HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 08/14/20141
City of Fort Collins
Human Relations Commission Regular Meeting Minutes
August 14, 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 (absent) Interim Staff Liaison: Christine Macrina
Recorder: Michele Scalva
Commissioners Present: Colleen Conway, Myles Crane, Christine Hays, James Owiny, Preety Sathe and Victor Smith
Others Present/Guests: Lieutenant Mike Trombley, Fort Collins Police Department, Professional Standards
Excused Absent: Christy Doyon and Mary Lyons
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting commenced promptly at 5:30 PM.
PUBLIC INPUT
No public input.
AGENDA REVIEW
Chair Crane asked if there were changes to the Agenda. He mentioned that the City’s Civic Engagement Liaison
was unable to attend the meeting. Therefore her proposal under New Business was tabled to the September 11th meeting.
Commissioner Hays requested time to discuss additional issues under Old Business and New Business.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chair Crane asked for a motion to approve the July HRC Meeting Minutes. Vice Chair Conway motioned for approval
and Commissioner Hays seconded. The motion passed 6:0.
Meeting Highlights Summary:
1. FCPS Professional Standards Lieutenant Mike Trombley provided the Commission with requisite training
for the Citizens Liaison Program. The police program included training assistance and documentation in
English and Spanish for: residents to file complaints; commissioners to understand the functions of the City’s
Citizen Review Board; and commissioners to participate in the ride-along program as required for HRC
Citizen Liaison certification.
2. EOC Chair Christine Hays led an after-action review of the HRC’s successful mental health forum
coordinated by Commissioner Preety Sathe in co-sponsorship with the Poudre River Public Library District.
With a suicide occurring on average every six days in Larimer County, the Coloradoan’s reporting of this
Forum as a news event helped draw 49 engaged attendees who interacted with dynamic presenters from the
Alliance for Suicide Prevention. The next community Forum on October 14th will address mental health
issues impacting our community’s public school system.
3. The HRC applauded M&CR Chair James Owiny and commissioner Vic Smith, and city employees Christine
Macrina, Ana Arias and Becca Henry for their excellent collaboration in producing a Spanish-translation of
the HRC brochure.
4. M&CR Chair James Owiny addressed the HRC Fall Awards and scheduled a Standing Committee meeting to
review process details.
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BUDGET REPORT
Staff Liaison Macrina provided a budget report with a stated balance of $1,843.55. A $175 reimbursement is anticipated
for HRC’s collaboration with the Senior Advisory Board on Elder Law Day. City staff are working on reconciling a few
other pending charges. Chair Crane asked for approval of the budget as stated. Commissioner Owiny motioned for
approval and Commissioner Sathe seconded. It was approved 6:0.
GUEST SPEAKER PRESENTATION
FCPS Professional Standards presenter Lieutenant Mike Trombley reviewed his responsibilities pertaining internal affairs,
hiring and training. He provided HRC with its requisite Citizens Liaison Program training. The program encompassed
training assistance and documentation in English and Spanish for: residents to file complaints; commissioners to
understand the functions of the City’s Citizen Review Board; and commissioners to participate in the ride-along program
as required for HRC Citizen Liaison certification.
Complaints can be made in person, by telephone, completing the complaint packet (hard copy or e-version found on the
Police Services website), or emailing: internalaffairs@fcgov.com. Complaints can also be taken through the Citizen
Review Board (CRB). The process sequence is: 1) Complaint, 2) Evaluation, 3) Investigation, 4) Chain of command
review, 5) Chief makes the decision. Complaints are classified as: 1) Performance Complaint, 2) Level 1 Internal Affairs
Investigation, and 3) Level 2 Investigation.
Officer Trombley provided Commissioners with a sample complaint packet and reviewed each document.
The timeframe for resolving complaints depends on the complaint classification and could take up to five months.
The CRB investigates complaints filed and also in any instance an officer uses deadly force.
HRC members can request a police car ride along by calling 970-221-6555. Scheduling may take up to four weeks.
Q & A discussion included:
For any concern about a lack of police presence, one can calling dispatch and asking to speak to a supervisor.
Access Fort Collins on the City’s website may be used for stating concerns.
There is a penalty for false reporting and it is a misdemeanor to do so.
If you are helping someone file a complaint, Officer Trombley suggested including your name and contact
information on the complaint form.
Bi-lingual complaint packets are available and can be picked up at Atzlan Center and other locations. Chair Crane
mentioned that on the right corner of the City’s official website below the Search box and under CONTACT US
is a Select Language drop down menu in which complaint forms as well as all other information listed on the
website can be immediately translated into Spanish or eighty (80) other languages with just two quick clicks.
Chair Crane also commented that for someone unfamiliar with the Police Services site layout, to locate the link
for filing complaints may be somewhat confusing. A few years ago there was a plain link to “File a complaint”.
While the revised Police Services site today very clearly, accurately and completely presents complaint process
information, instructions and forms, a third party user must first need to know that filing a complaint requires
choosing the Menu option “Online Services”, one of six menu options on the right side of the screen, then
clicking “Comments on Employee Conduct” which is one of 45 information options listed under those six menu
headings. Nowhere is it mentioned in those menu choices “File a Complaint or Compliment”. There was some
discussion with Officer Trombley about how the complaint process online link might be made more easily
accessible for the public. Officer Trombley subsequently responded that FCPS periodically re-evaluates content
and layout within the FCPS website, and this issue is on the list for discussion in the near future.
Officer Trombley strongly encouraged commissioners to call if they ever have questions. He provided his
business card and a colleague’s card.
The HRC expressed appreciation and gratitude to FCPS for coordinating their training.
