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City of Eugene Human Rights Commission

Regular Meeting

Eugene, OR · October 20, 2015

AgendaMinutes

Minutes

City of Eugene Human Rights Commission MINUTES Tuesday, October 20, 2015 5:30 – 7:30 PM Meeting Atrium Building, Sloat Room, 99 W. 10th Avenue, Eugene Present: Human Rights Commissioners: Andrew Thomson, Ken Neubeck, Jennifer Frenzer, Edward Goehring, Arun Toke, Philip Carrasco, Chris Nunes, Bonnie Souza, Councilor Greg Evans Staff: Michael Kinnison and Jennifer Lleras Van Der Haeghen EPD Liaison: Lt. Jennifer Bills 1. Agenda/Minutes Review and Approval B. Souza - Remove ACLU from the agenda. Dave Fidanque is here as an individual who formerly worked for the ACLU. Motion: Move to approve the agenda with the removal of the ACLU. Made by: Andrew Thompson Second: Edward Goehring Vote: Unanimous Motion: Move to approve the minutes from September 15th, 2015. Made by: Edward Goehring Second: Ken Nuebeck Vote: Unanimous 2. Public Comment Majeska Seese-Green – I’m here to urge the HRC to help the City move forward with urgency to be more involved in finding ways to shelter homeless people as we approach Winter. There needs to be a great deal of shelter over the winter for all kinds of people, including people who are not part of specific categories and those who will not sign forms to not abide by rules. Encourage the city to open and renew partnerships they haven’t had before. Additionally I would be pleased if the HRC would express something about the need to tape record the Civilian Review Board meetings. This is important for community transparency and accountability. The Auditor made the decision 99 W. 10th Avenue, Suite 116, Eugene, OR 97401 541.682.5177 |ehroffice@ci.eugene.or.us | www.eugene-or.gov/hrc to stop the recording. I suggest we should record the full meeting including the discussion of cases. Only once every 6 months slips and says the officer’s name. Emily Farthing – Interfaith Prayer Service International Want to share that I’ve been working with down town businesses, faith organizations and neighborhood associations. There will be a town hall to discuss housing justice on November 18th. Time and location will be finalized soon, I will be in touch with this information later. Focus on the audience that attends and break into small groups to identify take away actions. Goal is to eliminate the other and creating an “us” for our community. 3. Support Request Youth Empowerment Symposium (YES!) No representative from YES! Present for the conversation. C. Nunes – Do we have record of supporting them before? M. Kinnison – I do not have these records right now. A. Thompson – I am concerned about the ask being at $400, which is above the amount that is normally given. E. Goehring – Is there a commissioner who is normally involved? A. Thompson – We normally table. B. Souza – They do mention that they understand it’s more than normal amount given, would be grateful for any support. A. Toke – Suggests that we fund at $200. M. Kinnison – The event will be Wednesday Nov. 11th. A. Thompson – would anyone be available? P. Carasco – I would like to go and I am available. Motion: Move to support YES! at $200 for co-sponsorship and involvement. Made by: P. Carasco Second: C. Nunes Vote: Unanimous E. Goehring – A question for another time is: if we want to support at co-sponsorship level but cannot send a commissioner should that really keep people from accessing funding? Would like to discuss this at a future meeting. Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) Carter McKenzie and Lina Van Brunt – Here in support of a request for co-sponsorship for Novemeber 5th event from 7pm – 9pm at the Hilyard Community Center. SURJ will be showing “Vocabulary of Change”. This is an unrehearsed conversation between Tim Wise and Angela Davis. We would like to have a commissioner present and co-sponsorship of $50. 99 W. 10th Avenue, Suite 116, Eugene, OR 97401 541.682.5177 | ehrcenter@ci.eugene.or.us | www.eugene-or.gov/hrc K. Neubeck – are you asking $50 for printing and $50 for refreshment. Carter McKenzie – Yes, that would be great. Motion: Move to support SURJ at $100 . Made by: E. Goehring Second: A. Toke Vote: Unanimous Transgender Day of Remembrance Seda Collier and Akasha Vatelli - Event held every year to commemorate transgender people who have been murdered due to perceptions of gender deviance. Would like $200 to hire ASL interpreters to make it more accessible to people with hearing disabilities. Held here in the Atrium Lobby on Nov 20th from 5:30pm – 8:00p m. C. Nunes – Did it have interpreters last year? Seda – yes A. Toke – how many people attended last time? Lt. Bills – Several Hundred A. Thompson – can someone be there? K. Neubeck – I would like to attend. Motion: Move to support TDOR at $200. Made by: K. Neubeck Second: B. Souza Vote: Unanimous 4. HB 2002 Update Chief Kerns and Dave Fidanque invited up to present on HB 2002. D. Fidanque – Handouts will also be sent to you electronically by staff. I am a member of Oregon’s Law Enforcement Contacts Policy and Data Review committee (LECC) as is Chief Kerns, I have served since 2001 when it was created. Committee is made up of 10 individuals with representatives of law enforcement and individuals from around the state. To give you background, the LECC was formed as a way to deter racial profiling in Oregon. Since 1997 every Law Enforcement agency has had a policy prohibiting Profiling. Took us through 2011 and during that time the LECC encouraged law enforcement to collect data with demographic information and analyze this data. Training program was developed for officers and leadership. This program has trained over 1500 law enforcement people around the state. Addition the LECC commissioned a number of surveys to gauge public attitudes towards law enforcement with oversampling in Latino and African American communities. When Rep. Frederick introduced this bill some representatives of the LECC discussed the need to reinvigorate the LECC. 99 W. 10th Avenue, Suite 116, Eugene, OR 97401 541.682.5177 | ehrcenter@ci.eugene.or.us | www.eugene-or.gov/hrc HB 2002 implements a new definition of profiling. One that the Chief and I agree is too narrow. Hoping to see this changed and broadened. The bill also expanded the definition of categories of who is included. Part of definition we believe is too narrow requires the targeting be based solely on the real or perceived identity of the person being stopped. We believe it should read primarily. Bill requires all law enforcement agencies to update policies no later than Jan 1st 2016 and to put together a complaint process if they don’t already have one. The law requires copies of the complaints and their disposition be sent to the LECC and a mechanism for the LECC to take in complaints themselves. The legislation also brought in a profiling work group that is chaired by a staff member of the Attorney General’s office with other members appointed. This group is tasked with reporting to the legislature by December 1, 2015. It is expected that the work group will live longer than that and may make recommendations for 2017 session. E. Goehring – The chief has heard this before but there is the other half of profiling and that is how services are provided. I have worked in some big cities where services are provided to different communities in different ways. I have seen services provided, denied or modified by the perception of officers and this should be addressed. D. Fidanque – One of the documents I forwarded to M. Kinnison includes information to assist communities in evaluating the training and procedures. Some of these issues come up when the committee have evaluated stop data. Analysis of this data has shown consistently that there hasn’t been a higher level of initial contacts by race or ethnicity other than in Portland. But the disparities are seen in whether there is a search and the results of the search. Nationwide officers are less likely to search white drivers compared to people of color especially African Americans or Latinos. In one department, Corvallis, which has collected the most data points, it was found that in 2009 there was a correlation between the stops and searches of African Americans and Latinos and the number of passengers in the vehicle and the time of day. Vehicles with multiple passengers at night were more likely to be stopped and searched, but less likely to find criminal activity. The LECC encouraged them to look at policies and training. Not to excuse the impact, but data leads us to more questions. E. Goehring – Income plays a part as well. Lower income people are more likely to travel together. The other thing we don’t know is how many were students. D. Fidanque – When the department went to 16 week training curriculum the LECC offered training points and scenarios that could be used in addition to their unit on diversity. Doing a good job integrating scenario based training on racial and ethnic minorities. G. Evans – does that include the Oregon State Police? D. Fidanque – No just CPD. G. Evans – Jurisdictions are intertwined in Corvallis as Oregon State Police are on OSU’s campus. We now have a similar situation here in Eugene. D. Fidanque – Only about 6 or 7 departments have collected voluntarily and not all have submitted data for analysis. Both California and Rhode Island passed legislation this year that requires mandatory data collection. RI additionally places limits on consent searches and stop and frisk of juveniles. B. Souza – If I understood correctly in the City Club Cheif Kerns, you said that you would be basing this on “primarily”. 1. How would one prove that something is primarily based on an identity? 2. 