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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOCT 2020-10-13 HRC Regular Minutes Approved 11.09.2020FY 2020/2021 Human Rights Commission CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA 0 MINUTES Regular Meeting Tuesday, October 13, 2020 Virtual Zoom Meeting X = Present E = Excused Absence U = Unexcused Absence R = Resigned Other Staff Present: Jay Virata, Community and Economic Development Director 1. CALL TO ORDER: Chair deHarte called the meeting to order at 5:31 P.M. 2. MISSION STATEMENT: 3. QUORUM: 4. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None. 5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: September 14, 2020 MOTION: By Vice Chair Chappell, Second by Commissioner Flood to approve the minutes as presented. Motion carried unanimously. 6. COMMISSIONER, STAFF AND STUDENT COMMENTS: Vice Chair Chappell – Announced Ella Cash submitted a Student Representative Application and is attending the Commission’s meeting today as a visitor. Commissioner Ramoran – Welcomed Ella Cash and expressed being excited for their meeting and proud that the Commission did not meet yesterday because they voted to observe Indigenous People’s Day. Chair deHarte – Commented on Indigenous People’s Day being observed by the Commission and shared words of celebration and respect towards the contributions of all indigenous people and recognized the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. COMMISSIONER JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN Terri Andrade X X E Harold Ames X X R Denise Chappell, Vice Chair X X X Ron deHarte, Chair X X X Glenn Flood X X X Peter Owen X X X Edwin Ramoran X X X Donna Shepherd X X X Solange Signoret, Student Rep. X U Human Rights Commission Regular Meeting Minutes October 13, 2020 Page 2 7. PRESENTATIONS / GUEST SPEAKERS Chair deHarte – Announced that after listening to the rules and guidelines presented by the City Clerk, they would gather additional interests and decide on 2 final candidates to serve on the Equity & Social Justice Committee. A. Equity & Social Justice Committee, City Clerk - Anthony Mejia Anthony Mejia, Palm Springs City Clerk gave a PowerPoint presentation on the voting locations/options within Palm Springs and Riverside County. He encouraged the Commission to share the City’s webpage, www.votepalmsprings.com with their network of people. Additionally, Mr. Mejia informed the Commission that Councilmember Garner and Mayor Pro Tem Holstege are the Councilmember Liaisons for the Equity & Social Justice Committee. Recently they approved a draft application for people to apply to serve on the committee. The recruitment process and requirements for service on the committee was discussed (no experience required). No additional Commissioner interest came forth. Commissioners Ramoran and Shepherd remain as the only two Commissioners who raised their hand to be a part of the Committee. Chair deHarte – Thanked Mr. Mejia and the City for always having a voting box available from the County Registrar at City Hall. B. Mental Illness Awareness Week, Harold Ames - No action or discussion, Commissioner Ames not present. 8. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/ACTION: A. Committees – Chair deHarte and Vice Chair Chappell Community Relations Committee/Budget/Personnel Committee a. PSPD LGBT Outreach Committee (deHarte) – Chair deHarte – Reported that the Advisory Group met last month and spent time re-defining its commitment to the mission and purpose . The working purpose was read aloud. . b. Master Calendar - Commissioner Ramoran – Appreciated having a calendar in the Agenda material that referenced the dates of awareness they observe. He will look at inclusive ways they can enact the days of awareness/observance as he works through the Master Calendar. Chair deHarte – Indicated Commissioner Ramoran was off to a great start. Suggestions can be brought back to the full Commission and they will have a discussion and adopt anything that they would change onto the calendar. c. Main Street (deHarte) – No report updates. d. Finance (Ames) - No report updates. Chair deHarte – Reported that they will be review the budget at a future commission meeting at the request of Commissioner Ames during the Executive Committee meeting; and will be looking for another committee member who could join the Finance Subcommittee and step in as Chair going forward. e. Organized Neighborhoods of Palm Springs – No report updates. Cultural Affairs Committee a. Community Service Awards (deHarte, Chappell, Ames) Vice Chair Chappell – Identified that the Executive Committee should start thinking of the Community Service Awards and getting the nomination applications out in November. Human Rights Commission Regular Meeting Minutes October 13, 2020 Page 3 Chair deHarte – Indicated that it was great timing and the Executive Committee will have the application available on the next Agenda for the Commission to approve and that will start the process for collecting nominations. b. Desert Highland Gateway Estates Community Association (Andrade, Flood) – No report updates. Senior/People with Disabilities Veterans Affairs Committee a. Veterans issues (Flood) – Commissioner Flood – The American Legion is open and serving food under the County and CDC guidelines. Youth/Education Affairs Committee a. Student Representatives (Chappell) Vice Chair Chappell – Reported that they received an application for Student Representative from Palm Springs High School senior Ella Cash. Her background and her responses provided in her candidate statement and during her interview was shared with the Commission. Ella Cash- introduced herself and further shared recent activities she has participated in since submitting her application. Chair deHarte – Welcomed Ella Cash and her interest in serving on the Human Rights Commission. He indicated that the Commission has the opportunity to bring on another student Commissioner and opened the floor for a motion MOTION BY: Vice Chair Chappell, Second by Commissioner Flood, to bring on Ella Cash as Student Representative for the Human Rights Commission. Motion carried unanimously. Executive Committee a. International Migrant Day (need to approve recognition of the day December 18, 2020) Chair deHarte indicated community members at their last meeting requested for