In the coming month James will follow-up on tag lines suggestions that might lend themselves well to properly translated Spanish tag lines and share that feedback with other members. HRC August 9, 2007 — Page 3 6. NEW BUSINESS • Speaker for City Council Meeting There are not timely topics at this point to share with City Council at their August meeting. Maryanne asked members to kept their eyes and ears open for appropriate topics for Council consideration. Holiday Display Task Force (HDTF). As mentioned earlier James Ross is the HRC representative on the Holiday Display Task Force. The task force is set to meet weekly on Wednesdays from 5-6:30 p.m. between August 22 and October 31. Maryanne invited Commission members to share their ideas to forge a HRC position on the question in the spirit of what the HRC stands for. Members who'd researched the topic on the internet found the question and issues are similar to what other communities have experienced. They imagine the work of the HDTF will be, in part to: • identify the range of issues to allow Fort Collins to begin to lay the groundwork: • foster trust to begin the dialogue, • facilitate the discussion of the complex issues without bitterness and animosity, • come to consensus on the recommendation to City Council. James suggested an article be written to frame the debate of the holiday display. He'll draft an article and bring it to a special meeting of the HRC for review and approval prior to submittal to the Coloradoan. It was suggested that Councilmember Poppaw receive an email copy of the article in advance of the newspaper release. Boulder HRC's support of non -citizen Board & Commission members. James reported that Boulder Human Relations Commission was considering support of legal residents (not US citizens) for membership on Boulder's Boards & Commissions. He'll get more background information on specifics, as well as, what the arguments are (for and against), and what measures will be recommended; and he will bring that information to the HRC for their consideration. 7. UPCOMING EVENTS 2007 Education Committee Meeting 5:30 at La dolce vita August 7, Tuesday City Council Meeting CANCELLED August 9, Thursday Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. August 20, Monday PR/Community Recognition 6:30 p.m. Coopersmiths CANCELLED August 21,Tuesday City Council Meeting (Joann) 4, Tuesday City Council Meeting (Maryanne) September 6, Thursday I Education Committee Meeting 5:30 at La dolce vita September 13, Thursday Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. September 17, Monday Recognition 6:30 p.m. Coopersmiths September 18, Tuesday City Council Meeting September 25-27 CSU Diversity Conference is September 25-27. HRC August 9, 2007 — Page 4 October 2, Tuesday City Council Meeting October 4, Thursday Education Committee Meeting 5:30 at La dolce vita 9 October 11, Thursday Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. October 15, Monday PR/Community Recognition 6:30 p.m. Coopersmiths October 16, Tuesday City Council Meeting November 1, Thursday Education Committee Meeting 5:30 at La dolce vita November 6, Tuesday City Council Meeting Holiday Display Task Force Recommendations November 8, Thursday Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. Work Plan must be finalized. November 19, Monday PR/Community Recognition 6:30 p.m. Coopersmiths November 20, Tuesday City Council Meeting December 6, Thursday Education Committee Meeting 5:30 at La dolce vita December 13, Thursday Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. December 17, Monday PR/Community Recognition 6:30 p.m. Coopersmiths 8. ADJOURNMENT. The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m. R#1ecca O'Donnell, aff Liaison