99 W. 10th Avenue, Suite 116, Eugene, OR 97401 541.682.5177 | ehrcenter@ci.eugene.or.us | www.eugene-or.gov/hrc For the Law Enforcement Work Group, is it possible that this wording could be a recommendation? D. Fidanque – Think that this will be discussed on Thursday. The LECC could also forward recommendations to legislature. Don’t know if we’ll gain consensus on this issue. Would hope that given our agreement may well find consensus. Complaints made to the LECC will be for the most part turned over to the Law Enforcement Agency. Chief Kerns – When you train employees you train them in the way you want them to perform. Thinking is that we don’t contact people when race or another factor is a primary motivator. In training we can remind officers that complying with the 4th amendment is not enough, and that they need to address crime and safety concerns. Reality is that it would be very difficult to prove what is in the mind of the officer. Unlikely that the officer will admit that they are acting on conscious motives but we can focus training in this area. C. Nunes – First of all I applaud that you’re working on this and that Chief Kerns has been working on this for a long time. This goes back to the enforceability of the policy. I like that there are many data pieces. Will pretext stops continue to be a barrier to ascertain that? D. Fidanque – Just because something doesn’t violate the constitution doesn’t mean that it’s good policy. Been encouraging law enforcement Chiefs and Sheriffs to think about if policies prevent crime or drive a wedge between law enforcement and the community. Key indicators about public attitudes have come out of the surveys done in 2009. Want to do another in 2016. One question that we asked was: Did you ever believe you were stopped for a reason other than you were given? White people – 22% yes, African American people – 78% yes, Latinos 33% yes. There is clearly a huge credibility gap with African Americans and law enforcement. All of these points to changes that are needed. G. Evans – last time I was stopped was because the tail light was out, when I went to my mechanic told nothing wrong with tail light. D. Fidanque – Another big problem is consent searches, most people don’t feel they can say no. We have asked agencies to distinguish between policy required searches and discretionary searches. Consent searches disproportionality impact people of color. J. Frenzer – Could you both let me know a little more about the thinking behind changing the wording from solely to primarily. Is primarily not enough? Cheif Kerns – The department is not consciously stopping people based on race or gender. There must be an actual violation or crime to justify a stop. Changing to a standard of primarily gives us more room. It is lawful and appropriate for an officer to take that into account. D. Fidanque – The ACLU argued behind the scenes that solely could be deleted from the bill. It was added in with amendments. As far as I’m concerned could just delete the word, still hard to prove that a person was profiled. Unless there is an overt statement by the officer, which has happened before. Chief Kerns – If we think we’re going to solve this by catching officers it isn’t going to happen. We’re going to have to acknowledge that we all have subconscious biases. The stakes are higher for police than other people. We are not trying to address police who are active racists. If someone made it through the hiring process without being discovered as a racist, it would be rare. What we need to do is train more people on implicit bias and ways to address violations. In Brookline, a community awarded for most transparent department, they train on bias and when 99 W. 10th Avenue, Suite 116, Eugene, OR 97401 541.682.5177 | ehrcenter@ci.eugene.or.us | www.eugene-or.gov/hrc data stands out for an officer, that officer is brought in to discuss the discrepancies. We’re a little frustrated because our vendor has not been able o deliver our stop system for data collection. However we have 12 volunteers who will be trying a new system that Public Works put together for us while we wait for our full system to go up. P. Carrasco – Where it says do you wish to remain anonymous can people change their minds and no longer be anonymous? D. Fidanque – Yes they can change that. They will be contacted by an LECC staff member and they will explain the outcome of making an anonymous complaint. There is only so much information that can be offered and a complaint still be anonymous given that date, time and location can identify who was impacted. P. Carrasco – If it happens to be a third person can they remove their anonymity? D. Fidanque – I assume that can happen. P. Carrasco – I see that the identities follow the language of the House Bill. Can you go above and beyond? D. FIdanque – That is what is required. P. Carrasco – I see that people are protected for their religion, what about protections for atheists? D. Fidanque – atheists are covered in religious protections P. Carrasco – will this be available in other languages? D. Fidanque – not sure we’ll have funding at this time. Chief Kerns – We did talk about having this in Spanish. 5. A Better Oregon With a Better Oregon Campaign from Our Oregon. This is a campaign that is going to put a measure on the ballot to raise the corporate minimum tax on out of state corporations and use that money to support schools and other critical services. In last 10 years 3400 teachers have been laid off. We all know that schools are underfunded, teachers are being laid off and class sizes are huge. This measure would increase corporate min tax. A. Toke – Is this legal? G. Evans – Perfectly legal, corporations have not had to pay these taxes for years. A. Toke – Why distinguish out of state? G. Evans – Current levels abysmally low. Getting us right and in balance is critical. Rina – Don’t know, but I can find out. Corporate minimum tax in Oregon is the lowest in the whole country. Souza – With TPP it could mean that this is considered an unfair advantage. 6. City Council Update (Councilor Evans) G. Evans – I’ve been out of commission for a few weeks. Main update is that we will have a work session on homelessness. Has not been scheduled but should be scheduled soon, hopefully we will have more information tomorrow. This will be a joint work session for the entire commission and council. Tomorrow we’ll be discussing South Willamette-SAZ. C. Nunes – Thank you for your work. 7. EPD Update: Incld Hate and Bias Quarterly Update 99 W. 10th Avenue, Suite 116, Eugene, OR 97401 541.682.5177 | ehrcenter@ci.eugene.or.us | www.eugene-or.gov/hrc Lt. Bills – For the Hate and Bias Quarterly Update looked at stats for City. Sexual orientation and race are high and continue to be lead indicators. As an agency we’re working on doing outreach to vulnerable communities, specifically looking for ways to work with the Trans community regarding the filing of police reports and making stronger relationships. J. Lleras Van Der Haeghen - Can you please speak to adding of Police to this data? Lt. Bills – We’re encouraging police to report when they are targets of hate or bias when appropriate. Nunes – is it skewing or just a hate crime? Lt. Bills – It is really happening. We are just counting in different ways now. E. Goehring – Think it is really important to keep track of. Documenting this behavior is helpful to get it into the system. K. Neubeck – if we assume that these statistics are really under representations how can the police department facilitate more reporting? Lt. Bills – Example I’ll use is Sexual assault. One in 4 women are assaulted and yet we know reporting is not happening at this rate. When communities don’t have access, relationships or understanding of the system it’s harder for reporting to happen. 1. We need to make sure that the law enforcement agents are prepared to talk to community members and respond appropriately. 2. Need to go out into the community, help people feel safe and explain what is next when you file a police report. Need to maintain relationships and work keep them strong. K. Neubeck – What about training people in communities to take these complaints? Lt. Bills – Yes I think that would be great, but at the end of the day we need to have police present to take the report. A. Toke – I would like to know if in the police training they’re always trained to shoot at the heart. Lt. Bills – In police training we’re always trained to shoot at largest point, which is the chest. In some cases trained to shoot at the head. A. Toke – So it doesn’t take into account if someone has a gun? Lt. Bills – Police are trained to make a split second decision on whether or not a use of force is appropriate by the 14th amendment and policy. Body camera update: The plan is to fully equip all sworn officers and we are currently working on proposals to buy the actual devices. Working with the District Attorney’s office to come up with best policies we can. Preference is to get a system that is compatible with the in car video and we’d like for this to be cloud based. Wireless upload that is secure would be ideal. We need something that is able to grow and adapt with the agency and need something that will last in our weather. Currently have 18 cameras were testing downtown. Hoping that in January we’ll have written an RFP. 8. Commission Liaison Updates B. Souza – There is no report from me at this time because the CRB does not meet again until 10/27. M. Kinnison – Bonnie, do you know if Chris will continue to be the liaison. Can you ask? B. Souza – Yes I can ask that. E. Goehring – For the Police Commission: The 21st century policing document I shared is going to be very important for police agencies around the country including EPD. If you want to see in one place, take a look at that doc. EPD is putting a great deal of emphasis on this document. 99 W. 10th Avenue, Suite 116, Eugene, OR 97401 541.682.5177 | ehrcenter@ci.eugene.or.us | www.eugene-or.gov/hrc LT. Bills – IACP.com will have a summary of that report on that website if you do not want to read the full text. 9. Work Group Lead Updates K. Neubeck – We’ve met, Bonnie, myself and E. McGlone primarily to talk about outreach plans to work with organizations. We will be sharing a list of groups we’d like to speak with and would like to share that with commissioners for input. Bonnie will send this list in the coming week. We talked about tonight’s presentation on HB 2002as well as the work that the NAACP is doing to plan a series of conversations on race. In your packets you have two documents one describing what the HRC does and another that explains what the HRC is and is not. Want to boil these down so that they can be single sided. Our hope is to use these with outreach and tabling. If you have comments or suggestions please send them to one of us. J. Frenzer – The list on page 25 tells some of the proposals that we’d like to bring to the commission. One of them that didn’t make it on was the community conversations in neighborhoods. Similar to the conversations of the NAACP and I would like to know how this is going as it moves forward. Works well to have a coalition of organizations hosting community conversations so that we can have people of different perspectives to talk to folks. A. Toke – Are we cooperating with the November 18th event? J. Frenzer – they have come to the work group to report on the planning sessions for that. Since they’re building such a big effort I’m glad it’s happening. A. Toke – If you or Ken want to make a presentation there, would you like that? Seese-Green – So far this is not being called a Thrive event, no organizations are involved at this point. Going to talk about the idea of organizations being involved at future meetings. Personally we know that time is running out. It would be wonderful if the HRC had its name involved. How you can be involved in the planning is a whole other subject. Planning meetings are happening every Thursday at 5pm in the Singer room at the Eugene Public Library. A. Toke – Invite Emily to work group next time so that we can find out what is happening. J. Frenzer - Will make the