Human Rights Commission Meeting

CITY OF NORMAN, OK HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MEETING Municipal Building, Executive Conference Room 201 West Gray, Norman, OK 73069 Monday, March 24, 2025 at 5:30 PM MINUTES The Human Rights Commission of the City of Norman, Cleveland County, State of Oklahoma, met in Regular Session in the Executive Conference Room at the Municipal Building, on Monday, March 24, 2025 at 5:30 PM and notice of the agenda of the meeting was posted at the Norman Municipal Building at 201 West Gray, and on the City website at least 24 hours prior to the beginning of the meeting. PRESENT Commission Chair Aisha Ali Commission Vice-Chair Michael Ridgeway ABSENT Commissioner Jackie Farley STAFF PRESENT Grace Holloman, Accessibility Strategist Jeanne Snider, Assistant City Attorney Sarah Encinias, Legal Admin Tech ROLL CALL A quorum was present. Chair Ali called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m. MINUTES 1. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR THE FEBRUARY 24, 2025, REGULAR MEETING Motion was made by Vice-Chair Ridgeway to approve the Minutes for the February 24, 2025, regular meeting and motion was duly seconded by Chair Ali. A vote was taken with the following results: all approved and none opposed. The Minutes were approved by unanimous vote. ACTION ITEMS 2. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON PROCLAMATIONS / RECOGNITIONS Chair Ali was unable to make a print copy of her suggestions so she will send an email copy to Ms. Holloman. She and Vice-Chair Ridgeway are trying to obtain a meeting with Mayor-elect Holman so they can speak to him about this topic as well. Chair Ali said the most recent suggestions for proclamations were approved and she was contacting recipients to accept them. HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MEETING - Monday, March 24, 2025 Page |1  Chair Ali and Vice-Chair Ridgeway jointly recommended a proclamation for Mental Health Awareness Month in April. They also recommended a proclamation for World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development in May. Ms. Holloman said she would submit the request. 3. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING CHANGES TO HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD CRITERIA Vice-Chair Ali requested to expound on the requirement or non-requirement that a nominee be a resident of Norman. Chair Ali wanted to clarify that the nominee had to have provided impactful work in Norman specifically. Also, Chair Ali wanted to set a date certain for the press release announcing the opening of nominations. She said if the press release was done September 1st, it would give the HRC two (2) months to thoroughly review nominations and to vote on them. Additionally, she would also like the criteria to be permanently posted on the City’s HRC webpage. Vice-Chair Ridgeway sent suggested criteria edits to City staff by email. Staff will then incorporate the edits into the original document and submit them to HRC commissioners for possible final approval at their next meeting. Staff will also double check the form- fill application to be sure it works properly when released to the public. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Ali said the 2024 Human Rights Award winner will be on Council’s agenda for presentation in July. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:29 p.m. HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MEETING - Monday, March 24, 2025 Page |2