Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 05/11/2000171 HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting —May 11, 2000 Human Resources Dept. Conference Room, 200 W. Mountain Ave. 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. IICouncil Liaison: Bill Bertschy I Staff Liaison: Gabe Serenyi Ph. 221-6826 II Chairperson: Bob Lenk Phone: 493-5809 A regular meeting of the Human Relations Commission was held on May 11, 2000 in the Human Resources Conference Room, 200 W. Mountain Ave. HRC Members present: Dan Devine, Mary Gomez, Shion Hung, Bob Lenk, Debbie Love, Man Oberoi and Steve Ross. HRC Members absent: Tim Daugherty and Barry Siff. Staff Members present: Gabe Serenyi, HRC Staff Liaison Barb Spalding, Human Rights Officer I. Meeting was called to order by Bob Lenk, Chair, at 5.40 p.m. 11. Bob Lenk asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held on April 13, 2000. Man Oberoi made the motion to approve, and was seconded by Mary Gomez. The minutes were approved with no changes. III. Bob Lenk welcomed new members Debbie Love and Steve Ross. All those present introduced themselves. IV. Subcommittee Reports A. Executive Delegation Committee. Bob Lenk reported that he had prepared a "clean" copy of the revised HRC by-laws that had been approved by the HRC in March. Gabe Serenyi indicated that he would send the required number of copies to the City Clerk's office and distribute the document to 14RC members. B. Police Subcommittee. Mary Gomez reported that the May 2nd Citizen Liaison Program (CLP) training session with Police Services was cancelled because Barry Siff was out of town, and also because Barb Spalding wanted to participate as well. Police Services has provided some alternate dates for the training. A discussion took place again about the possibility of a HRC member attending the Citizen Review Board meetings. Man Oberoi raised the issue whether there should be a regularly assigned member of the subcommittee who should attend, or would it be someone different each month. Mary Gomez indicated that she would attend the May meeting, and a decision would be made regarding the issue raised by Man at the next subcommittee meeting. Bob Lenk mentioned that there was a mediator from the Department of Justice who met with local citizens who Human Relations Commission May 11, 2000 Page 2 were not happy about how the Police Department responded to police complaints. Bob suggested that an issue for the Police Subcommittee to look into would be how CLP's could better respond to the needs of citizens who were not happy with the way the police were handling complaints. C. Diversity Subcommittee. Bob Lenk reported that the subcommittee had not met. Bob gave a brief overview of the role of the subcommittee for the benefit of the new members. Barb Spalding, the City's Human Rights Officer, distributed copies of the complaint form used by her office. All complainants coming in or contacting her office regarding a complaint are asked to fill this out. Barb also distributed a copy of the "Summary of Discrimination Complaints Processing" which outlines the complaints process. Gabe Serenyi asked Barb if her office has any volunteers to help complainants fill out the required form considering the fact that many complainants may have a problem writing, or even understanding the form. Barb responded that she did not, but that there was a real need for that service. She needs to remain neutral in the process, and consequently cannot fill the forms out for people. Barb suggested that this may be an area for HRC members to get involved. D. Human Relations Awards. Dan Devine reported on the successful Human Relations Awards Breakfast, and the various activities associated with the event. He thanked and recognized the various individuals who had contributed their efforts towards the success of the breakfast. Shion Hung brought -up the fact that the HRC did not get any Youth nominations for the second year in a row. Barb Spalding offered to help the HRC rectify this situation in the future. Bob Lenk reported that he had received many positive comments from those present at the breakfast regarding the way the entire activity was organized. Many positive comments were also made about William King's speech. Bob Lenk volunteered to send William a letter of appreciation. E. Human Resource Grants. Bob Lenk reported that he had spoken with the Latimer County Human Resources Director regarding the future of the Grants Program. The county has decided to extend the current program through the end of 2000 by giving each of the 1999 recipients 50% of the amount allocated to them for the current program year, which ends June, 2000. This extension will give the county time to work out a new process for allocating the program funds. The county hopes to get a proposal to the County Commissioners by the summer. V. Old Business Bob Lenk reported on his luncheon meeting with HRC Council liaison Bill Bertshy. Bob reviewed the HRC Work Plan with Bill, as well as some of the HRC's current activities. One of the issues discussed was the status of the Grants Program. Bill indicated that there was a possibility that CDBG funding might be tied in with the Grants Program funding at some point in the future. VI. New Business Bob Lenk asked the two new HRC members to talk briefly about their backgrounds, and their particular interests in the work of the HRC. Both Debbie Love and Steve Ross did so. Bob also asked the new members if they had any questions about the HRC. Steve asked what the biggest challenge • Human Relations Commission May 11, 2000 Page 3 was at the moment for the HRC. Bob responded that there had been a lot of turnover in the HRC during the past year. Probably the biggest challenge was to regroup and refocus the work of the HRC on relevant issues following the unsuccessful effort to pass the Human Rights ordinances. VII. Announcements Dan Devine announced that the annual Race Unity Day potluck picnic, sponsored by the Baha'i Faith Community, will be held on June 11' at City Park Pavilion. He will distribute additional information as it becomes available. The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.