invite. Seese-Green – Need people to be involved and build a movement. J. Frenzer – Need to take note of people who are not willing to join yet. We’re hoping that we would get to talk about things in the report. For the work session with the council, how does the commission build an agenda with the council to ensure that the conversation can help us get where we want to go? Do we need to create a subcommittee to do this? We approached the Poverty and Homelessness Board about their plan to do outreach to community. An idea came out that maybe we need to do outreach with Poverty and Homelessness Board. We’re hoping to ask the PHB to do this through their community outreach group. A few people were involved in advising the PHB after writing the editorial in the RG. Asked folks to look at a draft of what PHB is doing on criminalization. Rewrote and submitted this today. P. Carrasco –I have been slowly meeting with folks about Youth Human Rights Commission. I’ve met with Roscoe Caron, Eric Richardson, Jim Garcia, GLAD youth etc. Checking to see how much they would like to participate in this process. Still have yet to reach out to other organization heads. Also need to set a date to meet with youth to have larger conversation. A. Toke – Can we include HS and UO/LCC students? P. Carrasco – Yes and the LCC Mechistas have connected us to Churchill and other HS. 99 W. 10th Avenue, Suite 116, Eugene, OR 97401 541.682.5177 | ehrcenter@ci.eugene.or.us | www.eugene-or.gov/hrc J. Frenzer – Going back to what we were talking about before, I need to follow up on my questions. M. Kinnison – To my knowledge there is no process already in place for a work session between Council and another advisory body. G. Evans – I haven’t had any conversation of the framework or format of how this work session will go. I do know it will be based on 3 items outlined in work session request. Homelessness, coordination and criminalization. M. Kinnison – Do you think that’s enough going in? Could the HRC do preliminary prep work? G. Evans – Yes it would be helpful if the staff and HRC did prep work. But the framework is going to be those topics. The approach to this needs to be a give and take where HRC can present a preliminary document to frame conversation for Mayor, Claire and I. M. Kinnison – No date set yet. Have some time but good idea to get started. G. Evans – We can help frame the conversation so that it can be productive. J. Frenzer – Looking at outcomes and as a group need to make some decisions about the types of outcomes were looking for. Are there pathways we’re hoping the council will move towards? Homelessness is a huge topic, we could just swim around in it and not leave with a clear plan. G. Evans – What you have to have is some clear policy objectives for council to consider. That should be the primary goal around the 3 main topics. What are the possible policy takeaways and suggestions that can come out of the dialogue? It’s not every day that we get to have these conversations. This is breaking new ground. Need to be very focused and talk about concrete policy advisement. E. Goehring – We need to be mindful that we’re not only setting a precedent of cooperation with this commission and others. G. Evans – The outcomes we set for this time together and policy options need to be achievable. M. Kinnison – Are you looking for people tonight who will be part of building out the agenda? J. Frenzer – K. Nuebeck, G. Evans, J. Frenzer, A. Thompson and B. Souza would like to be part of this team. Motion: Create a work group to discuss this. K. Neubeck moves, second E Goehring, vote was unanimous. 10. Staff Update J. Lleras Van Der Haeghen- We need to address the Community Health Improvement Plan focus group. People have not expressed availability for the focus group we have been planning. It sounds like you all want to move forward with having people share information in a one on one format. Are there any volunteers to do this? E Goehring, C. Nunes P. Carrasco. Will do the phone calls with the Community Health Improvement Plan staff. M. Kinnison - The UN Working Group on Discrimination Against Women will visit Oregon December 7th and 8th they will visit Salem, Portland and Eugene. P. Carrasco – on the MUPTE assignment, sounds like quite a few meetings. Wanted to revise if possible that Ken is the lead on the EHRB and I’ll be back up. K. Neubeck – Yes. J. Lleras Van Der Haeghen – The updated on a Smoke Free Downtown is that given the increased conversations on livability downtown staff is working to engage all of these conversations. This means the timeline has been slowed. When staff begins working on any drafts the HRC will be informed and asked for input. 99 W. 10th Avenue, Suite 116, Eugene, OR 97401 541.682.5177 | ehrcenter@ci.eugene.or.us | www.eugene-or.gov/hrc 11. Agenda Planning and Closing/Announcements P. Carrasco – I wrote a resolution that we could approve which is in your email. I hope that we will consider it at the next meeting. The resolution addresses celebrating the second Tuesday of October as Indigenous People’s day. Please look at it and share amendments. I do feel strongly that we maintain some of it. J. Frenzer – I would like to work on this and invite Native people to work with us on considering the language. P. Carrasco – Our role is to lead the way, but we do have this month to get people to sign off on it. In the text it talks about local indigenous people and indigenous people generally. Motion: Move to adjourn Made by: E. Goehring Second: A. Thompson Passes Unanimously. 99 W. 10th Avenue, Suite 116, Eugene, OR 97401 541.682.5177 | ehrcenter@ci.eugene.or.us | www.eugene-or.gov/hrc

Agenda

City of Eugene Human Rights Commission Human Rights Commission Meeting 10/20/15 Packet Contents Agenda Page 1 Minutes from 9/15/15 Page 3 Funding Requests Page 12 HRC Budget Update Page 12 Youth Empowerment Symposium (YES!) Page 13 Showing Up for Racial Justice Page 17 A Better Oregon Hand Out Page 20 Hate and Bias Report June – September 2015 Page 22 Commission reports and supporting documents Page 23 Police Commission Update Work Group Updates and Supporting Document Page 24 Homelessness Work Group Page 24 Anti-Discrimination Work Group Page 30 Office of Human Rights & Neighborhood Involvement | City of Eugene | 99 W 10th Ave | Eugene OR 97401 | (541) 682-5272 City of Eugene Human Rights Commission The mission of the Human Rights Commission is to promote implementation of universal human rights values and principles in all City of Eugene programs and throughout the wider community. To carry out this mission the commission shall affirm, encourage and initiate programs and services within the City of Eugene and in the wider community designed to place priority upon protecting, respecting, and fulfilling the full range of universal human rights as enumerated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. To support and promote human rights, the commission will: provide human rights education, be proactive in human rights efforts, address human rights violations, ensure active public participation, be transparent and open, and be publicly accountable for human rights progress. Human Rights Commissioners: Andrew Thomson Chair, Chris Nunes Vice Chair, Ken Neubeck, Jennifer Frenzer, Edward Goehring, Philip Carrasco, Edward McGlone, Arun Toke, Debra Merskin, Bonnie Souza, Councilor Greg Evans, Human Rights and Neighborhood Involvement Staff: Michael Kinnison, Jennifer Lleras Van Der Haeghen The Human Rights Commission typically meets on the third Tuesday of each month. Tuesday, October 20th, 2015 5:30 – 7:30 PM Meeting Atrium Building, Sloat Room, 99 W. 10th Avenue, Eugene Contact: Jennifer Lleras Van Der Haeghen, 541-682-5619, jennifer.e.vanderhaeghen@ci.eugene.or.us ITEM _______________ACTION______ TIME 1. Agenda/Minutes Review and Approval (Chair) Discuss/Vote 5:30 - 5:35 (5 min) 2. Public Comment (Chair) 5:35 - 5:40 (5 min) 3. Support Request (Chair) Discuss/Vote 5:40 – 5:45 (5 min) - Youth Empowerment Symposium (YES!) - Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) 4. Transgender Day of Remembrance Discussion 5:45 – 6:00 (15 min) 5. HB 2002 Update ACLU Presentation 6:00 – 6:35 (35 min) 6. A Better Oregon Presentation 6:35 – 6:40 (5 min) 7. City Council Update (Councilor Evans) Presentation 6:40 – 6:50 (10 min) 8. EPD Update: Incld Hate and Bias Quarterly Update Presentation 6:50 – 7:00 (10 min) 99 W. 10th Avenue, Suite 116, Eugene, OR 97401 541.682.5177 |ehroffice@ci.eugene.or.us | www.eugene-or.gov/hrc 1 9. Commission Liaison Updates 7:00 – 7:10 (10 min) 10. Work Group Lead Updates 7:10 – 7:20 (10 min) 11. Staff Update Q and A 7:20 – 7:25 (5 min) 12. Agenda Planning and Closing/Announcements 7:25 – 7:30 (5 min) Upcoming events, activities or meetings the HRC needs to be aware of: October 22nd, 7:30pm, EMU Ballroom University of Oregon –Dispatches from the movement for Black Lives Matter featuring Dr. James Braxton Peterson, Lehigh University. (Oregon Humanities Center) October 24th, 5-8pm, Unitarian Universalist Church – CALC Fall Celebration Cornucopia. (Community Alliance of Lane County) October 27th, 5:30-6:30pm, Sloat Room - Community Health Needs Assessment Focus Group (collaborative project between United Way, Lane County Public Health, PeaceHealth, and Trillium). November 5th, 7pm, Hilyard Community Center – “Vocabulary of Change” Film Showing and discussion (Showing Up for Racial Justice). November 12th, 12pm-1pm, Ford Alumni Center: Guistina Ballroom - Black Lives Matter: Race and Justice Across America Featuring Charles Ogletree, Harvard Law (Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics). **Free to public, registration is required** The Eugene Human Rights Commission welcomes your interest in these agenda items. This meeting location is wheelchair accessible. For the hearing impaired, FM-assistive listening devices are available or an interpreter can be provided with 48 hours’ notice prior to the meeting. Spanish-language interpretation will also be provided with 48 hours’ notice. To arrange for these services, contact staff at (541) 682-5177. La Comisión de Derechos Humanos agradece su interés por participar en los asuntos de esta agenda. El local de la reunión tiene acceso para personas en silla de ruedas. Para las personas con dificultades auditivas ofrecemos sistemas FM para ayudarlo a escuchar, o intérpretes de lenguaje de señas. También ofrecemos intérpretes de español. Si necesita cualquiera de estos servicios por favor solicítelos con 48 horas de anticipación, llamando al (541) 682-5177. 99 W. 10th Avenue, Suite 116, Eugene, OR 97401 541.682.5177 | ehrcenter@ci.eugene.or.us | www.eugene-or.gov/hrc 2 City of Eugene Human Rights Commission MINUTES Tuesday, September 15, 2015 5:30 – 7:30 PM Meeting Atrium Building, Sloat Room, 99 W. 10th Avenue, Eugene Present: Human Rights Commissioners: Andrew Thomson, Ken Neubeck, Jennifer Frenzer, Edward Goehring, Edward McGlone, Arun Toke, Philip Carrasco, Chris Nunes, Bonnie Souza, Councilor Greg Evans Staff: Michael Kinnison and Jennifer Lleras Van Der Haeghen EPD Liaison: Lt. Jennifer Bills Minutes 1. Agenda/Minutes Review and Approval Agenda approval moved by A. Thomson, seconded by E. Goehring and approved unanimously. Minutes approval moved by E. Goehring, seconded by K. Neubeck and approved unanimously. 