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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 06/08/2006FORT COLLINS HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION Regular Meeting — June 8, 2006 5:30 p.m. IlCouncil Liaison: David Roy 11Staff Liaison: Rebecca O'Donnell 11 11 Chairperson: Parker Preble A regular meeting of the Human Relations Commission was held on Thursday, June 8, 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 Parker Preble Moin Siddiqui Jeffrey Van Fleet Lester Washington BOARD MEMBERS WITH EXCUSED ABSENCE: Caroline Tu Farley STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Rebecca O'Donnell, Staff Liaison 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Parker Preble at 5:30 p.m. 2. PUBLIC INPUT Colorado Sate University students attended to observe a public meeting. Jim Downey from the Senior Advisory Board attended to also observe as liaison to the HRC. Mr. Downey stated he has heard from seniors who attended the May 2, 2006 Human Relations Award Breakfast and they thought it was a very good event. 3. AGENDA REVIEW Parker proposed that the agenda be changed and that the guest speakers present their information first, with agenda review and approval of minutes thereafter. 4. GUEST SPEAKER Jan Lowe and Jason Thiel are representatives of LAMBDA Community Center. LAMBDA is working to educate Coloradoans on discrimination issues. They hope to obtain partnerships with the public and political leaders to defeat bans and support referendum F and to develop visibility through various avenues such as www.fortoride.org, as well as a local/national calendars. They hope to gather strength and support for allies and in turn support those who support them. They meet quarterly and the next meeting is late July at Walnut Street Gallery. You can email them at ilowe(a)womens-resources.ora and thielnahach.com for more information. This is the third year for "Pride in the Park", which will be held at Library Park this year anticipating approximately 800 attendees. Next year they anticipate 1200 participants and the event will be held at Civic Center Park (LaPorte and Howes). HRC June 8, 2006 — Page 2 The political issues affecting the GLBTQ in 2006 have risen from 2 to 4. 1) Referendum F (for Fairness) supports Domestic Partnership allowing for same sex rights, regarding hospitalization relationship rights, end of life/estate decisions, and healthcare benefits. 2) Constitutional Gay Marriage Ban — will ban gay marriages in the constitution. This is described as legislated discrimination and is sponsored by Focus on the Family. 3) Defines no law made allowing for anything that resembles marriage, including "common law" generating signatures. 4) Coloradoans for family and equality defines partnerships are supportive of marriage. As an individual you can contact www.coloradoansforfairequal.orq, and also educate friends, media and citizens about the November ballot issues. The HRC can help by allowing the GLBTQ to quote that the City of Fort Collins Human Relations Commission supports their cause. HRC members agreed it is appropriate to support the GLBTQ and their quest for non-discriminatory, fair and equitable treatment. 5. AGENDA REVIEW Parker suggested the order of agenda items be revised to 1) call to order, 2) agenda review and 3) move current pertinent topics up on the agenda, such as Pride in the Park; Holiday Display, Immigration; Special meeting; Marriage constitutional amendment, Northside Aztlan Center. It was also suggested by Elaine to remove the meeting reflections agenda item. Further suggested changes to the agenda item order ensued, and Moin suggested that the agenda continue as is, to be readdressed at the HRC Special Meeting in August. HRC members agreed. 6. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Elaine made a motion to approve the May 11, 2006 minutes with noted corrections. Moin seconded the motion. The motion passed. Becky explained that due to the "spam control" filters that are in place, all general HRC messages are sent to a holding folder for her review. She will more closely monitor the messages to make sure all HRC related emails are reviewed prior to the next HRC meeting. 