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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 07/12/2012FORT COLLINS HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION Regular Meeting – July 12, 2012 5:30 p.m. Council Liaison: Mayor Karen Weitkunat Staff Liaison: Rebecca O’Donnell Chairperson: Karen Buchanan A regular meeting of the Human Relations Commission was held on Thursday, July 12, 2012, CIC Room, 300 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Elaine Boni Karen Buchanan Myles Crane Colleen Conway Christine Hays Preety Sathe James Owiny EXCUSED ABSENCE: Kent Bryans James Lesco STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Rebecca O’Donnell, Staff Liaison Angelina Sanchez-Sprague, Recorder CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Karen Buchanan at 5:35 p.m. PUBLIC INPUT None AGENDA REVIEW No changes. APPROVAL OF MINUTES James Owiny made a motion to approve the June 14, 2012 minutes as amended. Myles Crane seconded the motion. The motion was approved 7:0. BUDGET REPORT Becky O’Donnell reported a balance of $870. Becky said reserving $80-100/month for meals leaves an available balance of $270. HRC July 12, 2012 – Page 2 COMMITTEE REPORTS • Executive Committee Citizen Review Board (CRB) Chair Anne Berry and Vice-Chair Glenn Strunk CRB Chair Anne Berry provided information on how the 7 member/4 member subcommittees operate. Basically, the CRB is charged to review internal investigations where a peace officer is alleged to have used force, discharged a firearm, committed a crime or when a person sustained severe injury, death, or alleged their civil rights were violated by a peace officer, or when other investigations are requested by the City Manager or Police Chief. Investigations are prepared by Police Services Internal Affairs. She said approximately 80% of the time they are in agreement with Internal Affairs’ findings; other times they think they are too harsh or too easy. Anne said after the subcommittee completes their review they send their recommendations to both Chief Hutto and City Manager Atteberry and that becomes part of the public record. Karen Buchanan asked about the criteria they use for their findings and recommendations. Anne said they can reach one of four conclusions: unfounded, exonerated, not sustained, and sustained. Glenn Strunk said the review can take from 2 hours to 2 days based on the complexity of the case. Anne said we are fortunate in Fort Collins; we have an open and good relationship with Police Services. She said there are approximately 1700 like review boards in the United States. In some departments they are given only some of the facts. It’s only in a handful (including Fort Collins) where all information is made available for their review. Glenn Strunk said complaints cannot be made directly to the CRB; they need to be filed with Police Services. Elaine Boni said that City Council has charged the HRC with assisting citizens in filing complaints. Complaint forms are available on the web (at the Police Department, public library, and http://www.fcgov.com/cityclerk/citizen-review.php.) Glenn Strunk reported after Sandy Lemberg visited the CRB, a member took lead in researching Mr. Lemberg’s claim the CRB was not doing the work intended by citizens. Strunk said the ballot initiative spearheaded by Mr. Lemberg among others failed. The work the board does is the charge given them by City Council. Mentors for New Members Members agreed with Chair Karen Buchanan suggestions as to pairings of mentors to new members. Final results are: Christine Hays with Karen Buchanan, James Lesco with James Owiny (Media and Community Recognition Committee) and Colleen Conway with Elaine Boni and Myles Crane (Educational Outreach). Letter from the Women’s Commission Karen Buchanan said she received a letter dated July 2 from the Women’s Commission (WC) proposing a draft letter which they could revise according to their own perspective. They asked the letter be forwarded to City Council via their Council Liaison. The letter encourages City Council to support a board and commissions retreat to discuss improved interaction between the boards. HRC members said they support the Women’s Commission efforts in principle but would like to see some changes in the letter they forward to their Council Liaison, Mayor Weitkunat. The members suggested Karen modify the WC draft letter reflecting HRC HRC July 12, 2012 – Page 3 changes and ideas in the areas of: facilitation, ownership-- who moves it forward, who will be accountable for management and follow-up, and action oriented results. They will forward a copy of this revised letter to the WC prior to sending it to the Mayor. James Owiny made a motion that Karen Buchanan will draft a revised letter reflecting the HRC’s position/concerns as it relates to facilitation, ownership, and action and will submit to HRC members for input to finalize the letter to our Council Liaison. Elaine Boni seconded the motion. The motion was approved 7:0. • Government Relations Committee Preety reviewed the list of members planning to attend upcoming City Council meetings: July 17, Elaine Boni; August 7 Pretty Sathe; and August 21 Karen Buchanan. As part of HRC’s ongoing team-building efforts as well as empowering the Standing Committees to fulfill their duties in