Human Relations Commission

MINUTES CITY OF DEKALB Human Relations Commission Dec 7, 2017 The Human Relations Committee (HRC) held a Meeting on December 7, 2017 in the Executive Conference Room at City Hall. Chair Larry Apperson called the meeting to order at 6:38 p.m. A. ROLL CALL The following members of the HRC were present: Larry Apperson (Chair), Lisa King, Ellingsworth Webb, Joe Gastiger, Norden Gilbert, Maurice Bailey. 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 move the AGN Revitalization Plan Update, item number 3 on the agenda under Old Business to item 1. Motion was initiated by Norden Gilbert and seconded by Maurice Bailey. C. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION All public participation occurred during discussion of item 1 under Old Business. D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes from the November 9, 2017 meeting were approved. E. OLD BUSINESS 1. AGN Revitalization Plan Update Norden Gilbert discussed the letter to the editor in the Daily Chronicle that centered on the lack of involvement in the ongoing Annie Glidden North (AGN) Revitalization Plan by sections of the community where low-income residents live. Norden asked how the HRC could be of more assistance in helping diverse members of the community be involved and speak to the planning process. Joe Gastiger spoke of the fact that he is concerned about provision of transportation in the community and that he would like to see this as a focus group area for the AGN Task Force.  Human Relations Commission Meeting December 7, 2017 Page 2 of 5 Herb Rubin, who attended the meeting as a member of the public, is the Chairperson of the AGN Task Force. HRC members Gastiger and Webb deferred to Rubin to provide an overview of items that were discussed at the last Task Force meeting. Rubin, Gastiger, and Ellingsworth Webb all provided information discussed at the November Task Force meeting. Rubin discussed that the Task Force will be organizing by planning focus topics. He also stated he was going to try and set up focus groups in University Village. Rubin stated that in order to properly collect information from residents of AGN, volunteers need to be recruited and trained to canvass the neighborhoods and survey residents. Another member of the public present at the meeting, Shamira Williams, stated that the people conducting the project should be “inclusive professionals” so that members of the community with special needs, or health requirements are heard and are able to provide input during the project. Williams stated that there needs to be better circulation of information to this community regarding resources that are available to help people with special needs with things like transportation and other social services. Chair Apperson asked Williams if she had been in contact with the RAMP Center for Independent Living organization to identify what resources they provide. Apperson discussed the possibility of the planning team for the AGN project contacting RAMP to ask about how to be inclusive and attentive to people with special needs. Williams spoke of concerns for individuals with special needs to be able to reach resources, community meetings, and other public events due to mobility impairments, and/or lack of employment due to their disabilities. Williams stated that she is in connection with DCHA. It was stated that Shelly Perkins from DCHA might be the best person to serve as a liaison for the AGN Task Force to communicate with individuals with special needs throughout the community. Gastiger explained that the NIU Greek system wants to volunteer for early action projects. Gastiger summarized a discussion that revolved around how to organize volunteers for action projects that took place at the Task Force meeting. It was stated that there needs to be further conversation between college students and non-student resident community members. Chair Apperson spoke of how the HRC can break the barrier to have open communication with community regarding AGN initiatives. Lisa King suggested conducting surveys to collect feedback. King stated that surveys could be left at doorways in apartment complexes with notices indicating that surveys would be picked up at a later time if completed. Webb suggested that it is important for surveyors to be present and engage with residents when conducting surveys so that they do not accidentally misinterpret survey answers. King suggested that surveys should be specifically distributed to businesses and other places in the community where AGN residents might frequent such as laundromats and the 7-11 store at the corner of Hillcrest and Annie Glidden North Rd.  Human Relations Commission Meeting December 7, 2017 Page 3 of 5 Norden Gilbert departed the meeting immediately following discussion of this agenda item. Time of departure is approximately 7:20p.m. 2. Sanctuary Updates – Welcoming Western Counties Presentation Gastiger began the discussion by explaining the need for an ordinance that codifies a City policy that no person will be questioned on the subject of their citizenship status during any interaction involving police officers and members of the community. Gastiger introduced “Welcoming Western Counties: Solidarity and Sanctuary Coalition” organization and asked for them to begin their presentation. Attending the meeting as representatives of Welcoming Western Counties were: Dave Becker, Lizy Garcia, Dana Yarak. Dave Becker presented on Welcoming Western Counties initiatives and potential steps for the community and HRC to take. Lizzy Garcia, spoke about the challenges her family