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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-04-11 HRC Minutes HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION of the City of Palm Springs Minutes from the April 11, 2016 Regular Meeting COMMISSIONERS Present at this Meeting Present FY Year-to-Date FY 2015-16 Excused Absences FY 2015-16 Unexcused Absences Jilska Chandrasena Denise Chappell Janel Hunt Jack Newby Wes Rankins Suzanne Severin Deborah Sutton-Weiss Angelina Pinkney, Student Rep Kelli Martin, Student rep. X X X X X X 0 0 0 8 8 8 9 9 9 6 4 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 The above roll call record is based on all meeting Minutes from July 13, 2015 thru April 11, 2016 1. Vice Chair Newby called the meeting to order at 3:01 p.m. 2. Commissioner Rankins led the flag salute. 3. Commissioner Severin recited the Mission Statement. 4. Commissioners Present: Newby, Chappell, Hunt, Rankins, Severin, Chandrasena arrived at 3:06pm. Commissioners Absent: Sutton-Weiss, excused Student Representatives Absent: Angelina Pinkney and Kelli Martin 5. POSTING OF THE AGENDA: The agenda was posted in accordance with the Brown Act on or before 4:00 p.m., on Thursday, April 7, 2016. 6. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Three (3) minutes per speaker  Richard Noble commented on the scheduled time of the meeting by saying that many people who might otherwise attend are still at work. Called for Mayor Moon to retract comments he made in response to proposed SB 876 wherein the Mayor indicated that it would allow a homeless tent city in front of City Hall. He noted that he would like the City of Palm Springs to designate October 10th as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. He said he thinks Council Member Kors is speaking to the Tribe about this. Finally, he is seeking a City Council resolution supporting the Equality Act and condemning recent legislation in North Carolina and Mississippi.  Thomi Clinton noted that the Transgender Community Coalition will be holding a gender conference in April 2017 and indicated that the Transgender Day of Remembrance and Transgender Equality March will take place in November 2016. The Transgender Community Coalition would like to have a member of the Human Rights Commission sit on the committee for these events. She noted that she has presented the Palm Springs City Council with information urging that they adopt a gender neutral bathroom policy in the City. She encourages the HRC to support a gender neutral, single stall bathroom policy. 7. GUEST SPEAKERS: Vice Chair Newby introduced Palm Springs Chief of Staff / City Clerk James Thompson, who addressed the topic of equal access in the City’s recruitment process for Boards and Commissions. Human Rights Commission Minutes Page 2 of 5 Meeting of April 11, 2016 2  Mr. Thompson noted that March and April are the months that the City actively recruits applicants for City Board/Commission members who will be considered by the City Council in May and June. Board and Commission openings are posted on the City’s website and there is an e-notification process to let interested individuals know when applications are ready and when they are due. Openings are also posted on the legal notification boards at City Hall and advertised in the Desert Sun on two consecutive weekends as well as pop-up ads on the Desert Sun’s website. The City also posts openings at the Unity Center in the Desert Highlands neighborhood and also asks the ministers of the four churches in that neighborhood to post in their bulletins to parishioners. Information about Board/Commission openings is also distributed by Lee Bonno to the ONE-PS membership. Another place where information is available is at Demuth Park. Another recruiting tool is asking current Board members and Commissioners if they have referrals for openings. Mr. Thompson recapped by saying that the City uses broad outreach techniques to ensure that diverse populations are aware of these service opportunities. Vice Chair Newby asked if the postings at the Unity Center and Demuth Park also included City Council and Planning Commission agendas. Mr. Thompson replied that agendas are not posted at those locations, but that all the organized neighborhoods receive notification of public hearings taking place at Planning Commission and City Council meetings through the ONE-PS communication network. Vice Chair Newby further asked if postings were made at the Palm Springs Library, Mizell Center, the LGBT Center, and Desert AIDS Project? Mr. Thompson replied that with the expansion of electronic communication, residents who sign up for email notification receive agendas and other public information. Commissioner Severin asked Mr. Thompson to elaborate on the criteria used by the City Council in the selection of Board/Commission members. Mr. Thompson noted that the general criteria includes being a resident of the City and a registered voter. He further noted that the Ethics, Transparency and Government Reform Task Force is looking at whether or not other groups of individuals (such as seasonal residents) could be eligible to serve. Mr. Thompson informed the group that every applicant receives an interview by one of the Council’s subcommittees. Mr. Thompson indicated that when possible the Chair of their Board or Commission sits in on the interviews. Commissioner Rankins