relation to our 2012 Work Plan, Karen Buchanan asked the committee to work at the standing committee level to bring forward to the larger (HRC) group ways the HRC could increase their legislative knowledge including areas of strengths and weaknesses. AI (Analysis of Improvement) Fair Housing The City of Fort Collins’ report "Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice” is available for public review from July 3, 2012 through August 8, 2012. As a recipient of federal funding for affordable housing and community development activities, the City is required to submit this report to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development every five years. The report takes a current snapshot of local areas of barriers to housing which may limit fair choice. It also looks at discriminatory practices-- especially as they relate to persons in protected classes. Staff member Heidi Phelps asked HRC members to comment. Karen Buchanan said in reviewing the executive summary, there weren’t any issues she thought needed to be addressed by HRC and felt the plan for corrective action and improvement based on the impediments and observations noted in the AI was appropriate. Christine Hays said she was impressed by its thoroughness. Myles Crane thought the report was highly professional and that it was a good start. Citizen Liaison Program Timing and Implementation Elaine Boni reported that once trained in the Citizen Liaison Program (Ride-a-long and Police Services training), HRC members could be available to help those afraid to deal directly with Police, those with language limitations or those who are mentally disabled and need assistance in filing a police complaint. Chair Karen Buchanan asked how HRC members could assist with the improvement and implementation of the Citizen Liaison Program. Elaine said the program probably best falls under the Government Relations Committee and it is there they could refine their efforts. Elaine thinks improving marketing about their availability could be one way of improving their opportunity to help. HRC July 12, 2012 – Page 4 • Educational Outreach Committee EOC Meeting Update and Elder Abuse Fall Program Update Myles Crane reported: • Name of the program will be Make It Stop: Elder Abuse Forum • Flyers will be considered at their next meeting • Center for Public Deliberation(CPD)/Martin Carcasson will provide facilitation • Online registration will be available through CPD • He’s been marketing the event and will do so at Senior Center Senior Law Day in August and Loveland’s Bridging the Gap event in September • A number of presentations are planned • Several professional service providers and caregivers are interested in participating • Myles to seek clarification from Greg Tempel re: food solicitations vs. accepting food • Next committee meeting will be Wednesday, July 25 @ 5:30 at Whole Foods Elaine Boni made a motion to approve the Educational Outreach June 27, 2012 minutes. James Owiny seconded the motion. The motion was approved 7:0. Collaboration Efforts Based on Updated 2012 Work Plan Myles Crane suggested each committee member take lead with one board. It was agreed the assignments would be Christine Hays/Women’s Commission, Colleen Conway/Commission on Disability, and Myles/Youth Advisory Board. They were encouraged to work directly with the board and to seek a representative from each of their respective boards to interact with the larger HRC. It was agreed that Karen Buchanan would frame the initial communiqué/how the HRC/individual members hoped to would work through the process for completing the task Mayor Weitkunat outlined for them. This communiqué would come from the HRC Chair and Vice-Chair. It’s Myles’ hope that a point person for each of the 3 boards and commissions outlined in the Revised 2012 Work Plan would work with specific board or commission to begin in August and continue through November when the larger groups would work together to come to agreement/report progress made toward collaboration in their respective 2012 annual reports. Karen Buchanan made a motion that she will frame a communiqué with input from Elaine as Vice-Chair and members of the Educational Outreach Committee that outlines a strategy by which the affected boards can work together toward the Mayor’s request for collaboration/consolidation and efficiencies. James Owiny seconded the motion. The motion was approved 7:0. • Media & Community Recognition Committee James Owiny reported their last meeting was canceled and the next meeting is scheduled for July 18, 2012, 5:30 p.m., Whole Foods. HRC July 12, 2012 – Page 5 HRC Recruitment Flyer James Owiny reported he’s been working on amendments to the HRC recruitment flyer that he hopes to have completed by the next meeting. He’ll then forward to Board and Commission Liaison Karla Smith. Updated flyer was provided at the meeting; however, the “original” had already been forwarded to Karla Smith. Breakfast After Action Review (AAR) Key Action Items James Owiny reported the committee will discuss Human Relations Breakfast AAR at their next meeting. He’s aware of some areas they’d like to consider/improve. They are: timeline for planner, invitation list criteria(nominee/nominator), award criteria, redoing the nomination form so that questions/responses address the rating