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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-07-13 HRC Regular Meeting Agenda Human Rights Commission CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA 0 MINUTES Regular Meeting Monday, March 9, 2020 Palm Springs City Hall  3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way Council Chamber Present Present FY 2019/2020 FY 2019/2020 This Meeting to Date Excused Absences Unexcused Absence Terri Andrade X 7 Harold Ames X 5 1 Denise Chappell, Vice Chair X 6 2 Ron deHarte, Chair X 8 Glenn Flood X 8 Nicki Randolph X 6 2 Other Staff Present: Jay Virata, Community and Economic Development Director Dale Cook, Community Development Administrator, Staff Liaison 1. CALL TO ORDER: Chair deHarte called the meeting to order at 3:00pm 2. MISSION STATEMENT: “The Mission of the Palm Springs Human Rights Commission is to promote and protect the diversity of our community and to improve human relations through education and community awareness." Goals:  To develop community education programs;  To investigate and mediate instances of discrimination of groups or individuals;  To bring persons and groups together in common support of human rights issues;  To acquire the fiscal and human resources necessary to support and accomplish the work of the Commission;  To provide management and coordination for the Commission;  To promote diversity through the appointment of candidates to all city boards and Commissions to proportionately reflect the diversity of the population of the City of Palm Springs;  The Commission and each Committee shall develop goals and objectives annually, for adoption by the Commission;  The Commission shall work closely with the Mayor, City Council, and City Cabinet and with all other City Commissions and Boards in joint endeavors that support the Commission's mission statement and City's goals and objectives. Human Rights Commission DRAFT Regular Meeting Minutes March 9, 2020 Page 2 3. QUORUM: Mr. Cook, Staff Liaison announced that a quorum was present. 4. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None. 5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: January 13th and February 10th MOTION: By Commissioner Flood, Second by Commissioner Ames to approve the minutes of January 13th and February 10th as presented. Motion carried unanimously. 6. COMMISSIONER, STAFF AND STUDENT COMMENTS: Chair deHarte – Welcomed Vice Chair Chappell back. 7. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION: A. Committees – Chair deHarte and Vice Chair Chappell Chair deHarte opened the floor for committee report updates. Community Relations Committee/Budget/Personnel Committee a. PSPD LGBT Outreach Committee (deHarte) – Chair deHarte - No new hate crimes reported in the last month with the Palm Springs Police Department. b. Master Calendar Item discussed after Agenda item 7B. Meeting proceeded to Agenda Item 7A(c) Main Street. c. Main Street (deHarte) - No comment/report updates. d. Finance (Randolph) Commissioner Ames – Distributed a copy of the proposed budget of $3,567 to City Council and went over each line item in detail for the Commission. He noted a revised version with the correct fiscal year date would be sent out. Comments and questions ensued regarding the report that resulted in changes as discussed to line item names and dollar amounts. Final proposed budget total resulted in$3567.37. Chair deHarte – Opened the floor to entertain a motion to adopt the suggested budget for the City Manager’s office MOTION: By Commissioner Ames, Second by Vice Chair Chappell to approve the Human Rights Commission budget for July 2020 to June 2021. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. e. Organized Neighborhoods of Palm Springs – No comment/report updates. Cultural Affairs Committee a. Film Screening (Randolph, Andrade) Commissioner Andrade – Reported that the Subcommittee had decided that the quickest way to proceed with the commitment they made to the 2020 beneficiary, Desert Highland Gateway Estates Community Association, was to set aside $500 of last year’s profits from the legacy film for Human Rights Commission DRAFT Regular Meeting Minutes March 9, 2020 Page 3 the Youth via the Neighborhood Association. Since they cannot do what they originally stated as a fundraiser for the current year legacy project 2020. Chair Harte – Identified that the thought that the Commission would be involved with granting, was based on the idea that they would be creating a project to raise funds in the community , that they in turn share with. He emphasized that they will need to table the discussion on community grant and program for 2020 until they know where the budget is going to be set; so they know how much of the reserve is going to be needed for other program activity. Vice Chair Chappell – Indicated that the Commission needs to be mindful of the things they adopt and ensure they have a defined program. Questions and comments ensued. It was noted that the Subcommittee will continue with the legacy project. However, they backed into it for the current year and it requires a lot of planning. Commissioner Ames – Recommended that other Commissioners join the Subcommittee if interested. Vice Chair Chappell and Commissioner Andrade expressed interest; and are now part of the Subcommittee. Chair deHarte stated that there was no harm no foul. If it did not happen this February/March it can happen next February/March. b. Community Service Awards (deHarte, Chappell, Ames) – No comment/report. c. Desert Highland Gateway Estates Community Association (Andrade, Flood) Commissioner Flood – Did not attend last month’s meeting, will be going tomorrow. Seniors/People with Disabilities Veterans Affairs Committee a. Veterans issues (Flood) – Commissioner Flood – Shared that the US Department of Veterans Affairs has a very dynamic nationwide Hire Veterans Program to help veterans who are suffering certain medical conditions or cannot find a job. Currently, they are accepting applications nationwide for their Hire Vets Medallion Award that recognizes employer’s commitment to hire veterans. Youth/Education Affairs Committee a. Student Representatives (Chappell) Vice-Chair Chappell – Indicated that the Commission received a viable application for HRC Student Representative from Solange Signoret. A copy of the application was distributed to each Commissioner and motion considered. MOTION: By Vice Chair Chappell, second by Commissioner Flood to appoint Solange Signoret to the Human Rights Commission as their