Human Relations Commission

Regular Meeting

DeKalb, IL · November 9, 2017

Minutes

MINUTES CITY OF DEKALB Human Relations Commission November 9, 2017 The Human Relations Committee (HRC) held a Meeting on November 9, 2017 in the Executive Conference Room at City Hall. Chair Larry Apperson called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. A. ROLL CALL The following members of the HRC were present: Larry Apperson (Chair), Lisa King, Ellingsworth Webb, Joe Gastiger, and Norden Gilbert. Members absent at roll call were: Robert Williams. The following City staff members were present: Management Analyst Aaron Stevens. Notes were taken by Analyst Stevens. B. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA – ADDITIONS / DELETIONS The agenda was approved with a motion to add an item for discussing the DeKalb Community Unit School District 428 Diversity Plan. This addition for approval was motioned by Commissioner Gilbert and seconded by Commissioner Bailey. C. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION No public participation occurred. D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes from the September 5, 2017 meeting were approved. Motioned by Commissioner Gastiger, seconded by Commissioner Webb. E. OLD BUSINESS 1. HRC 2017 Strategic Plan Activity a. HRC draft of response memo and list of reactions/recommendations Chair Apperson asked the HRC members for general feedback on the HRC Reactions and Recommendations memo. HRC members suggested several minor grammatical edits and discussed the rewording of certain phrases. Chair Apperson asked for a motion to approve the memo with changes made during the November 9th meeting. Motion was initiated by Commissioner Webb, and seconded by Commissioner Gastiger. Human Relations Commission Meeting November 9, 2017 Page 2 of 4 b. Update on Diversity Holiday’s website Commissioner Gastiger suggested that the Diversity Holidays packet be shared with the school district teachers to provide them with information to teach students about diverse holidays, celebrations, and commemorations. Commissioner Webb suggested that the City send a link from the Diversity Holidays web page, that will be created based on a recommendation from the HRC, along with a news release directly to schools and other community organizations. Commissioner Gilbert and Commissioner King suggested that the diversity holidays statement with a link to diverse holiday’s information be visible on the home page of the City website. Staff Liaison Stevens – demonstrated three options that City staff provided the HRC for inclusion of Diversity Holidays information on the City website. Stevens also explained that the City home page is reserved exclusively for official City and Community Event related information and that the Diversity Holidays link would be placed on the home page under quick links to ensure it has high visibility. Commissioner Gastiger suggested that the link to the dedicated Diversity Holidays page be under quick links but renamed to a title that encompasses the differing celebrations, commemorations, and holidays. Staff Liaison Stevens stated that to avoid potential copy write law infringements and to stay consistent with the Diversity Best Practices organization, the title of the City webpage should match the original source. The HRC members came to the consensus that the title of the link to the newly created City webpage should be “Diversity Holidays”. In addition, the HRC agreed that the Diversity Holidays City webpage will include a link that will take users directly to the Diversity Holidays webpage where a downloadable version of the Diversity Holidays packet can be accessed. Commissioner Webb suggested that the City should research the possibility of providing accessibility for the public to other functions of the Diversity Best Practices through a City subscription. 