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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 05/10/2007FORT COLLINS HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION Regular Meeting — May 10, 2007 5:30 p.m. IlCouncil Liaison: Lisa Poppaw 11 Staff Liaison: Rebecca O'Donnell 11 IlChairperson: Maryanne Ingratta 11 11 A regular meeting of the Human Relations Commission was held on Thursday, May 10, 2007 in the CIC Room, 300 W. Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Paige Backlund Jarquin Elaine Boni Joann Ginal Maryanne Ingratta Maya Jairam Cristina Matsushima James Ross Karen Wong -Brown STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Rebecca O'Donnell, Staff Liaison Angelina Sanchez -Sprague, Recorder 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Maryanne Ingratta at 5:30 p.m. PUBLIC INPUT. Anita Basham, a member of the Senior Advisory Board and liaison to the HRC was in attendance. GUEST SPEAKER. None. 3. AGENDA REVIEW No changes were made to the agenda as proposed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES There were a number of minutes to approve. Some revisions were requested and minutes were approved with the following motions: • Elaine made a motion to approve the February 8 meeting minutes with revisions. Karen seconded the motion. The motion was approved. • Cristina made a motion to approve the February 19 special meeting minutes. Joann seconded the motion. The motion was approved. • Karen made a motion to approve the March 5 special meeting minutes. Cristina seconded the motion. The motion was approved. • Joanne made a motion to approve the March 8 meeting minutes with revisions. Elaine seconded the motion. The motion was approved. • Maya made a motion to approve the April 12 meeting minutes with revisions. Cristina seconded the motion. The motion was approved. HRC May 10, 2007 — Page 2 BUDGET REPORT/APPROVED EXPENDITURES Becky reported most of the Human Relations Award (HRA) Breakfast expenses had been paid with only the video ($300) and plaques ($92) expenses remaining. With year-to-date meal costs of $168.98, there is a balance available of $2,391.52. 4. COMMITTEE REPORTS • Executive/Maryanne. Both Maryanne and Elaine attended Council's May 7 Board & Commission BFO budget outreach. Elaine spoke with David Roy after the HRA Breakfast and thanked him for his support as the past HRC Council Liaison. David said he'd enjoyed working the HRC and even though he would not be continuing as their liaison, he would continue to support their efforts. Maryanne spoke with Councilmember Lisa Poppaw, who has been named as the new HRC Council Liaison. Lisa was not planning to attend every meeting but would come to meetings as needed by invitation. Lisa reported that Council was forming a task force on the menorah issue —seeking representatives of the various religious backgrounds and varying points of view. She would like to suggest a HRC member be named to that group. Government Relations/Elaine. Elaine reported she had met with Chief Harrison on the Caryl Schonbrun request and had closed the loop with her. (Mrs. Schonbrun is chemically injured and is extremely sensitive to any exposure to chemicals. A neighbor had chosen to ignore her request to cease and desist using garden chemicals that posed a serious health risk to her.) While the Chief was sympathetic to her situation, he reported that no enforceable actual crime had taken place. The neighbor had not used any unlawful substance and had limited its use to his own property. Mrs. Schonbrun thanked the Commission for their efforts and reported they would be moving (as previously planned.) Elaine reported with the retreat in June that it might be better to schedule any training efforts related to the Citizen Liaison Program in the fall. She would be looking for dates in a September timeframe on Thursdays after 6 p.m. and would be getting back to members. Caroline Tu Farley of NIOTA asked for a HRC representative for a Cult, Gangs & Hate Groups forum being planned for April 12, 2008. The representative would be responsible for a 15-minute presentation on community responses to hate crimes. Other panelists on the one -hour panel would include representatives of NIOTA and the Anti -Defamation League (ADL.) Elaine made a motion that the Commission participate and send a member to act as a panelist. Joann seconded the motion. The motion passed 6:2 with Paige and Maya abstaining. The Education/Community Outreach Committee (Joann, Maya & Karen) will return in January 2008 with ideas for the 15-minute presentation on community responses to hate crimes. Elaine will contact Carolyn letting her know they can count on the HRC to provide a representative. • Education/Community Outreach/Maya & Karen. Maya spoke with Joann about the Menorah issue. Maryanne offered to share a copy of the research and recommendation the Commission had previously made to City Council on how the HRC May 10, 2007 — Page 3 community might approach the issue of public displays. Also, Maryanne asked Maya to contact Council Liaison, Lisa Poppaw to let her know the committee would like to collaborate with City Council in their efforts to revisit the issue. Karen reported that she had heard the CSU Diversity Conference (September 25- 27) planning committee had rejected the HRC's proposal: "Issues of InDifference." The members requested further information as to the rejection: • Karen will share copies of the proposal submitted. • Karen, who has volunteered to work at the conference, will obtain a conference agenda • Maya will make inquiries and may attend a conference planning meeting to learn exactly what they are looking for • Maryanne will talk with Patricia of the NCMC Public Relations & Community Recognition Paige. Paige thanked everyone for their efforts in sponsoring such a successful event. She also asked each member to personally sign thank you notes she had prepared for individuals instrumental to the event's success. • Members shared their impressions and kudos received from others. • Members thanked James for his efforts in getting outstanding news media coverage of the event. • There were a number of suggestions for improvements to next year's event, which will be recorded in the event's planning notes (including Elaine's suggestions for how to get more nominations). • Paige/Maryanne spoke of future collaborations with United Way/211 and Northern Colorado Multicultural Corporation (NCMC) MAC awards previously given at the CSU Diversity Conference on planning/sponsoring volunteer award events. James reported he'd heard back from the Coloradoan