7. CURRENT TOPICS • Elaine reported that the issue of whether to change the name of the Northside Aztlan Community Center was settled at the June 61h City Council meeting with a 5-2 vote supporting the continuation of the Northside Aztlan Community Center name (Manvel and Ohlsen against),. Mayor Hutchinson stated he didn't want the issue to divide the community any further. Paige stated the HRC Special Meeting will be held Saturday, August 5 from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon at Joann Ginal's house. Parker asked to see a final agenda for the meeting. Paige stated she would check with Alma Vigo Morales to see if an agenda will be available prior to the meeting. Joann will email everyone with the directions to her home. Maryanne will provide a sign up sheet for members to contribute breakfast food items for the meeting. • Holiday Display discussion was removed from the June 30'h City Council work session agenda. The holiday display discussion has been rescheduled to Tuesday, July 11. Jeff, Caroline and Paige plan to meet and prepare a proposal for City Council to HRC June 8, 2006 — Page 3 consider. Becky advised that Council packet information for the July 110, work session is due in the City Manager's Office by Friday, June 30. 8. COMMITTEE REPORTS a. Executive Delegation. No update b. Education and Community Outreach. • Joann reported there is no Community Chat for the month of June. Next Community Chat will be Monday, July 17 from 6:30 to 7:30. First in a series entitled Morality, Legality and Equality Rights: Being Gay. Elaine stated she believed this topic belongs to the Education Committee. She explained that at the Northside Aztlan Center meeting she attended last Monday, Cheryl Distaso passed out a flyer announcing a conference which Maryanne, Moin and Elaine participated in last year. It will be held on Saturday, September 30, 2006. Elaine asked if HRC members agreed with the proposal she submitted on behalf of the HRC, which stated: "The Human Relations Commission would like to have an Issues Workshop at your conference on Sept 30. We would like to present a panel discussion on "Working Toward Inclusive Communities." Our purpose is to raise awareness and focus attention on the importance and value of inclusive communities, to motivate the city to make a public commitment to building an inclusive community and to provide support to local officials in focused efforts around affordable housing, race and ethnic relations and equal citizen participation in community decision -making. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will gladly help if you need it. Elaine Boni" HRC members agreed to conference participation. • Joann stated HRC will sponsor a table at "Pride in the Park" at Library Park on Saturday, June 17 from 1lam to 8:00 p.m. The sponsored table was charged to the HRC budget. Maryanne will bring the banner and brochures and Joann asked that HRC members come and donate 2 hours of their time. A sign up sheet was circulated. Maryanne suggested that she draft a letter in support of the Coloradoans for Fairness and Equity and send it to Lambda and City Council. Elaine also suggested that a thank you note be sent to LAMBDA be sent by the HRC. It was also suggested that a Resolution be created on or about the time the ballot issue is at hand. Maryanne made a motion to send a letter of support on behalf of the HRC to the Coloradoans for Fairness and Equity, who support the GLBTQ. Jeff seconded the motion. All members were in favor. Maryanne will draft a letter. • Joanne, Maryanne, Moin and Lester had a discussion about sexual orientation beliefs and observed inequities in HRC diversity support and participation in different areas. The discussion was welcomed and well received by all involved parties. • Paige asked that the Intercultural Competency Trainers information be placed on the HRC web page. Becky stated she would follow-up. HRC June 8, 2006 — Page 4 Parker asked for clarification from members. He stated that because the HRC is appointed by City Council that it is acceptable for HRC members to state they are a member of the HRC when offering personal opinions. He asked if the same would hold true if when an HRC member offered a personal opinion and stated they were speaking for or on behalf of the HRC. Becky stated that it is important that a distinction be made by HRC members, as all HRC members may not agree with a personal opinion offered by another member. HRC members asked for clarification from Becky as to whether they can approve items such as newspaper article submittals or correspondence from HRC to the community via email, or are those items they even have to vote on. She advised she would check with staff. Until they heard otherwise that it was not allowed per code or bylaws, Elaine made a motion that HRC members could approve letters, correspondence and newspaper articles via email. Lester seconded. All members except for Maryanne were in favor. Parker stated he could also approve via executive privilege. c. Media and Community Recognition. • Lester stated there was no meeting in June for the media committee. He did receive Joann's article which was published. Joann asked why her article was not part of the soap box column. Lester explained when he sends in an article to