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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-07-13 HRC Minutes Draft HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION of the City of Palm Springs Minutes from July 13, 2015 Meeting COMMISSIONERS Present at this Meeting Present FY Year-to-Date FY 2015-16 Excused Absences FY 201-16 Unexcused Absences Dee Dee Wilson Barton Eduardo Carriazo Jilska Chandrasena Denise Chappell Janel Hunt Jack Newby Wes Rankins Suzanne Severin Deborah Sutton-Weiss X X 0 X X X X X X 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 The above roll call record is based on all meeting Minutes from July 13, 2015 thru July 13, 2015 1. Chair Wilson Barton called the meeting to order at 3 p.m. 2. Commissioner Carriazo led the flag salute. 3. Commissioner Sutton-Weiss recited the Mission Statement. 4. Commissioners Present: Carriazo, Chappell, Hunt, Newby, Rankins, Sutton-Weiss, Severin and Wilson Barton. Commissioners Absent: Chandrasena was excused. 5. POSTING OF THE AGENDA: The agenda was posted in accordance with the Brown Act on or before 4 p.m., on July 9, 2015. With two new members, the Commissioners did brief self-introductions, providing some background. 6. PUBLIC COMMENT: None 7. GUEST SPEAKER: David H, Ready, Esq., Ph.D., City Manager, opened a dialogue with the Commissioners about how the City can interact/assist the Human Rights Commission and how the Commission can interact/assist the City. He indicated that he is happy to facilitate and find resources for Human Rights Commission projects. Chair Wilson Barton noted the difficulty that the City and its commissions have in recruiting under-represented demographics. Vice Chair Newby added that the time of day that many committee and commission meetings are held may be problematic for working people and recommended a review of outreach efforts to see if they are effectively reaching the different segments of the community. Commissioner Rankins said that the City’s Human Resources Department should be the primary mover in recruitment. Commissioners Rankins and Sutton-Weiss said that the HRC’s September planning meeting would provide time to discuss and identify its key areas of focus for the coming year and Commissioner Sutton-Weiss said she hopes there will be an opportunity to meet with Dr. Ready after that meeting. Commissioner Severin said the HRC wants to partner and be more involved in community issues -- building collaborations with the City Council and other boards/commissions. Dr. Ready recommended using the HRC’s Website presence as a promotional tool. Chair Wilson Barton noted the six or seven human rights issues the Commission selected to focus on in a year, inviting people Human Rights Commission Minutes Page 2 of 4 Meeting of July 13, 2015 2 to educate not only the Commission, but the community on those issues. She said this year the Commission’s goal was to move from just education and include advocacy and action. Commissioner Hunt expressed her concern that there are many communities within Palm Springs that don’t feel they have a say or that their issues are being addressed. She added that those walls have to come down. Vice Chair Newby suggested having a representative from the HRC take part in the newly formed Task Force on the Homeless. Dr. Ready acknowledged that issues raised by the Commissioners are complex and noted the difficulty in recruiting personnel to come to the desert. He described “constraints’’ and “binding constraints” – overcoming constraints involves problem solving and ingenuity while overcoming binding constraints is more difficult, sometimes requiring resources beyond the City’s actual capacity as well as the need to coordinate a variety of outside agencies/resources. Commissioner Rankins recommends that the HRC develop some specific projects/plans and proposed budgets to present to the City. Commissioner Severin described to the City Manager the expanded mediation program that is in development. Chair Wilson Barton asked Dr. Ready to keep the HRC on his radar when developing City Council agendas. Dr. Ready was in favor of having the HRC come away from its planning meeting with some specific issues it would like to address in 2015-2016. He said that he would work with the HRC and the City to find resources to accomplish those projects. 8. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE JUNE 8, 2015 MEETING: Following a motion from Vice Chair Newby and seconded by Commissioner Hunt, the minutes from the June 8, 2015 HRC meeting were approved 8-0 (Commissioner Chandrasena was absent). 9. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/AND OR VOTE: 9.A Election of a Chair and Vice Chair:  Vice Chair Newby nominated Chair Wilson Barton for another term as Chair with a second from Commissioner Carriazo. Commissioner Rankins asked that in accepting the nomination Chair Wilson Barton speak about her desire to be re-elected. Chair Wilson Barton cited her skills as an organizer and facilitator as well as her willingness to entertain new ideas. She also expressed her strong belief and enthusiasm in the HRC mission. The motion/nomination was approved 8-0 (Commissioner Chandrasena was absent).  