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STANDING COMMITTEE AND LIAISON REPORTS
Executive Committee: Myles Crane and Colleen Conway
CPD/CSU:
No scheduled classes at this time during break
LCOA:
The State Legislature is considering ten pieces of legislation that deal with Senior issues. Chair Crane circulated a
summary spreadsheet of the proposed bills.
ACLU:
No report.
Government Relations Committee: – Preety Sathe and Christy Doyon
City Council Meetings:
GRC Chair Sathe reported cancellation of the regularly scheduled Council meeting for August 5th.
Citizen Liaison Program:
GRC Chair Sathe noted that the HRC’s Citizen Liaison Program training for 2014 was completed at this HRC meeting
courtesy of Lieutenant Trombley’s presentation.
Educational Outreach Committee (EOC): Christine Hays and Mary Lyons
After Action Review August 12th Forum:
There were 49 in attendance. Comments received from attendees was all very positive.
EOC Chair Hays asked if there were any concerns or suggestions for improvement that the Commissioners wanted to
discuss. Feedback included the following:
1. Commissioner Sathe stated that planning the August Forum went well and she had support from other
Commissioners in preparing and conducting the event.
2. Chair Crane suggested distributing a brief event flyer before each forum for promotional purposes with speaker
information and photo. For the Coloradoan, Chair Crane recommended that “calendar” information be sent to Eric
Larson, Editor-of-Content, at least one week in advance of the requested publication date.
3. Commissioner Owiny noted the AV system’s portable microphones may need replacement batteries.
EOC Chair Hays said that she will address this with Harmony Library Staff.
4. One forum audience member reported to EOC Chair Hays over-hearing disruptive and inappropriate comments
about the presentation topic by one audience participant. EOC Chair Hays suggested that HRC members in
attendance might want to sit alongside audience attendees for up-coming Forums to monitor for potential
disruptions. All commissioners concurred with this recommendation.
5. As some presenters have a tendency to speak rapidly, EOC Chair Hays suggested asking future presenters to
consider speaking at a more moderate pace to help attendees better follow the information being presented.
6. Commissioners also discussed how to support attendees in getting responses to their questions when time has
elapsed at the end of the Forums.
EOC Chair Hays invited HRC members to assist as needed when she is facilitating the Forums. In particular, she
expressed gratitude for HRC support in those instances if there is any inadvertent omission
of information for the audience.
Senior Advisory Board (SAB)/and Partnership for Age-Friendly Communities Coalition (PfAFCC):
Chair Crane reported that the SAB is diligently working on selecting a candidate.
The Partnership is planning a full-day training for volunteer work teams in the four tasked areas of the Coalition.
Women’s Commission:
No report.
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Senior Law Day:
Over 400 people attended and each attendee received an HRC Mental Health Forum flyer in their event packets.
Media and Community Recognition Committee: James Owiny and Victor Smith
HRC Information Brochure: Spanish Translation Complete:
M&CR Chair Owiny reported that the brochures have been completed and are being distributed.
HRC Awards Event Update:
M&CR Chair Owiny scheduled the next Standing Committee meeting for August 21st, 5:30 PM at Whole Foods Café.
OLD BUSINESS
June 30th Minutes Distributed:
Minutes of the meeting at Tres Colonias were distributed as designated on a timely basis.
Other Per Commissioners Input:
Commissioner Hays discussed the HRC front page brochure mock-ups previously done by the City graphic artist.
Specifically, one of the mock-ups had a more diverse profile, in age and gender, of people (than the current brochure front
page graphic does). On future brochures, Commissioner Hays suggested changing the front page to the more diverse
profile graphic. Staff Liaison Macrina will contact the graphic artist to inquire about this.
Commissioner Hays expressed some concern about committing to a Spanish-speaking Mental Health Forum before HRC
was fully prepared to host the event. Chair Crane mentioned that the City’s Civic Engagement Liaison was planning to
attend the September meeting and that she will propose options for the HRC’s consideration regarding this matter. Further
discussion was tabled to the September meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
B&C Super Issue Meeting, August 25th:
Staff Liaison Macrina reported that he meeting would cover the Building on Basics (BOB) program, and whether the City
would like to request an extension from tax-payers. She also addressed efforts to align the work of Boards and
Commissions with City Council and to better utilize community members’ knowledge and talents in Council and City
work.
Chair Crane requested that Staff Liaison Macrina share with City managers and officials that when HRC and most likely
members of other B&C’s attend, they would be participating as individuals. Any opinions expressed or votes taken should
not be stated as representing the HRC Board because the HRC is required first to meet, discuss and then vote on any
motions for positions or actions taken.
Proposal by Civic Engagement Liaison:
This was tabled to September 11th
Other Per commissioners’ Input:
Commissioners discussed that it may be helpful for the general community if there is a clearer link on the Police Services
website for how to file complaints. Commissioner Sathe asked about the most effective ways to suggest this change. After
discussion, the Commissioners agreed that Commissioner Sathe and Chair Crane would make an informal suggestion for
the change to the CRB.
Commissioner Hays asked if the Media Committee could strategize how to further promote the Mental Health Forums to
the general public.
Commissioner Hays inquired about how to share information with Commissioners not in attendance at regular and/or
committee meetings. Chair Crane agreed to contact individuals when appropriate to offer support for keeping up-to-date.
Commissioner Sathe stated she will send Staff Liaison Macrina the schedule of Commissioners attending City Council
meetings.
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UPCOMING Events/Announcements
Per commissioners’ input:
None stated.
CLOSING/Call for Adjournment
Commissioner Hays motioned to adjourn. Commissioner Sathe seconded. It passed 6:0. The meeting adjourned at
7:27 PM.
The next HRC regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 11th at 5:30 PM in the CIC room.
Meeting Hand-outs:
Police Services officers’ business cards
Police Services complaint packet
Budget report