Human Relations Commission
Regular MeetingDeKalb, IL · October 2, 2018
Minutes
MINUTES
CITY OF DEKALB
Human Relations Commission
October 2, 2018
The Human Relations Committee (HRC) held a Meeting on October 2, 2018 in the Executive
Conference Room at City Hall.
Chair Larry Apperson called the meeting to order at 6:31p.m.
A. ROLL CALL
The following members of the HRC were present: Larry Apperson (Chair), Lisa King, Maurice
Bailey, David Barrow, Joe Gastiger, 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 the amendment to move the Diversity Training item up to the
beginning of the meeting.
C. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
No public participation occurred.
D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes from the September 4, 2018 meeting were approved.
E. OLD BUSINESS
1. AGN Revitalization Plan Update
F. NEW BUSINESS
1. Diversity Training Feedback – Dr. James Cohen
a. City Training
b. District 428 Diversity Plan and Stakeholder’s Perception of the City
Chair Apperson opened the discussion stating that the only feedback received from the
diversity training completed was that the staff who participated in the training provided
positive feedback to City administrators.
Human Relations Commission Meeting Minutes
October 2, 2018
Page 2 of 3
Dr. James Cohen provided an overview of the training that he and his partner completed
for City staff in 2017. Dr. James Cohen stated that conducting a 3-hour training one time
is not sufficient and is not what should be done. Cohen stated that a proper training is 32
hours long and so that the full history and context of the training can be completed. Cohen
stated that this is based on research which is clear on this matter.
Gilbert and Gastiger stated that they are frustrated with the City because the diversity
training was not executed the way they originally proposed it and there has not been follow
through.
Cohen stated that he is very pleased with the progress that he is making with the School
District and that he is coordinating with several school district administrators that are
totally onboard with the diversity training curriculum and implementation.
Cohen recommended that groups of people should be selected to sit with him in his training
on a routine basis that is aimed to reach all City staff of a period of time and is reoccurring.
Cohen recommended that the training should be done for departments together and that
police and fire should be put in a separate training cohort altogether that is more
longitudinal.
Barrow stated that one way to sell this program is to provide examples of negative
outcomes that occur as a result of racial insensitivity.
Gilbert stated that the priority for training should be on Police and Fire because they have
the most interactions with the community.
Apperson stated that the City did cost out what it would cost for Police and Fire to complete
a training including overtime cost which equated to approximately $70,000 (estimate).
Bailey stated that this issue is much bigger in actuality and goes beyond diversity training
for staff. Dr. Cohen stated that there are examples of City’s paying out very large sums for
lawsuits that can potentially be avoided if training in diversity is provided.
Dr. Cohen stated that the School District used Title 1 monies for diversity
training/curriculum.
Ellingsworth Webb stated that there are federal grants and other grants available for
training. Dr. Cohens stated that the Joyce foundation could potentially be a source of
funding for training.
Barrow stated that the City could potentially investigate if the City’s liability insurance
holder would be interested in providing funding for diversity training.
Apperson stated that he believed the entire training Dr. Cohen conducted for City staff was
$3,500.00.
Human Relations Commission Meeting Minutes
October 2, 2018
Page 3 of 3
Gilbert raised the question where do we go now and Apperson stated that grant
opportunities and strategize on other potential solutions.
Cohen stated that the Macarthur Foundation has funded this type of work and may be a
possible way to form a joint collaboration grant between NIU and the City. Cohen stated
that he has a point of contact from the Macarthur foundation that could potentially help
create proposal for funding for a joint collaboration training program for NIU, the School
District, and the City.
Barrow asked what could be done to present this concept/idea to local taxing body
representatives.
King stated that the Police Department could tap into training funds to fund diversity
training. King asked about the potential for DeKalb County Community Foundation as a
source for funding.
The HRC collectively determined that a meeting to present the need for diversity training
to representatives from the School District, NIU and the City. Chair Apperson will begin
searching for possible grants and then contact the School District and NIU.
Dr. Cohen stated the lesson to be learned from the success that has evolved in the School
District is that if there is perseverance and collaboration, implementing a proper diversity
training/curriculum for the City, and other community partners is definitely possible.
2. Youth Outlook’s 20th Anniversary Gala
Apperson explained that Youth Outlook is a support organization for youth LBTQ in the
community. Apperson stated that the Mayor has asked for the HRC to draft a proclamation
regarding the organization that can be read at a City Council meeting. Apperson has drafted
such a proclamation that Joe Gastiger has reviewed and it has been sent to the Mayor for
his review.
F. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at: 7:55 p.m.
_____________________________________
AARON STEVENS, Management Analyst
Minutes approved by the Human Relations Commission on: December 11, 2018
Agenda
AGENDA
Human Relations Commission Meeting
Location: Executive Conference Room (Second Floor)
City Hall, 200 South Fourth Street
October 2, 2018
6:30 p.m.
