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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 07/10/20141 City of Fort Collins Human Relations Commission Regular Meeting Minutes July 10, 2014, 5:30 P.M. CIC Room, 300 Laporte Avenue, City Hall West Fort Collins, Colorado 80521 The Human Relations Commission promotes acceptance and respect for diversity through educational programs and activities to discourage all forms of discrimination based on age, disability, gender, race, religion etc. Council Liaison: None Present Interim Staff Liaison: Christine Macrina Recorder: Tamara O’Dell Commissioners Present: Myles Crane, Christy Doyon, Christine Hays, James Owiny, Colleen Conway, and Preety Sathe Others Present/Guests: None Excused Absent: Victor Smith and Mary Lyons CALL TO ORDER The meeting commenced promptly at 5:30 PM. PUBLIC INPUT There was no public comment. AGENDA REVIEW Chair Crane asked if there were changes to the agenda. No changes were proposed. All Commissioners favored the standing agenda. Commissioner Hays motioned for the agenda to be approved as is. Commissioner Owiny seconded, and it passed 6:0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Crane asked for a motion to approve the June HRC Meeting Minutes. Commissioner Hays motioned for approval and Commissioner Sathe seconded. The motion passed 6:0. Meeting Highlights Summary: 1. Approval of minutes for HRC special meeting with local residents on June 30, 2014 at Museo de las Tres Colonias and subsequent action for that meeting. 2. Human Relations Awards nomination process initiated. Awards event details outlined and clarified. 3. Discussion of future guest speakers including Citizen Liaison Program training by Fort Collins Police Department in August, Director of Social Sustainability in September and EEOC Representative in October. 4. Process for obtaining applications for open Board positions on HRC discussed. 5. Senior Law Day – call for Commissioners participation and distribution of HRC event flyers to be handed out at that meeting. 2 BUDGET REPORT Staff Liaison Macrina provided a budget report with an estimated balance of $2,953. Chair Crane asked Staff Liaison Macrina to update the report for any forthcoming expenses. Three expenses were noted, $112 to Tastebuds Catering, approximately $350 for printing of HRC’s Spanish translated brochures, and $175 for sharing table display with the Senior Advisory Board (SAB) at the Senior Law Day event. Chair Crane asked for approval of the budget. Commissioner Owiny motioned for approval and Commissioner Doyon seconded. It was approved 6:0. STANDING COMMITTEE AND LIAISON REPORTS Executive Committee - Myles Crane and Colleen Conway Chair Crane: reporting on behalf of Commissioner Lyons cited a symposium in Washington DC attended by City Councilmember Poppaw and two other members of the Partnership for Age Friendly Communities. PfAFC is a Larimer County organization that focuses on creating communities where people can thrive at all ages. The program addresses inclusivity issues such as affordable housing, healthy aging, access and mobility as well as the culture of aging. Chair Crane recommended viewing of a brief award winning YouTube video “The Big Idea in 4 Minutes - on the Coming of Age in Aging America”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOA1v4-2Fos. Vice Chair Conway reported that she was feeling that her presence at ACLU meetings was not especially desired because of her professional work as a registered nurse at Larimer County Community Corrections. Commissioner Hays suggested contacting the head of the local ACLU to inquire if ACLU would prefer HRC representation at ACLU meetings. Vice Chair Conway concurred and said that she would make a direct inquiry and report back at next HRC meeting. Government Relations Committee (GR) – Preety Sathe and Christy Doyon City Council Meetings: Commissioner Hays attended the most recent Council meeting and provided an e-report to HRC. Commissioner Hays indicated that community members were expressing concern with sewer line work. That project apparently has an estimated duration until completion of about four years. Some concerns also were raised regarding the “crackdown” of homeless people. FCPD Chief Hutto will address the issue. Commissioner Sathe plans to attend the next City Council Meeting on August 5, 2014. Citizen Liaison Program: no report. Educational Outreach Committee (EOC) – Christine Hays and Mary Lyons Women’s Commission: No report. For the upcoming EOC planning meeting on July 31st, the start time was changed from 5:30 PM to 5:00 PM. Commissioner Hays asked Commissioner Sathe about meeting with the August 12 Forum speakers from the Alliance for Suicide Prevention. Chair Crane stated he was coordinating this meeting and would advise all parties when a date was confirmed. Media and Community Recognition Committee (M&CR) – James Owiny and Victor Smith Human Relations Awards: Commissioner Owiny stated that forms for the Human Relations Award nominees would be available online by the end of August or early September. Staff Liaison Macrina reported that the awards recognition would be held in the CIC Room on December 2nd. She also confirmed that this HRC event is on the schedule of the Mayor and all other Councilmembers. Light hors d’oeuvres will be served. Chair Crane requested HRC commissioners to attend if their schedules permit. Commissioner Owiny reported that the HRC website had been updated. He also noted that the Awards presentation will be televised on Cable Channel 14. 