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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 03/10/20161 City of Fort Collins Human Relations Commission (HRC) March 10, 2016, 5:30 pm Meeting Minutes Location: City Clerk’s Conference Room, City Hall West, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521 Council Liaison: Council Member Bob Overbeck Staff Liaison: Beth Sowder Recorder: Michele Scalva Present: Colleen Conway, Myles Crane, Johanna Ulloa Girón, Joseph D. Leske, Jimena Sagas, Preety Sathe, Victor Smith, Nancy Tellez, and Mary Vivo Absent: None Guest Presenter and Community Members: Presenter: David Rout, Executive Director of Homeless Gear and Community Members: Jenny Pickett, Veterans’ Compass of Northern Colorado and Steve Goering attending for general interest. CALL TO ORDER The meeting commenced at 5:30 pm. PUBLIC INPUT Jenny Pickett introduced herself and highlighted the services of the Veterans’ Compass of Northern Colorado. GUEST SPEAKER PRESENTATION David Rout provided an operational outline of the Murphy Center including: It is operated by a four-agency partner council; Bohemian Foundation is the largest financial contributor; United Way of Larimer County is the fiscal agent; Homeless Gear oversees the staff and service delivery; 10+ partnering agencies are represented for support options; and Murphy Center guests are served through collaborative case management. An information hand-out of the Murphy Center’s six programs was provided. Guest use of the Murphy Center has increased each month from December 2015. It is open weekdays 8- 11:30am for walk-in services. AGENDA REVIEW The meeting agenda was reviewed and unanimously approved. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The February meeting minutes were unanimously approved. BUDGET REPORT The current budget report and available balance of $3,190 were reviewed and unanimously approved. Meeting Highlights Summary 1. David Rout, Executive Director of Homeless Gear, update the HRC on the Murphy Center. 2. The HRC postponed a memo to Council re: the Camping Ordinance. 3. HRC reviewed the March 9, 2016, forum Ethnicity in the Media, and made plans for the next presentation, Gender Identity and Roles, that will be on June 8, 2016. 4. HRC officers and committee chairs were elected. 2 MEETING BUSINESS HRC Webpage Diversity Survey Commissioners discussed survey use and applicability. Commissioners will email suggested changes to the survey to Commissioner Ulloa Girón who will draft a revision for review. Camping Ordinance Memo to Council Since City Council has postponed a discussion of the camping ordinance, a motion to delay writing a memo to Council regarding camping ordinance revisions was unanimously approved. Liaison Sowder will email the Point In Time Count Report to commissioners. March 3rd Forum Follow-up There was a culturally diverse audience with 47 attendees and positive feedback was received. A motion by EOC Chair Sagás to provide $15 gift certificates to youth assisting with activities in the educational forums was unanimously approved. The next Educational Outreach Forum is June 8th; Gender Identity and Roles with presenter Toni Zimmerman. Election of Officers and Committee Chairs The proposed slate of officers, committee chairs and co-chairs was approved by 8 commissioners. Commissioner Vivo was absent for the vote. Joseph Leske and Nancy Tellez will co-chair the Government Relations Committee; Jimena Sagás and Johanna Ulloa Girón will co-chair the Educational Outreach Committee; Mary Vivo will continue to chair the Media and Community Recognition Committee, Colleen Conway will continue as HRC Vice Chair and Vic Smith was elected for another term as HRC Chair. Commissioner Input Re: Future Involvements, Speakers Chair Smith welcomed input on agenda topics and guest speaker planning. Street Outreach Program Review and Nashville Research The City’s homeless outreach services program, Outreach Fort Collins, plans to be operational in May. Liaison Sowder will email a program description. City Staff traveled to Nashville to learn about the Room in the Inn model and are exploring its applicability to Fort Collins. Liaison Sowder shared highlights. Other per Commissioners Commissioner Crane’s motion to send a thank you memo to Council for their efforts to make Fort Collins an inclusive community was unanimously approved. Commissioner Ulloa Girón highlighted local library activities to serve a diverse community population. Chair Smith provided an update on the community conversations project re: diversity, equity and inclusion. STANDING COMMITTEE AND LIAISON REPORTS Executive Committee (EC): Updates are emailed. Government Relations Committee (GR): Updates are emailed. 3 Educational Outreach Committee (EOC): See “March 3rd Forum Follow-up” above. Committee updates are emailed. Media & Community Recognition Committee (M&CR): Commissioner Crane emailed a liaison report. Committee updates are emailed. UPCOMING Events/Announcements Department of Social Sustainability The City hired a staff member to facilitate service delivery to Special Agency Session Court participants. Other per Commissioners Commissioners Sagás and Ulloa Girón will coordinate thank you notes for educational forum guest presenters. Commissioner Tellez will send thank you email notes to community guests attending HRC meetings. CLOSING/Call for Adjournment Commissioners unanimously approved adjournment at 7:55 pm. Next HRC meeting is Thursday, April 14th at 5:30 pm in the City Clerk’s Conference Room, garden level of City Hall.