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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-06-08 HRC Minutes Draft HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION of the City of Palm Springs Minutes from June 8, 2015 Meeting COMMISSIONERS Present at this Meeting Present FY Year-to-Date FY 2014-15 Excused Absences FY 2014-15 Unexcused Absences Dee Dee Wilson Barton David Brown Jilska Chandrasena Janel Hunt Jack Newby Wes Rankins Suzanne Severin Deborah Sutton-Weiss Les Zendle Maddie Barton, Student rep. Maribel Wright, Student rep. X X X X X X X 0 0 0 0 11 8 8 10 9 10 11 7 8 8 3 0 3 2 0 1 1 0 4 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 The above roll call record is based on all meeting Minutes from July 14, 2014 thru June 8, 2015 1. Chair Wilson Barton called the meeting to order at 3 p.m. 2. Commissioner Severin led the flag salute. 3. Commissioner Rankins recited the Mission Statement. 4. Commissioners Present: Brown, Chandrasena, Hunt, Newby, Rankins, Severin and Wilson Barton Commissioners Absent: Sutton-Weiss and Zendle both excused. 5. POSTING OF THE AGENDA: The agenda was posted in accordance with the Brown Act on or before 4 p.m., on June 4, 2015. 6. PUBLIC COMMENT: None 7. GUEST SPEAKER:  Ralph Gonzales, Get Tested Coachella Valley Program Manager, Desert AIDS Project spoke about HIV testing, education and linkage to care. Desert AIDS Project is currently in the middle of a valley-wide “get tested” campaign. He stated that youth HIV is low but still of concern . Risk factors for youth include low rates of condom use, low rates of testing and a decreased perception of risk. Desert AIDS Project will provide in-school HIV/AIDS education to middle and high schools upon request. Vice Chair Newby noted that in 2008 California pretty much ended funding for primary HIV prevention education and asked the HRC to urge City Council to go on record to restore funding and re-establish programming. Commissioner Newby further requested that the July 6, 2015 agenda include discussion and a vote to recommend the City Council write a letter to our California legislators, the chairs of the various appropriations committees and the California Office on AIDS that they need to restore primary HIV prevention education funding. 8. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE MAY 11, 2015 MEETING: Following a motion from Commissioner Brown and second by Commissioner Severin, the minutes from the May 11, 2015 HRC meeting were approved 7-0 (Commissioners Sutton-Weiss and Zendle were absent). NOTE: Chair Wilson Barton recognized HRC Staff Liaison, Lee Bonno, who introd uced volunteer assistant, Terry Towne who will be taking HRC minutes. Human Rights Commission Minutes Page 2 of 4 Meeting of June 8, 2015 2 NOTE: Staff brought up an item that had not been placed on the agenda because it was brought to staff’s attention today, June 8, after the agenda had been posted. Thomi Clinton sent an email asking the Palm Springs Human Rights Commission to support the Trans-Pride Event, to be held on Sunday, June 28, 2015, in Ruth Hardy Park . This event occurs before the next HRC meeting. The determination that a need for immediate action exits must be made by two-thirds of the members present, or if two-thirds of the body is not present, by a unanimous vote of those remaining. Vice Chair Newby made a motion that the Commission find this item to be an immediate need and add it to the agenda under item 9.C. Following a second by Commissioner Severin the motion was approved 7-0 (Commissioners Sutton-Weiss and Zendle were absent). This topic was added to agenda item 9.C* 9. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/AND OR VOTE: 9.A Attending a meeting of the Desert Highland Gateway Estates Community Action Association: Chair Wilson Barton said she will attend the meeting on Tuesday, June 9. Also attending will be Commissioners Severin and Rankins. Chair Wilson Barton indicated that she would describe the mission and current scope of the HRC and then ask for questions and concerns of the community that might be appropriate for the Commission. She said they will report back to the HRC at the July 13 meeting. 9.B Upcoming Topics and Focus of the Commission o Preparing for City Manager David Ready to attend the July 13 Human Rights Commission meeting: Chair Wilson Barton said there will be two primary topics of discussion: how the HRC can help the City and how the City can help the HRC. She said the City is particularly intereste d in two things: 1) Pathways to Leadership (how to encourage non or under-represented persons to serve on commissions) and, 2) mediation services. Commissioner Severin asked if the HRC should form a subcommittee to explore the Pathways to Leadership iss ue. Commissioner Rankins questioned the formation of a subcommittee without it having a clear mandate. The Chair noted that the next meeting would include two new commissioners and the topic of a subcommittee could be tabled until the next meeting of the HRC. o September planning meeting: Chair Wilson Barton proposed having the planning meeting either Sept. 12 or 19. At the meeting Commissioners reflect on the past year and select topics to focus on in the coming year (starting in October). Consensus was that Sept. 12 would be the best date. Staff will confirm the Police Training Center for Sept. 12 from 9 a.m. to noon. 9.C Participation in the Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil on Nov. 20, 2015: Chair Wilson Barton referenced an email from Thomi Clinton intended to clarify questions raised about this issue/event. Commissioner Rankins said there still isn’t clarity as far as the organization and things that have happened. Vice Chair Newby moved that the Commission support the Transgender Day of Remembrance on Nov. 20, 2015. Following a second by Commissioner Brown, the motion was approved 5-0-2 (Commissioners Wilson Barton, Newby, Brown, Severin and Chandrasena voted in favor, Commissioners Hunt and Rankins abstained and Commissioners Sutton-Weiss and Zendle were absent). Commissioner Severin said she would find out what participation is expected from the Commission. 