HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 11/09/2006FORT COLLINS HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
Regular Meeting — November 9, 2006
5:30 p.m.
Council Liaison: David Roy IlStaff Liaison: Rebecca O'Donnell
Chairperson: Maryanne Ingratta
A regular meeting of the Human Relations Commission was held on Thursday, November
9, 2006 in the Council Information Office at 300 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
Elaine Boni
Paige Backlund Jarquin
Joann Ginal
Maryanne Ingratta
Cristina Matsushima,
Lisa Poppaw-Schinnerer
Moin Sidiqqui
Karen Wong -Brown
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:
None
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Rebecca O'Donnell, Staff Liaison
Angelina Sanchez -Sprague, Recorder
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Maryanne Ingratta at 5:32 p.m.
PUBLIC INPUT None.
2. GUEST SPEAKER None.
NEW MEMBER WELCOME Maryanne ask new members (Christine Matsushima,
Lisa Poppaw-Schinnerer and Karen Wong -Brown) to share information on why had
they chosen the HRC for their volunteer efforts, what are their expectations, what is
their story, and what are their competencies. Both new and current members spoke to
the questions.
3. AGENDA REVIEW
No changes were made to the agenda as proposed.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Paige Backlund Jarquin made a motion to approve the October 12, 2006 minutes as
corrected. Elaine Boni Seconded the motion. The motion passed.
BUDGET REPORT/APPROVED EXPENDITURES
Staff Liaison Rebecca O'Donnell reported a balance of the 2006 budget of $648.25.
HRC November 9, 2006 — Page 2
Elaine Boni made a motion to use funds for business cards. Maryanne seconded the
motion. The motion failed 1:7.
Paige Backlund Jarquin made a motion to spend the funds in the following way:
• Name tags —similar to those used by NCMC (approximately $100)
• Expenses related to an educational forum (retreat) for the Commission
(approximately $200)
• Rent the Lincoln Center Canyon West Room for the 2007 Human
Relations Award Breakfast (approximately $300)
Elaine Boni seconded the motion. The motion passed 7:1.
4. COMMITTEE REPORTS
The Commission would like to adopt the situation/response model (reviewed with
Alma Vigo -Morales at their last retreat) as their way of doing business. Maryanne
asked that work assigned to committees be handled at the committee level. Then at
monthly meetings, the committee chair would report conclusions/make
recommendations.
• Educational Outreach/Joann. No report.
• Government Relations/Elaine. Elaine reported she last met with the Citizen
Review Board in October. The new Internal Affairs Officer is Sgt. Russ Reed.
Also, Elaine would like to see all HRC members trained to participate in the Citizen
Liaison Program whereby individuals who have received information on the
internal affairs process and have participated in a ride -along can help an individual
in filing a complaint.
• Public Relations Media & Community Recognition/ Breakfast & Web. Maryanne
announced that Paige has agreed to take lead on planning for the 2007 Human
Relations Award Breakfast. Elaine Boni & Joann Ginal will also help.
• Executive/Maryanne. Maryanne reported that she and Elaine Boni attended the
Board & Commission Recognition event on Wednesday, November 8. The 2006
HRC Annual Report is due to the City Clerk's office by the end of January. She
recommends the committee chairs draft the various sections. Then at the
December meeting the whole commission can review the combined draft report.
5. OLD BUSINESS
• Liaison Relations. The commission members offered suggestions for how they
move forward with liaison relationships including NCMC (Maryanne,) NIOTA
(Elaine,) Latino Action (Paige,) Interfaith Council, Eracism (sponsorship/use City's
website to advertise,) Larimer County Office on Aging (Elaine,) LAMBDA,
Language Exchange, CSU (Karen,) Poudre R-1 (Lisa.)
• Elaine suggested with an eye on the power of connections, visibility and
credibility that liaisons, in the beginning of their networking
relationships, attend two to three meetings, arrange to get
agenda/minutes, and then act as needed when key topics surface.
Monthly meeting reports should be on a need to know basis.
• Joann believes each member should have defined group and
(appropriate) City board and commission assignments. It would then
be their responsibility to monitor and report.
