Human Rights Commission Meeting

CITY OF NORMAN, OK HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MEETING Municipal Building, Executive Conference Room 201 West Gray St., Norman, OK 73069 Monday, September 26, 2022 at 5:30 PM MINUTES The Human Rights Commission of the City of Norman, Cleveland County, State of Oklahoma, met in the Municipal Complex located at 201 West Gray St. on September 26, 2022, 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 Commission Vice-Chair Ellen Kraft Commissioner Jackie Farley Commissioner Chris Nanny Commissioner Dr. Binbin Weng Commissioner Aisha Ali Commissioner Christopher Tallbear Commissioner Michael Ridgeway ABSENT Commissioner Samuel Woodfork Commissioner Michael Kihega STAFF PRESENT Cinthya Allen, Chief Diversity and Equity Officer Anthony Purinton, Assistant City Attorney Sarah Encinias, Legal Admin Tech ROLL CALL A quorum was present. MINUTES 1. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR THE JULY 25, 2022, REGULAR MEETING Motion was made to approve the Minutes for the July 25, 2022, regular meeting. A vote was taken with the following results: Commissioners Kraft, Farley, Nanny, Dr. Weng approved; Commissioners Tallbear and Ridgeway abstained. The motion to approve failed due to lack of majority (5) vote. Commissioner Ali arrived after this action therefore she was unable to participate in the vote. ACTION ITEMS 2. INTRODUCTION OF NEW MEMBERS CHRISTOPHER TALLBEAR AND MICHAEL RIDGEWAY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MEETING - Monday, September 26, 2022 Page |1  New HRC members, Christopher Tallbear and Michael Ridgeway, briefly introduced themselves to meeting attendees. 3. ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR Membership terms have ended for Commissioners Owen and Kraft, which also leaves their positions of Chair and Vice-Chair vacant. After group discussion, motion was made to approve Commissioner Farley as Chair and Commissioner Ali as Vice-Chair. A vote was taken with the following results: all approved and none opposed. The Motion was approved by unanimous vote. 4. DISCUSSION OF APPRECIATION TO PREVIOUS CHAIR, MS. CHRISTINA OWEN Chair Farley said former Commissioner and Chair, Christina Owen, was unable to attend today’s meeting for this agenda item. She did receive a letter from the City Clerk thanking her for her service on the Commission. Members decided to sign a Thank You card to express their appreciation of Ms. Owen’s service. 5. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD Cinthya Allen reviewed historical practices when it is time to collect nominations for the Human Rights Award (in celebration of Human Rights Day on December 10 of every year). Nominations are submitted by the public and it is suggested that a press release occur after today’s HRC meeting so nominations can be gathered in time for the next HRC meeting in October. Last year, the press release was posted in social media outlets as well as the City website. Also, a form was created to allow ease for those wishing to submit a nomination. The combination of these changes seemed to help produce the noticeable increase in nominations received for last year’s award. Commissioner Ali recommended creating an evaluation form (ie. rubric) that could be used when judging nominations. Ms. Allen asked members to think about rubric requirements for the next meeting when nominations are considered for a vote. Dr. Weng suggested making a database that allows easy access to points of contact when trying to get as much publicity as possible. Commissioner Nanny suggested leaving physical notices in public buildings and Commissioner Ali volunteered to do this. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m. HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MEETING - Monday, September 26, 2022 Page |2