HomeMy WebLinkAboutHUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION - MINUTES - 08/11/2022UNOFFICIAL DRAFT – NOT APPROVED BY HRC
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
Regular Meeting – Hybrid
September 8, 2022, 5:30-7:30pm
CALL TO ORDER
● The meeting was called to order at 5:32 pm by Chair Beth Jaeger.
ROLL CALL
● Present: Beth Jaeger Kyle Teramoto
Barb Kistler Masood Ahmad
Phil Walker Torin Kaletsky
Oscar Felix Coronda Ziegler
● Staff Present: Rachael Johnson
● Presenters: Karen Schwartz Rabbi Finestone
● Public Participation: [None]
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
● The August minutes were approved. Oscar made the motion and Barb seconded.
BUDGET REVIEW
● Will be strategic in using remaining 2022 funds to cover 2023 budget items.
NEW BUSINESS
● Discussion with Rabbi Firestone and Karen Schwartz
o Karen Schwartz shared a presentation on anti-Semitism in Fort Collins
o Rabbi Firestone
UNOFFICIAL DRAFT – NOT APPROVED BY HRC
● Barb shared a proposal for: “FOCO Equity Collective: The Power of Networking”
●
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Education Committee:
● Bias Event – very successful
o 49 total attendees including guests
o Survey sent out at the beginning of this week – 16 responses thus far
▪ Very positive feedback thus far
● Some feedback about wanting additional conversation
● How can we find a way to continue the conversations?
● One suggestion to create a Better Business Bureau but to
rate businesses on DEI
● How do we engage more people who are not currently doing
this work? (Recognizing that many of the people who
showed up are already doing the work.)
● Human Library Program
o Purpose: Facilitating conversation across difference
o Partners: Library and Discovery Museum, City, HRC
o Will likely happen in late February
o First planning meeting on Wednesday, 8/10/22
o Conversation coming up with the international Human Library group
o Next meeting 8/23/22
o Follow up for group: What might be a good theme for the first Human
Library event?
o Need to determine the best way to connect books to readers and will need
to make a website – may need IT help here.
o Barb, Beth, Fabiola, Rachael, and Claudia are currently on the planning
committee – other HRC members are welcome to join
● Community Recognition Committee
o Need a new chair for this committee
o Planning for the Human Relations Awards is ongoing
o 4-5pm on December 6th
o Nomination period: Sept 19-Oct 24 (5 weeks)
o We are working with CPIO on a marketing plan for nominations
o Awards include: Youth Award, Public Service Personnel Award,
Organization Award, Individual Award
o HRC board members cannot nominate people
o Motion to move forward with these dates - Torrin
▪ Second - Masood
UNOFFICIAL DRAFT – NOT APPROVED BY HRC
● Government Relations
o City Council has been on summer hiatus from meetings for 3 weeks
o They are still working and have been engaging in a conversation about
minimum wage
o If HRC members have input on this discussion, that can be sent to Barb or
directly to Emily Francis
o Barb has been in conversation with Jenny Lopez-Filkins around the City’s
non-discrimination policy. It has not been updated in many years and
needs to be updated. Updating this policy changes the City’s complaint
process.
o Currently, there is no process in the City for residents to lodge complaints
against businesses in the City. Typically, residents have to go to the state
office in Denver to register a complaint. What would it look like to fully
resource the Equity office and set up a process for complaints?
o Moving forward, first we need to understand how HRC wants to move
forward, then make a recommendation to Emily Francis, our Council
liaison.
● Executive
o Everyone is invited to the City’s Volunteer Appreciation Picnic on
Wednesday September 14th from 5:30-7:30 at the Gardens on Spring
Creek
o September meeting: Jewish community conversation about antisemitism
o Jenny Lopez Filkins clarified that HRC as an organization is not permitted
to recommend that the City Council establish stricter gun control
legislation.
ADJOURNMENT
● Kyle made a motion to close the meeting, seconded by Masood. Beth closed the
meeting at 7:35 pm.