Human Rights Commission Meeting

NORMAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MINUTES October 23, 2017 The Human Rights Commission of the City of Norman, Cleveland County, State of Oklahoma, met in the Municipal Complex located at 201 West Gray Street on October 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 Kay Ham, Jackie Farley, and Marjaneh Seirafi-Pour ABSENT: Commissioners Mary Lou Drywater, Harry Wright, Kirsten Edwards, Mary Womack, Dan Dukes STAFF PRESENT: Kristina Bell, Assistant City Attorney Sarah Encinias, Legal Admin Tech ***** There was no quorum present at this meeting, so no official action was taken by the Commission. Item 2, being: APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE JULY 24, 2017, HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MEETING Because no quorum was present, this item was tabled to the next meeting. Item 3, being: APPROVAL OF 2018 HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MEETING DATES Because no quorum was present, this item was tabled to the next meeting. Item 4, being: PRESENTATION FROM COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE REGARDING DEBARR AVENUE CONCERNS AND STAFF STATUS UPDATE ON CITY COUNCIL STREET RENAMING POLICY PROCESS A quorum of the Commission was not present, so no official action by the Commission was taken. Several citizens addressed the Commissioners who were present about their concerns with the name of DeBarr Avenue and their efforts to get the name changed. Deon Osborne spoke about these concerns on behalf of Norman Citizens for Racial Justice. Councilmember Breea Clark also shared an update on her efforts to change the street name. Mayor Lynne Miller provided a status Norman Human Rights Commission October 23, 2017 Page 2 update on the procedural aspects of City Council’s efforts to review the street renaming policy and consider the request to change this street name. Item 5, being: DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON 2018 INTERFAITH BREAKFAST Chair Ham advised that Reverend Robin Meyers from the Mayflower Congregational Church in Oklahoma City is not available to speak. She has asked University of Oklahoma President David Boren but has not received a response yet. Commissioner Farley suggested Assistant Reverend Lori Walke from Mayflower as another possibility. Chair Ham also mentioned Jabar Shumate, Vice President for the University Community at the University of Oklahoma, as another option. Item 6, being: MISCELLANEOUS DISCUSSION Assistant City Attorney Kristina Bell advised that the Commission would need to have a Special Meeting in November to select a Human Rights Award recipient and to approve the July, 2017, Minutes and the 2018 meeting dates. Legal Admin Tech Sarah Encinias advised that the Special Meeting on Wednesday, November 15, 2017, at 5:30 p.m. would be held in the Multi-Purpose Room since the Study Session room is already booked that evening. Ms. Bell introduced Christina Hubbard, the Community Scholars Fellow from the University of Oklahoma, who is interested in law school and civil rights issues and has been assisting Ms. Bell with research for the commission. Item 7, being: Meeting adjourned at 6:37 p.m.