HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 5/16/2017 - Memoranda From Vic Smith, Human Relations Commission, Re: Community Trust Ordinance (Hrc And Community Equity Consortium Opinions) - For May 16, 2017 Council Meeting1
Sarah Kane
From: FCCS Smith <SMITHFCCS@msn.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 10, 2017 3:29 PM
To: Sarah Kane
Subject: Memos to Council
Attachments: 170511 HRC Community Trust Ordinance.pdf; CEC Opinion 041917.pdf
Hi Sarah,
I have attached two memos intended for City Council, one from the Human Relations Commission
and the other from the Community Equity Consortium. Both memos apply to the
Proposed Community Trust Draft Ordinance that will be addressed at public comment during the May
16th meeting. Will you please put both memos in Council packets for the May 16th meeting?
Thank you.
Vic Smith
Chair, Human Relations Commission
Co-lead, Community Equity Consortium
Vic Smith
1339 Catalpa Dr.
Ft Collins, CO 80521
Phone: 970 493 0742
Cell: 970 217 3521
Fax: 970 482 5106
smithfccs@msn.com
DATE: May 10, 2017
TO: Mayor and City Council Members
Darin A. Atteberry, City Manager
Jeff Mihelich, Deputy City Manager
Beth Sowder, Social Sustainability Director
FROM: Vic Smith, Chair, Fort Collins Human Relations Commission
RE: Proposed Community Trust Ordinance
Members of the Human Relations Commission acknowledge and support community efforts to amend
Chapter 13 of the City Code to add a new Article III concerning discrimination based on immigration
status.
While Fort Collins strives to be a welcoming city for everyone, there is a need to strengthen trust
between City service providers and our immigrant community. Currently, immigrants of any status are
less likely to report crimes, provide testimony or aid police investigations. Eliminating unnecessary
inquiries into immigration status could remove barriers to reporting criminal activity and reduce
numbers of crimes. The results would enhance the health and safety of all Fort Collins community
members.
An addition to the City Code similar to the Community Trust Ordinance would:
Support and align with current City operations and provide clarity to ensure city employees and
officials are consistent in the performance of their duties;
Send a clear message to constituents in our city that we value the safety of all members of our
community;
Strengthen relationships between immigrant families and City service providers;
Support victims and witnesses of crimes, thereby facilitating police investigations and
contributing to the prevention of future crimes;
Be consistent with best practices in community policing and recommendations by national
organizations that study this issue;
Not designate Fort Collins as a sanctuary city;
Better align the Code to the City’s Social Sustainability Strategic Plan Goal B.1 and Action 2.B;
and
Reduce cost and risks to the City by focusing resources on local concerns rather than areas of
Federal jurisdiction.
The HRC encourages the City Council to address the safety needs of our immigrant population in order
to provide a safe and healthy community for all.
Community Equity Consortium
Strengthening Community Action
For information, you may contact CEC Co-Leads at:
Eddie.Dominguez@uchealth.org SMITHFCCS@msn.com avm-bak@comcast.net
We are a catalyst to inspire deeper dialogue and raise awareness, committed to facilitating
action in support of diversity, equity and inclusion in our community.
Opinion 041917
The Community Equity Consortium (CEC) members represent a variety of community entities in Northern
Colorado who come together regularly to act as a catalyst to inspire deeper dialogue and raise awareness,
committed to facilitating action in support of diversity, equity and inclusion in our community. CEC is strongly
interested in establishing Fort Collins as a more welcoming city for all. To that end, we strongly encourage the
City of Fort Collins organization to consider and adopt the “Community Trust Ordinance” being presented to
City Council.
- This ordinance sends a clear message that we value all members of our community
- This ordinance would strengthen relationships between immigrant families and city officials
- This ordinance is consistent with best practices in community policing and is recommended by The Police
Foundation, Major City Chiefs Association, and the Police Executive Research Forum
- This ordinance is consistent with the City's Strategic Plan:
- Objective 1.3: Promote a more inclusive and equitable community that embraces and celebrate
diversity.
- This ordinance is consistent with Ft Collins' Social Sustainability Strategic Plan:
- B.1: To promote and maintain a welcoming, inclusive community where people feel connected;
- 2.B: ....to help inform refugee and immigrant populations of their legal rights....
The members of the Community Equity Consortium voted in favor of this opinion on 4/19/17,
with three abstentions: Janet Freeman, Martín Carcasson and Nalo Johnson
CEC Members:
Martín Carcasson
Kimberly Chambers
Mike Chávez
Edgar Domínguez (Co-Lead)
Jessica Dugan
Janet Freeman
Fred García
John Gillies
Nalo Johnson
John McKay
Kalie McMonagle
Mary Ontiveros
Vic Smith (Co-Lead)
Johanna Ulloa
Alma Vigo-Morales (Co-Lead)
David Williams