2. Public Comment – There were 3 requests for public comment. Mariah Leung - Expressed interest in having a table at International Human Rights Day in December as they were able to in 2010. She has concerns about not having been invited or present at the last event. Asked the HRC to see connection of local and international concerns regarding Human Rights Commission. Urge to work for Human Rights for all people including Pro-Palestine work. See handout. Jack Dresser – Follow up on what Mariah was saying. The reason given for not including us in past events is that this is not a local issue. Said that tax money is going to support Israel from Lane. Thinks the 3 million that is spent could be better spent here. He said that since 9/11 the FBI has been working to destroy the Occupy movement, a movement against neo-liberalism capitalism. All resistance movements now are being classified as terrorism. Majeska Seese-Green – Supported Mariah and asked that International Human Rights day be held at a location big enough for inclusive tabling. Tabling should not be limited to the people directly related to the work of HRC. Also wanted to share information about a non-profit she is starting, A Community Together – ACT. They received their 501c3 status this summer will be moving forward as such. Renewed membership in the USHRN and developing program around human rights in Lane County. ACT is 99 W. 10th Avenue, Suite 116, Eugene, OR 97401 541.682.5177 |ehroffice@ci.eugene.or.us | www.eugene-or.gov/hrc 3 meant to be an organization can bring people together across all spectrums. Human Rights should be treated as a centrist thing because it is the law of the land and planet. 3. Support Request - None received 4. Smoke Free Downtown K. Neubeck provided context to why we were having this discussion: Topic came up last year in the Homelessness Work Group. The most relevant questions for the Work Group became a. Is this a Human Rights Issue? Or b. Is it purely a health issue? The outcome at the Work Group was that one person felt it was only a health issue, 7 others agreed and also asserted that it was a human rights issue as well. It was voted to be brought to the Human Rights Commission. There is currently not policy being proposed just discussions with stakeholders. The questions for the HRC are 1. Is this an Human Rights issue? 2. If yes, what position did the HRC want to take on it? Assistant City Manager Sarah Medary was present to share information. Ray Trata was also present as a consultant. Has a background in tobacco prevention, equity and homelessness issues. • From day one we have been trying to do this process in a different way, which has created new tension. This is because people want to see a draft to respond to and the City is trying to develop a draft with the input of the community. • There is not a draft policy at this time. • Have had several listening sessions, met with people one on one and several stakeholder events. Includes this meeting with HRC and another later this week with the Consumer Council from Shelter Care. All of this outreach will culminate in “Deal Points” to build from. • We’re trying to let the people and process drive the policy. Hope is that by the end of October we will have a draft policy. The soonest this could happen should it even move forward would be January. • Understand that without the right input these types of policies could be used to criminalize people, here to make sure we can have positive interactions. Councilor Evans explained that the reason he proposed this is because of the public health issues. It is the highest cause of death in our country, and costs millions to treat smoking related diseases. This is also a personal issue. He believes that this should not be a punitive approach but rather encourage smoking cessation programs. Part of the motivation is also because people are highly sensitive to second hand smoke and these folks have come to City Council to share their concern. Cigarette butts are another issue. In our environmental scope, rivers have piles and piles of tobacco debris. People are voluntarily cleaning this out of the rivers. There are collateral impacts to the individual, people around them and community in total. • Looking for an approach shaped by the community that looks to assist smokers into cessation programs. Instead of issuing a ticket offer smoking cessation program supported by Lane County and will not cost people anything out of pocket. To have a cleaner, healthier and safer environment. We should use a phased-in process for this. 99 W. 10th Avenue, Suite 116, Eugene, OR 97401 541.682.5177 | ehrcenter@ci.eugene.or.us | www.eugene-or.gov/hrc 4 • Believe that the majority of smokers are housed. Strong public support for the ordinance and strategy to reduce impact of smoking. Not just in downtown but throughout the city. If we’re going to be a progressive community we need to hold public health at the highest levels. E. Goehring Moved to extend time by 10 mins, seconded by E McGlone. Passed unanimously. E. Goehring Personal connection to the issue. Have seen other cities try to do this work. Believes that this will cause dislocation of people who are smoking in downtown. Public health is more important than the business concerns. Do recognize that the unhoused people and others use tobacco to calm down. Encourage a first step be to escort people out of the area instead of ticketing. E. McGlone asks a question: Ken in work group it looks like the concern is about the enforcement. Was there conversation about smoking being a human right? K. Neubeck - smoking is not a human right. E. McGlone wants the focus to be on how enforcement should be developed. Major concern is about inequitable treatment of people under the law. As a former downtown resident I regularly dealt with the impact of smoke. Smoking is not a human right, does the city have an obligation to facilitate smoking, my guess is no. Important from a health perspective, human rights perspective. Support the ban and encourage the most human rights friendly approach to enforcement. J. Frenzer - Appreciate work and concern. I don’t have faith about fair enforcement. Don’t know what tool you’re talking about - policy or ordinance? Until services and housing are provided to the unhoused just don’t see how you can impose policies or ordinances in any way that we can respect their human rights. They have all of these needs unmet, we don’t have the resources to meet them. We have to step up in other ways to provide housing and basic needs, particularly with young people. Let’s address and put services in place before we start taking away and punishing people. C. Nunes – Attended one of the community conversations about this. Raised the question if the Police Department was the right tool for this issue or if Health Service Providers would better serve the need. One thing that was said in a small group was that once you put up a sign 99% of people will respect it. What we’re talking about is 1%. We’re talking about managing to the one percent. Want to be sure we’re aware of that. This would mean there is no police enforcement or rule. K. Nuebeck - We’re still talking about something we haven’t seen a draft of. K Nuebeck moved to table discussion on this and continue to stay engaged in the conversation between meetings. G. Evans seconded. Passed unanimously. 5. Work Plan and Quarterly Meetings Commission Input C. Nunes –Mayor and City Manager quarterly meetings are next week. This is a time to share what our plans are and to find out what they would like us to focus on. We’d like to bring any concerns 99 W. 10th Avenue, Suite 116, Eugene, OR 97401 541.682.5177 | ehrcenter@ci.eugene.or.us | www.eugene-or.gov/hrc 5 that you all have. Do you have feedback on the work plan documents you have or any thoughts regarding the meetings? G. Evans – making sure we’re connecting to the 4j Equity Committee and other groups dealing with specific discrimination issues. Want to add a point to Action 2.3 as Task 4 to connect the 4J Equity Committee and other bodies serving. B. Souza – Suggests that Action 2.1 Task 2 meets that. G. Evans – Concerned it is too generic as written, and wants more specificity for that option. E. Goehring – One thing that might strengthen this is to host an annual Human Rights Summit. Just need to call it and have people help organizing it. Would allow people to come together to discuss Human Rights Issues once a year. G. Evans – One thing I see is that most hate crimes are either racially based or based on gender and perception of sexual orientation. Think that E. Goehring’s idea is great and highly appropriate to add. We need to determine the scope and capacity but would like to build something like this into the work plan. Looking at a one or two day summit might be good. K. Nuebeck – Action 2.3 Task 3 propose an event that promotes Human Rights, this idea could fit under that. E. Goehring – We could help to get some of the smaller non-profits connected with the larger. Would be tremendous to add this. A. Thompson – We need to address the changes to the Homelessness work plan items. E. Goehring moved to approve changes, K. Neubeck seconded. Approved unanimously. J. Frenzer – We work on these plans and develop our ideas to advise the City Council to the best of our ability and I would like to see them respond more. We didn’t get a work session we requested. Last night there was a room overflowing and the City Council didn’t respond. Believe the Council is remiss if they’re not going to be responsive. We’re not getting an opportunity to dialogue. K. Neubeck – Last October we sent a letter asking for work session with no response. When Councilors had a chance to speak last night, not one person said anything. I think it’s disrespectful and alienating. Think Chris and Andrew need to bring that up. G. Evans – Will note that going back to last Spring, Council there were 3 things that came up as priorities. Homelessness was at the top and I I suggested a joint work session between HRC and City Council on issue of homelessness encompassing shelter and. This is still on the table. Talked to City Manager a week ago to schedule this, supposed to be looking to between now and November. We need a longer facilitated conversation than a standard work session allows. If other people can push this idea with other councilors I would like to propose this again. A. Toke – I know the Mayor is interested in something like this. 99 W. 10th Avenue, Suite 116, Eugene, OR 97401 541.682.5177 | ehrcenter@ci.eugene.or.us | www.eugene-or.gov/hrc 