Human Relations Commission

Human Relations Commission Minutes Meeting #10 Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at 6PM ACC Planning Auditorium (120 W Dougherty St, Athens, GA 30601) ACCGov Staff in Attendance: 1. Niki Jones (he/him) - Assistant Manager, Manager’s Office 2. Joseph D’Angelo (he/him) - Geographic Information Officer, Geospatial Information Office 3. Gino Cyrus (he/him) - Marketing & Outreach Analyst, Inclusion Office 4. Cameron McGlothen (he/him) - Equity & Engagement Coordinator, Inclusion Office 5. Dr. Remy Epps (she/her) - Inclusion Officer, Inclusion Office 6. Micah Nix (she/her) - Inclusion Fellow, Inclusion Office HRC Members in attendance: 1. Julita Sanders (she/her) 2. Jayivey Brown (she/they) 3. Myung Cogan (she/her) 4. Danielle Gillmer (she/her) 5. Alejandra Villegas Lopez (she/her) 6. Sharon McDaniel-Miller (she/her) 7. Ke’Marcis Howard (he/him) 8. Cameron Jay Harrelson (he/him) 9. Callie Moore (she/her) Members who were not in attendance: Inclusion Office THE UNIFIED GOVERNMENT OF ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GEORGIA P. O. Box 1868 ∙ Athens, Georgia 30603 (706) 613-3015 ∙ Email: inclusionoffice@accgov.com www.accgov.com  12. Darius Binion (he/him) 13. Brandon Baker (he/him) 14. Tameka Curry (she/her) 15. Tucker Duval (he/him) 16. Ed Moore (he/him) 17. Megan Westbrook (she/her) Non-Members in attendance: 18. Pam Walley (attended with Callie Moore) 19. Nneka Omoma (attended with Callie Moore) 20. Broderick Flanagan (Neighborhood Leaders/Public Commenter) Minutes • The meeting was called to order at 6:01 pm. • Chairwoman Julita Sanders asked for the approval of the agenda for this meeting. The entire body voted by raising their hands in favor. The agenda was accepted. • Chairwoman moved to approve the minutes from the November 16th meeting. Cameron Jay made a motion to accept the November minutes. Ke’Marcis seconded. The motion passed. • Chairwoman moved to approve the minutes from the January 25th meeting. By raising her hand, Myung made a motion accept the January minutes. Sharon seconded. The motion passed. • There were no updates for the “Update and Report” bullet point on the agenda. • Chairwoman Sanders asked to amend the agenda to switch the order of new business and old business. The entire body took a vote to switch the order of new business and old business by raising their hands. The motion passed. Inclusion Office THE UNIFIED GOVERNMENT OF ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GEORGIA P. O. Box 1868 ∙ Athens, Georgia 30603 (706) 613-3015 ∙ Email: inclusionoffice@accgov.com www.accgov.com • The Chair opened the floor to public comment. • Broderick Flanigan (P.O. Box 295 Athens, GA 30603) asked the HRC to collaborate with the community to plan the Juneteenth festivities for this year. He explained that he would like to work with the Commissioners who have experience planning community events. He also emphasized that many people in Athens have expressed a desire to have fireworks at the main event at Holland Park. • The Chair started new business. • The Chair asked who would like to join the Community Outreach subcommittee, which will be dedicated to planning events, including Juneteenth and Pride. Chairwoman Sanders, Jayivey Brown, Danielle Gillmer, Sharon McDaniel-Miller, and Cameron Jay Harrelson volunteered to serve on this subcommittee. • The Community Outreach subcommittee chose to meet on Wednesday, March 1 at 6 p.m. The Chair offered for the group to meet at the ACC Police Department (385 Fairview St., Athens, GA). • Madam Chair encouraged this group to think about the HRC’s role in Juneteenth celebrations. Danielle suggested that the subcommittee analyze what was done last year and proceed using this information. • Cameron Jay suggested that the group plans future meetings after seeing how much is accomplished at their initial meeting. He also said that the group should begin as soon as possible, as much time is needed to effectively plan and execute an event. • Niki requested that a member of ACC staff and a representative from ACC Leisure Services Department be present. • Alejandra asked if we can get input from the groups that are currently taking the lead in Juneteenth. Niki stated that Leisure Services would assist with events. Inclusion Office THE UNIFIED GOVERNMENT OF ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GEORGIA P. O. Box 1868 ∙ Athens, Georgia 30603 (706) 613-3015 ∙ Email: inclusionoffice@accgov.com www.accgov.com • Micah shared that Cathy Padgett was the person at the Leisure Services Department who primarily helped to plan the event last year. She also shared there was a survey completed last year by those in attendance