9.C* HRC support of the Trans-Pride Event to be held on June 28, 2015: Commissioner Hunt made a motion for the Commission to support the Trans-Pride Event June 28 by to lending the Commission’s name and support. Following a second by Commissioner Chandrasena the motion was approved 6-0-1 (Commissioner Rankins abstained and Commissioners Sutton-Weiss and Zendle were absent). 9.D Discuss having a presentation on gender-neutral bathrooms at the Oct. 12, 2015 meeting – Commissioner Sutton-Weiss and Commissioner Hunt. This item was not discussed and will be continued. 9.E Diversity Training/Cultural Proficiency and the status of Cultural Diversity/Cultural Humility, Anti-Bias Training in the City of Palm Springs: Vice Chair Newby said he and Commissioner Severin are working on scheduling a meeting with Perry Madison, the City’s Director of Human Resources. Vice Chair Newby said that if Mr. Madison wants to make a formal presentation to the Commission, he will work with Commissioner Severin to schedule it. Human Rights Commission Minutes Page 3 of 4 Meeting of June 8, 2015 3 9.F Mediation Services Update: Commissioner Severin said she had discussed the program with City Manager David Ready and that he was very supportive. She has worked with City Liaison, Lee Bonno, to have the Mediation Services Program forms reviewed by the City Attorney, Doug Holland. Once that process is complete, Commissioner Severin will meet with several department heads to discuss what kinds of cases are best referred to mediation. When the program is ready for implementation, the City Manager would like a press release to announce the service. Commissioner Severin will draft the press release and Vice Chair Newby will review it. 9.G Report on the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast held on May 22, 2015: Commissioner Severin reported that the event was very well received. Approximately 400 attendees, including 80 students from the LGBTQ community, were present and there was a lot of sponsorship. Chair Wilson Barton noted her appreciation for the Commission’s support and participation. 10. STUDENT COMMENTS: None 11. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS: Chair Wilson Barton said the Commission received a Certificate of Recognition from Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia from District 56 for the HRC taking the lead on hosting its event commemorating Older American’s Month. The event, “We've Come Too Far to be Treated Like This”, was a special presentation on Seniors and Aging in Society Today, jointly sponsored by the Riverside County Office on Aging, Palm Springs Human Rights Commission and Mizell Senior Center, held May 7. Chair Wilson Barton said Kelli Martin will be the new student representative from Raymond Cree Middle School and she will be attending the HRC’s September planning meeting. This was Commissioner David Brown’s last Commission meeting. He thanked his fellow Commissioners as well as former Commissioners. He said it has been a fun three years and thanked the Cit y Council for the opportunity to be a part of the Commission. He noted that he did not apply for reappointment, but left the door open for the future. Commissioners Rankins and Severin as well as Vice Chair Newby and Chair Wilson Barton expressed their thanks and appreciation for Commissioner Brown’s service. Commissioner Rankins noted that with Commissioner Brown’s departure a new appointment would need to be made to the PSPD LGBQT Outreach Committee. Vice Chair Newby indicated that he was willing to serve on that committee. Commissioner Rankins and Vice Chair Newby thanked Commissioner Severin and Sutton- Weiss for their hard work in making the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast such a successful event. Commissioner Rankins explained his abstaining earlier in the meeting was because he tries to remain neutral while things are in transition. He said it had nothing to do with people or the issue. 12. STAFF COMMENTS: Staff reported that the City of Palm Springs has been selected for inclusion in the Human Rights Campaign’s 2015 Municipal Equality Index. The Human Rights Campaign will be reviewing a total of 408 cities and Palm Springs was selected due to the high proportion of same sex couples. Chair Wilson Barton noted that in the past the City received 100 percent on the index largely due to the existence of an LGBT Police Task Force and the HRC she said. City Council has made its appointments to the HRC. Commissioner Dee Dee Wilson Barton was reappointed to serve another three years. New Commissioners include Denise Chappell and Eduardo Carriazo who have been appointed to serve three- year terms. 13. AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE JULY 12, 2015 HRC MEETING: These were discussed earlier in the meeting. 14. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 4:02 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Terry Towne Volunteer Office of Neighborhood & Community Relations For Human Rights Commission Minutes Page 4 of 4 Meeting of June 8, 2015 4 Lee A. Bonno Staff Human Rights Commission Liaison Director of Neighborhood & Community Relations