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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 05/14/19980 HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting - May 14, 1998 Human Resources Conference Room, 200 W. Mountain Ave. 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Staff Liaison: Gabe Chairperson: Bob Lank Phone: 493-5809 A regular meeting of the Human Relations Commission was held on May 14, 1998 in the Human Resources Conference Room, 200 W. Mountain Ave. HRC Members present: Viviane Abt, Judy Berg, Brian Carroll, Leslie Frantz, Joe Jaramillo, Lori Lenard, Bob Lank, and Man Oberoi. HRC Members absent: none. Guest present: Lu Fisk, Commission on the Status of Women Staff Members present: Gabe Serenyi, HRC Staff Liaison Greg Tempel, Assistant City Attorney Lt. Brad Hurst, Fort Collins Police Services Laurie Fonken-Joseph, Human Rights Officer I. Meeting was called to order by Bob Lank, Chair, at 5:32 p.m. II. Bob Lank asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the April 9, 1998 meeting. Lori Lenard made the motion to approve, and was seconded by Man Oberoi. The minutes were approved by the HRC with no changes. Bob Lank had a question about the filing of the Boards and Commissions minutes with the City Clerk's office. Assistant City Attorney Greg Temple indicated that an ordinance was being considered by Council which would revise the procedure for submitting Boards and Commission minutes. The revised procedure would require that the minutes be submitted after they have been approved by the commission, but prior to their next meeting. The current code requires that the minutes be submitted prior to the meeting during which the minutes would be approved. The ordinance passed first reading, but Council requested that some changes be made to the ordinance prior to second reading. III. Subcommittee Reports Human Resource Grants Committee. Leslie Frantz reported that the Grants Committee has been definitely discontinued, with its functions transferred to the United Way. Bob Lank asked how the City would be represented under the new structure. He also wanted to know if the City Charter required City representation on the United Way since City funds were being used for monetary allocation to the various agencies. Lori Lenard reported that two Larimer County members of the Grants Committee had been appointed to serve on the United Way to participate in the review and recommendation of fund 0 Human Relations Commission May 14, 1998 Page 2 allocations. She indicated she would contact Sam Szymanski or Shari Olson to find out if and how the City would be represented on the United Way for this activity. Police Subcommittee. Brian Carroll reported that Council had met to discuss the Police Review Board ordinance. After hearing from various groups, including the HRC, Council asked for some modifications to the language of the ordinance. One of the provisions that needed to be resolved had to do with training of new board members, and who would do the training. Also, Council had voted 4 - 3 to accept Option 1 as the process for appointing members. Option 1 calls for the City Manager and two Council members to recommend individuals from the pool of people who applied. Council would then select the final members of the Board from that group. Gabe Serenyi asked if the issue of subpena powers for the board had been resolved. Bob Lank indicated that the ordinance did not specifically grant subpena powers to the board because Council already has subpena powers. Council could subpena individuals on behalf of the board, or delegate those powers to the board. Brian also reported that the subcommittee reviewed two police complaints. In both cases the subcommittee recommended that the police officers involved be exonerated. In his letter to the Chief Brian recommended that the results of the HRC review be shared with the complainants. Lt. Brad Hurst indicated that the specific details of investigations are not shared with complainants. However, a letter is sent to the complainants indicating either that the officer was exonerated, or that appropriate disciplinary action was taken. Lt. Hurst distributed and reviewed information dealing with the School Resource Officer Program. The materials included "Fort Collins Police Services Guidelines for Contacts with Young Adults", and "School Administrator, School Resource Officer and non -School Resource Officer Guidelines." Diversity Subcommittee. Leslie Frantz reported that the subcommittee reviewed activities that were being planned in conjunction with the Universal Celebration of Human Rights. Members of the local coordinating committee have been contacting different organizations to finalize the speakers for the main December celebration event. Laurie Fonken-Joseph, the local coordinating committee chair, had sent out numerous letters to local organizations asking them to participate in the year -long activities related to the celebration. Human Relations Awards Subcommittee. Leslie Frantz reported that the subcommittee had met and reviewed all the nominations for this year's awards. Winners had been selected in all four categories. Viviane Abt reported that the subcommittee had discussed different options and approaches to improve the awards process and increase the number of nominations. They had also discussed revising the actual nomination form, possibly using a question and answer format; having a one-time Humanitarian Award; revising the evaluation sheets, etc. There was also some discussion about re -naming the awards and scheduling the awards breakfast for some other time of the year when there would be fewer conflicts with such things as graduations or major holidays. The issue also came up as how to deal with the situation if a current or recent HRC member was nominated for an award. The subcommittee felt that no current or recent member (anyone who left the HRC less than one year prior to the awards) should be accepted as a nominee. Gabe Serenyi indicated that the HRC by-laws would need to be amended to implement those types of changes. Human Relations Commission May 14, 1998 Page 3 Leslie Frantz reported that all arrangements have been completed for the awards breakfast. Glenn Levy, Poudre Fire Authority Battalion Commander, had agreed to be the guest speaker. Glenn had a key role in coordinating emergency activities during the flood of 1997. Committee on Execut've Delegation. Bob Lank reported that the CED had met and discussed different Human Right Ordinance related educational activities that the HRC could sponsor or organize prior to the November general elections. Possible activities could include a presentation that would include both the pros and cons of the ordinances. Bob reminded members that as a commission, the HRC could not use City funds or resources to promote the ordinances. However, members could participate in various meetings and other activities that promoted the ordinances as long as members did not act on behalf of the HRC. A discussion took place about passing a resolution supporting the passage of the Human Rights ordinances. This resolution could possibly be used by various groups that are supporting passage. Greg Tempel indicated that the role of the HRC, as defined by City code, is to provide advice and counsel to City Council. Any such resolution recommending passage of the ordinances should be in the form of a letter to Council. IV. Old Business None V. New Business None VI. Announcements None The meeting adjourned at 6:52 p.m.