Editorial Page Editor Kathleen Duff that they could not be assured of space for regularly submitted HRC articles. Maryanne thought they could continue to write and submit articles on timely topics within the constraints set at what frequency individual/group articles would be published. Maya suggested one such timely topic was the Virginia Tech incident and how the rest of the world reacted including the fallout (animosity and threats) felt by Fort Collins individuals of oriental ancestry. Paige reported the HRC Retreat with facilitator Mims Harris had been set for Saturday, June 23, from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon at Joann's home. It'll be a potluck and she asked individuals to sign up for what breakfast/snack items they'd like to bring. Members wondered if the vacant member position would be filled by then and if the new member could be included in the team building, and mission and work plan development. Becky reported that applications would be taken until May 215', with Council committee interviews scheduled thereafter. It was not know whether the new HRC member would be selected by the retreat on June 23. Maryanne asked the committee to set their regular monthly meeting date and share the date, time and location information with Becky so it could be posted both on the web and in paper form at City Hall. She also asked them to consider and report back to the Commission where they would like to direct their short and long- term efforts. HRC May 10, 2007 — Page 4 5. OLD BUSINESS • Liaison Assignments. Maryanne encouraged members to act as liaisons with other community groups with mutual interests —it's a good way to make connections and to work collaboratively toward common goals. Karen reported she'd made contact with Margie (Chair of the ERACISM Film Series Committee.) NEW BUSINESS • Pride in the Park. Maryanne reported that the Commission had previously participated in Pride in the Park (in support of gay, lesbian & transgender members of the community) and their annual event was slated for Saturday, June 17, Civic Center Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Commission normally sets up a display table with the HRC banner, hard candy, and commission brochures. This year there is a $25 cost and there is need to schedule volunteers to setup/tear down the display and "man/woman" the table. Maya made a motion to appropriate $25 for participating in the event. Karen seconded the motion. The motion was approved. Paige, Joann, Maryanne and Karen would be there for sure (with Karen volunteering to do the tear down.) Maya and James were maybes. Maryanne will bring a schedule to the June 14`" regular meeting to insure all times were covered. B&C Questionnaire. Maryanne distributed a draft response to City Council questions asked in anticipating of an upcoming review of whether the Commission should continue as currently designed. (It's a process they use for all Boards & Commissions.) She asked members to review the draft and let her know if they'd like to see any changes. The questionnaire is due after the retreat so that is another place where responses to questions can be discussed. Northern Colorado Multicultural Corporation (NCMC) Proposal. Maryanne had been approached by Mims Harris, Chair of the NCMC, about joining forces. Mims' would like to explore at a brainstorming session with both groups how (if at all) their mutual goals could be joined in the area of the NCMC MAC Awards, charter/purpose of the HRC, and their joint efforts in the area of Deliberative Dialogue. They invited HRC members to come to their next regular meeting (15f Thursday, FRCC Student Center Conference Room, 4:30 p.m.) Commission members shared their thoughts including needing more information about the NCMC and their purpose, having the opportunity to brainstorm on their own before participating in a joint meeting, and having reservations about blending the individual groups —their identities, successes, and image within the community. Maya suggested the topic be "fleshed out" with Mims at the upcoming HRC Retreat. Becky agreed it might be a good time to compare overlap of purpose and goals. HRC May 10, 2007 - Page 5 7. UPCOMING EVENTS 2007 May 1, Tuesday AWARDS BREAKFAST: Lincoln Center 7:30 - 9:00 am. May 1, Tuesday City Council Meeting (Maya) May 3, Thursday Education Committee Meeting 5:30 at La doice vita May 10, Thursday Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. May 15, Tuesday City Council Meeting (Elaine) June 5, Tuesday City Council Meeting (Karen) June 7, Thursday Education Committee Meeting 5:30 at La doice vita June 7, Thursday NCMC/HRC Brainstorming June 14, Thursday Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. June 16, Saturday _... ........ _..... ......... Pride in the Park 2007 - Civic Center Park June 19, Tuesday City Council Meeting (Karen) June 23, Saturday HRC RETREAT (Joann's house) July 3, Tuesday City Council Meeting July 5, Thursday Education Committee Meeting 5:30 at La doice vita July 12, Thursday Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. July 17, Tuesday City Council Meeting July 24, Tuesday City Council Work Session with periodic review of Boards & Commissions including the HRC August 2, Thursday g Y v Education Committee Meeting 5:30 a W t La doice vita August 7, Tuesday City Council Meeting CANCELLED August 9, Thursday Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. August 21, Tuesday City Council Meeting September 4, Tuesday City Council Meeting September6, Thursday Education Committee Meeting 5:30 at La doice vita September 13, Thursday Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. September 18, Tuesday City Council Meeting September 25-27 CSU Diversity Conference is September 25-27. CSU Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity 970-491-5836 October 2, Tuesday City Council Meeting October 4, Thursday Education Committee Meeting 5:30 at La doice vita October 11, Thursday Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. October 16, Tuesday City Council Meeting November 1, Thursday Education Committee Meeting 5:30 at La doice vita November 6, Tuesday City Council Meeting November 8, Thursday Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. Work Plan must be finalized. HRC May 10, 2007 — Page 6 November 20, Tuesday City Council Meeting s December 6, Thursday Education Committee Meeting 530 at La dolce vita December 13, Thursday Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. 8. ADJOURNMENT. The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m. 8� Maryanne Ingratta, thai erson 6ReccXaO%onne11, Sta Liaison