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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 10/02/2001 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 151, 2001, AMENDING AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: 12 op FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL DATE: October 2,2001STAFF• John F. Fischbach SUBJECT: First Reading of Ordinance No. 151, 2001,Amending Chapter 2 of the City Code Relating to the Functions of the Human Relations Commission. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: During the City Council's periodic review of the Human Relations Commission("HRC")at its July 24 study session,the HRC noted that its functions relating to human service needs recommendations and its role in relation to the Citizen Review Board have changed. The HRC requested that the City Code be changed to reflect these changes. Because the procedures for the allocation of funds to meet basic human needs in the City have changed and the HRC is no longer involved in that process, that function has been removed. The wording of the function concerning the facilitation of the review of citizen complaints concerning the actions of police officers or community services officers has been modified to clarify that the members of the HRC can assist citizens who wish to file complaints. The HRC reviewed the draft ordinance at its September 13, 2001 meeting, suggested some minor (clarifying) changes, and voted unanimously to recommend Council adoption of the ordinance as amended. ORDINANCE NO. 151, 2001 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS AMENDING CHAPTER 2 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS RELATING TO THE FUNCTIONS OF THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION WHEREAS, the City Council has heretofore established a Human Relations Commission (the "Commission"), the functions of which are described in Section 2-263 of the City Code; and WHEREAS, in July 2001, the City Council conducted its periodic review of the Commission, which included receiving input from the Commission regarding its current functions; and WHEREAS, one of the functions of the Commission as defined in Section 2-263(5) of the City Code is to recommend to the City Council the expenditure of funds for meeting basic human service needs in the city as defined by the City of Fort Collins Human Services Policy, and to develop such recommendations through membership on the Larimer County Human Resources Board; and WHEREAS, funds appropriated by the City Council for human service needs have been disbursed by agreement with Larimer County and, historically, the Larimer County Human Resources Board has developed recommendations to the County Commissioners with regard to the various health and human services programs to be funded by the City and County; and WHEREAS, Larimer County has dissolved the Larimer County Human Resources Board and recommendations to the County Commissioners are now formulated by a staff team consisting of the managers of the various health and human services departments of the County and a staff representative from the City; and WHEREAS, the City Council believes that it is in the best interests of the City to amend the City Code to reflect the elimination of the Commission's role in formulating recommendations regarding basic human service needs in the city; and WHEREAS, another function of the Commission defined in Section 2-263(3) of the City Code provides for the Commission to facilitate the review of citizen complaints concerning the actions of city police officers or community service officers by developing a citizen liaison program to assist individual citizens who wish to file such complaints and to appoint members of the public to serve as citizen liaisons; and WHEREAS, the Commission has expressed a desire to become more actively involved in the citizen complaint process by allowing its own members to become involved in assisting citizens who wish to file complaints. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS that Section 2-263 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins be amended to read as follows: Sec. 2-263. Functions. The commission shall have the following functions: (1) To promote positive interaction among all city residents and to discourage all forms of discrimination based upon the diversified values and individual differences of such residents by: a. Developing and promoting educational programs and activities that advocate awareness and respect for diversity; b. Cooperating with and providing leadership and support for other groups interested in promoting value and respect for diversity and positive intergroup relations; c. Educating city residents about existing local, state and federal laws dealing with discrimination and diversity; d. Reviewing proposed legislation, policy changes or other governmental action at the federal, state or local level which may affect human rights in the city and making recommendations to the City Council regarding the same; and e. Recommending to the City Council such actions as may be necessary or advisable to achieve: 1. Equal employment opportunities for all persons; 2. Equal housing opportunities for all persons; 3. Equal public accommodation opportunities for all persons; and 4. Positive community relations in all fields of governmental endeavor. (2) To assist residents of the city in utilizing the complaint procedure under Chapter 13, Article II of the Code and to hear appeals from decisions of the City Manager as provided in § 13-23(b) of the Code; provided, however, that any members of the commission who have rendered assistance to particular complainants shall refrain from participating in the