6 6. Housing and Community Services Agency of Lane County Jacob Fox – ED of HACSA – We’re wanting to serve more special needs populations like folks coming out of Homelessness and who can supported by Sponsors. Paul Solomon, ED of Sponsors – This project is very special in that provides us an opportunity to provide long term housing for people who have criminal histories. HACSA and St. Vincent De Paul do help to provide this but there is still not enough housing for people. All of our beds are regularly booked 8-12 months in advance. We’re targeting seniors, people with disabilities and veterans for this site. Ela Kubok – We have established a Citizen Advisory Committee, working with Sponsors to find a forum for the neighborhood and community to understand what the project is, ask questions and increase involvement in process. We’re currently contacting elected officials and community members and would like the HRC to have one representative to be part of the committee. E. Goehring. Where is this? Ans – 14th and Oakpatch. It will be 6 buildings that will house staff from Sponsors, Lane County Parole and Probation and have a range of supports for clients on site. G. Evans – Can you speak to the engagement with neighbors to this point? Ans - We submitted an application to the State for low income tax credits awarded in June. Started working with neighborhood late last year. Made design changes with their feedback. Meetings were very well attended and had their questions and concerns addressed. Adapted community process to increase input. Still there were people with questions, that’s why we have advisory committee. C. Nunes – Good program, question is whether we would like as a commission to have an official involvement or if we can be engaged individually? Which would you prefer? Ans - HACSA and Sponsors would prefer a designated person from HRC on the committee. An official involvement requires a vote. K. Neubeck – What were major concerns voiced? Ans – Biggest concerns were about fears people have around people with criminal histories. Based on 43 years of experience doing this, our experience is that when you set up a program issues haven’t come up like this because it’s an accountability related process. Sex Offenders was another big issue. As a group there are often misconceptions about Sex Offenders. The rate of recidivism is very low for this population. Program does enhance public safety. A. Thompson – We need a vote to be involved and if approved determine who. E. McGlone – I am interested in serving on that. Think that I could bring double value with LTD perspective with key transportation areas in that site. A. Thompson moved to appoint E. McGlone to the advisory committee. C. Nunes seconded. Approved Unanimously. 99 W. 10th Avenue, Suite 116, Eugene, OR 97401 541.682.5177 | ehrcenter@ci.eugene.or.us | www.eugene-or.gov/hrc 7 7. International Human Rights Day Planning A. Thompson – C. Nunes and I met to discuss this. Issue we’re wanting to prioritize is Poverty and Homelessness with a panel discussion. Thinking of inviting the city manager and work with 15th Night, have a person there to speak to youth homelessness, LGBTQ population and low income housing as a means to transition out. Would also like to feature Universal Health Care and its connection to homelessness. Would plan to host on December 10th, maybe at the Hult Center. Looking for a gauge of this idea and then we have more time to plan and move forward. K. Nuebeck – appropriate that we have that discussion since the last was cancelled due to snow. Think it’s a good choice. J. Frenzer - I love the Hult Center but like the idea of having this in the library where people can easily access the event. E. McGlone – Since we’re engaging in policy topics, if we could have a policy workshop to engage community that could be helpful. Give a chance for it to be an interactive event. Take responses to Council etc. A. Toke – Thinking perhaps we could have some meaningful entertainment to draw people in. We could have 2-3 programs to engage day time and evening participants. K. Nuebeck – Would like to see people who are homeless participate in planning this and definitely join for the panel/event. E. Goehring – Want to help people learn more about what this commission does. Like idea of music and performance. Could be an art show, music etc. K. Neubeck – There are many people in camps that are very talented who we could feature. B. Souza – As far as what the HRC does we’re hoping to put together a one pager that says what we do and examples of what that looks like in action. We could use this at the event. A. Toke – CALC has the “We are Neighbors” exhibit which we have used. Possible we could use it again. Bring in people of different backgrounds. C. Nunes – I’m hearing support. Please send any updates. Would accept additional help. E. Goehring will support publicity and event production. A. Toke moved to approve, J. Frenzer seconded. Unanimously approved. 8. City Council Update (Councilor Evans) No need for an update 99 W. 10th Avenue, Suite 116, Eugene, OR 97401 541.682.5177 | ehrcenter@ci.eugene.or.us | www.eugene-or.gov/hrc 8 9. Commission Liaison Updates E. Goehring – I emailed you all the salient issues that came up. Mental Health Policy and Crowd Management policy. Mental Health was moved to the Chief, Crowd Management sent back for update. Email me any feedback. Hope to see the Crowd Management policy next month. B. Souza –Attended the CRB meeting. There were no cases that were talked about in depth. One case that will come in was use of Taser on July 16th. Waiting for review of Brian Babb case next week. Stopped recording meetings in the last 6 months. In next meeting the CRB will discuss restarting the recording. If they did start up again would potentially remove the case discussion. Want to know from you all what you think about this. E. Goehring – Linked to personnel laws for the case that was being reviewed. Can see it from the personnel side and as a right to privacy issue since no one has been convicted of anything. Concern from public would likely be who is editing. Lt. Bills – For internal investigations if there is a sustained finding the names have to be redacted. Where this does divert is if there is a case that has very large public interest. I.E. we know who the officer is in the Brian Babb case. When there is a very large public interest the agency is protected in sharing the name. See HRC Meeting Packet with attached update. 10. Work Group Lead Updates B. Souza You have seen the open letter about Mr. Ralston in your packet. Do we want to sign on as the HRC? E Goehring moves to approved C. Nunes seconded. Councilor Evans – I cannot and will not sign the letter. This will not be productive in terms of having the effects we want with attitudes and behaviors in Springfield. I think this emboldens him and his supporters. Saw a man standing in Springfield holding a sign saying “keep Springfield white”. Eugene cannot claim it is the bastion of progressivism. We need to be careful when pointing fingers at other jurisdictions when we don’t have our house in order. Best tactic is not to give him more publicity. Let us be more strategic how we deal with political leaders. B. Souza – Like the content of the letter and agree with points raised by Councilor Evans. A. Toke – Agree with Bonnie, and want to clarify that this was written by a statewide organization. Councilor Evans – there is already a fractured relationship with Springfield. Mayor of Springfield has not been paying very much attention to him. Only 6 people speaking against him and 3 to support. No motion was made and discussion on the letter ended. 99 W. 10th Avenue, Suite 116, Eugene, OR 97401 541.682.5177 | ehrcenter@ci.eugene.or.us | www.eugene-or.gov/hrc 9 A. Thompson – Chris and I also met to talk about Objective one. Basically just talked about our goals for the work group. Will meet with Mayor and City Manager every quarter. Also plan to meet quarterly with the Sustainability Commission and Neighborhood Leaders Council. Are there other commissions you’d like us to meet with? Feel free to email me with additional thoughts. E. McGLone – Maybe the 4J Equity Committee? B. Souza – Main topics discussed at the last meeting included HB 2002, which will be in effect in January. We plan to invite Dave Fidanque to talk to us about this law. Spoke in depth about outreach to communities of color and LGBTQ communities. Discussed documents needed and who we would reach out to. Looked at draft questions and talked about a general timeline in depth and may encompass the full year. Meeting again next Monday to update the list of people to meet with at that time. With a full list will send it out to everyone to look for any suggestions. See notes attached. E. McGlone – Send any additional people you think should be on the list. J. Frenzer – Objective 3 met on 9-8. A lot of regulars from last year attended the meeting. Left the meeting with a number of questions/continued discussion: • Wondering if the city has adopted a commitment to housing first model? Where are they at in that process? • Intimidation code and designation of people who are unhoused. Are they going to be designated as homeless, socioeconomically challenged, etc. • Discussion about the Equity and Human Right Board not being public and how to make it more effective. Phil is currently the board member. 11. Staff Update M. Kinnison - See packet for written updates. There is a MUPTE advisoy committee that includes a member from a human rights organization. Phil applied to represent the HRC on this panel. Councilor Evans movee to support Phil’s apt, A. Toke seconded. Approved unanimously M. Kinnison - HRC annual budget was increased an additional $500, since the youth commission may need some extra support. Lane County Public Health and other partners are conducting a community health assessment. Asked for either agenda time or finding another time to invite you to a focus group. Looking to do this October or November. We will work with them to find another time when some of you can give input into this process. Jen will work out these details with their staff. M. Kinnison – Each work group needs to keep summaries of the meetings and share them with staff. 99 W. 10th Avenue, Suite 116, Eugene, OR 97401 541.682.5177 | ehrcenter@ci.eugene.or.us | www.eugene-or.gov/hrc 10 E. Goehring – Timing of Police Commission meetings makes it impossible to get these in on time. J. Lleras Van Der Haeghen – Maybe you can send them to me for copies for the meeting, they can be included in the next month’s packet and minutes so that they are still public documents. 12. Agenda Planning and Open Discussion G. Evans – Please take time to view African American’s Rites of Passage online or on DVD. Powerful video of youth. A. Thompson – Requested commissioners send him agenda items. 