criteria, and improvements to plan/plan/plan, check/check/check. Becky O’Donnell said she’s been working with James Lesco who asked if the city could get a price break with particular banner vendors. Becky has gotten some information she can share with the committee when they’re ready to complete work on getting a table top banner. OLD BUSINESS ARCH and other Invitations to attend/speak at our meeting • August - The Center (formerly LAMBDA) • September – Linda Rumley of ARCH (Adult Resources for Care and Help) • October – Touchstone Health (formerly Larimer County Mental Health) • November – 2013 Work Plan • December -- HRC Retreat Women’s Commission: Affordable Care Act Presentation Christine Hays reported that the Women's Commission will not be meeting in July and that Chair Deborah Young stated that there is no news concerning the Affordable Care Act Presentation. LIAISON REPORTS Elaine Boni attended the local chapter of the ACLU (American Civil Liberty Union) meeting. She said interaction with them could be very valuable due to the work they do with government— what’s happening at a state level. James Owiny reported he had nothing special to report related to CSU. He continues to work with the CSU Diversity Conference Planning Committee and he asked how the HRC wants to participate at that event. Members said they’d like to have a booth and attend the free conference. James Owiny reported he’ll be making a presentation on Uganda on July 26 at the monthly International Club event at the Harmony Library. Karen reported on upcoming activities at the Center for Public Deliberation (CPD). They continue to train facilitators who facilitate public forums. As reported earlier, they will be providing facilitators for the elder abuse forum. Myles Crane reported he attended the July 11 Senior Advisory Board (SAB). He highlighted SAB meeting topics: HRC July 12, 2012 – Page 6 • Larimer Transport • MAX (Mason Corridor Project/Construction Schedule update) • Women’s Commission mixer Myles reported he attended last month’s Office on Aging (OA) meeting when they elected their new board and spoke of state legislation/executive order of Governor Hickenlooper that established the Office of Community Living which aids seniors and the disabled community. Christine Hays reported that The Center will present results at their August meeting on their community wide survey. OTHER The following July 12 meeting bullet points will be sent to City Council Member as well as the Housing Authority and Affordable Housing Board, Transportation Board, Senior Advisory Board, Parks and Recreation Board, Human Relations Commission, Women’s Commission, Youth Advisory Board, CDBG, Commission on Disability, Economic Advisory Board. • Glenn Strunk (former Chair) and Anne Berry (current Chair) of the Citizen Review Board (CRB) provided the HRC with a terrific overview of this Board’s responsibilities and processes. We also shared several ideas and suggestions for strengthening the Citizen Liaison Program to support the work of the CRB. • The HRC reviewed and discussed the “City of Fort Collins Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice” (“AI”) report submitted for public review. Members were impressed with both the professionalism and comprehensiveness of the report as well as the noted impediments, observations and suggested action items. The HRC had no additional comments or additions to the report at this time. • The HRC discussed and approved an overall set of collaboration strategies presented by Myles Crane, Chair of the Educational Outreach Committee, to assist with the fulfillment of the HRC’s Amended 2012 Work Plan. Christine Hays made a motion to approve bullet points. Elaine Boni seconded the motion. The motion was approved 7:0 NEW BUSINESS Team Building: Accountability and Results Given the length and time of the HRC meeting, Karen Buchanan suggested deferring this last session to a later time; however, she also wanted to take a few minutes to set the stage for the next team building session. The last step is accountability/focus on results after exercises in building trust, encouraging productive conflict, committing to what the team’s about including the HRC’s vision: “Building a bridge and helping others get over it.” In anticipation of their next exercise, Karen asked committees to go back and look at their vision and potential action items for achieving the vision. What are the top three priorities for each standing committee? Please come prepared to answer questions about who’s accountable for each priority and how do we measure results? Everyone will meet Wednesday, July 25, after the Educational Outreach Meeting at Christine Hays’ home. HRC July 12, 2012 – Page 7 ADJOURNMENT Elaine Boni made a motion to adjourn. Myles Crane seconded the motion. The motion was approved 7:0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m. The next meeting of the HRC will be held on August 9, 5:30 p.m. in the CIC Room. Minutes approved as amended by majority vote of the Commission on September 13, 2012. STANDING COMMITTEES Executive Chair Karen Buchanan and Vice Chair Elaine Boni Government Relations Chair Preety Sathe / Kent Bryans, Elaine Boni Educational Outreach Chair Myles Crane/ Colleen Conway, Christine Hays Media/Community Recognition Chair James Owiny/ James Lesco