Chair Wilson Barton nominated Vice Chair Newby to sever as Vice Chair with a second from Commissioner Sutton-Weiss. In accepting the nomination Vice Chair Newby stated that a primary goal of his second term would be to facilitate the participation of more people, bringing more people into the process. The motion/nomination was approved 8-0 (Commissioner Chandrasena was absent). 9.B Proposal to rename Crossley Road/Golf Club Drive to Lawrence Crossley Road: Chair Wilson Barton read an email from Trae Daniel, Chair of the Lawrence Crossley Neighborhood Organization, describing the importance of Mr. Lawrence Crossley to the African American, Indian and Latino communities. Mr. Daniel is asking the support of the HRC in the renaming of Crossley Road/Golf Club Drive to Lawrence Crossley Road in recognition of Mr. Crossley’s many contributions to the City between the early 1920s and continuing until his death in the mid 1960s. Commissioner Hunt indicated that she attended the Planning Commission meeting on July 9th to offer public comment and her personal support of the proposal to rename Crossley Road as her family was directly affected by the relocation of so many African American families from Section 14. Commissioners Rankins and Severin also highlighted some of the other contributions of Mr. Crossley. Commissioner Sutton- Weiss moved that the Commission write a letter in support (of renaming Crossley Road/Golf Club Drive to Lawrence Crossley Road). Commissioner Hunt will draft the letter. Following a seconded by Commissioner Rankins, the motion was approved 8-0 (Commissioner Chandrasena was absent). Commissioner Severin said she would represent the Commission at the Planning Commission meeting when they Commission addresses the proposed name change. 9.C Co-sponsor the screening of the documentary, “Uniquely Nasty: The U.S. Government’s War on Gays”: Chair Wilson Barton indicated that the HRC had received a request to co-sponsor a screening of “Uniquely Nasty,” (a 30 minute documentary film) on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015. Yahoo News released the film to coincide with the recent US Supreme Court ruling on Marriage Equality. The film explores the persecution of gays during J. Edgar Hoover’s term as head of the FBI. The film’s screening will be followed by a panel discussion. The request also included an invitation for a member of the HRC to sit on the panel. Yahoo News is paying the costs of the screening. The screening will take place at the CVRep Theatre Human Rights Commission Minutes Page 3 of 4 Meeting of July 13, 2015 3 in Rancho Mirage. One screening will be at 6 p.m. and another at 8 p.m. One of the screenings will be private. Vice Chair Newby asked, and Chair Wilson Barton confirmed that the LGBT Center was involved in this event. Chair Wilson Barton entertained a motion to approve co-sponsoring the event and having an HRC member be a panelist. Commissioner Rankins made the motion that was seconded by Vice Chair Newby. The motion was approved 8-0 (Commissioner Chandrasena was absent). Vice Chair Newby will represent the HRC as a member of the panel. 9.D Report on the State and CDC prevention options regarding primary HIV prevention education funding: Vice Chair Newby recapped the HRC’s discussion from the June 8 meeting during which he proposed writing a letter from the HRC to the City Council asking them to support more primary HIV prevention funding. Vice Chair Newby described the considerable research he conducted on the CDC Plan and the California Plan for reducing the HIV infection rate. Vice Chair Newby recommends that the HRC might work with The Desert AIDS Project to conduct some further investigations and perhaps form a working relationship with DAP to assist in their efforts to reduce new infections. The Chair determined that this topic be explored further at the September planning meeting. 9.E Commission’s planning meeting, currently scheduled for Saturday, September 12, 9:00 a.m. to noon, Room B, Police Training Center and authorize the expenditure of funds for refreshments: Chair Wilson Barton reiterated the details and outlined the agenda. Her goal is to create a calendar of topics for the entire 2015-2016 fiscal year. The Chair entertained a motion for the expenditure of $150 for refreshments. The motion was made by Vice Chair Newby and seconded by Commissioner Sutton-Weiss. The motion was approved 8-0 (Commissioner Chandrasena was absent). The Chair requested that Commissioner Rankins make arrangements for the refreshments. 9.F Update on support and participation in the Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil on Nov. 20, 2015 in Ruth Hardy Park: Commissioner Severin followed-up with Thomi Clinton to find out what kind of support her group needs for the event. There is a request that the HRC have a booth at the event. For the benefit of the new Commissioners, Chair Wilson Barton described the HRC’s decision to no longer staff booths at most events – rather the HRC will participate in specific parades. Commissioner Severin indicated that she and Commissioner Sutton-Weiss will work with Ms. Clinton to come up with a way for the HRC to have a presence at the event. This item will remain on the agendas for September and October. 