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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 12/11/2003• • n U Council Liaison: David Roy Human Relations Commission Minutes December 11, 2003 5:30 — 7:10 pm. Staff' Liaison: Angelina Powell Phone V: 407-7393 1 Phone; 2214525 Chairperson: Ken Gordon Phone: 217.017 Vice Chairperson: Mary Gomez Phone: 491-3702 A regular meeting of the Human Relations Commission was held on December 11, 2003 at the CIC Room, 300 W. Laporte Avenue. HRC Members present Elaine Boni, Jack Coleman, Kimberly Clouser, Mary Gomez, Ken Gordon Jr., Parker Preble, Erik Rush HRC Members absent Rita Klepac with notification Staff Members present Angelina Powell, Staff Liaison I. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order by Chair Ken Gordon at 5:30 p.m. II. Approval of Minutes. Chair Ken Gordon entertained motions for the acceptance of minutes for the regular meeting of November 13 and the special meeting of November 25. Kimberly Clouser made a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of November 13, 2003. Elaine Boni seconded the motion. All voted in favor of accepting the minutes as presented. Parker Preble made a motion to approve the minutes of the special meeting of November 25, 2003. Erik Rush seconded the motion. All voted in favor of accepting the minutes as presented. III. Meeting Format. The normal format for the meeting was suspended (subcommittee/liaison reporting and agenda topics discussion) to concentrate primarily on how to make the Human Relations Commission more action oriented. IV. Other Business Accenting Same Sex Marriage Constitutional Amendment. Chair Ken Gordon asked HRC members (Parker Preble & Elaine Boni) who attended the Same Sex Constitutional Amendment meeting on Tuesday, December 9, 2003 at Plymouth Congregational to report on their impressions. There were 20-30 people (by invitation only) in attendance. Their purpose was to explore the religious, civil and political aspects of the constitution amendment. The Foothills Unitarian Church minister was the moderator. Interfaith Council representatives were present. Like the HRC representatives they were there to get information rather than to act on their affiliated group's behalf. Consensus reached by those in attendance was they were against a constitutional amendment and "what are we going to do about it?" The next meeting is January 13. V. Subcommittee Reports. Human Relations Award Subcommittee. No report. Diversity Subcommittee No report. • Human Relations Commission Page 2 Police Subcommittee. No report. Executive Delegation Subcommittee: No report VI. Liaison Reports Northern Colorado Multicultural Corp. No report. Face to Face. No report. VII. Budget Report. No report. VIII. Old Business. CLEAR Act/Human Rights Protection Ordinance. Chair Gordon and Vice Chair Gomez had attended City Council's meetings on November 18 and December 2"d to support the collaborative effort of Fuerza Latina and the Center of Justice & Peace Human Rights Coalition against the CLEAR Act (and its implications on the community.). Their conclusions were City Council had a wait and see approach to passage of the CLEAR Act and City Council believed there were laws in place against racial profiling. IX. New Business. Resignations of both the Chair and Vice Chair. It was at this point in the meeting (reporting on their efforts on behalf of the Human Rights Protection Ordinance) that both the Chair & Vice • Chair read their letters of resignation. See attached letters of resignation for reasons for their departure. Elaine Boni made a motion expressing the Commission's disappointment and regret on the resignation of the Chair and Vice Chair of the Human Relations Commission. The Commission recognizes their decision and thanked them for the contributions they've made to the commission and to the community. Parker Preble seconded the motion. All voted in favor of the motion. Both Ken & Mary agreed their resignation would be effective after the January 8d' meeting. They both planned to attend to help the HRC transition to a new leadership. Defining the Commission. In preparation for the discussion on how to make the Human Relations Commission more action oriented Parker Preble offered his reflections on what was working. Others joined in to complete the list. It included: o continue Human Relations Award Breakfast o pursue assigning rotating responsibilities for KYGO Public Radio spots to report what the Commission is doing o have regular HRC topic news releases o promote contribution of time and energy by all commission members o bridge gap between people needing/wanting to file complaints with the Citizen Review Board o understand why the Commission was not working more directly with the Human Rights Office o use resources available to Commission via Channel 27 public access station to produce 5- 10 minute spots such as "What are your recourses when you suffer discrimination on the • job." Where we should go from here. Commissioners asked the departing leadership team their impressions on where the Commission should go. Their suggestions included: o support the Human Rights Protection Ordinance Human Relations Commission Page 3 r-I LJ o pursue the idea of neighborhood walks o explore whether the Institute on Healing Racism would make a difference and if it was doable o promote the fact that prejudice is not acceptable in Fort Collins (or the world) o speak out/raise Cain o establish a cultural awareness day in the park with programs the whole city could embrace (other culture's food, hobbies, past times.) Many times it seems we're singing to the choir (people already interested in promoting diversity and fighting prejudice.) As a choir "sing out" for harmony and inclusivity. Invite someone you don't understand into your home. Letters to Employers. Jack Coleman asked if it would be appropriate for the HRC to send letters to the employers of alleged discriminated employees asking the employers to justify the employees' terrninations/travails and explain why the terminations/hearings should not be construed as having been racially motivated. He'll work on a draft for consideration by the Commission. X. Adjournment. Parker Preble made a motion to adjourn. Elaine Boni seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m. The next HRC meeting will be January 8, 2004, 5:30 p.m. at the CIC Room, 300 W. Laporte Avenue. • OR 0 Angelina Powell, Staff Liaison