HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 02/14/2019HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
Regular Meeting
February 14, 2019 5:30 – 7:30 pm
CIC Room, City Hall, 300 LaPorte Ave., Fort Collins, CO
2/14/2019 – MINUTES Page 1
• CALL TO ORDER
o The meeting was called to order at 5:31 PM
• ROLL CALL
o Commissioners in attendance: Eva Amason Julia Mackewich Phil Walker
Colleen Conway Jean Runyon
Sean Dellenbach Wendy True
Cynthia Davis Vic Smith
o Commissioners absent: None
o Staff present: Carol Thomas, Equal Opportunity & Compliance Officer, Staff Liaison
• AGENDA REVIEW
o Colleen Conway motioned to accept the agenda as is. Eva Amason seconded. Vote to approve 9-0
• APPROVAL OF MINUTES
o Jean Runyon moved to accept the minutes as is. Phil Walker seconded. Vote to approve 9-0
• COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
o Joe Somodi presented information regarding FoCo Speaks Out which is tentatively planned for the
Fall of 2019. He also addressed his desire for equity and inclusion in Fort Collins.
• PRESENTATIONS
o Northern Colorado Intertribal Pow-wow Association members Jan Iron, Peter Jacobs and Meg
Bonahoom presented information regarding NCIPA.
Jan Iron gave a brief history of NCIPA which began in 1992. NCIPA was founded “for our
children” and offers cultural education to our schools and community. The 27th annual
PowWow will be held April 14 & 15 this year at Northside Center.
Meg Bonahoom explained how the PowWow is a celebration and affirmation of the Native
American tradition. It is also an opportunity to share their culture with non-natives.
Peter Jacobs spoke about how NCIPA educates the public in other venues. He spoke about
the Christmas party that is now in its 13th year. He also informed the HRC that the Denver
March Pow-Wow is one of the largest in the nation.
NCIPA is in need of volunteers to work at both the local PowWow and the at the Denver
March Pow-Wow
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING: 2/14/19
2/14/2019 – MINUTES Page 2
o Clint Andrews, IT Dept., City of Fort Collins Equity LGBTQ+ Team (Former Co-Chair)
Human Rights Campaign, Former co-chairperson
Tess Schmitz, City Attorney's Office, Co-Chair Equity LGBTQ+ Team
Clint shared a power point that explained the process for and results of Fort Collins’ Municipal Equity
Index Survey. This survey was conducted by the Human Rights Campaign.
Fort Collins was one of 506 cities selected for the survey. It was designed to measure fairness and equity
in the city. The 5 areas measured are: Non-Discrimination Laws, Municipality as Employer,
Municipal Services, Law Enforcement and Leadership on LGBQT Equality. Fort Collins scored
78/100 in 2017 and 85/100 in 2018. Complete results are available at:
Full Report: https://assets2.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/MEI-2018-
FullReport.pdf?_ga=2.125963279.322543723.1542229057-547561200.1542229057
City LGBTQ+ Equity Team: https://www.fcgov.com/socialsustainability/lgbtq.php
City Strategies for the future: Gender Neutral Bathrooms
Non-discriminatory purchasing policy
Educational/training opportunities for staff
Inclusive language guide for the City
Safe spaces/All-business/partner with Downtown businesses
Questions and comments: Should there be a protected class in city code?
Would LGBTQ+ Equity Team be interested in helping to develop our
Principles of Community?
• BUDGET REVIEW
o Cindy Davis reported out on the budget
1. Handout on details of spending for 2018
2. Handout of suggested allocation of funds for 2019
3. Current remaining funds for 2019 are $5498.86
• UNFINISHED BUSINESS
o None reported
• NEW BUSINESS
o Elections of Committee Chairs
Government Committee: Jean Runyon nominated
Vote to approve 9-0
Educational Outreach Committee: Phil Walker nominated
Vote to approve 9-0
Media/Community Recognition Committee: Sean Dellenbach nominated
Vote to approve 9-0
Executive Committee: Vice-Chair: Colleen Conway nominated
Vote to approve 9-0
Chair: Julia Mackewich nominated
Vote to approve 9-0
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING: 2/14/19
2/14/2019 – MINUTES Page 3
o Food Not Bombs Initiative
J Mackewich contacted Food Not Bombs; City of Fort Collins Police Chief Jeff Swaboda and
Deputy Chief Greg Yeager; and City of Fort Collins City Manager Darin Atteberry to gather
further information regarding Food Not Bombs distribution of food on Sundays in Library
Park.