at the Juneteenth event at Holland Park. Joseph assured the group that the survey results will be shared with the body. • Niki explained that Leisure Services can help with planning the event and scheduling. He reminded the group that ACC staff does not recommend that 19 days of Juneteenth are repeated. • The Chair asked for volunteers to serve on the Unlawful Discrimination Subcommittee. Ke’Marcis Howard, Alejandra Lopez, and Callie Moore volunteered to serve. The Unlawful Discrimination Subcommittee chose to have their first meeting on Wednesday, March 8th at 6pm at the Planning Auditorium. • The Chair asked for members to serve on the Recommended Policy Subcommittee. Myung Cogan volunteered. Cameron Jay asked to be switched to this group, instead of the Community Outreach Subcommittee, given his extensive involvement with Athens Pride outside of his commitment to the HRC. • Joseph explained that a third person is needed before the subcommittee can be fully formed. • Cameron Jay expressed his hesitance for the group to plan their first meeting until they begin to hear public comment. Niki agreed but reminded everyone that the HRC may only recommend policy. • Niki introduced the new Inclusion Officer: Dr. Remy Epps. She gave brief remarks expressing her excitement to begin working with the group before she had to leave the meeting. Inclusion Office THE UNIFIED GOVERNMENT OF ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GEORGIA P. O. Box 1868 ∙ Athens, Georgia 30603 (706) 613-3015 ∙ Email: inclusionoffice@accgov.com www.accgov.com • Madam Chair continued through the agenda to address old business. Joseph continued working through the work plan and asked for ideas the group would have to make the Ordinance more digestible to the public. • Danielle asked what the needs assessment looks like for the HRC Ordinance. Joseph explained that this would become clear by forming a directory of the different organizations in Athens. • Cameron Jay asked if the directory of local organizations that the GIS office has started can be shared with the HRC, as these local nonprofits have already been doing much of the community work that the HRC has mentioned. He worries about the appearance of the HRC stepping on their toes in Athens. • Joseph explained that the gap analysis could be a major goal but this would be a substantive task for the full first year. He explained that a primary goal can be to coordinate the community outreach already being done by members of the HRC. He explained that the HRC must identify what is already happening throughout the community. • Madam Chair noted that she works extensively with the Neighborhood Leaders so she has a lot of community connections and resources. • Niki shared that it would be best for the subcommittee to coordinate with the attorney’s office to help clarify what can be done locally and provide legal advice on the policy goals of the HRC. • Joseph emphasized that the recommended policy group may be the subcommittee that will need to communicate with the full HRC more than the others. • Niki urged the group to think in terms of presenting their plans to the Mayor & Commission and strive to answer the question of what exactly is the goal of this body. • Madam Chair asked for any other announcements from the group. There weren’t any. Inclusion Office THE UNIFIED GOVERNMENT OF ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GEORGIA P. O. Box 1868 ∙ Athens, Georgia 30603 (706) 613-3015 ∙ Email: inclusionoffice@accgov.com www.accgov.com • Madam Chair moved to adjourn the meeting. Cameron Jay made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Ke’Marcis seconded the motion. • Niki asked when the work plan will continue to be worked on. Joseph explained that the subcommittees will meet and the outcome of these meetings will dictate future activity relating to the work plan. • Danielle asked when the third member of the Recommendation Policy subcommittee will be identified. Julita stated that she will send out an email to those who were not present at this meeting in regard to joining any one of the subcommittees. • Joseph asked the Chair what materials will be necessary to convey what happened at this meeting, specifically on behalf of the Commision members who were not present at the meeting. She explained that there needs to be a description of what the subcommittees are and the goals of each one. • A consensus of the members began to get up to leave. • The meeting adjourned at 6:57 p.m. Inclusion Office THE UNIFIED GOVERNMENT OF ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GEORGIA P. O. Box 1868 ∙ Athens, Georgia 30603 (706) 613-3015 ∙ Email: inclusionoffice@accgov.com www.accgov.com