Human Rights Commission Meeting

NORMAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MINUTES January 23, 2017 The Human Rights Commission of the City of Norman, Cleveland County, State of Oklahoma, met in the Municipal Complex located at 201 W. Gray Street on January 23, 2017, at 5:30 p.m., and notice and agenda of the meeting were duly posted 24 hours prior to the beginning of the meeting. PRESENT: Commissioners Mary Lou Drywater, Daniel Dukes, Kirsten T. Edwards, Jackie Farley, Kay Ham, Lucy Mahaffey, Mary Womack, and Harry Wright ABSENT: Marjaneh Seirafi-Pour STAFF PRESENT: Mayor Lynne Miller, Officer Ali Jaffrey, Kristina Bell, Sarah Encinias ***** Item 2, being: APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 24, 2016, NORMAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MEETING. The Chair moved that the minutes of the October 24, 2016, Human Rights Commission meeting be approved, which motion was duly seconded by Commissioner Farley. A vote was taken with the following result: YEAS: Commissioners Drywater, Dukes, Edwards, Farley, Ham, Mahaffey, Womack and Wright NAYES: None The Chair declared the motion carried; and the minutes of the October 24, 2016, meeting were approved. ***** Item 3, being: INTRODUCTION OF AND COMMENTS FROM POLICE CHIEF REGARDING LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. The Chair introduced Police Chief, Keith Humphrey, who discussed the Norman Police Department’s plan for continued and enhanced community involvement. The department will enhance their ability to address public complaints and/or issues along with increasing their approachability by the public. Chief Humphrey also addressed the implementation of a public database that will be accessible through the Norman Police Department’s website. It will help improve transparency and include information about benchmark surveys, demographics and various other issues. Such a website will be a first for Oklahoma police departments and among only a few nationwide. They will also create a community action team which will allow officers to attend meetings in order to keep the department informed of community concerns and questions. Sarah Jenson continues to serve as the main contact for the department. She will Norman Human Rights Commission January 23, 2017 Page 2 receive inquiries in an observation capacity at this time. Chief Humphrey exited at this time. ***** Item 4, being: DISCUSSION OF AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON XENIA INSTITUTE COMMUNITY DIALOGUE REGARDING IMPROVING COMMUNITY AND POLICE RELATIONSHIPS. The Chair discussed how the Xenia Institute will begin work on reinforcing community dialog with the police department and the community, and a request was made for volunteer facilitators to encourage dialog at meetings. The next meeting is scheduled for March 27, 2017, with the time and place to be announced. Commissioner Harry Wright volunteers. The Chair moves for HRC to serve as cosponsors. Farley seconds the motion. A vote was taken with the following result: YEAS: Commissioners Drywater, Dukes, Edwards, Farley, Ham, Mahaffey, Womack and Wright NAYES: None The Chair declared the motion carried; and the HRC will serve as a cosponsor to the Xenia Institute. ***** Item 5, being: PRESENTIATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S DAY. Commissioner Mary Drywater nominated Rev. Dr. Justine Smith to speak to the Committee. Rev. Dr. Smith proposed a Resolution for the second Monday in October of every year be declared as Indigenous People’s Day. Mayor Miller advised that the proposed Resolution must be presented to the City Council in order to be approved and that after approval, the current federal holiday of Columbus Day would not change but that the day would also be recognized as Indigenous People’s Day. Members of the public spoke in support of the measure. The Chair requested Commissioners Farley and Mahaffey to research the procedure in order to submit the Resolution for approval and both Commissioners accepted. ***** Item 6, being: DISCUSSION OF INTERFAITH BREAKFAST The Chair took questions and comments related to the January 2017 Interfaith Breakfast event and discussed whether this year’s Breakfast would be determined as the 9th or 10th annual event. Commissioner Daniel Dukes proposed that this year’s event be memorialized as the 9th Annual Interfaith Breakfast. The Chair also discussed the attendance of approximately 230 people, which sustained the steady increase from previous years. Commissioner Farley inquired as to the process of enlisting Norman Human Rights Commission January 23, 2017 Page 3 speakers for next year’s event. Mayor Miller stated that the speakers are to be discussed and approved by the Commission. ***** Item 7, being: DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON FUTURE PROCLAMATIONS. The Chair inquired as to the progress of the Women’s History Month Proclamation for March. This Proclamation is to be addressed at the City Council meeting scheduled for February 28, 2017. Committee discussion also addressed the 89’er day Parade and the opposition against it. The final decision for this event will to be determined at a later date. ***** Item 8, being: MISCELLANEOUS DISCUSSION. The Chair announced the next Human Right’s Commission meeting scheduled for April 24, 2017, and that nominations for Women’s History Month be submitted for review. The Chair also reminded the Commission of Mental Health Awareness Month scheduled for observation in May and that the Proclamation for this event must be submitted at least one month prior for review and approval by the City Council. The Committee then discussed and proposed various mental health groups to receive the Proclamation. The Chair moved to recognize May as Mental Health Awareness Month. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Harry Wright and a vote was taken with the following results: YEAS: Commissioners Drywater, Dukes, Edwards, Farley, Ham, Mahaffey, Womack and Wright NAYES: None The Chair declared the motion carried. ***** Item 9, being: ADJOURNMENT. At this time, the Chair moved that the meeting be adjourned, which motion was duly seconded by the Commissioners. A vote was taken and the meeting was adjourned at 6:36 p.m.