raised the issue of those segments of the population who do not use the advertising/outreach that Mr. Thompson described in his explanation of the breadth of sources used by the City for recruitment. Commissioner Rankins suggested that the City do outreach at local grocery stores. Mr. Thompson welcomed the idea of thinking outside of the box when it comes to Board/Commission recruiting. Mr. Thompson also acknowledged that during the recent recession, may people cut back on their volunteerism, but that is turning around and in the last couple of years the City has seen more community interest that it hadn’t seen in several years. Vice Chair Newby asked about the City’s presence on Facebook and how that outreach might be expanded by asking non-profit organizations to put the information in their email newsletters. Commissioner Severin noted that the deadline for applications is April 20 and asked if that might be extended. Mr. Thompson noted that the deadline had been extended in the past due to low application levels, but stated that he felt that the interest this year was high. Mr. Thompson restated that the City is looking at every recruitment opportunity. 8. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE MARCH 14, 2016 MEETINGS: The minutes were approved as amended 6-0 following a motion by Commissioner Severin and second by Commissioner Chandrasena. The correction was to item 13. It should read: AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE APRIL 11, 2016 HRC MEETING. 9. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION / AND OR VOTE: 9.A Election of a Chair to serve until the July 11th meeting – Lee Bonno outlined the procedure for electing a Chair to serve the remainder of this fiscal year with the next election in July. Commissioner Severin nominated Vice Chair Newby that received a second from Commissioner Chandrasena. Commissioner Rankins nominated himself with a second from Commissioner Severin. The vote was conducted by a show of hands. There were four votes (Vice Chair Newby, Commissioners Chandrasena, Chappell and Severin) in favor of Vice Chair Newby and one vote (Commissioner Rankins) in favor of Commissioner Rankins with Commissioner Hunt abstaining. Vice Chair Newby was elected Chair. Lee Bonno noted that a Vice Chair would be elected at the May 9th meeting. Human Rights Commission Minutes Page 3 of 5 Meeting of April 11, 2016 3 9.B Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast May 20th – Commissioner Severin has secured a table for 10 at the breakfast and will need a list of Commissioners who will be attending by April 29th – those interested should respond to Commissioner Severin. Chair Newby and Commissioners Rankins and Chappell indicated they would be attending. 9.C Human Rights Commission/Palm Springs Library Event confirmed for Wednesday, October 12, from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. Title of the program and details (movie/speaker) are needed by August 9th. Possible request for funding – Commissioner Severin asked the Commission whether they wanted to go with the topic of homelessness or wait a couple of months before selecting a topic. There may be a request for funding at the June HRC meeting. There was positive comment on keeping the topic related to homelessness by Chair Newby and Commissioner Chappell. The agenda item was continued to May. 9.D Commission’s annual report – Chair Newby asked that this agenda item be placed on the May agenda. 9.E Task Force Reports:  Homeless Committee – Commissioner Severin said that the next meeting of the Homelessness Task Force will be Thursday, April 14 at the Police Training Center. The challenge of the Task Force is finding a suitable location for the triage facility. Commissioner Severin explained that although there are operations like Well in the Desert and Roy’s – there is not a 24/7 place where individuals can find resources under one roof. Commissioner Severin noted that CVAG has begun to meet as a collective on the issue of homelessness across the Coachella Valley. She further noted that the City’s website contains a lot of information on referrals for the homeless.  Ethics and Transparency Task Force – Chair Newby, who is a member, noted that the Task Force had its second meeting and there are a number of subcommittees established to address specific issues related to ethics and transparency in government. He referenced issues relating to the dissemination of City information, the possibility of adopting a Sunshine Ordinance, changes in the agenda and how public comments are done on the agenda. He said there is a subcommittee on how the City does grants to local organizations, a subcommittee on elections and how elections are funded and a subcommittee looking at possibly changing the City Charter. The subcommittees are reporting at the regular Task Force meetings with the goal of having a full report to submit to City Council in June or July.  