13. Closing/Announcements 99 W. 10th Avenue, Suite 116, Eugene, OR 97401 541.682.5177 | ehrcenter@ci.eugene.or.us | www.eugene-or.gov/hrc 11 Human Rights Commission Budget Fiscal Year 2016 (FY16) DATE REQUESTING GROUP EVENT OR DESCRIPTION SPONSORSHIP OTHER TOTAL TOTAL BALANCE 7/1/15 CHARGES SPENT TD $4,500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $4,500.00 TOTALS $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $4,500.00 011-0730-####-612022 12 SUPPORT REQUEST FORM: EUGENE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION Please review the Guidelines for Community The mission of the Human Rights Commission is Requests for Support before filling out this application. to promote implementation of universal human Any person or organization requesting Human Rights rights values and principles in all City of Eugene Commission funding must complete and sign this programs and throughout the wider community. form. To carry out this mission the commission shall The City of Eugene allocates funds each fiscal year to the affirm, encourage and initiate programs and Human Rights Commission (HRC) to use to support services within the City of Eugene and in the wider community events. The HRC receives numerous requests community designed to place priority upon for support each year and may not be able to fund all due protecting, respecting, and fulfilling the full range to budget limitations. of universal human rights as enumerated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. You or a representative from your agency is strongly encouraged to attend the HRC meeting when your request To support and promote human rights, the is being considered to answer questions. Requests that are commission will: provide human rights education; not submitted in time for the HRC to meet and discuss or be proactive in human rights efforts; address are submitted after the event will not be considered for human rights violations; ensure active public funding or endorsement. participation; be transparent and open, be publicly accountable for human rights progress. Applications must be submitted complete with a full explanation of the funding request. Please note that if funding is approved, the commission requires a follow-up report within 30 days of the event. Recipients may submit a written report or may attend the next commission meeting to present a brief verbal report. Photos are encouraged but not required. Failure to report may result in denial of funding for future events. Date of Funding Request: 10/3/15 11/1/15 Preferred Date Funding Required: _______ Name/Date of Event: Youth Empowerment Symposium (YES!) __________________________________Location of Event: Hilton Eugene Brief description of Event: The Youth Empowerment Symposium (YES!) is a conference geared towardsempowering sexuality for teens and ________________________________________________________________________________________ students ages 14-22. We expect approximately 100 students to attend to take part in dynamic workshops and ________________________________________________________________________________________ experience speakers from "As You Like It" in Eugene about personal boundaries and consent. This is the third ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ annual event, it is free to attend, with breakfast and lunch provided. Workshop topics will include HIV, healthy _______________________________________________________________________________________ relationships, empowering pleasure, Slam Poetry, ROCK Orchestra, and improv theater. Office of Human Rights & Neighborhood Involvement 99 W 10th Ave, Eugene OR 97401 (541)682-5177 / ehrcenter@ci.eugene.or.us 13 Timeline for Application Applications must be received no later than 45 days prior to the event. In extraordinary circumstances the HRC may consider support for events within 45 days. Incomplete applications will not be considered for funding. Organizations and/or individuals submit completed Support Request Form to: Human Rights & Neighborhood Involvement th 99 W 10 Avenue, Suite 116 Eugene, OR 97401 Fax: (541) 682-5221 mailto:hrni@ci.eugene.or.us (Electronic submission should type “HRC funding request” in the subject field) Name of person/organization submitting request for support Network Charter School Address of person/organization submitting request for support 2550 Portland St. Eugene, OR 97405 Primary contact person's name and phone number Elliot Glaser-Flynn, 651-852-2443 Description of organization, names of officers and/or board of directors YES! is an organization under Network Charter School's non-profit, our goal is to end gender and sexual violence through education and action. Denise Velasco, Elliot Glaser-Flynn, Alissa Stoops, Jen-Lin Hogden, Matrisha Armitage Level of Support Requested: Note: Please choose only one funding option: Funding or Co-Sponsorship or Other Amount Endorsement: The commission may endorse specific events whose values it supports but to which it does not contribute money. The commission's name may be used in advertising for these events. This application for endorsement must be submitted to the commission and authorization must be granted prior to use of its name. OR Support: The commission may provide up to $100 for events that meet the guidelines if commissioners are not actively involved. OR Co-Sponsorship: The commission typically provides up to $200 (higher amounts may be considered for specific circumstances) for events in which commissioners will be actively involved. Active involvement means that, at a minimum, the group planning the event works directly with a commissioner who serves as a formal liaison between the group and the commission and reports back to the commission regularly. If possible, a commissioner should participate in the planning process and the commission should have an information table at the event. OR Office of Human Rights & Neighborhood Involvement 99 W 10th Ave, Eugene OR 97401 (541)682-5177 / ehrcenter@ci.eugene.or.us 14 Other Amount Requested: $400 What will these funds be used for specifically? If request exceeds $200, please include detailed information about why request exceeds the standard funding levels: We do our best to assure that YES! is accesibly, it is our foremost goal. Most of the youth who arek in need of the support and resources even simply meals that we offer through our event are unable to pay a registration fee. With the support of the HRC ($400) will provide meals for 13 people to attend the event. We realize this is more than often requested and will be grateful for any support available. It is thanks to organizations like the HRC that we have been successfull offering our free of charge to attend in the past. How is this event related to the commission's own activities and purposes (see Guidelines for Community Requests for Support) and work plan and what clear benefits would be provided to the City organization? The issues discussed at YES! fall perfectly in line with even the name of the HRC. Discussions of health, personal rights, sexuality, abuse, and more all fall under an umbrella of our rights as people. Such discussions are incredibly important with the younger generations. YES! Will be making public and poblishing all sponsors for our event (publicity gratitude to the HRC.) We know that by bringing awareness to these social issues, it improves our community in a number of ways. In addition to publicity the HRC is investing in and happier community. Please provide a detailed budget description for funds requested (attach if necessary) See attached. Please list other co-sponsors or funding sources and amounts received Equity Foundation: 2,000 Oregon Country Fair: 1,500 Is the event wheelchair accessible? Yes No Will sign language interpretation be available? (if requested) Yes No Will other language interpretation be available? (if requested) Yes No Is this strictly a fundraising event? Yes No Is this event open to the general public? Yes No If funding request is approved, in what name should the check be issued and where should it be sent? Name: __________________________________________________________________________ Network Charter School Address: _____________________________________ 2550 Portland St. City:_______________ Eugene, OR Zip:______________ 97405 **Note: If this funding request is approved by the City of Eugene Human Rights Commission, the applicant commits to funding the service or product described in this application and to providing a written or verbal report to the commission within 30 days of completion. Signature of person responsible for event Office of Human Rights & Neighborhood Involvement 99 W 10th Ave, Eugene OR 97401 (541)682-5177 / ehrcenter@ci.eugene.or.us 15 Expense Dollars Description Conference Venue $3,677 (Food and bev incl.) Supplies 200 Total 3877 Food Included Above Meals Snacks and refreshments Volunteers Total 0 Entertainment Venue Included Above To be dispersed by Matrisha 800 Grand Total 4677 16 17 18 19 Oregon families pay. Out-of-state corporations don’t. Let’s change this. Corporate profits are skyrocketing at a time when the majority of Oregon workers’ incomes are declining. IN THE LAST DECADE, CORPORATE PROFITS ROSE 170% AT THE SAME TIME, THE AVERAGE EARNINGS FOR WORKING FAMILIES IN OREGON DROPPED BY MORE THAN $2,000 Sources: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; Analysis based on data from Oregon Department of Revenue Oregonians work hard and pay their fair share, but our kids, seniors and communities don’t have the schools and services they deserve. Why? Because while many large and out-of-state corporations are making millions of dollars here in Oregon, they are paying very low taxes. In fact, we have the lowest corporate taxes in the country, and those record-low taxes mean our schools and services get left behind. We can change this! Oregon needs strong schools and reliable services. And out-of-state corporations need to pay their fair share. 