Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 04/13/2023 HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION April 13, 2023, 5:30-7:30pm CALL TO ORDER ● The meeting was called to order at 5:35pm by Chair Beth Jaeger. ROLL CALL ● Present: Beth Jaeger Coronda Ziegler Masood Ahmad Fabiola Pascual Luna Kyle Teramoto Phil Walker ● Absent: Barb Kistler Torin Kaletsky ● Staff Present: Rachael Johnson Claudia Menendez ● Public Participation: Teresa Cribelli APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES – FEBRUARY 9, 2023  Motion to approve the February 9, 2023 HRC meeting minutes made by Phil; seconded by Kyle; approved 6-0. BUDGET REVIEW  Beth indicated that the HRC’s 2023 budget has increased to $6,100. According to the March expense report, the HRC has approximately $5,600 remaining in its budget. NEW BUSINESS  DISCUSSION WITH HRC CITY COUNCIL LIAISON, EMILY FRANCIS, MAYOR PRO-TEM Mayor Pro-Tem Francis joined the meeting to discuss City Council activities and policy considerations that the HRC might support. She suggested that the HRC become familiar and possibly engaged in the following: Land Use code and affordable housing; minimum wage proposal and its impacts; and the Hughes property process to determine how it will be used by the community. Asked whether City Council is considering how to mitigate gun violence in Fort Collins, Mayor Pro-Tem Francis suggested that residents consider advocating that gun control become a priority issue for the new City Council to be elected in November.  UPDATE RE: LARIMER COUNTY EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION ADVISORY BOARD – RABBI HILLEL KATZIR Rabbi Katzir indicated that, currently, the priority work of the County’s EDI Advisory Board is to review County policies and recommend changes to ensure equity and inclusive practices and language. All agreed that the HRC and the County EDI Advisory Board should explore ways to collaborate to more effectively serve our community. As the HRC determines its educational offerings this year, we will explore partnering with the County. Rabbi Katzir noted that the City’s proclamation document includes the term “A.D.” where it is signed and dated by the Mayor. “A.D.” or “anno Domini” (in the year of the Lord) is a Christian term and, therefore, not inclusive of non- Christian faiths. Coronda motioned that the HRC advocate for excluding this term from City proclamations and request that other public facing documents be reviewed to ensure inclusive language is being used. Phil seconded the motion; approved 6-0. Beth agreed to draft a memo for the HRC’s review.  DISCUSSION RE: HRC 2023 DIRECTION AND PRIORITIES Educational Programs: Coronda led a discussion re: possible program topics for an education program to be sponsored by the HRC in the July/August timeframe. Ideas included: micro-aggression, what is DEI, perception of the police by community members, bystander training, DEI training for business leaders and DEI 101. Based on this discussion, Coronda will bring back a final proposal for the HRC’s review at our May meeting. Rachael and Claudia will explore available dates at the Senior Center for this program. Human Relations Awards Ceremony: Kyle led a discussion re: potential dates and sites for the 2023 program. Consideration was given to the availability of City Council, cost, and potential number of attendees. Rachael and Claudia will explore the availability of the Senior Center and Council Chambers during the week of December 4th. Also, Claudia will determine if the December 5th Council meeting will include a 5:00pm proclamation and whether the program time can be extended to allow for presentations and networking. Kyle will bring a bring a final recommendation re: date and location to the May HRC meeting. OLD BUSINESS  COMMITTEE REPORTS: o Education Outreach – Fabiola shared the evaluation results from the Human Library Program held on February 26th. The feedback was very positive – attendees wanted more time and options for Book sessions; attendees and Books indicated that the experience was quite impactful; and that the program partners are interested in offering another program in 2024. O Media/Community Recognition Committee – see Human Relations Awards program discussion above. o Government Relations – no report due to Barb’s absence. o Executive – Beth asked everyone to encourage interested individuals to apply for HRC membership – there is one vacancy. The application period ends April 30th. NEXT STEPS  In order to create a mailing list for future HRC events, all were asked to send registration lists from previous HRC programs to Fabiola for inclusion on the HRC Google drive. o NEXT MEETING – Rachael will invite Ginny Sawyer, the City’s project and policy manager, to the May 11th meeting to discuss the City’s potential implementation of a local minimum wage. ADJOURNMENT O Motion to adjourn made by Coronda; seconded by Fabiola; approved 5-0. Meeting adjourned at 7:35pm.