commission's review of any decisions of the City Manager related to such complainants. (3) To facilitate the review of citizen complaints concerning the actions of city police officers or community service officers by: a. Developing a eitizen liaison program to ` .ts individual citizens who wish to file such complaints and te-appeir members of the publie to serve as eitizen haisens; b t a x be. Soliciting aid #1 from other social agencies in eduenting the public m. I` ; and „. ed. Communicating with other similar commissions in order to share experiences and become more sensitive to potential problems. (4) To make periodic reports to the City Council concerning the activities and recommendations of the commission; 40 basie human sery-ee needs in the eity as defined by the Gity of Fe (65) To perform such functions as are committed to it by other ordinances or resolutions of the city. Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 2nd day of October, A.D. 2001, and to be presented for final passage on the 16th day of October, A.D. 2001. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk Passed and adopted on final reading this 16th day of October, A.D. 2001. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk DPI' Human Relations Commission CIC Room 300'W.Laporte.Avenue September 13,2001,5;30-7-15 g m. Caavell Liaison: Marty Tharp Stall LikhoW Angelms Powelt Phone,221-6525 Ch n::BoULenk Phone: 493-5809 A regular meeting of the Human Relations Commission was held on September 13, 2001 in the CIC Room, 300 W. Laporte Avenue. HRC Members present Mary Gomez,Rita Klepae,Ingrid Kolstoe, Bob Lenk, Parker Preble, Richard Miller, Shion Hung HRC Members absent Man Oberoi with notification Staff Members present: Angelina Powell, HRC Staff Liaison Greg Tempel, Assistant City Attorney I. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Bob Lenk at 5:40 p.m. II. Approval of Minutes. Chair Bob Lenk asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held on August 9, 2001. Shion Hung made a motion to approve the minutes. Ingrid Kolstoe seconded the motion. The minutes were approved unanimously. III. City Code Changes The commission was asked to review an ordinance that changes the functions of the HRC currently listed in the code. As underscored at City Council's Periodic Review of the HRC on July 24i°, the functions related to Human Services recommendations and HRC's role related to the Citizen Review Board have changed and the commission asked the code be changed to reflect that. The draft presented to the commission was acceptable except for the following recommended changes: Subsection (3)c: Soliciting aid from other social agencies in educating the public. There's been some change to the verbiage to "Soliciting assistance from other social agencies in notifying the public about the complaint process; and..." The commission identified other social agencies as non-profits, churches and international community centers whom might access to individuals who have the need for assistance in filing the complaint forms. Subsection(3)d: "Communicating with other similar commissions in order to share experiences and become more sensitive to potential problems"was acceptable. Other commissions were defined as other jurisdiction's HRCs. There is sometimes an exchange to exchange experience information among commissions. In fact, there will one such opportunity on September 20-22 when the City of Aurora hosts their Kaleidoscope Summit. Three commissions (Ingrid Kolstoe, Rita Klepac and Bob Lenk) are set to attend. Human Relations Commission Page 2 Shion Hung made a motion to accept the draft ordinance with changes noted above. Ingrid Kolstoe seconded it. The motion was approved unanimously. IV. Subcommittee Reports. Diversity Subcommittee. The subcommittee met in August. Mary Gomez is working with individual subcommittee members to record and analyze the data provided by the Clerk's office relative to the ethnicity of the applicants to Board& Commissions since 1995. They hope to assess the results on how successful the City's been in drawing representation from our diverse populations. Police Subcommitee. Chair Rich Miller attended the last Citizen Review Board meeting. (The CRB meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at 214 N. Howes.) As the new subcommittee chair,Rich is still formulating how to best work on the Police Subcommittee work plan. That plan includes work on how to best interact with the CRB by assisting individuals who'd like the assistance of a third party when registering a concern about the actions of a city police officer or a community service officer. Commission members Rich Miller,Parker Preble, Shion Hung and Rita Klepac will attend the next CRB meeting scheduled for September 19 then will meet after at the Main Library to brainstorm the Police Subcommittee work plan. V. Old Business. Commission member Rita Klepac has been serving as the HRC Representative with the Foothills Unitarian Church's Social Justice Committee in the development of the Eracism Film Discussion Series. The showings are set for 7 p.m., Senior Center on September 16, September 23, October 7 and October 14. VI. New Business. The commission reviewed the Board and Commission application process documents provided by Karla Smith, B&C Liaison. If the application forms are not already distributed there,the commission suggested sending application information to the Collegian, community leaders and the North Aztlan Community Center. VII. Announcments. Parker offered the following news articles on diversity topics for the commission's review: • Coloradoan Tuesday, September 14 re: Ethnicity Irrelevant. VIII. Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.