20 Together, we can build a better Oregon. Holding the world’s largest corporations accountable is a big task. That’s why parents, teachers and small businesses are coming together to make sure we get the schools and services our communities need by making out-of-state corporations pay their fair share. A Better Oregon is circulating a petition for a 2016 ballot measure that would fund the things we care about most — education, health care and senior services — by increasing the corporate minimum tax only for corporations whose Oregon sales exceed $25 million each year. Here are four ways you can help: SIGN THE PETITION Find a volunteer or download the petition at www.abetteroregon.org SHOW YOUR SUPPORT Once you’ve signed, get our graphics and change your online profile picture VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME Circulate the petition to your family, friends, and coworkers SPREAD THE WORD Invite a coalition member to speak to your group or host an event in your home /ABetterOregon @ABetterOregon (971) 249-2424 21 www.abetteroregon.org 2015 June – September Human Rights Commission Hate and Bias Report From June to September 2015 a total of 23 crimes and incidents were reported involving the following protected classes: 7 Sexual Orientation 1 Gender Identity (Transgender) 1 Economic Status 11 Race 3 Ethnicity A sample of brief descriptions of activity including quotes from police reports: • A woman was assaulted and called names derogatory to sexual orientation. • Following a car accident, an African American woman was yelled at by a man using slurs against black people, saying that she was using drugs, and then spit on her and said he hoped she went to prison and died for causing the crash. • A disabled gay man was verbally and physically assaulted after parking his car in a disabled parking spot. The suspect did not believe that he was disabled and called him names derogatory to gay men. • A transgender person who is transitioning from male to female reported that a man had been calling them “he/she”. • During an arrest officers were verbally assaulted by profanity laced slurs associated with race and sexual orientation. • A 50-year-old homeless woman reported verbally aggressive and hostile behavior to her and her roommate. Reporting that a man had been looking over the fence to invade her privacy, saying derogatory things to her about her social economic and housing status and became physically threatening. She later reported he hosed down her tent and cut it up. • Words and symbols derogatory to Black and Jewish people and homosexuals were found near the in the center courtyard Hult Center. Office of Human Rights & Neighborhood Involvement | City of Eugene | 99 W 10th Ave | Eugene OR 97401 | (541) 682-5272 22 Human Rights Commission Liaison Update Date: 10/14/2015 Board/Commission: Police Commission Prepared By: Edward Goehring Date of Last Board/Commission meeting: 10/8/2015 What were the main topics discussed in the last meeting? • Body-worn Camera Policy • Crowd Mgmt. Policy • 21st Century Policing - national report ( http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/taskforce/taskforce_finalreport.pdf ) What decisions were made that are relevant to the HRC? • Both policies returned to EPD for further work Are there any issues you need the HRC’s feedback on during the next meeting? If yes, please provide any supporting documents to be included in the packet by the Thursday before the meeting. •Yes. Both policies under PC discussion would benefit from input from HRC. See PC meeting archives for policy drafts ( http://www.eugene-or.gov/index.aspx?NID=1344 ) 23 Human Rights Commission Work Group Updates Date: 10/13 Work Group: Homelessness Prepared by: Jennifer Frenzer Date of last meeting:9/22, 10/6 and 10/13 Summary of last meeting attached? Y/N No summary but, notes were either sent to staff following the meeting or staff took notes. What were the main topics discussed in the last meeting? ● 9/22: Regular Meeting­ Discussion of the Press Release from National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty about the HUD question concerning criminalization and Jen F’s report on Human Services Commission reaction to the announcement including an invitations to meet with Pat Farr (ongoing) and Pearl Wolff (October 14) who is writing the application . PHB co­chair, Dan Bryant will be present along with members of homelessness working group. Two research items­­ has a housing first model been formally adopted by the City of Eugene and how much has been spent moving the OURS camp. ● 10/6 Short working group meeting and public Webinar: This was a special called meeting (just before the Webinar) to spend about 45 minutes discussing a­feedback on the Guest Viewpoint re Criminalization and follow up with community conversations in neighborhoods?, b­ Wayne brought up holding a workshop (on topic of criminalization and/or youth homelessness) and we proposed a date that could be in conjunction with HRDay event either on the 10th or Saturday following (perhaps at new downtown LCC) c­Thrive Townhall Meeting on criminalization is Nov 19. ● 10/13: Regular Meeting: Feedback on the draft EPD flyer re unauthorized emergency shelter camps w/ guest Lt Scott Fellman who said he will 24 recommend to his captain that the flyer isn’t sufficient to publish or distribute. (Compiled Feedback attached) Do you have a proposal for the HRC to consider or any issues you need the HRC’s feedback on during the next meeting? If yes, please provide any supporting documents to be included in the packet by the Thursday before the meeting. ● One idea is to incorporate the Guest Viewpoint on Homelessness by Ken as a starting point for our agenda setting for the work session with City Council? ● We could discuss working with the Poverty and Homeless Board to create a community education brochure that we could also use at the Human Rights Day Event on Homelessness. ● Monica Beemer of WRAP in Portland. They have developed a powerpoint on the Right to Rest Bill/Homeless Bill of Rights that they are now showing, and would like to come down to Eugene and present it. 25 HRC Homelessness Work Group Feedback to EPD Flyer about Unauthorized Camps Bullets from the full text feedback: • The HRC has been actively striving to get the City Council to end criminalization of homelessness in Eugene and will continue to do so. Given HRC's position on criminalization of homelessness, which has been made known to the City Council and the Lane County Poverty and Homelessness Board, I feel it is inappropriate for HRC to advise EPD on a document that could stimulate community complaints about camping to which the EPD may respond with citations and even arrests. This simply continues or could even ratchet up the law enforcement approach to homelessness to which the HRC and so many other civil and human rights bodies object. • Since the Human Rights Commission, and its subcommittees, are charges with ensuring that the City of Eugene is in compliance with Human Rights law, and this flier is designed to facilitate EPD's violations of human rights laws, I fail to understand how the HRC or any of its subcommittees is free to do anything other than to demand that this flyer not be distributed. • EPD is distributing this flyer under the pretense that it is dealing with "{illegal" camping. However, under human rights law, these "illegal" campers are not doing anything illegal, since there are no other places for them to go. • It seems to emphasize a role for community members acting against each other instead helping each other. I feel that isn't a community building spirit and creates more "us and them" tension between the housed and unhoused. • If they insist on doing something, it should mention, as well, ways the neighbors could help the campers stay safe (from predators and the police), it should point out the Eugene municipal code that would allow neighbors to let someone legally camp in their back yard. It should suggest they contact their church and persuade them to allow conestogas. • Seems to place too much focus on the our camp, could also suggest that individual are participating in illegal camping. And better explain what happens once a complaint is made. • This is an opportunity to educate people on the limited shelter options that people have to increase awareness. Some of the text seems dishonest. Like saying that people’s belongings will be stored or that people are always cited. Also many times campers leave the area without a need to clean up, should edit that line to say as needed. • Does Code 4.807 have to be done verbally or can it be done through a sign? • Informing social service agencies about a camp closure does nothing when said agencies have no way to respond. Putting this in the pamphlet with the particular way it is worded has the effect of misleading the public about availability of services. • The only group that resources have actually been dedicated to help are veterans. In what ways will you actually continue to help people find services? Is there an EPD Liaison that homeless individual and groups can go to for help? 26 • I would highly suggest asking the help of the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty in getting in line with the position of the Department of Justice on these issues. Full text feedback: The HRC has been actively striving to get the City Council to end criminalization of homelessness in Eugene and will continue to do so. Criminalization of homelessness has been declared a human rights violation by international bodies, unconstitutional and a violation of the Eighth Amendment by the U.S. Department of Justice, and can reduce our competitiveness for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grants, in addition to which it is expensive, ineffective, does not reduce homelessness, and creates new barriers (police records) that get in the way of the homeless obtaining housing, jobs, etc. Given HRC's position on criminalization of homelessness, which has been made known to the City Council and the Lane County Poverty and Homelessness Board, I feel it is inappropriate for HRC to advise EPD on a document that could stimulate community complaints about camping to which the EPD may respond with citations and even arrests. This simply continues or could even ratchet up the law enforcement approach to homelessness to which the HRC and so many other civil and human rights bodies object. The mandate of the HRC under the City's Human Rights Ordinance is to encourage implementation of the principles and standards of the full range of human rights as enumerated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We would be abdicating this mandate by aiding and abetting the camping ban, whose unavoidable violation by those who are unsheltered leads to penalties considered "cruel and unusual punishment" by the DOJ and other national and international organizations. I greatly appreciate EPD bringing this document to HRC's attention and understand that EPD does not have the authority to end or alter the camping ban. I look forward to exploring ways in which we can cooperate and collaborate more closely with EPD on other human rights issues of common concern. --- EPD is distributing this flyer under the pretense that it is dealing with "{illegal" camping. However, under human rights law, these "illegal" campers are not doing anything illegal, since there are no other places for them to go. In fact, it is my understanding that it is EPD that is doing something illegal, under human rights law, by sending armed offices to intimidate internal economic refugees. And, by asking citizens to assist them in doing so, theya re "normalizing" their activities, part of the system of what Jean refers to as "structural violence." Since the Human right Commission,and its subcommittees, are charges with ensuring that the City of Eugene is in compliance with Human Rights law, and this flier is designed to facilitate EPD's