A. Roll Call
B. Approval of Agenda – Additions / Deletions
C. Approval of Minutes – September 4, 2018
D. Public Participation
E. Old Business
1. AGN Revitalization Plan Update
F. New Business
1. Diversity Training Feedback – Dr. James Cohen
a. City Training
b. District 428 Diversity Plan and Stakeholder’s Perception of the City
2. Youth Outlook’s 20th Anniversary Gala
G. Adjournment
For questions regarding this agenda, please contact Aaron Stevens at 815-748-2096 or
aaron.stevens@cityofdekalb.com
MINUTES
CITY OF DEKALB
Human Relations Commission
September 4, 2018
The Human Relations Committee (HRC) held a Meeting on September 4, 2018 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, Maurice
Bailey, David Barrow, Norden Gilbert. Members absent at roll call were: Joe Gastiger, 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.
C. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
No public participation occurred.
D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes from the Aug 7, 2018 meeting were approved.
E. OLD BUSINESS
1. Motion to approve support for the Illinois Department of Human Rights Equality and
Fairness Campaign
This item was carried forward from the August 7th meeting where Management Intern Walker Steinke
presented the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) Equality and Fairness Campaign to the HRC.
The HRC motioned to approve support of the City’s participation in the IDHR Equality and Fairness
Campaign. The motion was made by Norden Gilbert and seconded by Lisa King. All members were in
favor, and the motion passed.
2. AGN Revitalization Plan Update and Review
HRC members took turns asking questions about the AGN Revitalization Draft Plan and process and
provided the following recommendations during the discussion:
• Correct miswording of Randall Road to Russell Road.
• Provide clarity on what types of redevelopment are desired for each of the “focus areas”.
• Provide clarity of what actions/procedures “evaluation” includes in the “evaluation of 912
Edgebrook project”.
• Transit services improvement project should be moved to year 1 or towards the beginning of the
order and provide some detail of what changes have already been implemented.
• If funding will be sought through the DeKalb County Community Foundation or other providers,
grant deadlines should be considered in prioritization level of associated projects such as safety
enhancements.
• Add direction to the “Big 8 project list” by listing projects in the recommended order for
prioritization and implementation. Remove the current timeline that is overly broad and/or add
specificity to timeline range in addition to ordered list of projects.
• Ask Camiros to include explanation of how and why certain projects were selected for the “Big
8” list.
• Add the need for a grocery store/access to fresh and healthy foods to plan and include within a
project description for a redevelopment focus area.
• Consult Kishwaukee College Occupational dean, faculty and Occupational Advisory Committees
to assist in determining area training programs and employer needs for employees; and
collaborate with the Kishwaukee Career Planning and Placement Office to determine location of
satellite presence in AGN area. Such consultation to determine any Kishwaukee College
personnel to list of potential partners for project B4 (Inventory Workforce Training Programs).
• Add 4C Community Coordinated Childcare and NIU Campus Childcare to potential partner list
for B5 (Daycare Services)
In addition to the discussion of recommended modifications above, other feedback received from the
HRC is below:
Commissioner Lisa King suggested that the City evaluate the service calls that the NIU Police
Department is currently responding to within the City’s jurisdiction that DeKalb Police could be handling.
King also suggested the City work with other agencies including NIU to determine what resources could
readily be shared and leveraged for AGN projects without the need for funding.
King stated that there may be negative consequences of adding security cameras in public places in the
AGN neighborhood or areas of the community that have a large percentage of minorities compared to
other sections of the City where the majority is Caucasian. King suggested looking into other possibilities
such as the blue panic street boxes or the box camera systems used in Chicago.
King suggested looking further into CO-OP (cooperatives) and collective arrangements for healthy food
establishments.
Commissioner Barrow suggested using the “Big 8” or “Core Transformational” project list as the
marketing tool that will be used to sell what the key projects are for revitalization of the AGN area.
Barrow suggested using the phrase “the last best story wins” for ensuring that the plan will effectively
convey the projects with the potential to bring about true change.
Commissioner Bailey suggested that the timeline used for the “Big 8” projects is much too broad and
would not be effective for driving projects forward in a reasonable timeframe. The HRC collectively
agreed to this and motioned that the timeline be replaced with a more direct order of projects. Motion was
made by Commissioner Norden Gilbert and seconded by Bailey. All members were in favor and the
motion passed.
Chair Apperson stated that the NIU Nursing School and Kishwaukee College nursing program have both
participated in community programs before and could potentially be involved in providing health services
to the AGN neighborhood.
Apperson stated that he would like the Mayor, the Task Force, and others who have been involved with
development of the AGN plan know that the HRC values the work that has been done and sincerely
appreciates their dedication to the AGN plan process.
3. Motion for recommendations to the Mayor regarding the AGN Revitalization Plan.
The HRC made a motion to recommend the items listed above be brought forward for further review by
the AGN Task Force. The HRC further recommends that if the Task Force agrees, these changes be made
to the AGN Revitalization Plan. This motion was made by Larry Apperson and seconded by Maurice
Bailey. All members were in favor, and the motion passed.
F. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at: 8:06 p.m.
___________________________________________________________________
AARON STEVENS, Management Analyst
Minutes approved by the Human Relations Commission on: