HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 10/09/2008FORT COLLINS HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
Regular Meeting — October 9, 2008
5:30 p.m.
Council Liaison: Lisa Poppaw Staff Liaison: Rebecca O'Donnell
11 Chairperson: Elaine Boni 11 1�
A regular meeting of the Human Relations Commission was held on Thursday, October 9, 2008
in the CIC Room, 300 W. Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
Elaine Boni
Kent Bryans
Maya Jairam
Cristina Lane (nee Matsushima)
Karen Wong -Brown
EXCUSED ABSENCE:
Kelly Evans
Joann Ginal
UNEXCUSED ABSENCE
James Ross
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Rebecca O'Donnell, Staff Liaison
Angelina Sanchez -Sprague, Recorder
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 5:40 p.m. by Chair Elaine Boni.
PUBLIC INPUT. None
2. GUEST SPEAKER. None.
3. AGENDA REVIEW.
The agenda was revised to include the following additions:
Old Business: City Logo and business card order
New Business: How City Works/Maya and Human Rights Day Proclamation/Elaine
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Cristina Lane made a motion to approve the September 11 HRC minutes as amended.
Karen Wong -Brown seconded the motion. The minutes were approved 5:0.
BUDGET REPORT/APPROVED EXPENDITURES
Becky reported that the HRC has spent approximately $1,700 leaving an available balance
of approximately $2,200. The Media & Community Recognition Committee will be looking at
prepaying 2009 Human Relations Breakfast expenses such as reserving a room at the
Lincoln Center and a deposit paid to the caterer.
HRC October 9, 2008 — Page 2
4. COMMITTEE REPORTS
Executive Committee/Elaine. Elaine reported on the Special Meeting of the Commission
held on September 25'. The Commission approved the Letter to the Editor drafted by
Kent Bryans on Japanese Internment Camps. They also reviewed plans for the
October 13, 2008 Coffee Talk on the same subject.
The Human Award Breakfast is being honored at the Board & Commission appreciation
event on Wednesday, November 5, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Lincoln Center (Canyon West
Room.) Mark Grant of Cable 14 was present to record portions of the meeting.
Additionally, he was looking for suggestions for individuals to interview about the award.
The video will
shown at the event.
Elaine asked Commission members to review the 2008 Work Plan in anticipation of
drafting the 2009 Work Plan due to the City Clerk's office by November 301". Members
offered suggestions for improvements. Karen Wong -Brown made a motion to
approve the HRC 2009 Work Plan with the suggested changes. Maya Jairam
seconded the motion. The motion was approved 5:0.
Media & Community Recognition/James. Elaine distributed a copy of the article she
wrote for NIOTA. It speaks to what the HRC does and with which other organizations
the HRC works. Members offered suggestions for changes. Kent suggested adding
information about the upcoming Human Rights Day Proclamation. Maya Jairam made
a motion to approve the article as amended. Christina Lane seconded the motion.
The motion was approved 5:0.
calendar.
Educational Outreach/Elaine. Karen reported all is set to go for the Japanese
Internment Camp Survivor Coffee Talk to be held Monday, October 13, 2008, Harmony
Library. Dr. Douglas Ishii, CSU Biomedical Sciences Professor is the featured speaker.
Joann & Karen worked on a list of sample questions. Karen, Elaine & Kelly will be in
attendance. Karen made a motion to approve $50 in Downtown Bucks in
appreciation of Dr. Ishii's participation in the event. Cristina Lane seconded the
motion. The motion was approved 5:0.
calendar.
Government Relations/Kelly. Elaine read an email from Kelly relative to the Commission
taking a position on Amendment 46—Discrimination & Preferential Treatment by
Governments (prohibits discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex,
ethnicity or national origin in education, employment and contracting.) Elaine asked if
the Commission would be willing to come out against the amendment. Cristina Lane
made a motion that the HRC take a stand against Amendment 46. Maya Jairam
seconded the motion. The motion was approved 5:0. Maya said she'd be willing to
HRC October 9, 2008 — Page 3
write a letter to the editor using as background information amendment information
available through the League of Women Voters' web site. She can work on it Monday,
October 13 and will distribute a draft for Commission member review.
5. OLD BUSINESS
Becky spoke to Maryanne and received the HRC brochure electronically. City staff updated
the brochure with the City logo and the HRC insignia and put it into a word format for easy
editing. Minor edits were made to the HRC brochure.
