Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHRC June 10 2013 minutes - FinalHUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION of the City of Palm Springs Minutes from the June 10, 2013 Meeting COMMISSIONERS Present at this Meeting Present FY Year-to-Date FY 2012-13 Excused Absences FY 2012-13 Unexcused Absences David Brown Elena Chvany Sidney Craig, Chair Jack Newby Wes Rankins Jerry Trussell Les Zendle Dee Dee Wilson Barton Ariss Durazo, Stu.Rep. Maddie Barton, Stu.Rep. X X X 0 X X X X X X 11 10 11 9 11 10 11 10 9 10 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 1 - - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - The above roll call record is based on all meeting Minutes from July 9, 2012 thru June 10, 2013 1. Chair Craig called the meeting to order at 3 p.m. 2. Student representative Maddie Barton led the flag salute. 3. Student representative Ariss Durazo recited the Mission Statement. 4. Commissioners Present: Brown, Chvany, Craig, Rankins, Trussell, Wilson Barton and Zendle Commissioners Absent: Newby, excused Student representatives Maddie Barton from Raymond Cree Middle School and Ariss Durazo from Palm Springs High School were present as was Delaney Leyden, an alternate from Raymond Cree Middle School. 5. POSTING OF THE AGENDA: The agenda was posted in accordance with the Brown Act on or before 4 p.m., on June 6, 2013. 6. PUBLIC COMMENT: None 7. GUEST SPEAKER: None 8. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE MAY 13, 2013 MEETING: Following a motion by Commissioner Zendle and second by Vice Chair Wilson Barton the minutes from the May 13, 2013 meeting were unanimously approved 7-0 (Commissioner Newby absent). 9. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION / AND OR VOTE: 9.A. Follow up to the Cultural Humility training session held Tuesday, May 14: Commissioner Zendle said the session was very good and he learned new things. He said it showed him how diversity training has changed in the last 10 to 15 years. He said the facilitator was excellent. Vice Chair Wilson Barton said she was proud that our City has this kind of consciousness. She said Commissioner Newby and his task force did an amazing job selecting the facilitator. Human Rights Commission Minutes Page 2 of 3 Meeting of June 10, 2013 2 9.B Planning for the Commission’s annual strategic planning session/retreat: Vice Chair Wilson Barton offered to facilitate the session. Commissioner Zendle said the real purpose of the meeting is to get to know each other and to set priorities for the next year, so, he said, there would be a benefit to having someone who is familiar with what’s going on facilitate the session. He said he thinks it’s a great idea to have Vice Chair Wilson Barton facilitate. Commissioners decided to schedule the training session for the morning of Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Police Training Center. In the past the Commission has gotten coffee, juice, pastries, fruit and yogurt from Aspen Mills. Commissioner Rankins said he would contact Aspen Mills about providing these refreshments again this year. Vice Chair Wilson Barton said her idea is to put up a flip chart with the 12 months of the year and after the Commission selects the two to three topics it wants to focus on, rough out goals and what types of speakers they want to invite so Commissioners can have shared responsibilities as to how they set up their speaker agenda for the year. Commissioner Zendle asked if it would be possible to put together a list of the special events the Commission has sponsored in the past five years. Chair Craig said he would do that and e-mail it to Commissioner Zendle and staff so Commissioner Zendle can present it at the retreat. Vice Chair Wilson Barton suggested inviting a City Council member to attend Commission meetings or invite a Council member to speak at a meeting as well as asking a school board member to attend and participate on occasion. Commissioner Brown recommended inviting Councilmember Lewin. Commissioner Zendle asked who the Council had selected to serve on the Commission and staff reviewed the names and bios of three newly appointed Commissioners, adding that Commissioner Newby also was reappointed to another three-year term. Chair Craig said there were 10 applicants this time. 10. STUDENT COMMENTS: Ariss Durazo said she spoke to the new principal at Palm Springs High School (Ryan Woll) about speaking at a Commission meeting and she said he would like to do that, possibly in the fall. Maddie Barton gave a report from Raymond Cree Middle School Principal Dr. Tracy Piper. She reported that the school is very focused on bystanders because research shows they contribute to bullying, harassment issues by providing an audience. Following a fight two weeks ago, the bystanders were invited to attend a Saturday School where a lesson was completed on the bystander effect, she reported. Twenty-three students and 15 parents attended. The lesson will be taught again early next school year to help students understand their roles as bystanders, she said. A new student rep will be appointed by Principal Piper to take Maddie’s place as both Maddie and Delaney Leyden are graduating from Raymond Cree. Maddie thanked the Commission for allowing her to be a student rep saying it has been a fun and interesting experience. She said a highlight for her was the Community Service Awards Ceremony. Chair Craig said the students have been excellent advocates. Commissioner Chvany left the meeting. 11. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS: Vice Chair Wilson Barton said she is excited about starting the new year with new Commissioners who will be joining the HRC, but feels a tremendous loss with Chair Craig and Commissioner Trussell leaving the HRC. She said they have been great teachers and mentors and set a wonderful tone and she appreciated that. Other Commissioners also expressed how much they appreciated the contributions and mentoring Chair Craig and Commissioner Trussell have made during their time on the Commission. The three student reps were also thanked for their participation and contribution to the Commission. Commissioner Trussell and Chair Craig also addressed the Commission regarding their past six years on the Commission. Commissioner Trussell shared some of the highlights and told the Commissioners that he has no doubt that the Commission will be better than it has been because he thinks it should improve every year. With the kind of Commissioners that will be continuing to serve and with the new members who will be joining the HRC, he said the Commission can do nothing but continue to be a real asset and a real guiding light to the City. Chair Craig commented on his six years on the Commission, noting the body of work that has been accomplished, the diversity of people that the Commission has seen at its meetings and the recommendations the HRC has taken to the City Council. Both Commissioner Trussell and Chair Craig addressed the student representatives. Chair Craig said it is meaningful to have students represented and participating at the Commission meetings. He said he is proud to have been part of the Commission. 12. STAFF COMMENTS: Staff also addressed Commissioner Trussell and Chair Craig regarding their service to the Commission. Human Rights Commission Minutes Page 3 of 3 Meeting of June 10, 2013 3 13. AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE JULY 8, 2013 HRC MEETING: Election of a Chair and Vice Chair. Continued planning for the Commission’s strategic planning session/retreat. 14. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 3:45 pm. Respectfully submitted, Lee A. Bonno Staff Human Rights Commission Liaison Director of Neighborhood & Community Relations