Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-07-11-HRC Regular Minutes APPROVED 9.12.2022 Human Rights Commission CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA 0 MINUTES Regular Meeting Monday, July 11, 2022 Virtual Zoom Meeting 1. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Loyola called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners: Andrade, Flood, Loyola, Shepherd, Vignolo, and Student Representative Hanner Absent: Commissioners: Cleary Staff Present: Jay Virata, Director, Community & Economic Development 3. QUORUM: YES 4. MISSION STATEMENT & GOALS: 5. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Edwin Ramoran commented on not serving another term with the Human Rights Commission and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work with each commissioner and staff. 6. CHAIR COMMENTS:. Chair Loyola provided highlights from the presentation made at the Special Joint Meeting of the City Council with Boards and Commissions. He further asked the Commission for consensus to speak at the July 14, 2022, City Council meeting on behalf of the Commission, in support of increasing council pay that would remove financial barriers that would prevent residents from serving in the City Council based on a CVRA Working Group Recommendation. Director Virata confirmed the Commission would not be able to vote on this matter because the item is not Agendized. Commissioners were informed that they could provide public comments to the City Council as an individual. It was noted that the Commission still has time to digest the information. Brief comments were shared regarding the CVRA Working Group Recommendation July 14, 2022, Staff Report among the Commission. Commissioner Andrade commented on the upcoming City Council Agenda ite m declaring Palm Springs a safe city for reproductive freedom and access to abortion. 7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: May 9, 2022, and June 13, 2022 DISCUSSION: Chair Loyola requested May minutes be corrected to read “boo to bullying” and not Voodoo bulling. MOTION BY: Commissioner Vignolo, second by Vice Chair Shepherd to approve the minutes of May 9, 2022 and June 13, 2022. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 8. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/ACTION: A. Reports 1. Executive Report Standing Committee (Chair Loyola, Vice Chair Shepherd) - None a. Special Recognition for Commissioners whose Terms Have Recently Ended Human Rights Commission Regular Meeting Minutes July 11, 2022 Page 2 Chair Loyola presented the agenda item. He would like to recognize Edwin Ramoran, Kalina Robles and Ron Deharte. Director Virata suggested the Commission take a vote to have the city provide special recognition for commissioners whose terms have ended. In response to inquiry, he confirmed Kalina Robles will not be serving another term as Commissioner. Director Virata further shared Commission structures overtime will be reduced to 5 members per the City Manager. Commissioners will be able eligible to reapply for a second term. 2. Community Relations /Budget/Personnel Report – None a. PSPD LGBT Outreach Liaison Chair Loyola was introduced to Lt. Gustavo Araiza. Will be attending the next tentatively scheduled meeting August 18, 2022, at 4:00 pm at the Police Training Center. b. Master Calendar Liaison (Ramoran) Chair Loyola announced the Master Calendar Liaison position as vacant. Commissioner Vignolo volunteered to take on the Master Calendar Liaison role. Comments and questions ensued among the Commission regarding the Master Calendar role. Commissioner Vignolo encouraged Commissioners to look at all sources of information when identifying an event the Human Rights Commission could participate in and to reach out to him so that the item can be agendized for review/discussion. c. Main Street Liaison d. Organized Neighborhoods of Palm Springs Liaison (Vignolo) – Commissioner Vignolo will be attending the upcoming ONE-PS meeting tomorrow, July 12, 2022. 3. Cultural Affairs Report – Chair Loyola initiated Commission discussion regarding the Cultural Affairs Report not having a Commissioner Liaison. Comments and questions ensued among members. Commissioner Andrade suggested the Commission have an in-person retreat to prioritize and discuss the commission’s accomplishments and goals. The suggestion was supported by other Commissioners. Director Virata confirmed an in-person special meeting can be agendized. Commissioner Vignolo respectfully requested to Director Virata to invite the City Manager to speak at a future commission meeting regarding what is happening in terms of the challenges that were outlined in the April 21, 2022 Staff Report. 4. Desert Highland Gateway Estates Community Association Liaison (Andrade, Flood, Shepherd) - None Commissioner Flood shared the Community Association had their Juneteenth event on the 19 th of June. The event was well represented and received a lot of media attention. 