2. AGN Revitalization Plan Update Commissioner Webb provided a comprehensive overview of the status of the AGN Revitalization Plan project. Webb explained what occurred during the second AGN Community Meeting such as what the participants voted on for early action projects (e.g., improved street lighting). Webb informed the HRC of the City’s recent acquisition of the 912 Edgebrook property and explained that the AGN task force will provide input on the determination of the outcome of the property. Webb also provided a quick summary on what was discussed at the Police community meeting on public safety and the press release that was sent out regarding that meeting. Webb then Human Relations Commission Meeting November 9, 2017 Page 3 of 4 summarized what was discussed at the second task force meeting and the outcomes from that meeting. Chair Apperson spoke of the possibility that there is a public perception that the City’s current stance is that students and nonstudent resident’s cohabitating in the Annie Glidden North neighborhoods is a problem. Apperson stated that this perception is potentially what was taken away from a talk given by a City staff member at a student meeting. Apperson suggested that the City take precaution to ensure the wrong messages are not being sent to the Community regarding what the problems are that should be addressed through the AGN Revitalization Plan. Commissioner Webb provided a comprehensive background on the historical progression and transformation of the Annie Glidden North Neighborhoods. Webb stated that the big elephant in the room is that the Suburban Apartments property is not included in the focus area of the AGN Revitalization Plan because it is in an unincorporated jurisdiction of the County. Several members of the HRC stated that inclusion of the Suburban Apartments property in the AGN plan is extremely important. Chair Apperson suggested that Commissioner Webb, as a member of the AGN task force, might consider preparing a memorandum to recommend incorporating Suburban Apartments into the AGN Revitalization Plan. 3. Ex-Offender Re-entry update Commissioner Webb referenced a news article that states Senator Dick Durban has drafted legislation for ex-offender re-entry. 4. Sanctuary Update Commissioner Gastiger spoke of an organization who has a rapid response program to crime incidents. Gastiger also spoke of a diversity group “Welcoming Western Counties”(see handout), who advocates for the creation of local ordinances to codify that local police departments will not use resources to pursue undocumented immigrants for the purpose of detaining for Immigration Customs and Enforcement. Gastiger stated he strongly supports the creation and adoption of an ordinance by the City of DeKalb as described above. Gastiger indicated that representatives from Welcoming Western Counties may attend the December HRC meeting. Gastiger also referenced Kamal Ganjalikhan, who is with Hope Fair Housing in Wheaton and President of the Community Unity Network. Kamal is leading several efforts related to acceptance of diverse races and undocumented immigrants. Gastiger is inviting Kamal to speak at the January HRC meeting. F. NEW BUSINESS 1. 2025 Strategic Plan public update methods Human Relations Commission Meeting November 9, 2017 Page 4 of 4 Chair Apperson stated that there are many residents in the City of DeKalb who are not aware of the existence of the City’s 2025 Strategic Plan. Chair Apperson stated that the HRC should discuss methods of communicating the strategic plan to residents in the community that can be initiated by City staff. 2. D428 Diversity Plan Commissioner Gilbert described the Diversity Plan/Study that DeKalb Community Unit School District (CUSD) 428 is currently working on. Commissioner Gilbert stated that it is important for the City and the HRC to be knowledgeable of the Diversity project undertaken by CUSD 428, and possibly involved in the project as well. Chair Apperson suggested that the HRC contact CUSD 428 directly to request a copy of the Diversity Plan for HRC members to review before the next CUSD 428 Board meeting. Chair Apperson stated that he would request information pertaining to the CUSD 428 diversity planning process and send what he receives to Staff Liaison Stevens for distribution to the HRC members. G. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:38 p.m. ___________________________________________________________________ AARON STEVENS, Management Analyst Minutes approved by the Human Relations Commission on: December 7, 2017

