HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 03/13/20141
City of Fort Collins
Human Relations Commission Regular Meeting Minutes
March 13, 2014, 5:30 p.m.
CIC Room, 300 Laporte Avenue, City Hall West
Fort Collins, Colorado 80521
The Human Relations Commission promotes acceptance and respect for diversity through educational programs and
activities to discourage all forms of discrimination based on age, disability, gender, race, religion etc.
Council Liaison: Mayor Karen Weitkunat Staff Liaison: Melissa Herzog
Recorder: Michele Scalva
Commissioners Present: Colleen Conway, Myles Crane, Christy Doyon, Christine Hays, Mary Lyons, Preety Sathe
Others Present/Guests: Lin Wilder, Director Larimer County MHSA
Excused Absent: James Owiny and Victor Smith
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Crane called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
PUBLIC INPUT
The HRC received a thank you note from Ellen Philstrom, Chair, Larimer County Office on Aging Advisory Council
(LCOA), expressing gratitude to HRC for planning to provide helpful resources to the community at the bi-monthly
Informational Mental Health Forums starting April 8th. These forums are being presented in collaboration with the Poudre
River Public Library District.
GUESTS
Lin Wilder, Director, Larimer County Mental Health and Substance Abuse Partnership discussed how the Health District
and the MHSA Partnership of various community organizations address services of inclusivity for people who cannot
afford the cost of care and/or do not know where to go for their needs. Lin led an informative discussion covering topics
of mental health, substance abuse, smoking cessation, dental care and weight management issues in our community.
In the Q&A portion, Lin mentioned that bi-lingual staff are available to provide information to Spanish-speaking members
Meeting Summary:
1. Lin Wilder, Director, Larimer County Mental Health and Substance Abuse Partnership highlighted the good work of
the Health District, the MHSA Partnership and led a stimulating discussion with HRC about the state of MH services in
our community and inclusivity efforts to care for all segments of the population.
2. Initial copies of HRC’s updated brochure were distributed. The Commission is requesting the City’s certified translator
to review and translate the brochure into Spanish.
3. EOC Committee Chair Christine Hays and commissioner Mary Lyons discussed planning progress and initiatives for
the HRC’s first Informational Mental Health Forum on April 8th co-sponsored with the Poudre River Library District.
4. HRC plans to invite Mayor Weitkunat and Councilmembers to honor 2014 Human Relations Awards recipients during
a brief reception on December 2nd coinciding with the City’s Annual Proclamation for International Human Rights Day.
5. HRC discussed the B&C and State of the City meetings. The City Manager’s V-Blog was recommended viewing.
6. HRC unanimously re-elected all current officers and committee chairs to their respective positions. New HRC
members Christy Doyon and Victor Smith were appointed respectively to the Government Relations Committee and the
Media and Community Recognition Committee.
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of our community.
AGENDA REVIEW
Chair Crane asked if there were changes to the Agenda. Commissioner Hays requested to remove the Women’s
Commission, The Center from the Agenda. Also a date correction was made to the Mental Health Forums. Chair Crane
requested a motion to approve the agenda with the changes. Vice Chair Conway motioned and Commissioner Lyons
seconded, it passed 6:0.
MINUTES REVIEW
After a brief discussion and review of the Minutes, Chair Crane asked for a motion to approve the February Meeting
Minutes. Commissioner Lyons motioned and Commissioner Hays seconded, the motion passed 6:0.
BUDGET REPORT
Staff Liaison, Melissa Herzog, provided a budget handout and stated the current balance is $3,727.19. Chair Crane asked
for approval of the budget as stated. Commissioner Lyons motioned. Commissioner Sathe seconded, passed 6;0.
STANDING COMMITTEE AND LIAISON REPORTS
Executive Committee - Myles Crane and Colleen Conway
CPD/CSU
Written report emailed to the Commission prior to the meeting.
LCOA
The MH Forums schedule was distributed to the Advisory Council.
ACLU
No report.
Government Relations Committee – Preety Sathe
City Council Meetings
Recent Council meetings attended by HRC addressed public input regarding traffic challenges
for pedestrians and cyclists with the City’s growing population and related transportation issues.
Citizen Liaison Program
No report.
Educational Outreach Committee (EOC) – Christine Hays and Mary Lyons
Mental Health Forums April 8, 2014, Update
Commissioner Hays advised that she will be out of town for part of April and most of May and will not be available to
assist with organizing forums during that time, but she can facilitate if needed.
Commissioner Lyons suggested creating a “to do” list for organizing the future mental health forums. She advised
that she will draft a document for discussion at the next EOC meeting.
Members also briefly discussed confirmation of light refreshments catering for the Forums.
Commissioner Hays proposed an additional forum in 2015-2016 to address specific needs of Spanish-speaking
people in Fort Collins. HRC agreed to address this at a future EOC meeting.
