HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 11/13/20141
City of Fort Collins
Human Relations Commission Regular Meeting Minutes
November 13, 2014, 5:30 PM
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 Interim Staff Liaison: Christine Macrina
Recorder: Michele Scalva
Commissioners Present: Colleen Conway, Myles Crane, Christine Hays, Mary Lyons, James Owiny, and Victor Smith
Guest Presenters/Citizens: Dan Weinheimer, FC Policy and Project Manager and citizens Joseph Leske, CPD and Mary
Vivo
Excused Absent: Christy Doyon and Preety Sathe
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting commenced promptly at 5:30 PM.
PUBLIC INPUT
None.
AGENDA REVIEW
Chair Crane asked if there were changes to the agenda. There were none and it was approved for the meeting.
Meeting Highlights Summary:
1. The Commission commended City Council for swiftly approving an emergency ordinance that
allows a temporary winter overflow shelter for women effective immediately until March 2015.
HRC also welcomed back Interim Staff Liaison Christine Macrina and unanimously expressed
gratitude for her exceptional meeting preparation as well as her invaluable input and helpfulness
during HRC meetings.
2. Guest Speaker Dan Weinheimer, FC Policy and Project Manager presented the Commission with a
brief overview and answered commissioners’ questions about the 2015 Legislative Agenda.
3. The Commission approved its 2015 Work Plan with priority outcomes focused on Community and
Neighborhood Livability and High Performing Government. The HRC authorized filing of the Plan
with the City Clerk prior to November 30th. The HRC also reviewed a preliminary discussion draft
of its 2014 Annual Report.
4. M&CR Chair James Owiny discussed final plans for presenting the televised Human Relations
Awards with Mayor Weitkunat and councilmembers on December 2nd.
5. Four speakers have been confirmed for the HRC’s January 13, 2015 community event on PTSD at
the Harmony/Shields Library at 7 PM. This will be the 5th in an 8-part highly acclaimed series of
Mental Health Forums which are co-sponsored with the Poudre River Public Library District.
6. The Commission approved support of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, 2015 as well
as its continuing support of the Partnership for Age-Friendly Communities of Larimer County.
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APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chair Crane asked for a motion to approve the September HRC meeting minutes. Commissioner Hays motioned for
approval. Commissioner Lyons seconded and it passed 6:0.
BUDGET REPORT
Interim Staff Liaison Macrina provided a budget report with a stated balance of $1611.77 to spend in the remaining year.
She is working with the accounting department to keep unspent 2014 dollars.
Chair Crane requested a motion to approve the budget. Commissioner Lyons motioned for budget approval and
Commissioner Hays seconded. It passed 6:0.
GUEST SPEAKER PRESENTATION – Dan Weinheimer, FC Policy and Project Manager
Dan handles the City’s Federal and State advocacy and provided an overview of the 2015 Legislative Policy Agenda. In
this last year, the Department of Social Sustainability was added to the City. The City continues to address priorities such
as improving blighted areas through the Urban Renewal Authority and taking a comprehensive approach to poverty and
homelessness. The City has been working with the Federal Government on train noise with the focus area being CSU and
to the north. Other issues being addressed include marijuana use and additional Council priorities.
Q & A:
There is a process to review active legislative issues with Council members. Future planned sources for keeping apprised
of legislative issues include improvements to the City’s website for conveying updates and possibly a blog.
Chair Crane suggested that the City should consider soliciting boards and commissions feedback on selected
legislative issues where such input would be of potential value.
STANDING COMMITTEE AND LIAISON REPORTS
Executive Committee (EC)
CPD/CSU:
Chair Crane announced that CPD will host a public meeting on November 15th on neighborhood community leadership.
LCOA:
Chair Crane distributed the Office on Aging annual report and some additional materials from
the LCOA meeting which he attended earlier in the day
Chair Crane has been asked to participate in planning an event for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15th.
Commissioner Lyons voiced support and motioned for HRC Chair Crane to be a Commission representative. Vice Chair
Conway suggested moving continued discussion under New Business and all agreed.
ACLU:
No report.
B & C Appreciation:
Chair Crane reported that the City’s event was successful and encouraged increased HRC representation next year.
Interim Staff Liaison Macrina said she received a lot of positive feedback and encouraged attendance since it is the City’s
way of saying “thank you” to members of Boards and Commissions.
Government Relations Committee (GR)
City Council Meetings:
No report.
Citizen Liaison Program/Citizen Review Board:
No report.
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Educational Outreach Committee (EOC)
Status of Jan 13, 2015 Mental Health Forum:
Chair Crane circulated a draft soapbox for HRC discussion and approval prior to proposed publication in the Coloradoan
to promote the January Mental Health Forum on PTSD. He mentioned that there might be subsequent editing but that the
substance of the soapbox would not change. He requested HRC member feedback. Commissioner Lyons motioned to
approve the soapbox as conceptually presented for submission to the Coloradoan. Commissioner Smith seconded and it
was approved 6:0.