Logo Committee – Commissioner Severin noted the hand-out that represents a number of promotional items that might be purchased with funds remaining in this fiscal year’s budget. She asked the Commissioners to review items that they might wish to invest in – such as a banner, shirts, business cards. Lee Bonno reported that the Commission has roughly $500 left in its budget. Commissioner Rankins spoke in favor of having items to hand out. Chair Newby said having a new banner is important and he recommended that the Commission move forward with budgeting a dollar amount for logo merchandise now with a break down of how that money could/would be spent at the May meeting. Commissioner Severin asked for a motion to spend up to $500 on logo merchandise including a banner. Chair Newby made a motion that the Commission spend an amount not to exceed $500 on logo and branding items with a banner being the priority with the understanding that Commissioner Severin provide a menu (price list) of other items at the May meeting and the motion was seconded by Commissioner Chandrasena. Commissioner Hunt asked Lee Bonno for clarification about the deadline for spending the Commission’s budget. It was recommended that the banner be ordered right away and that the balance of funds to be allocated to promotional items and/or shirts would be discussed in May and purchased before the end June. Commissioner Chappell suggested magnetized cards might be something the Commission would like to get pricing on. Chair Newby asked about getting some pricing on notepads. The motion passed 5 -1 with Chair Newby and Commissioners Chappell, Hunt, Rankins and Severin in favor and Commissioner Chandrasena opposed. Human Rights Commission Minutes Page 4 of 5 Meeting of April 11, 2016 4 9.F Attendance at the Desert Highland Gateway Estates meetings – Commissioner Rankins noted that there had been prior agreement that Commissioners would take turns attending these monthly meetings and that he would be attending the next meeting. 9.G Public Comment from the Commission at City Council Meetings -- Lee Bonno suggested that a representative of the Commission speak at the next City Council meeting regarding the HRC’s request for an additional $500 for the Commission’s 2016-2017 budget. Chair Newby suggested that the HRC submit a written statement to the Council regarding this request and Commissioners also attend the Council meeting. 9.H Medical Marijuana Dispensaries in Palm Springs – Commissioner Chandrasena is concerned about how the City determines locations for its authorized Medical Marijuana Dispensaries. She is concerned that about facilities located where the homeless and most vulnerable populations congregate compounding the problem of the addicted/homeless population. Chair Newby noted that he is aware that there are a number of restrictions the City imposes on dispensaries. Commissioner Rankins noted that the PSPD is aware of the location of every legal and illegal dispensary. Commissioner Chandrasena stated that for a first-class city, Palm Springs is riddled with addiction issues. Commissioner Chappell stated that she would prefer that the issue of homeless and addiction be viewed through a separate lens as homelessness takes in a much broader spectrum of people than it has in the past. Commissioner Severin indicated that the new report from the 2016 homeless count is not in yet, but the Commission might be well advised to wait for that report to see how many of the City’s homeless are drug addicted. She said of the 200 homeless people in Palm Springs by last count, 40 percent are mentally ill and many of those people have drug addictions, but it is not the entire homeless population. Commissioner Rankins commented that he is unclear about how the homeless population would be buying medical marijuana from a dispensary. Commissioner Chappell noted her concern for youth exposed to dispensaries and detailed the efforts of the PSPD in eliminating illegal outlets for medical marijuana. Chair Newby, noting the concerns of all, asked that a copy of the City’s Ordinance on Medical Marijuana Dispensaries be in the Commissioner’s packets for the May meeting. 9.I Subcommittee developing a panel presentation regarding race relations – Commissioners Rankins and Hunt. This item has been tabled. 9.J Review the Commission’s participation in the Organized Neighborhoods of Palm Springs’ 9th Annual Picnic & Community Expo, Saturday March 19. Commissioner Chappell attested to the fact that the HRC booth was a popular stop for those attending the ONE-PS Picnic and Expo. Commissioner Severin concurred and suggested that future guest speakers at Commission meetings bring literature that the Commission can hand out. Commissioner Rankins addressed the fact that many attendees picked-up literature on elder abuse and recommended that the Commission take a look at this topic in the future. Commissioner Severin also noted that there were a number of comments about the time of the Commission’s monthly meeting with an urge to move the meeting to a time when more residents could attend. Those Commissioners overseeing the booth indicated that it was worthwhile and that residents had an interest in the work of the Commission. 9.K Commission’s tentative calendar: MAY 2016: Ableism Guest Speaker(s): TBA Coordinated by: Commissioner Chandrasena JUNE 2016: LGBT Issues Guest Speaker(s): TBA Coordinated by: Commissioner Sutton-Weiss JULY 2016: It was the consensus of the Commissioners that this meeting will be devoted to ongoing business and orienting new Commissioners. Human Rights Meeting of Apr 10. STUDE 11. COMM  C  C 12. STAFF C Scout awarde Commissione then. 13. AGENDA  Electio  Harvey  Human  Annual  Task F  Medica  Attenda  Logo p  Comm  Reque supe ident Commissione involve the C 14. 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