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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-06-13 HRC MinutesHUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION of the City of Palm Springs Minutes from the June 13, 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 X 0 0 10 10 9 10 11 11 8 6 0 1 1 2 1 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 June 13, 2016 1. Chair Newby called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. He asked for a moment of silence for the shooting victims in Orlando, Florida and dedicated the meeting to their memory. 2. Commissioner Severin led the flag salute. 3. Commissioner Sutton-Weiss recited the Mission Statement. 4. Commissioners Present: Newby, Chappell, Rankins, Severin, Sutton-Weiss, Chandrasena. Commissioner Hunt arrived at 3:07 p.m. Student Representatives Angelina Pinkney and Kelli Martin were 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, June 9, 2016. 6. PRESENTATION: Equality Act Day: • Councilmember Geoff Kors read the Proclamation supporting the Federal Equality Act and recognizing June 15 as Equality Act Day. Councilmember Kors recognized Richard Noble who walked the Equality Act across the country and also recognized the Human Rights Campaign who helped prepare language for the Equality Act resolution. 7. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Three (3) minutes per speaker: • Richard Noble asked that a couple of changes be made to the resolution prior to the HRC vote to support it. He asked that the year 2015 be deleted, and that the House Bill 3185 be removed. He said there is an American Indian Day (two weeks prior to Columbus Day) and asked the HRC to recognize Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. • Alan Worthy spoke to the tragedy in Orlando and reiterated his complaints against the PSPD. • Ron deHarte Executive Director of Palm Springs Pride, thanked the members of the HRC for their participation in the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast. He also spoke about the possibility of the Commission becoming a partner in the 2017 breakfast event. Human Rights Commission Minutes Page 2 of 4 Meeting of June 13, 2016 8. GUEST SPEAKER: Commissioner Sutton-Weiss introduced Antonio Lopez-Cochran, Chair of Some Fabulous Leos, a non-profit organization that raises money and awareness for local charitable organizations that do so much for the community. She noted that Mr. Lopez-Cochran is currently working on a documentary on the life and work of activist George Zander. Mr. Lopez-Cochran noted that Some Fabulous Leos began in Seattle following the celebration of Mr. Zander’s 40th birthday. Mr. Lopez-Cochran noted three upcoming events designed to fundraise for local LGBT and other organizations in need. The first event will be held on June 25th at Restaurant 849, next is a July 20 Happy Hour at the Hard Rock Hotel and finally an event to be held at Toucan’s on August 21. Commissioner Sutton-Weiss thanked Mr. Lopez-Cochran and encouraged members of the HRC to support and participate in the work of Some Fabulous Leos. Chair Newby also thanked and praised the work of Some Fabulous Leos. 9. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE MAY 9, 2016 MEETING: The minutes were approved 7-0 following a motion by Commissioner Sutton-Weiss and second by Commissioner Severin. 10. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION / AND OR VOTE: 10.A Palm Springs Resolution Supporting the Passage of the Equality Act – Councilmember Geoff Kors supported the changes to the resolution suggested by Mr. Noble, and wished to add Congressman Raul Ruiz’s name and President Obama’s name to the resolution. Councilmember Kors said that is appropriate that Palm Springs be the first city in the nation to endorse the Equality Act. Vice Chair Rankins thanked Councilmember Kors and Mr. Noble and noted that June is unofficially Pride Month. He spoke about the vigil held in Palm Springs following the mass shooting in Orlando. Commissioner Severin echoed the words of Vice Chair Rankins and thanked Councilmember Kors for bringing the resolution before the HRC. Chair Newby entertained a motion to forward the resolution with the Commission’s recommendation and with the edits that were discussed. Commissioner Sutton-Weiss made the motion with a second from Vice Chair Rankins. The motion was approved 7-0. NOTE: Chair Newby called for a brief recess so that a photo could be taken of the Commissioners, Councilmember Kors and Mr. Noble. 10.B Non-discrimination in contracting draft ordinance(s) – Councilmember Geoff Kors said this would be an ordinance on non-discriminating in the City’s contracting policies. He said that sometimes contracts include non-discriminatory language and sometimes they do not and that existing categories are outdated and/or incomplete. Councilmember Kors is also looking into an equal benefits ordinance. The first equal benefits ordinance dates back to 1996 in San Francisco that stipulates that the city can only contract with entities that give the same benefits to domestic partnerships that it provides to spouses of its employees. Last year that was extended to cover transgender employees and health benefits at the state level. Councilmember Kors said the ordinance he is working on for Palm Springs would encompass all the categories. He said the way the ordinance is being drafted, it would put some responsibility on the Human Rights Commission to conduct hearings when there are complaints of discrimination against contractors or businesses. Commissioner Severin asked if the ordinance, as proposed, would have flow-downs to sub-contractors, agents, consultants and the like. Mr. Kors noted there are limitations as to how far the City can reach. Vice Chair Rankins noted his experience working with the San Francisco ordinance and the enforcement that went on. Councilmember Kors explained that the ordinance would not require businesses to do anything, it would just prevent the City from entering into a contract with a business, or non-profit or an entity that doesn’t provide equal benefits. NOTE: Councilmember Kors asked permission to go off the agenda to make mention of Transform California a coalition project of a number of organizations working to do public education and research on transgender issues. A launch in Palm Springs is being planned for some time during the week of July 11. Lee Bonno will disseminate details when they are available. 10.C Commission’s annual report: Chair Newby noted that the draft of the annual report is attached to today’s meeting materials. His intention is to update it with information from this meeting and then have it submitted to the City Council. Commissioner Severin noted a couple of edits, but complimented on Chair Newby on its thoroughness. 