3 Commissioner Owiny reported that M&CR meetings the HR Awards selection process will take place outside of regularly scheduled monthly HRC meetings. The deadline for nominations will be October 15th. He asked for input as to how awards should be chosen this year because nominations from the community have not been easily gained. Commissioner Hays suggested the following two options or a combination of the two: 1. request community nominations or 2. continue having HRC select recipients consistent with prior year procedures. Commissioner Owiny suggested that a game plan be developed for the 2015 Awards. In particular it has been difficult to get Outstanding Youth Award nominations. He would like to see this remedied in the future. Commissioner Hays commented that the downside of HRC choosing the recipients is that HRC doesn’t get to hear the stories of unsung heroes in our community. Commissioner Hays also would like to know the process for publicizing the awards nominations. Commissioner Owiny said that local radio stations and KRFC have been used with pre-recorded messages. Staff Liaison Macrina said that she will contact Tim Allen, Communication Director to have announcements included in outgoing Utility bills. Commissioner Doyon also suggested that flyers be available at the Mental Health Forums and Senior Law Day. HRC Information Brochure - Spanish translation Update: Staff Liaison Macrina reported that Civic Engagement Liaison Ana Arias will make a final review before printing. Print costs are estimated at about $350. OLD BUSINESS Re. 2015-2016 Budget - BFO Proposals approved by HRC at its June 12th meeting Staff Liaison Macrina confirmed that on June 23rd she reported to City Council and the City Manager the following HRC recommendations for Council consideration: 1. Community and Neighborhood Livability: 2. 14.2 Low-income, Senior and Disabled Rebate Programs 3. 17.2 KFCG Lincoln Plan Neighborhood Projects 4. 48.2 KFCG Update of City’s Equity and Social Justice Plan 5. 48.7 Homelessness Initiatives 6. 48.12 Multi-Cultural Community Retreat Recreation and Culture: 7. 83.10 Vida Sana Program Re. Special Meeting June 30th As scheduled, six of the eight members on the HRC: commissioners Colleen Conway, Myles Crane, Christine Hays, Mary Lyons, Preety Sathe and Victor Smith attended a special meeting with Fort Collins residents Betty Aragon-Mitotes and Cheryl Distaso at the Museo de las Tres Colonias to listen to their concerns about various local neighborhood issues. Commissioner Hays prepared the Meeting Minutes in a very timely manner and prior to the HRC’s July 10th meeting, she emailed a request for input from the HRC attendees. On July 10th, Commissioner Hays inquired again if there were any changes to the Minutes. One minor change was made. 4 Commissioner Doyon observed that several community guests attended and she expressed some interest in how they learned about the meeting. Staff Liaison Macrina responded that she had publicly scheduled the meeting on HRC’s calendar consistent with practice followed for all HRC regularly scheduled and special meetings. Chair Crane requested a motion to approve the Minutes for the Staff Liaison to send to Council. Commissioner Sathe made the motion to approve. Commissioner Conway seconded the motion. Motion passed 6:0. Commissioner Hays inquired if the meeting Minutes will be posted online. Staff Liaison Macrina responded that Minutes of HRC special meetings are not posted online. Chair Crane stated that he would draft a cover letter to send with the meeting Minutes to Betty Aragon-Mitotes and Cheryl Distaso. NEW BUSINESS Upcoming HRC Speakers: Chair Crane mentioned that at the August 14th meeting the Fort Collins Police Department would be invited to offer training on the Citizen Liaison Program. On September 11, Mary Atchison, Director of Social Sustainability will be the guest speaker. Commissioner Conway made a motion to approve a guest speaker for the October 9th meeting. Commissioner Hays seconded motion. Motion passed 6:0. Commissioner Sathe then advised that she would finalize scheduling arrangements for a speaker from the EEOC. HRC Open Board Positions: Staff Liaison Macrina reported that in her capacity as Boards and Commissions Coordinator, she has publicized requests to fill upcoming open board positions for several boards and commissions. To date, she has not received applications for HRC. Staff Liaison Macrina requested HRC input. Several commissioners suggested names of organizations and people whom she might consider contacting. 2014 - 2015 Work Plan Approval: Commissioner Hays said she thought City Council had approved the HRC’s Work Plan submitted in November 2013, but she hadn’t seen documentation of Council’s review evidencing approval. Commissioner Owiny looked up HRC’s 2014-2015 Work Plan on HRC’s website and found it properly posted. He stated that this probably indicates that HRC’s Work Plan was approved. Otherwise Council would have notified HRC to the contrary consistent with current Boards and Commissions Manual procedures. Senior Law Day – August 2nd Fort Collins Hilton: Chair Crane mentioned that Commissioner Lyons has made a request that HRC commissioners take shifts to sit at the exhibit table which HRC was planning to share with the Senior Advisory Board. Chair Crane asked if there was any other new business. No other new business was suggested. MEETING HIGHLIGHTS HRC discussion per Summary on Page 1. UPCOMING Events/Announcements No additional events or announcements were reported. CLOSING/Call for Adjournment Commissioner Sathe motioned to adjourn. Commissioner Conway seconded. It passed 6:0. The meeting adjourned at 7:13 PM. The next HRC regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 14th at 5:30 p.m. in the CIC room.