Agenda

AGENDA Human Relations Commission Meeting Location: Executive Conference Room (Second Floor) City Hall, 200 South Fourth Street November 9, 2017 6:30 p.m. A. Roll Call B. Approval of Agenda – Additions / Deletions C. Approval of Minutes – October 5, 2017 D. Public Participation E. Old Business 1. HRC 2017 Strategic Plan Activity a. HRC draft of response memo and list of reactions/recommendations b. Update on Diversity Holiday’s website 2. AGN Revitalization Plan Update 3. Ex-Offender Re-entry update 4. Sanctuary Update F. New Business 1. 2025 Strategic Plan public update methods G. Adjournment MINUTES CITY OF DEKALB Human Relations Commission October 5, 2017 The Human Relations Committee (HRC) held a Meeting on October 5, 2017 in the Executive Conference Room at City Hall. Chair Larry Apperson called the meeting to order at 6:37 p.m. A. ROLL CALL The following members of the HRC were present: Larry Apperson (Chair), Lisa King, Norden Gilbert, Ellingsworth Webb, and Joe Gastiger. Members absent at roll call were: Robert Williams, and Maurice Bailey. The following City staff members were present: Management Analyst Aaron Stevens. Notes were taken by Analyst Stevens. B. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA – ADDITIONS / DELETIONS The agenda was approved. C. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION No public participation occurred. D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes from the September 5, 2017 meeting were approved. E. OLD BUSINESS a. Strategic Plan Chair Apperson began the Old Business section of the meeting by reiterating that the City had requested the HRC to review the activities being planned for FY 17 in regards to the 2025 Strategic Plan. Chair Apperson stated that the City is interested in the HRC’s reaction to these plans and where the HRC may be involved. The HRC began discussion using the FY 17 Goals and Strategies section excerpted from the 2025 Strategic Plan. Commissioner Webb entered in to the discussion a document titled “2017 Diversity Holidays”. Commissioner Webb discussed the importance of understanding various holidays recognized by people of a wide range of ethnicities. Commissioner King suggested the City should include a statement of acceptance of diverse holidays publically, Human Relations Commission Meeting September 6, 2017 Page 2 of 4 and possibly on the City website. Commissioner King suggested that the HRC should issue a recommendation to the City Council that the City should maintain a written statement on the City Website’s public community information page/GATV that publically recognizes and acknowledges the holidays, celebrations, and commemorations observed by the members of our diverse community. Commissioner King suggested that the City research the possibility of referencing the Diversity Best Practices organization that publishes a list of diversity holidays. An example of this list was handed out. Commissioner’s Webb and King suggested that the City could possibly include the “Diversity Holidays” document on the HRC webpage on the City website. The Commission approved a motion to issue a recommendation to the City to maintain a written statement on the City Website’s public community information page/GATV which states the following “The City of DeKalb publically recognizes and acknowledges the holidays, celebrations, and commemorations observed by the members of our diverse community”. The commissioners also discussed the possibility of listing the particular diversity holidays, celebrations, and commemorations included in such a document as the “Diversity Holidays” below the above heading. Commissioner Gastiger also suggested that a resolution should be considered for officially declaring the City of DeKalb a welcoming City, or Sanctuary City, to further embrace the various ethnicities and cultures in DeKalb, as well as people from outside of the community. Commissioner Webb stated that he believes the City should support the act of becoming an official Sanctuary City. Commissioner Gastiger handed out several documents from different groups that talk about communities being welcoming and supporting sanctuary for undocumented people. One document, Solidarity & Sanctuary in DeKalb describes the local initiatives that support sanctuary and are affiliated with the Welcoming Western Counties Solidarity & Sanctuary Coalition. Another handout was a flyer, “All are Welcome Here” produced by the Main Street Alliance whose members own businesses and are encouraged to post these flyers at their stores. The commission discussed distributing these flyers to our local businesses and will ask the Chamber of Commerce about their willingness to distribute this flyer. Commissioner Webb suggested that the HRC should support furtherance of activities supporting items 3 and 3a underneath the Vision of a Sense of Place of the FY 17 Strategic Plan which are the following: 3. Bridge NIU and the City, whenever feasible to create a mutually beneficial environment. a. “Identify opportunities to visually and programmatically link NIU and the City. Chair Apperson mentioned the NIU Diversity Dialogue Committee as an example of linking the City and NIU by having representation from the HRC as members of this group. Human Relations Commission Meeting October 5, 2017 Page 3 of 4 With several activities in the plan mentioning or needing community involvement in order to be accomplished (Vision of a Sense of Place, 1b; Vision of Community Vitality & a Vibrant Downtown, 4c; and Vision of Inclusiveness, 1 & 2) Chair Apperson suggested that, if the City thought helpful, the HRC could provide a list of names and contact information that could represent the diverse voices needed to be included in community discussions initiated by the City. The Commission unanimously consented on the need for the City to go out into the community where diverse members of the community population congregate. The City’s planning efforts should always aim to include diverse members of the community through engagement in the areas where diverse members of the community can be reached in person. All commissioners unanimously agreed that Strategy 1, along with Goals 1a, and 1b under Vision of Inclusiveness are vital to City operations. HRC unanimously reaffirmed its recommendation to City Council to budget for the completion of the Diversity workshops for all City employees in FY2018. Chair Apperson will work with staff liaison Aaron Stevens, to communicate these reactions to the City staff. F. NEW BUSINESS a. AGN Revitalization Plan The commissioners discussed the makeup of the Annie Glidden North (AGN) Plan Task Force. The experience and relevant projects worked on by the consulting firm for the project, Camiros, were also discussed. The limitations of the Opens Meeting Act as they pertain to the attendance of members of commissions was discussed. Commissioner Webb suggested that City leadership or Camiros should have a discussion with the owners of Suburban Apartments to have residents of these apartments be included in project communications. Commissioner Webb stated that, while the Suburban Apartment buildings are not within DeKalb corporate boundaries, the plans for AGN will affect these student residents. Commissioner King stated that the City should include the DeKalb Township in the AGN Revitalization Plan project, if they have not been incorporated into the project already, due to their ownership of certain roads in the AGN. Human Relations Commission Meeting September 6, 2017 Page 4 of 4 Chair Apperson stated that the Aug. 9, 2017 memorandum to the City Council regarding the AGN Revitalization Plan is a good comprehensive explanation of the scope of the project. Chair Apperson recommended that if any HRC member wants a more concise review of the AGN plan this is probably the best document to look over. At the close of the meeting, Chair Apperson distributed LIHEAP flyers to the commission that were sent to the HRC at the City Hall postal address. G. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:38 p.m. ___________________________________________________________________ AARON STEVENS, Management Analyst Minutes approved by the Human Relations Commission on: [insert date of approval]