Greg Yeager, Deputy Chief of Police referred the request to Heather Moore, Internal Affairs.
No response has been received as of 2/14/19.
Jeff Mihelich, Deputy City Manager responded to J. Mackewich and C. Conway and has
requested to meet with them to explain the City’s stance on the issue
As of 2/14/19, no response has been received from Food Not Bombs
J Mackewich and C. Conway will follow up with Food Not Bombs, Ft Collins Police and J
Mihelich, Deputy City Manager and will update HRC members as further information is
received.
o Citizen Liaison Program Status
Carol Thomas researched the Citizen Liaison Program. The purpose is to provide a vehicle
for any Fort Collins’ community member who has been discriminated against to come to the
HRC and receive assistance in navigating options for recourse.
This is different than the Citizen Review Board which deals with excessive force or use of a
weapon by the City of Fort Collins’ Police Department
Questions were raised by HRC members: Is there a process in place?
Should this program remain?
Are there other City Departments better equipped
to provide guidance?
Is there a description anywhere in City Code,
etc.?
Are there legal implications for providing
guidance?
Course of action: C Thomas and C Conway will further research the intent of this program
o Student Liaisons to HRC
C. Thomas researched the viability of adding one or more student liaisons to the HRC
Section I; C1 of the Fort Collins Human Relations Commission Bylaws states:
“Supplement the forgoing purposes by the following means – Formation of special
Subcommittees, including non HRC member specialists:
C. Thomas states that this gives the HRC latitude to add student liaisons
Discussion will continue at the next HRC meeting on 3/14/19
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING: 2/14/19
2/14/2019 – MINUTES Page 4
• BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
o Jean Runyon, Government Committee Chairperson
Reported that City Council approved the Respectful Workplace Policy at their 2/12/19
meeting. HRC will look into when our training will take place and if we also want to invite a
member of City Council to come to an HRC meeting to explain the policy.
• OTHER BUSINESS
o Wendy True
♦ Made a request that we change the name of Citizen Participation to Community Participation.
♦ Sent all HRC members a link to CSU’s Principles of Community
o Cindy Davis
Colorado Sunshine Laws defines a ‘meeting’ as “any kind of gathering of 3 or more members,
convened to discuss public business, whether in person, by telephone, electronically, or by other
means of communication.” If a meeting takes place, it must be posted 24 hours prior to the
meeting and minutes must be taken. If the HRC needs to respond quickly and officially at any time
other than a regularly scheduled meeting, we must follow these rules.
o A work session be will be held on 2/28/19 at 5:30 pm. At this time the Educational Outreach and
the Media/Community Recognition Committees will convene to discuss plans for Cracking the
Codes and communication efforts.
• ADJOURNMENT
o J Runyon motioned to adjourn the meeting. P Walker seconded. Vote to approve 9-0
The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 pm.
This information is available in Spanish or other language at no cost to a person who would like this information
translated to or communicated in Spanish or other language. Please call 416-4254 or titlesix@fcgov.com to
make a request for information in other languages.
Esta información está disponible en español u otro idioma, sin costo para la persona que le gustaría esta
información traducida o comunicada en español u otro idioma. Favor llame al 416-4254 o a titlesix@fcgov.com
para solicitar información en otros idiomas.
Auxiliary aids and services are available for persons with disabilities. TTY: please use 711 to call 970.416.4254.
________________________________________________________________________________________
City Contact Person: Carol Thomas, Equal Opportunity & Compliance Manager
970.416.4254, cathomas@fcgov.com