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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 07/09/20151 City of Fort Collins Human Relations Commission Meeting Minutes July 9, 2015, 5:30 p.m. Location: CIC Room, City Hall West, 300 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521 Council Liaison: Councilmember Bob Overbeck Staff Liaison: Beth Sowder Recorder: Michele Scalva Present: Myles Crane, Colleen Conway, Christine Hays, Joseph D. Leske, Jimena Sagas, Preety Sathe, Victor Smith and Mary Vivo Guest Presenters and Citizens: Julie Brewen, Fort Collins Housing Authority; Zach Penland, Redtail Ponds; Tatiana Martin, Affordable Housing Board; Councilmember Bob Overbeck; and citizen guests Johanna Ulloa, Poudre Library District Outreach Services Manager; Mykeal Kearl and Leonard Kearl CALL TO ORDER The meeting commenced at 5:32 p.m. GUEST SPEAKER PRESENTATION - Julie Brewen and Zach Penland FC Housing Authority is a quasi-governmental entity and operates public housing programs. There are resident grievance processes for each housing program. Redtail Ponds is permanent supportive housing; long-term housing with support services on-site and 24- hour staff. Support services include: case management, therapy, substance abuse treatment, and others depending on residents’ needs. There is no limit on the length of time residents may live there. There are 60 units with 20 for veterans and is managed with a “harm-reduction” approach. Many residents are addressing physical and mental health issues. Q&A: • “Housing First and Harm Reduction” training, July 27th, 9am-12 p.m. or 1-4 p.m. at Police Services. • 40 cameras on-site at Redtail Ponds. • Service and companion animals are allowed. • Fort Collins Housing Authority is working on establishing another permanent housing site. Meeting Highlights Summary • HRC unanimously approved a resolution supporting the Commission on Disability's July 7th petition to City Council for Transfort bus services to be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. • Special guest Dr. Clayton Hurd presented some preliminary findings from his project "Fort Collins Sustainability and Social Inclusion Research Project Phase 1". • HRC approved a resolution to send certificates of appreciation to all presenters of the Mental Health Forums. • Guests Zach Penland, Program Director at Redtail ponds, and Julie Brewen, Executive Director of FC Housing Authority, presented on area housing challenges, their services, and affordable housing projects. • Human Relations Commissioners were happy to meet and welcome Councilmember Bob Overbeck as the new HRC City Council Liaison. 2 PUBLIC INPUT Councilmember Overbeck shared his interest in the HRC’s work, thanked Commissioners for their service and welcomed their contact with him. Councilmember Overbeck encouraged the Commission to write letters to council for initiatives and proposals they support and continue with active community outreach. AGENDA REVIEW Chair Smith added a short break to the agenda due to the extended meeting time. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The June meeting minutes were approved unanimously. BUDGET REPORT Budget report from Liaison Sowder: current balance is $2,937.01. It was approved unanimously. OLD BUSINESS Third Party Partnering Update: Tabled to August. Periodic Review: Commissioners discussed preparation steps. July Mental Health Forum: Commissioners finalized preparations. Other per commissioners: Multi-Cultural Community Retreat participation interest from Commissioner Crane. Vice Chair Conway will facilitate the August meeting in Chair Smith’s absence. Commissioner Leske will be absent for the August meeting. NEW BUSINESS EOC Meeting Summary: EOC Chair Sagas, HRC Vice Chair Conway and Commissioner Crane Current plan is to maintain the same programming structure. Future presentation design may include youth and be multi-generational with a diversity theme. Also, will continue feedback collection to measure for tangible outcomes. M&CR Meeting Summary: M&CR Chair Vivo, HRC Chair Smith and Commissioner Crane Meeting minutes were provided and the annual award event details were discussed. STANDING COMMITTEE AND LIAISON REPORTS Executive Committee (EC): Chair Smith will send an email of appreciation to Emily at Touchstone. Government Relations Committee (GR) Council Updates: GR Chair Leske made two motions: 1) For the HRC to support the Commission on Disability in its effort to bring the City of Fort Collins in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act standards at all bus stops; it was unanimously approved. 2) The HRC will provide certificates of appreciation to mental health forum presenters that will be signed by all HRC members; it was unanimously approved. Educational Outreach Committee (EOC): Covered under New Business Media & Community Recognition Committee (M&CR): Covered under New Business 3 Special Presentation: Clayton Hurd, Ph.D., Stanford Public Service Scholars Program Director, Haas Center Dr. Hurd discussed his study that looked at the advantages and dis-advantages of sustainable growth in Fort Collins. UPCOMING Events/Announcements Department of Social Sustainability announcements: Will share via email. Per Commissioners: Will share via email. Meeting Highlights/Discussion Recap and Approval: Vice Chair Conway will compose and email. CLOSING/Call for Adjournment Commissioners unanimously approved to adjourn at 8:15 p.m. Next HRC meeting is Thursday, August 13, 2015, at 5:30 p.m. in the CIC room.