5. Seniors/People with Disabilities Veterans Affairs Report - None a. Veterans Issues Liaison (Flood, Vignolo) – None Commissioner Flood announced the Department of Veteran’s Affairs continues to announce that suicide among veterans is high. Commissioner Vignolo announced the Loma Linda Healthcare System opened a new state of the art Veteran’s Primary Care facility in Palm Desert. The clinic is open Monday to Thursday 8:00am to 5:00pm; and Friday’s from 8:00am to 2:30pm. Veterans can enroll at the Palm Desert VA clinic and schedule appointments by calling the Central Appointment Line 909.825.7084 Ext. 5085. Human Rights Commission Regular Meeting Minutes July 11, 2022 Page 3 6. Youth/Education Affairs Standing Committee - None a. Student Representatives (Hanner, Robles, Shepherd, Vignolo) – None. 7. Commission Development/Mediation Report - None a. Mediation Liaison (Andrade, Vignolo) - None 8. Equity and Social Justice Committee Update (Shepherd, Ramoran) Vice Chair Shepherd provided an update and shared that the Committee had its first meeting last week. Committee members were asked to rededicate to the cause and redefinition of the cause. Future meeting dates were confirmed, the next meeting date is in August. B. Potential Educational Program Collaboration with Boys and Girls Club Commissioner Vignolo reported that former Commissioner Robles was the lead on this item. He has reached out to the Boys and Girls Club regarding the collaboration but has not heard back. He will follow-up again and confirm if there is still interest in a collaboration. C. National Bullying Month (October) Symposium Commissioner Vignolo reported the symposium event program details that have been organized to date including panel experts, keynote speakers and commented on the budgetary and marketing challenges. The event will take place on Saturday, October 1, 2022 from 10:00am to 12:00pm at the Palm Springs Convention Center. He invited Commissioners to speak about the event to engage a diverse community. Commissioner Vignolo further presented the draft Proclamation recognizing October as National Bullying Prevention Month. Comments and questions ensued among commissioners, student representative and Staff Liaison on the draft proclamatio n, document edits, and adoption process. The following motion was made: MOTION BY: Vice Chair Shephard, Second by Commissioner Vignolo to authorize two commissioners to review a second draft proclamation and approve it on behalf of the full Commission to forward to the City Council for adoption. Motion approved unanimously. D. Listening Session: Impact of Violence on our Community (Andrade) Commissioner Andrade spoke about hosting a listening session on the impact of violence on the community that would gather feedback from youth and adult citizens. Commissioner Andrade requested support from the Commission to approve the concept of report gathering. Noted that the item is not about taking a position on gun control. Student Representative Hanner commented on being in support of the agenda item presented. Commissioner Vignolo commented on being in support of the listening session presented and suggested using a facilitator to host the session. Chair Loyola concurred with the comments made and spoke about being in support of the item presented. Encouraged commissioners to read Police Chief Mills new blog regarding answering calls to potential violence. Director Virata noted Councilmember Gardner hosted a similar listening session a couple of summers ago after recent shootings. He further shared how the city will be moving to standardize action items that are moving forward with commissions and the procedures for doing that, which would include presenting action items before the City Council for review. The commission was informed to continue gathering information and prepare for a possible presentation with the City Council in October or November. Further comments and questions followed among the Commission about the concept. It was agreed that the item will continue to be Agendized to format dates, venues, expected outcome, participants, speakers, and marketing. Human Rights Commission Regular Meeting Minutes July 11, 2022 Page 4 E. Commissioner, Staff, and Student Comments Commissioner Vignolo noted at some point in the future Queer Works and Desert Aids Project (DAP) will be coming to speak at a Human Rights Commiss ion meeting to endorse a form of support to the City Council on the Guaranteed Income Pilot Program. DAP and Queer Works were provided $200,000 to begin the application and design phase which has been completed. The non-profit partners will be bringing items back to City Council to report on the next phase. Director Virata confirmed discussion of the Guaranteed Income Pilot Program can be agendized for a future Commission meeting. Chair Loyola recommended inviting Queerworks and DAP to speak before the Commission during public comment. He further thanked the Commission for their vote and confidence in having him as Chair of the Commission. 8. AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT HRC MEETING: No new Agenda items were added. 9. ANNOUNCEMENTS: 10. ADJOURNMENT: The Commission adjourned at 5:30 p.m. to an adjourned regular meeting on Monday, September 12, 2022, at 5:30 p.m., via teleconference.