Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 08/12/2021HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION Regular Meeting – In Person August 12, 2021 5:30 – 7:30 pm CIC Room, City Hall, 300 LaPorte Ave., Fort Collins, CO CALL TO ORDER ● Meeting was called to order by Chair, Beth Jaeger, at 5:30pm ROLL CALL ● Present: Jean Runyon Beth Jaeger Phil Walker Wendy True ● Absent: Oscar Felix Vic Smith ● Staff Present: Carol Thomas, Equal Opportunity & Compliance Manager, HRC Liaison ● Public Participant: Barb Kistler AGENDA REVIEW ● No changes were made to the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES ● Not enough members present to establish quorum. Approval of minutes pushed to the September Meeting. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ● Barb Kistler. Has served on the HRC in the 1980s, and is a current applicant to serve on the HRC again. Owns a small consulting company that has done much diversity, equity and inclusion work for several years. BUDGET REVIEW ● $50.00 spent on video for TWP sessions. $5,850 left in the budget. NEW BUSINESS ● 2021-2023 City Council Priorities and HRC’s Role- Mayor Jeni Arndt and Mayor Pro- Tem Emily Gorgol o HRC wants to start a conversation regarding the way in which the HRC can further aid the city, especially regarding issues concerning diversity, equity and inclusion. o Mayor Jeni Arndt explained that inclusion in other areas needs to be raised, especially in responding to the needs of people with disabilities. The City is happy to get any advice from the HRC whenever it can. ● Other HRCs throughout Colorado have more legislative and/or judicial power. ● Need to look into the legal limitations of HRC’s jurisdiction regarding addressing issues concerning racism and prejudice. ● HRC encounters problems in the community concerning diversity, equity and inclusion, but doesn’t have enough power to directly address the issue. ● The discussion will be ongoing regarding the HRC’s quasi-judicial power - Carol will discuss this issue with the City Attorney’s office. ● Indigenous Peoples Day Update- Lindsey Ex and Carolyn Conant o An update on the progress of Indigenous Peoples Day: 1. In order to be done right, big events such as this require a slow and methodical process. 2. The event on the second Monday of October has been put on hold, as it needs more time to be done properly. 3. Indigenous Peoples Day can be recognized and celebrated in other ways through important conversations and raising its awareness with others. OLD BUSINESS Follow- up from July Meeting: “Our Commitment to Self and Society” Initiative A) Picnic event to be held Sunday, August 15th. Phil will attend and will report back to the HRC regarding the event. B) HRC discussed endorsing this initiative through a letter of support to City Council. 1. The concept of the initiative is good, but not enough is known about its next steps and goals. 2. Plan to wait and review the goals before requesting the Council to support the Initiative. Committee Reports: o Education Outreach – Update Re: TWP Training Sessions o More work is being done with the artwork for advertising. o Need to consider having a Spanish version of the poster. o Due to Covid restrictions rising, in person sessions at Front Range are looking to be more and more unlikely. 1. Virtual sessions are still a good alternative, but are more difficult. 2. Will evaluate the situation in September, and make a definite decision then. ● Carol will send notification to City leaders regarding this event to help them understand and respond to community members if needed. o Media/Community Recognition Committee- Update Re: HR Awards and Ceremony; HRC Website o The Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem have agreed to participate in the Ceremony. o Time of the event has changed to 4:00-5:00pm pm Tuesday, December 7th. o Government Relations o Executive - Update RE: New Members; Reminder RE: Providing input into the City’s 2022 Budget: o Application for HRC membership ends on August 13. o Beth to send info on ways HRC can weigh in on the City’s budget priorities. NEXT STEPS Meeting Action Steps ● Beth to send meeting follow-up items. September 9th Agenda Items- Chief Jeff Swoboda, FCPS ADJOURNMENT ● Meeting ends at 7:30pm.