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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-11-09 HRC Minutes Draft HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION of the City of Palm Springs Minutes from the Nov. 9, 2015 Regular Meeting COMMISSIONERS Present at this Meeting Present FY Year-to-Date FY 2015-16 Excused Absences FY 2015-16 Unexcused Absences Dee Dee Wilson Barton Eduardo Carriazo Jilska Chandrasena Denise Chappell Janel Hunt Jack Newby Wes Rankins Suzanne Severin Deborah Sutton-Weiss Angelina Pinkney, Student Rep Kelli Martin, Student rep. 0 0 X 0 X X X X X 0 0 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 1 0 1 1 1 1 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 Nov. 9, 2015 1. Vice Chair Newby called the meeting to order at 3:03 p.m. 2. Commissioner Severin led the flag salute. 3. Commissioner Rankins recited the Mission Statement. 4. Commissioners Present: Chandrasena, Hunt, Newby, Rankins, Severin, and Sutton-Weiss. Commissioners Absent: Wilson Barton, Carriazo and Chappell, all three excused. Student Representatives Kelli Martin and Angelina Pinkney were both absent. 5. POSTING OF THE AGENDA: The agenda was posted in accordance with the Brown Act on or before 4:00 p.m., on Thursday, November 5, 2015. 6. PUBLIC COMMENTS:  Trae Daniel expressed his appreciation to the HRC for its support of the proposal to rename Crossley Road/Golf Club Drive to Lawrence Crossley Road. He thanked Commissioners Hunt and Severin for their eloquent support expressed at both the Planning Commission and City Council. He noted that the motion had been tabled at a City Council meeting. He said a City Council member must bring the item forward again, which he has been assured will occur. Mr. Daniel said it was suggested that they wait until the first Council meeting in February, which is Black History Month. He urged continued support from the HRC moving forward. 7. GUEST SPEAKERS:  Commissioner Rankins introduced Arlene Rosenthal, a former HRC Community Service Award recipient and President of the Board of Directors of Well in the Desert. Ms. Rosenthal noted how moved she was by the diversity of groups represented at the Palm Springs Pride Parade and the spirit of inclusion demonstrated. She called for safety and shelter for all. She described the founding of the organization (20 years ago) and the wide variety of services offered to those in need (from hot meals, to clothing and furniture, postal services, service referrals, etc.). Ms. Rosenthal spoke of the increased in need for services since the recession and noted that the board (including herself) are all volunteers with many staffers being former clients of The Well. She also addressed The Well’s current difficulty with their landlord wherein they received an eviction notice 9 months after they moved into a new location on Gene Autry Way. She said they have a lot of possibilities. She mentioned The Well Newsletter coming out next week that will tell Human Rights Commission Minutes Page 2 of 5 Meeting of Nov. 9, 2015 2 The Well’s story. Commissioner Sutton-Weiss asked if the newsletter would be available online. Ms. Rosenthal noted that it would be available at www.wellinthedesert.org. In answer to Commissioner Sutton-Weiss’ question about donations, Ms. Rosenthal noted that it’s “business as normal” at The Well. Commissioner Severin asked about Ms. Rosenthal’s involvement with the Palm Springs Task Force on Homelessness. She responded that she is enthusiastic about future outcomes of their work. She believes the Task Force is made up of very committed individuals and feels that they are on the brink of offering some substantive solutions to the problem of homelessness in Palm Springs. Ms. Rosenthal indicated that she will be presenting the Task Force with a budget that will cover leasing three houses that can each house four individuals. Vice Chair Newby commended Ms. Rosenthal’s work and asked how she approaches the problem of NIMBY-ism when it comes to moving forward with establishing facilities for the homeless. She replied that it is a matter of educating the public, adding that she believes that the community has come a long way in recognizing the plight of the homeless. She called for everyone to stand up for what is right. Commissioner Rankins asked about how the Commission could assist The Well. Ms. Rosenthal asked that the HRC support The Well’s efforts to lease buildings to be used for homeless services. She believes that the City Council is, in all likelihood, going to support her efforts to obtain viable locations where assistance can be offered. She called for letter writing campaign stressing that the group who is called “homeless” is approximately 40 % homeless and 60% working poor, elderly, and/or disabled. She called for everyone to advocate by learning more and passing that education along.  