the Commission to support and recognize International Migrants Day on December 18th; and therefore the item is now before the Commission. A statement about International Migrants Day and its observance was shared. The floor opened for a motion. MOTION BY Commissioner Ramoran, Second by Vice Chair Chappell to recognize International Migrants Day as a date of awareness by the Human Rights Commission. Motion carried unanimously. Commissioner Ramoran to add the date to their December Calendar. Chair deHarte – In response to public inquiry, indicated that recognition means increasing awareness and putting information on the City’s Human Rights Commission Webpage. However, suggestions or ideas on how to provide recognition may be brought forward to the Commission. b. Filipino American History Month and Larry Itliong Day Proclamation Chair deHarte - Thanked Commissioner Ramoran for bringing this item and statement forward; and invited him to share an overview of the intent, purpose and the reasoning behind bringing the proclamation forward so that the Commission can hopefully support and endorse the proclamation to move onto City Council. Commissioner Ramoran – Showed a draft version of the Proclamation he was working on for the largest Asian American Pacific Islander Group in Palm Springs as well as Coachella Valley. He further presented highlights for recognizing Filipino American History Month and highlights for recognizing Larry Itliong. Human Rights Commission Regular Meeting Minutes October 13, 2020 Page 4 Minor conversation ensued regarding being able to help elevate awareness, and educating the community and youth. MOTION BY: Commissioner Ramoran, Second by Commissioner Owen in recognizing and proclaiming Filipno American History Month and Larry Itliong Day in the City of Palm Springs, recommending adoption for the City Council by the Human Rights Commission. Motion carried unanimously. C. Dates of Awareness Chair deHarte – Identified the following dates of awareness they wanted to acknowledge and have previously acknowledged: i. October 1 – International Day of Older Persons ii. October 10 World Homeless Day iii. October 17 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty It was stated that next month they would have the November awareness dates being shared with the Community by different Commissioners who will read a little background on each of those days and the importance of them. Commission Development/Mediation Committee a. Mediation (Andrade) No report/action update. b. Retreat (Chappell, deHarte) – No report/action update. B. Committee Assignments a. Clean Indoor Air and Health Protection Ordinance – HRC Liaison to work with Sustainability Commission in drafting ordinance Chair deHarte – Stated that the Sustainability Commission has come to the Commission at the request of the City Council that the Human Rights Commission work with them to craft an Clean Indoor Air and Health Protection Ordinance that is in the works to go forward to City Council. A recap of a previous similar request the Human Rights Commission had participated with the Sustainability Commission was shared. The floor was open for Commissioner interest to service as the HRC Liaison Commissioner Ramoran volunteered to serve as HRC Liaison. Chair deHarte will follow-up and connect Commissioner Ramoran with the contact from Sustainability Commission that has been in contact with him. Chair deHarte – Stated that everyone should have received the 5 page document with the correct Committee Structure and Subcommittee background with explanations. It was requested that Commissioners and Student Representatives send Chair deHarte their interest on the committees they would like to serve. Their goal is to fill available slots and have two Commissioners on each subcommittee. No questions brought forward by Commissioners regarding the document. C. Renaming of Streets a. Staff Update Mr. Virata – Reported that that renaming of Crosley Road and Golf club Drive to Lawrence Crossley Road was approved at the City Council’s August 6th meeting. It will not take effect until January 1, 2021. There will be dual signage on those streets for 5 years until the transition is complete. A overview process and effects for renaming of streets through the Planning Commission was explained for the Commission. Chair deHarte – Indicated that the letter they received from the City Manager’s office in March included Lawrence Crossley Road which Mr. Virata has reported already being addressed by City Council. Therefore, Martin Luther King Jr., Harvey Milk and Barack Obama are left to the subcommittee Human Rights Commission Regular Meeting Minutes October 13, 2020 Page 5 (Commissioner Ramoran and Owen) to suggest/explore which streets could be renamed and put together a suggested path forward. D. Topical Newsworthy Items Commissioner Ramoran – Welcomed Ella Cash. Commissioner Owen – Welcomed Ella Cash. Commissioner Shepherd – Welcomed Ella Cash and encouraged everyone to vote. Vice Chair Chappell – Welcomed Ella Cash. Mr. Virata in response to Chair inquiry stated that the mediation flyer in their agenda packet would be addressed at the next meeting. Chair deHarte – Announced that Commissioner Ames has resigned from the Human Rights Commission. His seat is open and that is why they are seeking another leader for the Finance Committee. They wished Commissioner Ames well in all of his endeavors and is welcomed back if his circumstances change down the road. 9. AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING: The following Agenda items were proposed: 1. Community Service Awards 2. General Plan Update Chair deHarte - Requested that Mr. Virata send the General Plan document to the Commission for review to see if they have an interest and passion to combine human rights work with the Planning Department. Chair deHarte – Announced the need to appoint a new person to serve on the Executive Committee for the next quarter (3 months). It is a rotating commitment and they meet one time a month in front of regular scheduled meetings. Commissioner Owen volunteered to serve on the Executive Committee for the next 3 months. 10. ANNOUNCEMENTS: 11. ADJOURNMENT: The Commission adjourned at 6:28 P.M. to an adjourned Regular Meeting, Monday, November 9th via teleconference. Respectfully submitted, Annie Rodriguez Housing Program Assistant