9.G Chair’s appointment of a second Commissioner to the Palm Springs Police Department LGBT Outreach Committee: Commissioner Sutton-Weiss volunteered to fill the vacancy created by former Commissioner David Brown. Chair Wilson Barton appointed Commissioner Sutton-Weiss. She will serve along with Commissioner Rankins. 9.H Discuss having a presentation on gender-neutral bathrooms at the Oct. 12, 2015 meeting: Commissioners Hunt and Sutton-Weiss indicated that this program is moving forward toward the date scheduled. Lee Bonno noted an August 12 seminar by Thomi Clinton at Roy’s Desert Resource Center about transgender related topics and indicated that members of the HRC were welcome to attend. Ms Bonno will forward details of the presentation to the Commissioners via email so they can put it on their calendars. 9.I Diversity Training/Cultural Proficiency and the status of Cultural Diversity/Cultural Humility, Anti-Bias Training in the City of Palm Springs: Vice Chair Newby noted that he, Commissioner Severin and Perry Madison, Director of Human Resources for the City, met on July 2nd. Mr. Madison indicated that the city- wide training has opened up a dialogue among City employees and that he is moving forward with some additional, more focused, trainings. Commissioner Severin added that they let Mr. Madison know about the September HRC planning meeting and that the HRC was very interested in partnering with the City if there was a topic they could help with on a training level. Commissioner Severin left a proposal from the National Conflict Resolution Center on “inclusive communication” with Mr. Madison for his review and indicated that she would follow up with him. Human Rights Commission Minutes Page 4 of 4 Meeting of July 13, 2015 4 9.J Mediation Services Update: Commissioner Severin is working with Lee Bonno to set up a meeting with City officials to describe the mediation services program. She has drafted a press release, but it will not be sent until there is a definite date for role out of this program. 9.K Report from the Desert Highland Gateway Estates Community Action Association meeting of June 9, 2015: Chair Wilson Barton noted that she attended this meeting with Commissioner Rankins and Commissioner Severin. She added that all HRC Commissioners are welcome to attend this community’s monthly meeting – held on the second Tuesday of the month (next meeting will be September 8) at the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center at 7:00 p.m. Chair Wilson Barton stated that it was a very interesting meeting in that she was able to hear underserved individuals in that community address the problems their neighborhood experiences with resources, transportation and crime. Commissioner Hunt said these are issues the Commission needs to address with the City Manager. Chair Wilson Barton asked her for three topics the HRC should look to partner with the Desert Highland Gateway Estates Community to address. Commissioner Hunt listed inclusion, awareness and some of the barriers some people feel regarding police or discrimination. Commissioner Rankins indicated that he felt the meeting was productive and fulfills a goal of going outside the community. Although, he said he heard issues at the meeting that the Commission cannot resolve. However, Chair Wilson Barton said the Commission can be a voice to the City Council. 10. STUDENT COMMENTS: None – The Chair noted the two new student representatives – one from Raymond Cree Middle School and one from Palm Springs High School -- are expected to attend the Sept. 12 planning meeting. 11. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS: Vice Chair Newby noted that he attended the Trans Pride Picnic in Ruth Hardy Park on June 28th. He stated that he had a very good conversation with Thomi Clinton and there was good attendance, including several members of the City Council. Commissioner Rankins noted that he marched with the City of Palm Springs recruitment contingent in the Los Angeles Gay Pride Parade. 12. STAFF COMMENTS: Lee Bonno noted that 2015-2016 meeting calendars and HRC roster were distributed. She indicated that she was in receipt of the City and County of San Francisco’s report on “The Human Rights Impact Of The War On Drugs” ‘and will make it available to Commissioners who would like it. Ms. Bonno noted that she had received an inquiry about the HRC’s logo design and asked if the HRC would like to review the current logo for revision or change. It was determined that this item should be on the agenda for the September meeting. 13. AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE SEPT. 12, 2015 HRC PLANNING MEETING: These were discussed earlier in the meeting. 14. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 p.m. until 9:00 a.m., Saturday, September, 12, 2015 in Room B at the Police Training Center. Respectfully submitted, Terry Towne Volunteer Office of Neighborhood & Community Relations For Lee A. Bonno Staff Human Rights Commission Liaison Director of Neighborhood & Community Relations