Commissioner Chandrasena, on behalf of Commissioner Chappell, introduced Janice Delagrammatikas, Principal of the Come Back Kids Charter School program (Corona/Riverside and Desert areas) that is a part of the Riverside County Office of Education. Come Back Kids is a high school program serving persons 16-24 years of age. The program was established in 2008 as a dropout recovery program and in 2013 the program applied to be a Charter School. Come Back Kids has 21 sites in Riverside County, including one in Palm Springs. The goal of the program is for youth to complete the educational requirements for a high school diploma or a GED. Last year the program graduated 301 students, 46 of those were from the desert area. Come Back Kids is an independent study program with flexible hours for those students who work. A number of students are homeless, parenting or working. All school districts are required to identify students who are homeless or living in tenuous situations per Title VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Act. Come Back Kids can offer assistance with transportation, hygiene, clothing, tutoring, and guidance services. Come Back Kids works closely with Safe House. Come Back Kids is a frontline resource for identifying students who are at risk of becoming homeless, noting that students who complete a secondary education experience are less likely to become homeless. Ms. Delagrammatikas highlighted a work-study program, funded by a Youth Build Grant, where students attend half a day of school and half a day of employment through the Workforce Investment Opportunity Act. She said that the teachers play an important part in identifying students at risk for homelessness and can immediately plug students into assistance services. She noted that Come Back Kids is part of the long-term solution to the problem of homelessness because in many cases a high school diploma is the key to job placement and post-secondary education. The vision of the Come Back Kids Program is to reduce the dropout rate in Riverside County and assist every student with an Individual Learning Plan that starts with flexible hours and an educational experience that builds strengths in a step-by-step manner. The program has an English language support program , special education programs, and on-site vocational training in a variety of areas. Come Back Kids centers are open early in the morning until late in the afternoon serving breakfast and lunch to students and are able to provide childcare. Ms. Delagrammatikas noted that it is often the connection between a student and a caring adult that provides a safety net that allows the student to complete his/her education. The program includes a college connection program that includes Financial Aid Student Assistance program support as well as apprenticeship support. Ms. Delagrammatikas asked the HRC for support in promoting the Come Back Kids Program. Commissioner Severin asked what has contributed to the increase in graduation rates since the inception of the program. Ms. Delagrammatikas said the graduation rate has increased to 83.9 percent since 2005 and she mainly attributed that to local school dis tricts doing a better job in tracking those students who don’t graduate and connecting them with opportunities to complete their education . Human Rights Commission Minutes Page 3 of 5 Meeting of Nov. 9, 2015 3 8. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 12, 2015 MEETING: The minutes from the Oct. 12, 2015 HRC meeting were unanimously approved 6-0 (Chair Wilson Barton and Commissioners Carriazo and Chappell were absent) following a motion by Commissioner Sutton-Weiss and second by Commissioner Rankins. 9. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION / AND OR VOTE: 9.A Participation in the Veterans Day Parade, 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015: Commissioner Hunt noted that the HRC would be number 31 in the parade order. Vice Chair Newby will drive his car in the parade. Details of the parade were discussed. Commissioners were asked to be at the pre-stage location no later than 2:45 p.m. at Ramon Road and Palm Canyon. 9.B Participation in the Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil, Friday, Nov. 20, 2015 in Ruth Hardy Park: The HRC will have a booth. Commissioner Sutton-Weiss said Thomi Clinton has asked booth participants to be there at 4 to set-up for the event which starts at 5 p.m. Commissioner Chappell will provide a table and chairs. Commissioner Severin indicated that she will contact Staff Liaison Lee Bonno, about obtaining the HRC materials for the booth. The actual vigil will take place between 7-8 p.m. Candles can be purchased at the TCC website. 