Becky also received from Maryanne the original business card mock ups with the tag line in
both English and Spanish. Becky worked with City staff and provided the Commission with a
mock up of the new City standard board and commission business card. Becky stated
because the HRC has long had their own distinct insignia, they will be able to include the
HRC insignia on the back of their business cards. Becky asked the Commission to review
the business card and asked for approval to proceed with ordering cards. Becky stated the
minimum card order is 250 per person and there was a $30.00 additional fee per order for
double sided printing. Becky will also advise Maryanne that business card printing will need
to go through the City vendors; and will request reimbursement via DBA bucks for prepaid
services.
Cristina said she'd like to see the HRC insignia share the front of the card with the City logo.
She also had concerns about the expense of a two-sided card. Maya agreed. There was
some discussion about how often the need for a Spanish version would be needed, and with
the amount of information on the standard Board and Commission version, whether there
would be space for the tag line. Elaine suggested an additional mock-up a provided by
revising the back of the card to include both English and Spanish tagline translation and a
smaller HRC insignia.
Maya made a motion to have City staff provide two mock ups of business card
revisions to the November meeting. The cards would be edited to include: 1) the new
template single -sided with the HRC emblem in the lower left front and without the
HRC tagline on the back; and 2) the new template with a smaller HRC insignia on the
back and both the English and Spanish tagline translations. Kent seconded the
motion. The motion was approved 5:0.
6. NEW BUSINESS
Maya reported she had a friend who regularly watches City Council meetings. He wondered
what specifically the Mayor's role was and how does the City Council factored into
influencing the outcome of what's been happening economically on the national stage; as
well as, issues related to housing and global warming. She believed that as members of a
Board and Commission that we, the Commission, have a responsibility to help citizens
understand how government works and to keep Fort Collins at the top of its game.
Becky suggested members identify topic areas where there is a void of information for
citizens and she would to communicate to City staff the topics identified to be added to the
City of Fort Collins web.
HRC October 9, 2008 — Page 4
Angelina provided general information about the purview of local government (City and
County,) state government, and the federal government and the role of the Mayor (as she
has acted as an Executive Assistant to Former Mayor Ann Azari). She also said the local
economic concerns were redevelopment of the Foothills Mall and the collection of sales tax
to fund the areas of service the City provides to their residents. She offered to meet with
Maya and her friend to answer their questions more specifically.
Human Rights Day is December 10, 2008.
Becky asked the Commission to clarify if there will be a regular December HRC meeting,
stating there had been a suggestion to do charitable work in December rather than have a
regular meeting. Elaine said she'd be open to the Commission's preference and offered to
look at ideas including cancellation of the December meeting. A December meeting
decision will be made at the November meeting.
7. CURRENT EVENTS
Maya noted that October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Elaine noted that NIOTA was meeting Tuesday, October 14 from 6:30-8:30 at the
Community of Christ Church on 280 E. Oak. She asked if one of the members would be
available for about 5 minutes to distribute HRC brochures and provide general information
about the HRC the first part of the meeting. Karen Wong -Brown agreed to attend.
8. LIAISON REPORTS
Elaine went to the Larimer County's Office on Aging meeting in which United Way/211
Gordon Thibedeau spoke. Given the current economic situation, senior assistance
donations have decreased and his office is doing their best to work with the resources
available to them. There is concern that senior citizens don't have increased job and
financial resource options available to them as do younger members of the community who
can better help their financial situation with job availability and training opportunities.
Elaine also attended the Citizen Review Board and spoke with Lt. Dodd, their Board Liaison
about the Citizen Liaison Program training. He's available to provide training to members
when the Board is ready.
Karen is on the email list for the Commission on Disability. She's receiving their minutes.
9. UPCOMING EVENTS
2008
October
i Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October 9, Thursday
Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m.
October 14, Tuesday
--
Educational Outreach Meeting at 5:30 p.m., Bean Cyi
Government Relations Meeting at 6:00 p.m., Bean C)
October 16, Thursday
11 Media/Community Recognition Meeting 5:30 at Mugs
October 21, Tuesday
City Council Meeting 6 00 p.m.
November
Native American Awareness Month
HRC October 9, 2008 — Page 5
STANDING COMMITTEES
C Educational Outreach
Government Relations
Recognition
Chair Joann / Kelly / Karen / Maya
Chair Kelly / Elaine / Joann
Chairs Cristina & James / Maya / i
10. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:19 p.m.
lame Boni, Chairperson Re ecca O'Donnell,
L-a-i s on