SAB/ PfAFC (Partnership for Age-Friendly Communities)
A PfAFC workshop facilitated by the Center for Public Deliberation was held on February 20th with 47 participants. The
workshop was attended by Mayor Pro Tem Gerry Horak and Councilmember Lisa Poppaw. Four priority areas of
community interest were addressed: 1) mobility and access (transportation), 2) affordable housing, 3) health and
wellness, 4) culture of aging.
Many attendees volunteered to serve on self-directed work teams to identify action plans to achieve short term goals for
each of the four priority areas. PfFAC’s Steering Committee will meet on March 18th to establish self-directed
work team plans for the four priority groups and discuss further how to move forward expeditiously.
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SAB: No meeting was held on the 12th because of a calendar conflict event. The next meeting is
scheduled for March 19th.
Media and Community Recognition Committee – Myles Crane on behalf of James Owiny
HRC Marketing Brochure
Initial copies of HRC’s updated brochure were distributed. The HRC discussed a Spanish translation for the brochure.
Commissioner Lyons motioned to have a Spanish translation done by a city-approved certified translator and
Commissioner Doyon seconded. Motion was passed 6:0.
Commissioner Hays indicated that she will check rates for a potential translator whom she knows.
HRC Awards Ceremony and Reception
HRC plans to invite Mayor Weitkunat and Councilmembers to honor 2014 Human Relations Awards recipients during a
brief reception on December 2nd coinciding with the City’s Annual Proclamation for International Human Rights Day.
Staff Liaison Melissa Herzog agreed to follow-up logistical planning with the Boards and Commissions and discuss
date and time location in the CIC room if available for this awards presentation event.
Commissioner Hays suggested also honoring the award recipients at a dinner.
As a recent member to the HRC, Commissioner Doyon requested some background information about the awards.
Commission Lyons provided a brief history and current status of the annual event.
OLD BUSINESS
Committee Assignments and Elections
Commissioner Doyon volunteered to join the Government Relations Committee and Commissioner Smith to join the
Media and Community Recognition Committee. Commissioner Lyons agreed to continue serving on the
Educational Outreach Committee.
Commissioner Lyons motioned to approve the following officer and committee chair nominations:
Myles Crane, HRC Chair; Colleen Conway, HRC Vice Chair; Christine Hays, Educational Outreach Committee
Chair; James Owiny, Media and Community Recognition Committee Chair; Preety Sathe, Government Relations
Committee Chair. Commissioner Sathe seconded the motion which was passed unanimously 6:0. Prior to
the elections both Commissioners Owiny and Smith emailed their support of the nomination slate.
Boards and Commissions meeting
HRC was represented by Commissioner Hays, Commissioner Lyons and Chair Crane.
A follow-up meeting will be scheduled by the City later in 2014.
State of the City meeting
Presentations by the Mayor and City Manager are online. Social sustainability issues were addressed.
HRC Meeting Speakers
Chair Crane requested input for inviting future speakers.
Commissioner Owiny may be extending an invitation to a speaker from CSU for April. Commissioner Doyon plans
to invite Edgar Dominguez from Vida Sana, for May. Commissioner Lyons indicated that she would like to invite
Coloradoan reporter, Sarah Jane Kyle, for June. Chair Crane agreed to invite a representative from FCPD in September
to provide HRC training for the Citizens Liaison Program. Commissioner Hays motioned to approve the above proposed
speaker agenda and not to have any speakers during the period October-December because of the intensity of HRC’s work
schedule during the final three months of the year. Commissioner Sathe seconded, it passed 5:0. Commissioner Doyon
abstained.
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HRC Committee Budget Analysis
A handout approved by the Executive Committee was distributed and reviewed.
A commemorative plaque for about $120 was discussed and then motioned for approval by Commissioner Sathe and
seconded by Commissioner Lyons, passed 6:0. Commissioner Hays volunteered to follow-up.
NEW BUSINESS
Darin V-blog March 2014
Chair Crane recommended the City Manager’s YouTube video blog for HRC viewing
since it addresses issues pertaining to affordable housing, traffic and parking.
UPCOMING Events/Announcements
Commissioner Sathe mentioned Light of Hope by CASA of Larimer County on the morning of
April 8th.
CLOSING/Call for Adjournment
Vice Chair Conway motioned to adjourn and Commissioner Sathe seconded, passed 6:0. Meeting adjourned at 7:48 p.
m.
The next HRC regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 10th at 5:30 p.m. in the CIC room.
A list of handouts provided and/or passed around at the meeting:
Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Partnership of Larimer County: Priorities – Lin Wilder
HRC 2014 Budget report – Staff Liaison
HRC Committtee Budget Review – Executive Committee
Mental Health Informational Forums flyer – Educational Outreach Committee
HRC Brochure – Staff Liaison