Student Representative. DISSCUSSION: A minor discussion ensued that was initiated by Commissioner Andrade regarding the Student Representative self –nomination process compared to the procedures in place to serve on Board and Commissions through the City Clerk’s office. Chair deHarte noted that the student representative is a non-voting member and that is why it has been handled differently. It is Human Rights Commission DRAFT Regular Meeting Minutes March 9, 2020 Page 4 anticipated that new procedures will come out from City Council and may change her roles. However, they will deal with that change when it occurs. MOTION CARRIED UNINANMOUSLY. Executive Committee a. Clean Indoor Air and Health Protection Ordinance Chair deHarte – Announced that the Sustainability Commission has been asked by the City Council to draw up a specific smoking ordinance for the City of Palm Springs Sustainability. He recapped that last year the Human Rights Commission endorsed and supported some language of a proposed ordinance. Now the Sustainability Commission is asking if they would like to have a representative work with them to review the ordinance and comment on the proposal. Chair deHarte opened the floor for interest. Mr. Cook – In response to Vice Chair Chappell’s inquiry, indicated that the representative would not need to attend the full Sustainability Commission. They would be working with the study group, which would be during the day. No interest was expressed on the floor to serve with the Sustainability Commission Study Group. Chair deHarte indicated that they will bring this back around when the new Commissioners are seated, to see if they are interested. b. March 1st Zero Discrimination Day Chair deHarte – Opened the floor for anybody wishing to speak on Zero Discrimination Day; no comments were made. c. April 7th World Health Day Chair deHarte – Opened the floor for anybody wishing to speak on World Health Day; no comments were made. Commission Development/Mediation Committee a. Mediation (Andrade) This Item was discussed after Agenda item 10. Announcements. Meeting proceeded to Agenda Item 7B. Topical Newsworthy Items. b. Retreat (Chappell, deHarte) – No Comment/reports. B. Topical Newsworthy Items - (MASTER CALENDER) Commissioner Flood – Inquired about the Commission’s participation at the ONE-PS Annual Picnic & Community Expo. Vice Chair Chappell - Announced, the picnic will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2020. Confirmation from Commissioners on their available participation times, responsibilities for supplies, set-up and teardown of the booth was gathered. Chair deHarte – Reminded the Commission that they do not have anyone heading up the Master Calendar/Community Outreach events. He encouraged anyone who is interested in heading up those responsibilities to let them know. Human Rights Commission DRAFT Regular Meeting Minutes March 9, 2020 Page 5 8. ACTION ITEMS: A. HRC Meeting Time Chair deHarte – Informed the Commission that the City Council has agreed that all boards and commissions should be moving as quickly as possible to shift their meeting time from 3:00pm to 5:30pm. There is an opportunity to request an exception under the following two options: 1) If a Commissioner would need to resign because of the time change, the Commission may defer to making the change until July 1, 2020.) If the Commission believes that the residents are not better served with the change in time, they may submit a request to City Council for an exception or waiver to the start time. A minor conversation ensued among the Commission that resulted in not having a favor one way or the other. Chair deHarte opened the floor to entertain the following motion: MOTION: By Vice Chair Chappell, Second by Commissioner Ames for this Human Rights Commission adopts a new meeting time of 5:30pm starting with the April 13, 2020 meeting, and that all its Commission meetings will start at 5:30pm. MOTION CARRIES UNINANIMOUSLY. 9. AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING: The following Agenda items were identified: Commissioner Ames - Quality of Customer Service at the VA Chair deHarte – Look at the issue and topic of renaming streets (Martin Luther King Jr. Street, Lawrence Crossley, Harvey Milk, and Barak Obama Street (This item was identified to be at the request of City Council) Chair deHarte – In response to Vice Chair Chappell inquiry, stated he would be contacting their new student representative. 10. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Commissioner Andrade – As part of the mediation Subcommittee, inquired for direction on what is the Commission’s preference on how to move forward with Mediation training. Chair deHarte – Reported that if there is any Commissioner interested in going to the Riverside County Mediation Training, that could do that now. The specific details will have to be pulled. Mr. Cook – Indicated that former Commissioner Susanne Severin is a mediation trainer and is able to offer that to those interested. He will reach out to Ms. Severin once the other commissioners are on board to see if there is interest from them participating as well. Chair deHarte – Indicated that at least one of the new Commissioners coming on board will be able to serve on the Mediation Subcommittee. He stated there are three new Commissioners that just finished their interview process. They are waiting for the City Council to approve their appointment, possibly at the next City Council meeting. 11. ADJOURNMENT: The Commission adjourned to a Regular Meeting, Monday, April 13, 2020, at 5:30P.M. in the City Council Chamber 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA. Respectfully submitted, Annie Rodriguez Housing Program Assistant HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION 2020/2021 MEETING SCHEDULE Meeting Date Time Location Monday, July 13, 2020 5:30 P.M. Zoom Virtual Meeting Monday, August 10, 2020 5:30 P.M. Dark Monday, September 14, 2020 5:30 P.M. To Be Determined Monday, October 12, 2020 5:30 P.M. To Be Determined Monday, November 9, 2020 5:30 P.M. To Be Determined Monday, December 14, 2020 5:30 P.M. To Be Determined Monday, January 11, 2021 5:30 P.M. To Be Determined Monday, February 8, 2021 5:30 P.M. To Be Determined Monday, March 8, 2021 5:30 P.M. To Be Determined Monday, April 12, 2021 5:30 P.M. To Be Determined Monday, May 10, 2021 5:30 P.M. To Be Determined Monday, June 14, 2021 5:30 P.M. To Be Determined Due to holidays, special meetings, rescheduling or cancellations all meetings are SUBJECT TO CHANGE.