Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 09/11/20141 City of Fort Collins Human Relations Commission Regular Meeting Minutes September 11, 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: Mayor Karen Weitkunat Interim Staff Liaison: Christine Macrina Recorder: Tamara O’Dell Commissioners Present: Colleen Conway, Myles Crane, Christy Doyon, Christine Hays, Mary Lyons, James Owiny, Preety Sathe and Victor Smith Excused Absent: None Guests: City Staff members Timothy Allen, Director of Communications and Public Involvement; Mary Atchison, Director, Department of Social Sustainability, and Ana Arias, Civic Engagement Liaison; Cheryl Distaso, Fort Collins Community Action Network; Joseph Leske; CSU/Center for Public Deliberation Student CALL TO ORDER The meeting commenced promptly at 5:30 PM. Interim Staff Liaison Macrina announced to the Board that Mary Atchison would be taking over as HRC’s Staff Liaison in October. Chair Crane expressed gratitude to Christine Macrina, Mary Atchison, Ana Arias and Dr. Mary Lyons as cited in the above Meeting Highlights Summary. Meeting Highlights Summary: 1. The Commission: expressed appreciation to B&C Coordinator Christine Macrina for her excellent six months service as Interim HRC Staff Liaison; welcomed Director of Social Sustainability Mary Atchison as HRC Staff Liaison effective October 9th; thanked Civic Engagement Liaison Ana Arias for translating the HRC brochure into Spanish; and congratulated HRC commissioner Dr. Mary Lyons as recipient of the prestigious national Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Pathology Chairs. 2. Guest speaker Mary Atchison reviewed the role and responsibilities of the Department of Social Sustainability as an integral part of the City’s triple bottom line decision-making process. Mary discussed various issues that the Department is addressing and shared her intention of proactively soliciting HRC input in social sustainability matters. 3. EOC Chair Christine Hays communicated that plans were on schedule for the October 14th HRC Mental Health Forum. 4. M&CR Chair James Owiny provided comprehensive information and relevant document updates for the HRC’s annual award process. 5. Vice Chair Colleen Conway provided a recap of the B&C meeting on August 25th and led discussion on HRC proposals which she will submit for the attention of City Council. 2 PUBLIC INPUT Cheryl Distaso, Fort Collins Community Action Network, commented on the following three issues: 1. Re. Multi-Cultural Retreat. She requested HRC support for City Council to approve this event. 2. Re. Mexican restaurant named “Illegal Petes”. She voiced a concern that she found the name offensive. She wondered if the HRC could write a letter expressing its displeasure with this private company’s business’ name. 3. Re. FCPS Ticketing Homeless People for Camping. She expressed displeasure about the way she perceives the City and Police Services treat homeless people and those in poverty. She described the stressful process that homeless people undergo when they are ticketed and reiterated that homeless people camp because they have no alternative shelter. Chair Crane stated that HRC would take her public input comments under advisement, and draft a formal response to Ms. Distaso after HRC discussion and approval by the Office of the City Attorney. AGENDA REVIEW Chair Crane asked if there were changes to the Agenda. Commissioner Hays requested that Cheryl Distaso’s issues be added to the agenda and discussed. Chair Crane said that discussion would take place under New Business. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Crane asked for a motion to approve the August HRC Meeting Minutes. Commissioner Owiny motioned for approval and Commissioner Sathe seconded. The motion passed 8:0. BUDGET REPORT Interim Staff Liaison Macrina provided a budget report with a stated balance of $2,072.00. She discussed miscellaneous charges which gave the Board assurance that there would be adequate funds on hand throughout yearend. Commissioner Sathe motioned for approval of the budget report and Commissioner Hays seconded. It was approved 8:0. GUEST SPEAKER PRESENTATION Mary Atchison, the City’s Director of the Department of Social Sustainability, presented a brief overview of her background in community relations, her various career leadership positions in non-profit, other professional, philanthropic and related organizations. Mary discussed her Department’s role and responsibilities mentioning that Fort Collins is the only city in the country which currently has a Social Sustainability Department. There is no way to look at best practices in other cities, since Fort Collins is pioneers this innovative practice. She reviewed the City’s triple bottom line philosophy whereby City management’s decisions are made after carefully considering three perspectives – economic, environmental and social sustainability. She said that focus on environmental matters has been going on for two decades. Focus on the impact of decisions on the local economy has been prioritized for at least five years. Social sustainability considerations are relatively new with the Department founded by Joe