violations of human rights laws, I fail to understand how the HRC or any of its subcommittees is free to do anything other than to demand that this flyer not be distributed. -- 27 My feedback on the flyer is that it does cause me some concern on a few levels. It seems to emphasize a role for community members acting against each other instead helping each other. I feel that isn't a community building spirit and creates more "us and them" tension between the housed and unhoused. This seems like a moment when the police could try an alternative approach like we heard during the webinar today and encourage community support, do outreach about the ordinances that allow one tent camping or car camping site per household, explain about rest stops, explain how churches or busnesses could have six sites etc. They could be spreading the word that more community support is necessary to expand where legal camping can happen because those sites have been successful and not resulted in more epd calls. -- THIS IS A MANHUNT, PURE AND SIMPLE. IT IS ENCOURAGEMENT OF FEAR AND BIGOTRY...."WE CAN'T COME TO YOUR HOUSE FOR A THEFT THAT OCCURRED BUT WE CAN COME DELIVER A NOTICE ABOUT ILLEGAL CAMPERS BECAUSE THEY ARE MORE OF A THREAT". IT ASKS HOMEOWNERS TO BECOME COMPLICIT IN THIS SICKNESS.... THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING BUT THE CITY SOLICITING COMPLAINTS SO THAT THEY CAN ACT MORE QUICKLY TO EVICT CAMPERS. RIGHT NOW, THEORETICALLY BUT SELDOM ADHERED TO (pOLICE pOLICY AD12-001), THE CITY HAS TO HAVE A COMPLAINT IN ORDER TO APPROACH THE CAMPERS. THIS IS AN ALERT TO NEIGHBORS THAT IF THEY WANT TO GET RID OF THE CAMPERS, ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS CALL EPD....ANDN IT ALSO ALERTS THEM TO CAMPERS THEY MIGHT NOT EVEN BE AWARE ARE IN THEIR AREA...OR NOT CARE.. THIS IS, BASICALLY, LIKE CONTACTING PEOPLE BACK IN THE DAY AND TELLING THEM IF THEY SAW A RUNAWAY SLAVE TO CALL THE SLAVE OWNER. THIS SHOULD BE FOUGHT AGGRESSIVELY. iF THEY INSIST ON DOING SOMETHING, IT SHOULD MENTION, AS WELL, WAYS THE NeIGHBORS COULD HELP THE CAMPERS STAY SAFE (FROM PREDATORS AND THE POLICE), iT SHOULD POINT OUT THE EUGENE MUNICIPAL CODE THAT WOULD ALLOW NEIGHBORS TO LET SOMEONE LEGALLY CAMP IN THEIR BACK YARD. IT SHOULD SUGGEST THEY CONTACT THEIR CHURCH AND PERSUADE THEM TO ALLOW CONESTOGAS. it SHOULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT THE FINE IS $200 TO $500 PER PERSON FOR JUST CAMPING...AND $500 AND 30 DAYS IN JAIL FOR CRIMINAL TTRESPASS 2. .AND . iT SHOULD POINT OUT THAT EUGENE DOES NOT PROVIDE SHELTERS AS OTHER COMMUNITIES DO. IT SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO SAY THAT EUGENE IS A ACTIVELY SEEKING PLACES FOR HOMELESS AS IT DOES BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT. -- No services that meet the needs of most homeless campers are available due to lack of funding. Informing social service agencies about a camp closure does nothing when said agencies have 28 no way to respond. Putting this in the pamphlet with the particular way it is worded has the effect of misleading the public about availability of services. What services are people being connected with? The only group that resources have actually been dedicated to help are veterans. In what ways will you actually continue to help people find services? Is there an EPD Liaison that homeless individual and groups can go to for help finding services? This is also worded in such a way as to deceive the public about what the police are able to do. The entire flyer and EPD’s approach to dealing with unauthorized camping are extremely problematic in terms of criminalization of acts of survival. I would highly suggest asking the help of the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty in getting in line with the position of the Department of Justice on these issues. __ My overall impression is that this is a solicitation by EPD for residents to report homeless camps so they can be disbanded. It does nothing to solve, or ameliorate, the problem of homelessness. It is inappropriate for the police department to insinuate that there is housing available and that people somehow proceed to establish homeless camps just to be ornery. There is not only a lack of housing, there is lack of shelter and so the homeless try to create shelter and community wherever they can. The fact is that the majority of homeless in Eugene have no place else to go when they are forced to move on by the EPD except to another "illegal" campsite where they will be rousted again. Applying ordinances 4.807 and 4.815 to the homeless is a way of criminalizing the very existence of the unhoused. EPD should also clearly state the time of the average jail term and the amount demanded by these ordinances when they result in a citation. Perhaps they should also mention that these ordinances result in police records (jail term, inability to pay citations). The consequences of these ordinances is that the already traumatized unhoused individual now has a criminal record which makes it impossible for him/her to get either housing or a job. Calling on residents to spy on individuals staying in camps and report them is inviting neighbors to spy on neighbors, a favorite device by totalitarian states. Instead, EPD could call on neighbors to help their neighbors without addresses by demanding that the city provide housing first options, and while that is being put in place, end the camping ban for the unhoused and generally decriminalize poverty and homelessness. > 29 30 City of Eugene Human Rights Commission c/o Human Rights and Neighborhood Involvement Office 99 W. 10th Street, Suite 116 Eugene, Oregon 97401 Phone: 541-682-5177 Email: hrni@ci.eugene.or.us Mission Statement The mission of the Human Rights Commission (HRC) is to promote implementation of human rights values and principles in all City of Eugene programs and throughout the wider community. To carry out this mission the Commission shall affirm, encourage and initiate programs and services within the City of Eugene’s government and the wider community designed to place priority upon respecting, protecting, and fulfilling the full range of universal human rights as enumerated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. To support and promote human rights, the Commission will: a) Provide human rights education b) Be proactive in human rights efforts c) Address human rights violations d) Help ensure active public participation e) Be transparent and open f) Be publicly accountable for human rights progress SOME EXAMPLES OF WORK THE EUGENE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION HAS DONE • Bringing a human rights lens to City operations Examples: The Commission successfully pressed for creation of a community-based oversight committee, including a human rights representative, on building projects proposed by developers seeking tax incentives under the City’s Multi-Use Property Tax Exemption (MUPTE). Internal to the City, the Commission has been working with City staff on carrying out their Diversity and Equity Strategic Plan, which includes implementation of human rights values and principles in all City departments. A Commissioner serves on the staff’s Equity and Human Rights Board which oversees the Plan. Commissioners also serve as liaisons from the HRC to other City boards, committees or commissions, including the Police Commission and Civilian Review Board. 1 31 • Advising the Mayor, City Council, and City Manager The Commission: sought and received Council endorsement of the Integration Network for Immigrants of Lane County Statement of Principles that welcomes immigrants to our community; has advised Council on the need to address the criminalization of homelessness in Eugene; and received the Council’s unanimous approval for revising the City’s Human Rights Ordinance to include the full range of human rights in response to findings from a 2011 Human Rights Listening project involving wide community participation. • Outreach to and collaboration with community groups Commission members have established relationships with such community groups as: Eugene/Springfield NAACP, Integration Network for Immigrants of Lane County, Springfield/Eugene Showing Up for Racial Justice, Beyond Toxics, Juventud FACETA, the PRIDE Festival, Lane County Fair Shot, Eugene Winnemem Support Group and many others. • Bringing human rights education to the community The Human Rights Commission stages a variety of public events, often in collaboration with other social justice groups in the community. For example, the Commission partnered with the Community Alliance of Lane County (CALC) on a forum called “Voices of the Homeless,” with CALC and the First Congregational Church on “Human Rights and the Crisis of Youth Homelessness,” and with LGBTQ groups on the annual “Transgender Remembrance Day.” • Annual Celebrations of International Human Rights Day Each December, the Commission hosts a public celebration of the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that focuses upon human rights issues in Eugene. Themes vary and have included “Intersections of Racism and Rights” and “Immigrant Rights Are Human Rights!” 2 32 THE CITY OF EUGENE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION IS: IS NOT: An advisory body on human rights A human rights enforcement agency Made up of community volunteers and a Made up of City employees or paid liaison member of the City Council Commission members Appointed by City Council, which reviews Elected applications to fill Commission openings A group that seeks to amplify the voice of A group that only listens or answers to City of those who are being or have been Eugene elected officials and staff and/or marginalized or excluded in Eugene powerful and influential people and businesses Concerned with the full range of human rights A group with the capacity to be sufficiently and the elimination of human rights violations informed about and take positions on human in Eugene rights violations in other nations Interested in learning from and working with all A group whose focus is single issue segments of the community who experience human rights violations Guided by an annual work plan created by Able to take on all emergent human rights Commission members with the help of the issues, mainly because of limitations in Human Rights and Neighborhood Involvement capacity Office staff Required by City ordinance to submit its Subject to interference by the City Council in annual work plan to the City Council for its work approval Mandated to follow state public meetings law Permitted to meet or conduct its business requiring public notice of HRC and HRC work outside of the public eye (in the interest of group meetings and keeping notes on transparency and public participation in attendees, topics discussed and decisions or providing input to the Commission) recommendations made 33

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