Senior Advisory Board (SAB)/Partnership for Age-Friendly Communities (PAFC):
Commissioner Lyons previously reported by email.
Commissioner Lyons shared that two SAB members wished to attend the HRC Award Ceremony. HRC
members expressed supported for SAB participation.
Media & Community Recognition Committee (M&CR)
Status of HRC Award Event in December:
M&CR Chair Owiny verified Commissioners had received his email updates. He added that the award recipients have
been notified. Commissioners discussed revisions to the award nominee and award recipient notification letters. Interim
Staff Liaison Macrina will incorporate the changes and send the letters.
Commissioners clarified the HRC event agenda. Interim Staff Liaison Macrina shared that City Channel 14 would be
recording the event. Interim Staff Liaison Macrina requested bios, 3-5 sentences long, for the award recipients be emailed
to her by Thursday, November 20th.
OLD BUSINESS
Approval of 2015 Work Plan:
The 2015 Work Plan was updated with suggestions shared at the October HRC meeting. Interim Staff Liaison Macrina
announced the City has decided to include HRC’s work as part of “High Performing Government” instead of “Safe
Community”.
Chair Crane requested a motion that for the 2015 Work Plan, HRC’s work be part of the “High Performing Government”
outcome instead of the “Safe Community” outcome. Commissioner Lyons motioned and Commissioner Owiny
seconded. It passed 6:0.
The 2015 Work Plan will be edited to reflect this change. Chair Crane asked for a motion to approve the amended plan.
Commissioner Owiny motioned and Commissioner Lyons seconded. It passed 6:0.
NEW BUSINESS
2015 Legislative Agenda:
Reviewed in discussion with guest presenter Dan Weinheimer. See above.
2015 Annual Report Preliminary Draft Discussion:
Commissioners reviewed and discussed the report. Content edits and report structure changes were noted by Chair Crane.
Chair Crane asked for Commissioners on each committee to review their respective report content and send their
comments/changes to him via email by December 5th. Commissioner Smith volunteered to write a summary of the Tres
Colonias meeting for the report. Chair Crane will incorporate the changes and email a revised draft report to
Commissioners by December 19th.
2015 New Commissioners’ Orientation:
Chair Crane asked Interim Staff Liaison Macrina to invite Mayor Weitkunat and Assistant City Attorney Jenny Lopez-
Filkins to the January HRC meeting.
Commissioners set a date for the incoming Commissioner dinner for Tuesday, January 6th at 6:30 PM.
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Per Commissioners:
Commissioner Hays asked for an update on re-organizing Boards and Commissions. Interim Staff Liaison Macrina
reported information about the planned changes and stages for implementation.
Commissioners resumed discussion about HRC support of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Commissioner Lyons
motioned for HRC to support World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and continued participation in the Partnership for Age
–Friendly Communities of Larimer County. Commissioner Owiny seconded and it passed 6:0.
UPCOMING Events/Announcements
December HRC meeting:
Provided an absence of HRC business issues, Commissioner Hays motioned to cancel the December meeting.
Commissioner Lyons seconded and it passed 6:0.
PSD Student Essays, Poems, Art for MLK Day:
Chair Crane announced that volunteers are needed to support activities on MLK day and participate the parade. Interested
parties can email Chair Crane.
Other Per Commissioners:
Interim Staff Liaison Macrina announced that in February, Frances McDonald, from Legislative Affairs, would like to
attend the HRC meeting to present on discrimination. She will further coordinate with Frances McDonald for that
presentation.
Commissioner Hays asked to recognize Interim Staff Liaison Macrina for her exceptional work with HRC and this was
echoed by all Commissioners.
Commissioner Owiny asked to recognize Council for their prompt action to provide shelter for the homeless.
Commissioner Lyons motioned for HRC to write a thank you to the Council. Commissioner Hays seconded and it passed
6:0. Commissioner Owiny will draft a thank you to Council.
CLOSING/Call for Adjournment
Chair Crane requested a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Hays motioned and Commissioner Lyons seconded. It passed
6:0. The meeting adjourned at 7:22 PM.
The next HRC regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 8th at 5:30 PM in the CIC room.
Meeting Hand-outs and brochures:
HRC Budget Report
Draft soapbox promoting the Mental Health January Forum
Preliminary Draft Human Relations Commission 2014 Annual Report
Updated Fort Collins Human Relations Commission 2015 Work Plan
Department of Health and Human Services Annual Report
Larimer County Office on Aging Chore Voucher Program
Larimer County Office on Aging Annual Report
Intercultural Community Builders Annual Fundraiser Winter Around the World flyer