10.D City of Palm Springs Administrative Policy Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation: Vice Chair Rankins had requested information on what the City had in place following last month’s guest speakers’ Human Rights Commission Minutes Page 3 of 4 Meeting of June 13, 2016 presentation about ableism. He said that he had not had the opportunity to fully study the material and asked that it be placed on the agenda for the July meeting. Chair Newby said it appears the information applies to line management and staff. He said he is concerned about work-place environment or hostile workplace and how those issues might be resolved within the City staff. He said that all falls under discrimination, harassment and retaliation. He said there are subtle situations and there needs to be something within the policy that addresses it and how employees can address those situations if they feel they are in a hostile work environment. He feels that the document needs to be expanded to include language about what is meant by a hostile work environment. Commissioner Severin recounted her experience with training on sexual harassment and the fact that it means different things to different people. She would also like the language to be expanded regarding supervisors’ responsibilities and obligations to report incidents. Ms. Bonno noted that City supervisors are required to take online training regarding their responsibility and duty to report situations. 10.E Scheduling and preparing for the Commission’s September planning meeting – Lee Bonno had placed this item on the agenda for the Commission to start discussing it. This meeting is usually scheduled for a Saturday in September. The consensus was that Commissioners would like to hold this meeting and will wait until the new compliment of Commissioners come onboard in July. 10.F Selection of student representatives to the Commission – Lee Bonno referred to minutes from 2011 when the HRC determined a policy for selecting two student representatives to the Commission. Students are usually chosen by the school Principal and/or Administrator. Commissioner Hunt noted that both students for the 2015-2016 year were very involved in other activities. She indicated that although this was her last HRC meeting, she would be happy to be a liaison between the schools and the HRC in selecting the student representatives. 10.G Task Force Reports: • Homelessness Committee – Commissioner Severin reported that the May and June meetings were cancelled and the next meeting will be held on July 14. She acknowledged the fine reporting that the Desert Sun had been doing on the issue. • Ethics and Transparency Task Force – Chair Newby referenced a meeting roughly two weeks ago where all the committees had submitted reports that would be put into a full report for public comment and feedback. The Task Force will return after summer to review the recommendations and the public’s input. • Logo Committee – Vice Chair Rankins and Commissioner Severin displayed the new banner and presented each Commissioner with the new promotional items (pen, sticky notes and magnet). The Commissioners were pleased with the products. She also thanked staff for the news release issued announcing the Commission’s new logo. Commissioner Severin showed a number of shirt styles and colors for the Commissioners to select from. The shirts would have the new HRC logo and Commissioners would wear them when they march in parades and at community events. Commissioner Sutton-Weiss suggested having this discussion at the September meeting and ordering the shirts then. 10.H Attendance at the Desert Highland Gateway Estates meetings – Commissioner Chandrasena and Commissioner Chappell attended the May 10th meeting during which the high school students received scholarships. Commissioners Rankins and Severin will attend the June 14th meeting. 10.I Public Comment from the Commission at City Council Meetings -- Lee Bonno noted that Chair Newby is planning to attend when the HRC’s Annual Report is on the Council agenda and that all Commissioners should feel free to attend that meeting. 10.J Recap of the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast – Commissioner Severin said more than 740 people attended. Commissioner Hunt said having students attend and participate was very powerful. Vice Chair Rankins said the event was inspiring and well organized. Commissioner Hunt said that Raymond Cree Middle School was the only school in the district that had its own Harvey Milk Day. 10.K Commission’s tentative calendar: JULY 2016: Ongoing business and orienting new Commissioners Human Rights Commission Minutes Page 4 of 4 Meeting of June 13, 2016 Commissioner Severin said the list of expectations that former Chair Dee Dee Wilson Barton put together might be a good starting point for a discussion along with information on the website about what the City expects from Boards and Commissions. 10.L Acknowledgement of outgoing Commissioners -- Certificates of Recognition were presented to outgoing Chair Newby and Commissioner Hunt in appreciation for their service on the Commission. Commissioner Hunt said it was difficult to pass up the opportunity to reapply to be on the Commission, but her children and job are keeping her very busy. She said she hopes to join again when her children are older and she has a little more free time. Chair Newby said it is amazing where this Commission is today compared to where it was six years ago. He praised former Chair Dee Dee Wilson Barton and the current Commissioners. Chair Newby said he is most proud of the City’s work on diversity, cultural competency/cultural humility training. 11. STUDENT COMMENTS – There were none. 12. COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS: Vice Chair Rankins addressed his comments to the two outgoing Commissioners. 13. STAFF COMMENTS: Lee Bonno announced that she will be retiring from the City of Palm Springs at the end of July. 14. AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE JULY 11, 2016 HRC MEETING: • Welcome and introduction of new Commissioners with a brief orientation • Election of a Chair and Vice Chair • Non-discrimination in contracting draft ordinance • City of Palm Springs Administrative Policy Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation 15. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 4:26 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Terry Towne Volunteer, Office of Neighborhood & Community Relations Lee A. Bonno Staff Human Rights Commission Liaison Director of Neighborhood & Community Relations