9.C Community Service Awards to be presented on Monday, Feb. 8, 2016: Lee Bonno noted that the applications for Community Service Awards are available online on HRC’s Webpage and that the deadline to submit completed applications is Friday, Nov. 13. She noted that Commissioner Severin made an announcement about the awards during Public Comment at the last City Council meeting. 9.D Request to endorse the short film “Diane Over the Moon”: Vice Chair Newby said he was reluctant to go on record endorsing a film that is not yet produced. Commissioner Severin said that she had been in contact with the film’s producers indicating that the HRC could not endorse the film at this time, but Commissioners would be happy to view an early release of the film and go from there. 9.E Community Outreach:  Desert Highlands – Commissioners Chandrasena and Chappell attended the Oct. 13 meeting and spoke about the HRC highlighting the Community Service Awards . Commissioner Severin will attend the Nov. 10 meeting.  Commissioner Severin said that she contacted two additional organizations – the Boys and Girls Club and Safe House. 9.F Task Force Reports:  Homelessness Task Force – Commissioner Severin said the next meeting is Nov. 12 and she will provide a summary report from that meeting. 9.G Public Comment at the City Council Meeting – Commissioner Severin spoke at a recent City Council meeting to promote the HRC’s Community Service Award application process. 9.H Update on complaints of discrimination: Commissioner Severin noted that a case (#2015-10-14) deals with a patron who filed a gender discrimination complaint against a Palm Springs business. A mediation session was scheduled in which Commissioners Severin and Chandrasena were to participate. The mediation was subsequently cancelled by one of the parties. The business involved notified Commissioner Severin that the complaint had been referred to their human resources department. Commissioner Severin will report back at the December meeting. 9.I Commission’s Tentative Calendar: DECEMBER 2015: Fair Housing Guest Speaker(s): Dale Cook and others Coordinated by: Commissioner Rankins Human Rights Commission Minutes Page 4 of 5 Meeting of Nov. 9, 2015 4 JANUARY 2016: Review/Re-strategize HRC Outreach Efforts Annual Report Coordinated by: Chair Wilson Barton FEBRUARY 2016: Community Service Awards MARCH 2016: Race Relations Guest Speaker(s): Desert Sun Race Relations Survey Group Coordinated by: Commissioner Carriazo APRIL 2016: Equal Access in Education/Government Guest Speaker(s): TBA Coordinated by: Comissioner Hunt and Vice Chair Newby MAY 2016: Women’s Issues/Child Hunger Guest Speaker(s): TBA Coordinated by: Chair Wilson Barton and Student Rep. Angelina Pinkney *Note: This meeting may be held off site at the American Legion Coordinated by: Commissioner Severin JUNE 2016: LGBT Issues Guest Speaker(s): TBA Coordinated by: Commissioner Sutton-Weiss JULY 2016: Ableism Guest Speaker(s): TBA Coordinated by: Commissioner Chandrasena 10. ADGENDA ITEMS FOR THE DEC. 14, 2015 HRC MEETING:  Draft budget will be presented. Vice Chair Newby noted that the discussion on the budget would be carried forward to December due to Chair Wilson Barton’s absence.  Community Service Awards recommendations. 11. COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS:  Commissioner Rankins said Police Captain Walter Combs sent an email to the LGBT Outreach Committee making reference to the PSPD’s vigorous investigation into the George and Chris Zander case. Announced a fundraiser at the Copa to raise funds for George’s rehabilitation to be held on Monday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. Lee Bonno noted that she had received a call from the Anti Defamation League offering any support needed.  Commissioner Severin spoke about the wonderful experience at the Pride Parade. She noted the extraordinary turnout and the 200 parade entries. Others agreed that it was a very positive experience.  Commissioner Hunt noted that Palm Springs High School had its LGBT group come and make presentations on anti-bullying, suicide prevention/ awareness for ninth grade students. 13. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 4:12 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Terry Towne Volunteer, Office of Neighborhood & Community Relations For Human Rights Commission Minutes Page 5 of 5 Meeting of Nov. 9, 2015 5 Lee A. Bonno Staff Human Rights Commission Liaison Director of Neighborhood & Community Relations