Frank in 2012 before his retirement. The Department evaluates the impact of the city’s decisions on the lives of people- such as food sources from farms or the food bank; affordable housing, income inequality, and access to transportation and mobility such as relates to segments of the population such as people with disabilities, seniors, at risk youth, those in poverty, especially single parent families, and homeless individuals. The aforementioned plus health and wellness of the overall community are among the key gap 3 areas analyzed independently by a group of consultants. After several meetings with the public, further analysis and presentation to Council, a strategic plan for the City was compiled but it is in draft form and not yet finalized. The Department of Social Sustainability manages a competitive budget process through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Commission. $2.5 million has been allocated to affordable housing and social services. Another $700,000 out of the general fund has also been given to the community. Mary described the Department’s role as a “convener, partner, and advocate, to lead the charge in the community; and bring issues to the attention of policy makers in our city.” Council has instructed the Department is not to be a service provider. She indicated that the Department is tasked with creating a vision for our community 20 to 50 years into the future to help create community resiliency. Mary expressed that she is looking forward to being HRC’s Staff Liaison and looking to the HRC to share its ideas and vision for the betterment of our community. Highlights of Q & A discussion included: Commissioner Hays: Do City Council politics have anything to do with the direction the Department of Social Sustainability is taking? Could the Social Sustainability department be dismantled? Director Atchison: No department in the City is autonomous. We all work for the City Manager, who reports to City Council. Chair Crane to Director Tim Allen: How does Department of Communications and Public Involvement overlap with Social Sustainability? What does public involvement mean in the context of your Department? Director Allen: Our Department’s work involves keeping the public informed about what is going on in the City. We are to be transparent. Our job is to be a public information vehicle for the City and its community. We have a public engagement spectrum that helps us decide how to best communicate with the public. Commissioner Owiny to Director Atchison: Could you please define “triple bottom line”. Director Atchison: The term “bottom line” was coined in the 80’s. Companies need to work with their bottom line, but also stakeholders and employees. It’s been broadened and redefined as examining the environment, the economy and people and how they intertwine to achieve success. The city is using this model both internally and externally. Director Allen: This model also shapes our communication projects. For example when we talked about the West Nile Virus, we needed to consider who is affected; how is the environment impacted; and how much is the overall cost? In that project, for example we specifically included homeless individuals and communicated directly with them because they are exposed to the elements all of the time and therefore at increased risk of contracting West Nile Virus. Commissioner Smith to Director Atchison: How does your department find pockets of people who are not represented? Director Atchison: We work very closely with non-profits in the community. We are very tuned into those populations in the community and we rely on Ana Arias, in her position as Civic Engagement Liaison to help us navigate that area. STANDING COMMITTEE AND LIAISON REPORTS Executive Committee: Myles Crane and Colleen Conway CPD/CSU: Report previously circulated by email. LCOA: Chair Crane reported that at the Larimer County Office on Aging Advisory Council meeting earlier in the afternoon, the Chair of Colorado’s Commission on Aging reported that the State is developing a Strategic Plan on Aging to address social sustainability issues such as affordable housing. ACLU: No report. 4 Government Relations Committee (GR): – Preety Sathe and Christy Doyon - No report. Educational Outreach Committee (EOC): Christine Hays and Mary Lyons Senior Advisory Board (SAB)/and Partnership for Age-Friendly Communities Coalition (PAFC) Commissioner Lyons reported that at their meeting on September 10th, the SAB discussed the HRC Senior Award. Long term Staff liaison Barbara Schoenberger is transitioning to other responsibilities and Katie Stieber will be the new SAB Staff Liaison. Commissioner Lyons distributed a flyer for Grandparents’ Day for general interest. As part of Larimer County special national grant award under the Livable Communities Collaborative, five self directed volunteer teams have been established to address issues in Affordable Housing, Access and Mobility, Health and Wellness and the Culture of Aging. The latter group is hosting a nonpartisan forum on October 28th at the Senior Center. The purpose of the forum is to provide residents an opportunity to engage with candidates for the