HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 05/11/2006FORT COLLINS HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
Regular Meeting — May 11, 2006
5:30 p.m.
11 Council Liaison: David Roy 11 Staff Liaison: Rebecca O'Donnell 11
11 Chairperson: Parker Preble 11 1
A regular meeting of the Human Relations Commission was held on Thursday, May 11,
2006 in the Council Information Office at 300 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
Elaine Boni
Caroline Tu Farley
Paige Backlund Jarquin
Maryanne Ingratta
Parker Preble
Moin Siddiqui
Jeffrey Van Fleet
Lester Washington
BOARD MEMBERS WITH EXCUSED ABSENCE:
Joann Ginal
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Rebecca O'Donnell, Staff Liaison
Angelina Sanchez -Sprague, Recorder
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Parker Preble at 5:30 p.m.
2. PUBLIC INPUT. None
JUG I n (utih
3. AGENDA REVIEW. Parker proposed the agenda be changed to include only two
topics: the City Holiday Display Policy and planning for the HRC's Special Meeting.
Should time remain other topics can be covered. Members agreed.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Elaine Boni made a motion to approve the minutes of April 13, 2006. Caroline Tu Farley
seconded the motion. The motion passed.
5. GUEST SPEAKER Rabbi Yerachmiel Gorelik
During the 2005 holiday season, concerns were raised regarding policy regulating holiday
displays on City property. Those concerns have prompted City Council to address this
issue and consider making changes to City policy. This topic will be on an upcoming City
Council study session agenda. City Council will consider developing policy and have
invited citizen input. Things to consider are:
0 Holiday display vs. a display to celebrate cultural and ethnic diversity
HRC May 11, 2006 — Page 2
• Impacts of expanding the City's display to include privately sponsored
displays
• Potential limitations (content, size, number) on allowable displays: trees,
reindeer, menorah, Santa, nativity scene, snowman, candy canes, angels,
wreaths, Muslim crescent and star, etc.
• What areas might be most suitable for the City's holiday displays?
Rabbi Yerachmiel Gorelik of the Chabad Jewish Center of Northern Colorado was invited
to provide his perspective on their request for a menorah display. Per Rabbi Gorelik,
Chabad is an educational organization dedicated to helping every Jew, regardless of
background, affiliation, or personal level of observance, to increase their level of Jewish
knowledge, enthusiasm, and commitment. Normally centers are set up where resources
are sparse. Rabbi Gorelik said the menorah is a symbol of victory over Greek/Syrian
rulers in where is now Israel. Further, it signifies whoever the minorities are —they have
the right to overcome obstacles from practicing their beliefs. Menorahs are synonymous
with the holiday season. Rabbi Gorelik mentioned there was a landmark case in 1989 in
Allegheny on the question of separation of church and state. The outcome was the city
was not endorsing any particular religion only there are many ways to celebrate the
winter/holiday season.
Rabbi also mentioned they had received a letter from the City Attorney's office outlining
the City's policy on holiday displays. Further he expects the City to close the loop with
them in a May timeframe. He knows the Mayor has been seeking public feedback prior to
making any proposals. Overall he thinks there have been good interchanges between
Chabad and the City.
Commission members shared their feedback including: how the Rabbi of Her Shalom was
against a menorah display (Rabbi Gorelik said not all Jewish leaders share the same
opinion and the Chabad represents unaffiliated Jews,) Muslims do not care for public
symbolism (rather they go to the mosque for private worship) the City has a place where
feedback from the general public can be posted (see
http://www.fcqov.com/council/holiday-display-outreach.PhD ), the Northern Colorado
Multicultural Corp has been asked to share their impressions with the Mayor, and HRC
members doing preliminary web research have found a variety of issues and how various
municipalities have handled the question.
Maryanne Ingratta wanted to know why it was important that it be on City property? Rabbi
believes it should be in a prominent location such as old town. There is some question,
however, as to who owns old town with the Downtown Development Authority playing a
part in the answer to that question.
Rabbi Gorelik left and the Commission sought individual feedback on the question. It was
agreed that a subcommittee comprised of Caroline Tu Farley (Project Leader), Maryanne
Ingratta, Jeffrey Van Fleet, and Paige Backlund Jarquin would review the question and
draft suggested options and a possible recommendation to share with the HRC and City
Council through Council Liaison David Roy (in a timeframe prior to City Council's study
session.) Their work would include information on what other cities are doing,
consideration of a prominent location such as Library Park, guidelines for a permitting
system, posting the year round display calendar on the City's web, which local groups
(NCMC?) support it.
HRC May 11, 2006 — Page 3
6. SPECIAL MEETING. Maryanne distributed a schedule of potential dates (June 3, July
22 or July 29) for the Commission's special meeting. She asked members to vote
zero if the date would not work or 1, 2, and 3 for their preferred date (with 1 being the
most preferred.) Maryanne tallied the results and found that no one date would work.
Paige will go back to Facilitator Alma Vigo -Morales to seek more dates.
Paige posted a list of topics and distributed colored dots —asking members to vote for
their first, second and third choice of topics. The topics with the most votes were:
• Establishing working goals
• How do we become more powerful (how can we become more effective in the
community in order to serve better?)
• How can we become better at making decisions as a group?
• What should our internal and external processes (structure) be?
o How can we change processes to talk about important and timely issues at
our meetings?
Paige will take the results of the vote to Alma who may offer timeline and agenda
suggestions for HRC approval.
OTHER TOPICS
a. CSU Diversity Conference. Lester reported that CSU liked the HRC's proposal,
however, we are on a waiting list due to late proposal submittal. Participation for
the 2007 CSU Diversity Conference is a possibility.
b. Caroline offered to share a DVD copy of Crosscurrents' Separation of Church and
State program.
c. Education & Community Outreach
• Paige has information on who provides translation services. She did not,
however, get the individuals permission to post on the web. Jeffrey suggested
that the web should say "translation services information available" and provide
HRC's contact information (Becky's office phone number?)
• Jan Lowe and Jason Thiel of GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender)
will be the June guest speaker.
• The committee proposed a schedule of topics for the Community Chat series.
o June 5, Equal Rights (Jen Lane to facilitate)
o July 17, Expressing Your Religion (Moin invited to facilitate)
o August 23, Immigration Rights (Kim Salinas to facilitate)
o September ??, Asian Issues (Caroline invited to facilitate)
Angelina offered to post the entries on the City's Community Calendar once
the dates/facilitators confirmed and a description of the event/contact person
could be provided.
d. Northside Aztlan Center. A group lead by Rich Sales will be meeting on May 15 at
5:30 at the Northside Aztlan center to discuss issues related to the Northside
Aztlan center.
s. Housekeeping. Becky has been receiving copies of the Senior Advisory Board
and the Larimer County Office on Aging Board minutes. Elaine Boni offered to
receive and monitor the Boards' minutes. Also, correspondence from high
students who attended a Community Chat and a human rights watch in Riwanda
had also been received. Concensus was to distribute to the appropriate
Subcommittee Chair —Education & Community Outreach and Executive
Delegation in the above cases.
HRC May 11, 2006 — Page 4
8. ADJOURNMENT. Elaine Boni made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Maryanne
Ingratta seconded the motion. All in favor. The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Parker Preble, Chairperson
/Rjbe�ccaO'Donne, Staff Liaison