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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 02/13/20141 City of Fort Collins Human Relations Commission Regular Meeting Minutes February 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, James Owiny, Preety Sathe and Victor Smith Others Present/Guests: Valerie Macri-Lind and Saja Hindi, ChildSafe; Taylor Keast, city staff; Abheet Sathe, student; Christine Macrina, FC Boards and Commissions Coordinator Excused Absent: James Owiny for early departure CALL TO ORDER Chair Crane called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. PUBLIC INPUT No public present. AGENDA REVIEW Chair Crane acknowledged a motion from Commissioner Sathe to move Commissioner Owiny’s presentation up the agenda. Commissioner Lyons seconded and motion passed 7:0. GUESTS Commissioner Owiny presented Valerie Macri-Lind, Executive Director, ChildSafe, with a certificate for her Organization’s 2013 Human Relations award nomination. Valerie and her associate Saja Hindi then discussed how ChildSafe addresses the needs of survivors of child sexual abuse and trauma through a unique program of comprehensive community-based response. Commissioner Doyon arrived at 5:38 p.m. Meeting Summary: James Owiny, Chair, Media and Community Recognition Committee, recognized Valerie Macri-Lind, Executive Director, ChildSafe, with a certificate for their organization's nomination for the 2013 Human Relations Award. Ms. Macri-Lind and her colleague Saja Hindi from ChildSafe then discussed ChildSafe’s unique comprehensive community-based response to child sexual abuse. 2. The final draft of the Commission’s brochure was approved unanimously to include the revised verbiage: “The HRC promotes acceptance and respect for diversity and discourages all forms of discrimination based on race, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, cultural heritage, and so forth." 3. Christine Hays, Chair, Educational Outreach Committee, provided ongoing guidance regarding the HRC’s upcoming series of mental health forums. She also thanked student Abheet Sathe who attended the meeting for his diligent volunteer work designing flyers for the eight forums which are being presented in partnership with the Poudre River Library District. A copy of the HRC’s flyer is attached to these Minutes. 2 MINUTES REVIEW Chair Crane asked if there was a motion to approve the January 9th, 2014, minutes. Commissioner Owiny requested a date correction pertaining to International Human Rights Day and HRC’s planned Awards on December 2nd, 2014. Commissioner Hays motioned for approval of the Minutes with amendments. Commissioner Owiny seconded the motion and it passed 8:0. BUDGET REPORT Staff Liaison, Melissa Herzog reported that the budget recorded to date was $4,041.15. Chair Crane asked for an approval of the budget as presented by the staff liaison. Commissioner Lyons motioned for budget approval, Commissioner Owiny seconded and it passed 8:0. STANDING COMMITTEE AND LIAISON REPORTS Media and Community Recognition Committee - James Owiny HRC Marketing Brochure Commissioner Owiny presented the brochure’s final draft and led discussion concerning its content and print quantity. Commissioner Doyon suggested the words “sexual orientation” be added. Commissioner Hays recommended printing 1,000 brochures. After discussion, Chair Crane asked for a motion to approve the brochure with the proposed added verbiage and recommended print quantity. Commissioner Hays so motioned and Commissioner Lyons seconded. It passed 8:0. HRC Awards Ceremony and Reception Commissioner Lyons shared feedback she had received about how the HRC awards had been presented at previous events. Discussion and brainstorming followed about format and location for the awards and reception. Chair Crane suggested inviting City Council and local press. FC B&C Coordinator Christine Macrina, suggested securing an event date immediately and inviting Council, to provide them with as much advanced notice as possible for scheduling on their calendars. Commissioner Owiny motioned to book the CIC room for the 2014 HRC Awards. It was seconded by Commissioner Hays and passed 8:0. Melissa Herzog will follow-up on scheduling the room and will report back to HRC. Commissioner Owiny left the meeting at 6:25 p.m. Executive Committee - Myles Crane and Colleen Conway CPD/CSU The Center for Public Deliberation will be facilitating upcoming meetings for Partnership for Age-Friendly Communities, and the City’s Boards and Commissions meeting. LCOA Chair Crane reported that the LCOA Tax Write-Off Work Program had in the past month106 applicants with 103 successful job matches for qualifying seniors to work off a portion of their property taxes. Government Relations Committee – Preety Sathe City Council Meetings Commissioner Sathe circulated a calendar of City Council meeting dates available for HRC member sign up to attend. Commissioner Sathe requested each commissioner to attend at least one meeting and sign up for additional meetings as they are interested. Citizen Liaison Program Commissioner Sathe prepared a Citizen Liaison Program memo for city attorney’s office review. Educational Outreach Committee – Christine Hays and Mary Lyons Mental Health Forums Commissioner Hays presented six posters designed by student Abheet Sathe for HRC review. After discussion, Commissioner Lyons motioned for approval of one of the posters with Commissioners Sathe and Hays to complete final edits. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Doyon and passed 7:0. Commissioner Hays advised that catering will be approximately $225 per forum. She requested a motion to authorize her to coordinate the catering with the established vendor Commissioner Lyons motioned for Commissioner Hays to have approval to make the necessary refreshment arrangements based on an estimated attendance of 50 and Vice Chair Conway seconded, It passed 7:0. 3 Commissioner Hays scheduled an Education Outreach meeting for March 4th, 2014, 5:30 p.m. at Whole Foods. She also reported that she and Commissioner Lyons will meet with Ken Draves, Deputy Director, Poudre River Library District on February 24th to clarify any outstanding issues with the scheduled Mental Health Forums. They will also confirm that the public library will partner with HRC in sponsoring the Mental Health Forums. Additionally, Commissioner Hays also offered to introduce and/or facilitate any of the forums if HRC members wished her to do so. Commissioner Hays followed up on an earlier email request to send the Mayor a complimentary e-copy of the “Mayor’s Resource Guide on Behavioral Health Issues” published by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). A motion was made by Vice Chair Conway and seconded by Commissioner Lyons, passed 7:0. SAB and Partnerships for Age-Friendly Communities Commissioner Lyons announced a workshop scheduled for February 20th, 2014, with 47 attendees planned. The Partnerships for Age-Friendly Communities discussion will focus on four issues for seniors: access and mobility, affordable housing, health and wellness, and the culture of aging. OLD BUSINESS Social Sustainability Gap Analysis Chair Crane stated that he had emailed this analysis on February 12th, and reiterated its relevance to HRC’s work. HRC City Priorities 2014-2018 Vice Chair Conway referred to the City Priorities handout provided at the start of the meeting and asked for feedback. Commissioner Lyons motioned to send the HRC’s three stated priorities to the City’s Communications Director and it was seconded by Commissioner Sathe, passed 7:0. HRC line item budget Discussion of this item is scheduled for March 13th meeting. NEW BUSINESS Boards and Commissions meeting Feb. 24th Chair Crane encouraged HRC attendance and participation at the upcoming meeting. He also recommended attending the State of the City on February 26th. Community Life Centers Commissioner Doyon highlighted their purpose is to connect individuals in need with the resources that would benefit them. Community Life Centers have been established in Fort Collins and recently in Loveland. HRC March Elections & Committee Assignments Chair Crane asked commissioners Doyon and Smith to consider which committees they would like to participate. He polled members concerning if they would like to continue in their current roles. All affirmed their wish to continue. Elections will be held on March 13th. Discussion of Personal Email to an HRC member Chair Crane initiated discussion on an alleged instance of potential racial profiling presented via a personal email to HRC member Doyon. The Commission acknowledged that this issue has been communicated to the City Manager. After further discussion Commissioner Hays motioned that Commissioner Doyon should send an email response on a personal basis to the associate who had communicated the alleged instance to her. Vice Chair Conway seconded. It passed 7:0. Other per HRC Member Requests None reported. 4 UPCOMING EVENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS Prior to leaving the meeting, Commissioner Owiny circulated a flyer listing events recognizing Black History Month in February that are being sponsored by CSU Morgan Library. The library will continue to offer diversity presentations throughout 2014. Commissioner Owiny suggested inviting a representative from Morgan Library to an HRC meeting to talk about their program and asked for Commission members’ support. HRC fully supported this invitation and agreed to discuss speaker invitations at its March 13th meeting. Commissioner Hays suggested that guest speakers be limited to one speaker per meeting. Commissioner Sathe motioned the same with any exceptions being made by HRC in advance. Commissioner Lyons seconded and it passed 7:0. MEETING SUMMARY Chair Crane summarized the highlights which are on the first page of these Minutes. CLOSING Commissioner Lyons motioned to adjourn and it was seconded by Commissioner Hays AND passed 7:0. The meeting adjourned at 7:31 p.m. The next HRC regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 13th at 5:30 p.m. in the CIC room. A list of handouts provided at the meeting:  Hard copy of January 9th, 2014, Meeting Minutes  HRC suggestions for City Priorities, 2014-2018  ChildSafe brochure