State Legislature and Larimer County Commissioner to address issues specifically relevant to Seniors. Commissioner Lyons also cited the Seniors Walking Project which will identify barriers to seniors’ mobility. Chair Crane also mentioned monthly articles will be appearing in The Coloradoan relating personal stories on what it is like to grow old in our Community. Director Atchison then commented that one of the action items on the strategic plan for Social Sustainability is becoming an age friendly community. Women’s Commission: No report. Mental Health Forums EOC Chair Hays reported that the next Mental Health Forum for October 14th is on track. She proposed ordering green ribbon pins to show HRC’s support for mental health. As the pins are $3 each, Chair Crane requested a motion to purchase a dozen. Vice Chair Conway motioned for approval. Commissioner Doyon seconded. The motion passed 8:0. EOC Chair Hays also mentioned that she may be required for jury duty in October. For facilitator contingency backup she contacted former HRC Chair Karen Buchanan. She also requested a second back- up from the HRC. Commissioner Smith volunteered. Commissioner Sathe also volunteered to ensure light refreshments are provided. Media and Community Recognition Committee (M&CR): James Owiny and Victor Smith M&CR Chair Owiny referred to an email and related documents for the Human Relations Awards nominations. He provided copies to the HRC to send to friends and family. The Senior Advisory Board will select the Senior Award after October 15, once all nominations are received. The following media outlets have been contacted: - Note sent to The Coloradoan - PSA emailed to KUBO-Denver - PSA emailed to KUNC - Sending PSA’s to Clear Channel & Townsquare Media Other communications through Interim Staff Liaison Macrina at: fcgov.com through City Communications Department - Spotlight on awards will run through Oct. 16. Plans are also for social media – Facebook and Twitter on 9/12, 9/26, 10/8 and last call on 10/13. Commissioner Hays requested Commissioner Smith to assist with advertising and media for the January Forum which he will coordinate with Chair Crane. 5 Commissioner Hays requested clarification about who is invited to the awards? M&CR Chair Owiny responded invitees will be the award nominee plus one guest. Chair Crane also mentioned that Commissioners can submit award nominations too, but HRC members must recuse themselves from voting on their nominees. OLD BUSINESS Tres Colonias Public Discussion Chair Crane stated that there was a meeting on August 25 at the “Coloradoan attended by representatives from City Management, City Council and State Senate” where a researcher from Stanford University addressed issues of gentrification and community matters. That meeting was followed-up by a report in the local newspaper. NEW BUSINESS New Staff Liaison Chair Crane again thanked Interim Staff Liaison Macrina for her fine work and welcomed Mary Atchison who will be the HRC Staff Liaison in October. B&C Super Issue Meeting, August 25th: Interim Staff Liaison Macrina reported that the Boards and Commissions (B&C) meeting covered the Building on Basics (BOB) program. She also addressed efforts to align the work of Boards and Commissions with City Council to better utilize community members’ knowledge and talents in Council and City work. Vice Chair Conway reported that City Council wants HRC input on seven key items on or before September 30. Discussion took place on various Community and Neighborhood Livability items. Mary Atchison suggested writing a letter to Council confirming support as well as making suggestions. Chair Crane asked for motion to approve HRC input for Vice Chair Conway to email Interim Staff Liaison Macrina to deliver to Council. Commissioner Lyons made motion to approve. Commissioner Owiny seconded. The motion passed 7:0. *Commissioner Hays abstained from voting as she is strongly in favor of all except one of the initiatives. Other per commissioners’ Input: Discussion took place on how to address the specific concerns brought forth by Cheryl Distaso. Chair Crane suggested that he would draft a letter to Ms. Distaso for HRC review and then subsequent review by the Office of the City Attorney. Commissioner Hays requested that Tracy Mead, Executive Director, ELTC be invited to speak at an HRC meeting in 2015. Commissioner Hays expressed that she is very impressed with their Circles program and will provide more information to HRC prior to voting on inviting Mead to an HRC meeting. UPCOMING Events/Announcements Per commissioners’ and Staff Liaison input:  September 18 – 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Center for Public Deliberation will host a Community Issues Forum at the Senior Center  September 16-18 Diversity Conference at CSU; requires pre-registration, but can register on-site  September 15- October 16 – Hispanic Heritage Month CLOSING/Call for Adjournment Commissioner Lyons motioned to adjourn. Commissioner Sathe seconded. It passed 8:0. The meeting adjourned at 7:33 PM. The next HRC regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 9 at 5:30 PM in the CIC room. Meeting Hand-outs: Budget report