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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWomens Commission - Minutes - 05/18/1987Commission on the Status of Women Minutes of May 18, 1987 C.I.C. Room, West City Hall Members Present: Janet Abbey, County Liaison & Secretary Liza Daly, Facilitator Cindy Hoff Leslie MacMillan Valerie Mauksch Joan Perry, Alternate Sharon Robinson, Alternate Kay Short I. Approval of Minutes Council Liaison: Loren Maxey Staff: Wendy Williams The minutes of the April 27 meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women were approved with some recommended changes. Members will receive a copy of the corrected minutes from Wendy Williams. Kay Short said that she would attend the Children's Care Coalition as a representative of the Commission. The coalition meets the first Monday of the month at 11:30 a.m. in the parking garage building. Wendy will check with Mike Powers to see if anyone from the city is assigned to attend the Children's Care Coalition meetings. II. Discussion of Budget and Staff Needs Members were given a copy of the 1988 Budget - Policy Analysis that was put together by City staff to address the Commission's budgetary and staffing needs. The Commission worked on a workplan to be presented to Council, justifying the request for budget and staff. Commission on the Sto of Women • Minutes of May 18, 1987 Page 2 There was some discussion by Commission members on what status quo is for the Commission on the Status of Women. Wendy reported that certain boards have budgets. Monetary needs for most boards are oovered by the -department providing staff support. Joan expressed that there may be some confusion with the role of the Commission. She wondered if our function is advisory only; do we just make recommendations to Council; or do we carry out programs, forums, etc. Wendy referred to the Commission's enabling- resolution which lists one of the functions of the Commission as "conducting educational programs in the Fort Collins community to increase public awareness and sensitivity to the needs and capabilities of all women." Joan stated that she felt the Commission was caught between the definition of what we have been asked to do and what boards normally do. It was decided to present a workplan based on the Commission's understanding of their role. The workplan will be presented to Council and they can give the Commission further clarification if necessary. Wendy read the enabling resolution. It was decided to organize the workplan using the five functions of the Commission of the Status of Women included in the resolution. Those functions are: (1) Documenting issues of importance to the status of women in Fort Collins. (2) Reviewing legislation which may affect women in the community. (3) Conducting educational programs in the Fort Collins community to increase public awareness and sensitivity to the needs and capabilities of all women. (4) Cooperating with other organizations and individuals interested in issues affecting women in the Fort Collins area. (5) Recommending legislation, policy changes, and other actions which would enhance the status of women in Fort Collins to the City Council, City Manager, and to other public and private organizations. Commission on the Stle of Women • Minutes of May 18, 1987 Page 3 Commission members discussed the workplan, including both completed projects, proposed future projects and the staff time and money involved in completing each project. The workplan will be typed as a draft work sheet and sent to each Commission member for review. Additions to the workplan can be submitted to Wendy by May 26. The City Council will be discussing policy issues at the June work sessions. Wendy added that there is no guarantee that the budgets for boards and commissions will be a policy issue presented to City Council by the staff, but that the update to the Commission's workplan will go to City Council. Final budget decisions will not be made until October of 1987. 111. Other Business 1. Discussion of the summary of the Minutes of the Council Subcommittee on Economic Development and Opportunities Meeting held May 5, 1987. It was noted that if the City Council accepts the recommendations of the Economic Development Subcommittee to fund the CSU track facility, there will be $100,000 remaining for other "economic opportunties". There was some concern that the recommendation of the Subcommittee did not constitute economic development. Many members did voice their disappointment to Loren Maxey. The concensus of the Commission was to individually express concern about the recommendation and to pro -actively focus on the remaining $100,000 in terms of economic opportunity for women in the Fort Collins community. Valerie expressed her view that the Commission does need to be careful of their image and needs to explore getting the expertise to utilize professional and bussinesslike methods to access the remaining economic opportunities funds. 1 Commission on the Ste of Women • Minutes of May 18, 1987 Page 4 Leslie felt that we were still dealing with our original problem of lack of data and that we still need to overcome this and place emphasis on data collection. It was mention that $50,000 worth of special grants are being awarded by United Way for human service programs that, in some cases, coincide with programs suggested and supported by the Commission. 2. Springtime Near the Rockies, Regional NACW Conference Wendy will be arranging carpooling for this conference which will be held June 4, 5 and 6. 3. Women's Foundation of Colorado Regional Meeting Commission members interested in attending a community forum for the northeast region sponsored by the Women's Foundation of Colorado on Saturday, May 30, 1987 in Greeley from 12:30 to 4:00 p.m. should contact Wendy. 4. Entrepreneur - Partners with Government Industry Day A proclamation, which was not supported by the Commission when discussed at a previous meeting, will be read by the mayor at a City Council session. Concerned commission members will let council members know why they did not support this proclamation. S. WREE (Women for Racial and Economic Equality) - Women's Bill of Rights Wendy handed out some literature about WREE which will be discussed at the next Commission meeting on June 8. 6. New Commission Members New members selected for the Commission on the Status of Women will be announced on June 2. Though their appointments will not be effective until July 1, 1987, they will be invited to attend the June 8 meeting. The next meeting will be on Monday, June 8, 1987 from 7.00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Engineering Conference Room. Janet Abbey will be the facilitator and Leslie Macmillan will be the secretary.