Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 06/12/1997HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES Regular Meeting - June 12, 1997 Human Resources Conference Room, 200 W. Mountain Ave. 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Council Liaison: Ann Azari I Staff Liaison: Chairperson: Bob Lank Phone: 493-5809 A regular meeting of the Human Relations Commission was held on June 12, 1997 in the Human Resources Conference Room, 200 W. Mountain Ave. HRC Members present: Viviane Abt, Judy Berg, Leslie Frantz, Joe Jaramillo, Bob Lank, Man Oberoi, Ramona Robertson and Joe Stern. HRC Member absent: Lori Lenard. Staff Members present: Gabe Serenyi, HRC Staff Liaison Lori Fonken-Joseph, Human Rights Officer Greg Tempel, Assistant City Attorney Guests present: Lu Fisk, Commission on the Status of Women, and David Lipp I. Meeting was called to order by Bob Lank, Chair, at 5:35 p.m. II. Bob Lank asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the May 8, 1997 meeting. Man Oberoi made the motion to approve, and was seconded by Judy Berg. The minutes were approved by the HRC with no changes. III. Subcommittee Reports Human Resource Grants Committee. Leslie Frantz reported that the proposals for funding will be distributed to committee members on June 19th, and that on -site visits to the various agencies requesting funding will begin in early July. Human Relations Awards. Man Oberoi reported that the awards breakfast was a great success, and that the Coloradoan had printed a very positive article about the breakfast. Bob Lank reported that the breakfast, presentations, and speech by Keith Miser all went very well. Gabe Serenyi reported that the plaques and certificates had been sent out to the recipients. Diversity Subcommittee. Ramona Robertson reported that she and Ann Azari had been playing telephone tag, and that Ramona had not been able to discuss the subcommittee's proposal to form a panel made up of women and minority Boards and Commissions members. The panel would make a presentation to Council about their positive and negative experiences serving on the various Boards and Commissions. Bob Lenk encouraged Ramona to keep trying to contact the mayor. Human Relations Commission June 12, 1997 Page 2 Committee on Executive Delegation. Bob Lank reported on the May 15, 1997 Council Health and Safety Committee meeting. Bob was given the opportunity to address the committee, and he outlined the reasons behind each of the bases of discrimination specified in the proposed Human Rights Ordinance. Many of the business community representatives at the meeting had never heard the rationale behind each of the bases of discrimination, and Bob felt it was important for them to hear that. Bob also reported that a number of individuals representing the business community made statements at the meeting. These included Jim Ringenberg (First National Bank), Jodie Juskie (Hewlett-Packard), and Mark Driscoll. HRC members Leslie Frantz and Lori Lenard were also given the opportunity to speak. Chris Kneeland asked City Manager John Fischbach to develop a process for taking the proposed ordinance to the next step. Individuals representing a cross-section of residents should be pulled together to form a group to review the proposed ordinance and make recommendations to Council. Bob Lank also reported on the last CED meeting. The CED had developed a proposed memo addressed to Council Health and Safety Committee outlining different portions of the proposed ordinance that could be modified very easily with HRC support. The CED did not want these items to stand in the way of dealing with the more substantive portions of the ordinance. A lengthy discussion took place at this point about the various issues outlined in the memo. Joe Stern made a motion to send the memo as is to Council Health and Safety Committee. The motion was not seconded. At this point further discussion took place about the contents of the memo. Bob Lank indicated that, in view of the continued expression of concerns about the proposed human rights ordinance by the business community, it is important for the HRC to provide on -going input to Health and Safety so that the committee can give direction as to how the ordinance can be modified without damaging the key components of the ordinance. Viviane Abt questioned the purpose of the memo: was it to maintain a flow of input to Council, or was it to assure the business community that their concerns were being heard. Bob Lank indicated that it was both. He did not want the HRC to appear inflexible. Viviane made a motion to send the memo to council with the following modifications: • The HRC needs to make it clear that the concerns are coming primarily from the business community. • The HRC acknowledges that there are concerns about which classes should be protected. • The HRC acknowledges that we need to get feedback from other interested groups of residents in the community. • The HRC wants to continue to be involved. It will make other recommendations for changes as the review process continues. These recommendations are only preliminary recommendations. 0 Human Relations Commission June 12, 1997 Page 3 Bob Lank seconded the motion. A vote was taken, and the motion carried. Viviane agreed to review the final draft of the memo before it was sent to Council Health and Safety. Police Subcommittee. Joe Stern introduced David Lipp to the HRC. Mr. Lipp gave an account of a man who was beaten by a Fort Collins police officer in the downtown area. Two witnesses to the beating tried to file a police complaint at police headquarters, and were told by the receptionist that there was no form available to file a police complaint. Mr. Lipp indicated that police complaint forms should be available at the police department as well as the Human Rights Office. Laurie Fonken-Joseph indicated that her office has a complaint form which could be adapted by the police department. Lt. Brad Hurst had told her that he would be happy to review the form for possible use by the police department. Lt. Hurst also her a flow chart outlining how police complaints are handled (she distributed copies to those present). Joe Jaramillo reported that the police subcommittee had met and decided to set-up a meeting with the police chief to discuss possible options to deal with the police review issue. The subcommittee wants to provide input to John Fischbach who had committed to make a recommendation to Council Health and Safety Committee by the end of September. The subcommittee had also discussed the Citizen Liaison Program (CLP). Gabe Serenyi reminded members that the current ordinance requires a CLP to be in place and functional. That will be the case until the ordinance is changed or modified. Joe Jaramillo indicated that continuity on the police subcommittee is important, and that he is recommending that people who volunteer for the subcommittee should make at least a two year commitment to serve. A discussion took place at this point as to why the HRC had not received a police activity summary since 1996. There was no police department representative present to respond. IV. Old Business None. V. New Business None VI. Announcements Bob Lank announced that tonight was Ramona Robertson's last meeting since her term had expired. He thanked Ramona for her years of dedicated service to the HRC. The meeting adjourned at 7:22 p.m.