faces as undocumented residents. Lizzy stated that to have something in writing that officially states no person will be questioned regarding their citizen status, will provide protection and an increased quality of life for undocumented members of the DeKalb community. Dana Yarak stated that Garcia and her family do need something in writing that states that the police will not report them as undocumented immigrants so they can feel safe in the City of DeKalb without fear of deportation. Yarak spoke of the economic impact from undocumented immigrants who do not feel it is safe to shop in stores and participate generally in any type of commerce throughout the city. Dana suggested a welcoming ordinance will enable undocumented residents to feel safe enough to go out in the community to shop, eat out at restaurants, etc. Becker said that their organization wants to work with the HRC to draft a local ordinance for welcoming undocumented immigrants. Becker said that they would like to push this initiative forward quickly in light of certain members of the community coming up on their protected status ending date. Becker stated that the Village of Oak Park amended an existing ordinance that dealt with human relations to include the welcoming of undocumented persons clause. Becker distributed copies of the Oak Park example ordinance to all HRC members. Chair Apperson explained that the HRC is an advisory commission who cannot act independently from the City when recommending an initiative related to official City business. Apperson stated that he suggests Welcoming Western Counties and the HRC collaborate to draft an ordinance for providing to the City Council for consideration.  Human Relations Commission Meeting December 7, 2017 Page 4 of 5 Apperson stated that the HRC would consider asking City Attorney Dean Frieders to attend an HRC meeting to review and comment on a draft ordinance. Stevens advised the HRC on formal motion practices and explained that in order for a commission or committee to make a motion, the item for which the motion is made, must be listed on the current meeting agenda for the same date and time that the motion is made. Stevens explained that the Open Meetings Act establishes the aforementioned rules for how motions are carried at meetings of public bodies. The HRC initiated a motion under the Welcoming Western Counties item on the agenda for the formation of a subcommittee that would meet with the Welcoming Western Counties group to discuss the creation of a “Welcoming Ordinance”. The motion was determined to be invalid because the agenda item under which it was initiated, does not clearly indicate it’s relation to said item. All attending members of the public, departed the meeting immediately following discussion of this item. 3. HRC 2017 Strategic Plan Activity Management Analyst Aaron Stevens displayed the new Diversity Holidays webpage for the HRC to review. The HRC approved of the webpage design and content. No changes were requested. Apperson advised the group that at the last City Council meeting, funding for overtime for police and fire personnel to attend Cultural Competency training was cut from the FY18 budget due to requested reductions to the General Fund by City Council. However, Apperson stated that the facilitated training for the police and fire departments would still be held, just during normal work shifts. Apperson stated that if an emergency call comes in during these trainings, the police and/or fire personnel will have to leave. Apperson stated that at this same City Council meeting he had advised the Council to keep the proposed $6,500 cut to pay for facilitators for training for public safety personnel during their regular shift times. Apperson stated to Council that the current proposal of using just videos or a power point in place of a facilitator was not advisable. Apperson explained that the advantage of having a facilitator is critical with the emotional components involved in Cultural Competency training sessions. As a last resort, should funding not be restored, Apperson recommended the City try to find facilitators who will volunteer their time to facilitate diversity training sessions for public safety employees. 4. Ex-Offender Re-entry update Discussion of this agenda item was postponed to a future meeting. No member of the public was present for this item.  Human Relations Commission Meeting December 7, 2017 Page 5 of 5 F. NEW BUSINESS 1. 2025 Strategic Plan public update methods Chair Apperson stated that the HRC would continue to discuss methods for promoting awareness of the City Strategic Plan to the community at large. 2. Dist. #428 Diversity Plan The HRC discussed the possibility of inviting the superintendent of the DeKalb Community School District 428, or another representative of the school district to a future HRC meeting to discuss the D428 Diversity Plan. Stevens explained that in order for the HRC to include agenda items involving the operations or business of other organizations outside of City government auspices, the purpose must be to discuss the City’s involvement. Stevens explained that because the HRC is an official Mayoral appointed City Commission, HRC meeting agendas are intended for discussion of items related to City business, such as activities or initiatives that fall within the responsibility of City government. G. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:38 p.m. ___________________________________________________________________ AARON STEVENS, Management Analyst Minutes approved by the Human Relations Commission on: January 2, 2018