the Coloradoan he has no control over when, where and how the article will be published. Lester believes the article was read by many citizens, as it was a featured article on the second page and he has heard positive feedback. Lester advised Joann to resubmit her article as a Soapbox to Pat Ferrier if she wished. Lester stated he would submit the July article. • Jeff volunteered to research the possibility of creating a Community Diversity Calendar for the HRC website. d. Government Relations • Elaine stated she attended the City of Aurora HRC meeting and they were an extremely organized 15 member group. She stated they will be having a 4-hour training session on Civil Rights by the Department of Justice, (the training date and time has not been set). 9. LIAISON REPORTS a. Maryann stated she might be resigning from the NCMC. Elaine and Lester stated they would share the role of HRC liaison if needed. b. NIOTA: Lester reported that he attended the afternoon session of the "Day of Dialog" with the Colorado Civil Rights Commission (CCRC) held on Thursday, May 18 in Greeley. He learned that the Federal government has no investigatory rights and that the State of Colorado does have investigatory rights. Lester shared that the US department of justice is interested in investigating recent community concerns supported by NIOTA. Becky also stated she attended the day long conference, along with Caroline and Moin (who attended the morning session). The CCRC travels to a different Colorado region once a year. The Day of Dialog is an opportunity for business and community members to share their insights into the diversity climate and culture in their communities. The day conference was sponsored by UNC and President Kay Norton spoke about UNC's efforts toward diversity. Other UNC staff and professors also spoke and did not support UNC HRC June 8, 2006 — Page 5 President Norton's belief on diversity efforts at UNC. They stated the majority of cultural centers at UNC have closed, and that there are no persons of color in a department head or above position at UNC, which was not the case in the past. The remainder of the morning session was sponsored by the Colorado Lawyer's Committee. The Colorado Lawyer's Committee Hate Violence Task Force (HVTF) which is dedicated to teaching middle and high school students and adults about the meaning of Colorado's hate crimes law. The program allows participants to see a mock trial, participate as jurors, review the law and evidence, and discuss differing verdicts, all facilitated by two Colorado lawyers who donate their time. Discussion includes issues around tolerance in their communities, and suggests ways to prevent the spread of hatred and hate crimes. Brochures will be provided to HRC members at the July meeting to discuss how then might want to communicate and introduce the program to the Poudre School District. The afternoon session was devoted to citizen input as to the climate of diversity in their cities/towns. There were many discrimination examples from Greeley minority citizens (mostly Hispanic) by white citizens and the Greeley police department. It was stated that the issues have heightened since the immigration laws focus. Lester spoke as a member of the HRC, NIOTA and CSU student and provided an example of the discriminatory treatment he has personally experienced by the Fort Collins police department. He asked the commission what authority they have to review and resolve discrimination complaints and asked that the case NIOTA will be bringing forward to the commission receive a timely response. c. Latino Action Council. First Call 211 is participating in a 3-session cultural competency training with Mims Harris. d. Interfaith Council. Moin will attend on June 27, a meeting with Phil Koster and Priscilla Hansen from PSD, to discuss incorporating diversity into the PSD curriculum, especially at Fort Collins High School. e. ERACISM Film Series. Parker stated that two films were presented. The first is "Dominguez High School in L.A." which is highly recommended. Also Early Thomas will facilitate discussion on the 1902 film "Our Town", on September 17 and 24, and again October 1 and 81"). f. Elaine stated the next meeting of the City's Senior Advisory Board is Wednesday June 14, 2006. 10. BUDGET. Becky O'Donnell stated approximately $1500 was remaining in the HRC Budget. Correction to be noted: The $300.00 charge for the video taping of the Human Relations Commission breakfast was not yet deducted from the balance, therefore, the balance is approximately $1200 for the remainder of 2006. 11 ADJOURNMENT. Jeff made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Joann seconded the m AI n favor. The meeting adjourned at 7:d - 0 Parker Preble, Chairperson