• Paige believes liaisons should act in oversight roles. Their focus
should be to establish themes and identify contacts that will send them
liaison information/requests for support. She believed that rather than
HRC November 9, 2006 — Page 3
attend regular meetings, liaison track and report on themes as it affects
the community and the Commission.
• Maryanne believes the HRC has been instrumental in the work of
NCMC and NIOTA. It's important to establish and maintain active
working relationships.
• Paige suggested community groups with whom they'd like to interact be
invited to speak as guest speakers.
• Karen is getting newsletters from CSU groups (including Asian Pacific
Student Association, Black Student Association, El Centro,
Gays/Lesbians, and Disabled Student Services.) She'd be happy to act
as the HRC liaison for those groups.
2006 HRC Work Plan. The group reviewed and discussed the draft prepared by
Maryanne. Elaine Boni made a motion to approve the 2006 HRC Work Plan.
Joann Ginal seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Connect People Workshop Community Needs Assessment. Topic tabled for a
later meeting when there would be more time to explore it more fully.
6. NEW BUSINESS
• Deliberative Dialogue. NCMC has arranged for communications training for its
members and has invited HRC members to attend the two training sessions set for
Thursday November 30 and December 7, 5:30-6:30 p.m. location to be
determined.
• January or February Retreat. A Saturday morning in January or February will be
set for a commission retreat to provide an opportunity for everyone's input for the
following: Vision Statement/Mission Statement/ By -Laws (City Code.) A date will
be set at a later meeting.
• Communications Skills Activities. Maryanne reported that a few minutes of each
monthly meeting would be dedicated to on communication skills activities led by
Paige. One purpose is to enhance awareness of cultural communication.
• Anti -Semitic Incident. Maryanne reported that Karen Schwartz has asked the HRC
for their assistance in assessing the handling of an anti-Semitic incident in SE Fort
Collins. Maryanne has reviewed the specifics with Phil Koster of NIOTA whose
assessment is that it is not classified as a hate crime but that follow-up with the
Police may be in order on its handling of the situation.
Paige suggested a community driven statement —what kind of response would the
community like to see/how would they like the HRC to help ameliorate the
problem? In preparation for further review/work, Moin will speak to the Rabbi of
Har Shalom, Lisa will confer further with her contacts, and Maryanne will continue
the dialogue with NIOTA on how to meld their efforts.
Lisa believes that young people who go to a near by middle school may be the
responsible parties. Is there some way the Commission, working with the schools
(use assemblies and Police Services' Student Resource Officers) can help in the
implement of anti -hate programs (similar to what they currently have against
bullying and drugs?)
HRC November 9, 2006—Page 4
7. UPCOMING EVENTS
November 21, Tuesday
City Council Meeting
December 1
World Aids Day: checkout CSU website starting 10/6
December 1, Friday
Follow Her Lead:
10 a.m. — 5 p.m.
Exploring the Paths of Women of Northern Colorado
Fort Collins Museum
Phone #: 970/221-6738
The new exhibit is called, "Follow Her Lead: Exploring the Paths of Women of
Northern Colorado which features among others, Isabella Bird, Lady Moon and
4 Elizabeth "Auntie" Stone. These women helped turn Ft Collins into the civic and
business minded community that it is today. This exhibit will run through the end of
_
December 2006 during museum hours.
December 5
City Council Meeting
December 14, Thursday
Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m.
December 19
City Council Meeting
January
City Council Meeting
January 11
Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m.
Report to City Clerk setting forth the activities of the Commission for the previous
year. _. _....
_
January 16
City Council Meeting
January 30
Sate of the City Address
February 6
City Council Meeting
February 8
Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m.
February 20
City Council Meeting
March 6
" City Council Meeting
March 8
Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m.
March 20
City Council Meeting
April 3 _..
Election Day
April 12
Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m.
April 17
CityCouncil Meeting
May 10
Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m.
June 14
Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m.
July 12
Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m.
August 9
Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m.
September 13
Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m.
October 11
Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m.
November 8
Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m.
Work Plan must be finalized.
December 13
Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m.
HRC November 9, 2006 — Page 5
8. ADJOURNMENT. The meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
n
Re ecca O'Donnell, kStaff Liaison