Oklahoma City Human Right Commission

The City of OKLAHOMA CITY AGENDA By The City of Oklahoma City Office of the City Clerk at 4:27 pm, Sep 17, 2024 Oklahoma City Human Rights Commission 12:00pm September 25, 2024 Commissioners: Dean Valerie Couch ..................................... Chair Ralph Crawford ........................................... Ward 1 Cindy Nguyen................................................ Ward 2 Councilwoman Barbara Peck ..................... Ward 3 Dr. Leslie Shaw VanBuskirk ....................... Ward 4 Brian Wall .................................................... Ward 5 Ana ‘Deisy’ Escalera ................................... Ward 6 Dr. Marsha Dempsey Herron ...................... Ward 7 Rhonda Hooper............................................. Ward 8 Emma Winiski, HRC Compliance Officer Rita Douglas-Talley, Assistant Municipal Counselor Jonathan Garcia, Assistant Municipal Counselor Shalynne Jackson, Chief Equity Officer Capitol Hill Library 327 SW 27th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73109  INFORMATION ABOUT OKLAHOMA CITY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MEETINGS COMMUNICATION ACCOMMODATIONS It is the policy of the City to ensure that communications with participants and members of the public with disabilities are as effective as communications with others. Anyone with a disability who requires an accommodation, a modification of policies or procedures, or an auxiliary aid or service in order to participate in a meeting of the Oklahoma City Human Rights Commission (HRC) should contact the ADA department coordinator at (405) 297-2345 as soon as possible but not later than 48 hours (not including weekends or holidays) before the scheduled meeting. The department will give primary consideration to the choice of auxiliary aid or service requested by the individual with disability. If you need an alternative format of the agenda or any information provided at the meeting, please contact the ADA department coordinator listed above 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting. OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION Members of the public are welcome to attend and observe the meetings of the HRC. All regular and special meetings of the HRC are conducted in accordance with the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act. If any members of the public wish to address the Commission on HRC-related matters, they must fill out a “Request to be Heard” form located outside the meeting room and return the form to designated City Staff before the meeting begins. During the section of the Agenda designated for Remarks from the Public, the Chair will recognize any member of the public who has filled out a Request to be Heard. EACH MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC RECOGNIZED BY THE CHAIR SHOULD LIMIT REMARKS TO 3-5 MINUTES. Remarks from the public must be relevant to HRC functions and authority and must be delivered in a manner that avoids disorderly, disruptive or disrespectful behavior. Disorderly, disruptive or disrespectful behavior includes: conduct that is violent, threatening, abusive, obscene, or jeopardizes the safety of persons in the meeting, speaking without being recognized by the Chair, continuing to speak after notice that the speaker’s allotted time has expired, engaging in any conduct or speech that delays the proceedings, and the presentation of remarks or material not relevant to the functions and purposes of the HRC. Any violation of these rules may result in arrest and removal from the meeting for violation of municipal and state laws relating to the conduct of public meetings. OFFICIAL ACTIONS OF THE COMMISSION The Commission can take official action only on Items which are designated on the Agenda for Discussion and Action. The HRC may adopt, approve, deny, defer, recommend, amend, strike, or continue any Agenda item. When more information is needed to act on an item, the HRC may refer the matter to the HRC Compliance Officer or the designated Municipal Counselor. The HRC may also refer items to Standing Committees of the HRC for additional study. Under certain circumstances, items may be deferred to a specific later date or stricken from the Agenda entirely. In particular, the Commission will not entertain remarks from a member of the public when the remarks pertain to an individual’s complaint of discrimination in housing, public accommodations or employment that has been or will be submitted to the Compliance Officer of the HRC. Those matters will be addressed by the Compliance Officer in accordance with the HRC Ordinance. For more information about the Oklahoma City Human Rights Commission, email HRC@okc.gov or call (405) 297-2345. 2  AGENDA OKLAHOMA CITY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (HRC) September 25, 2024 12:00 pm Capitol Hill Library 327 SW 27th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73109 1. Call to Order and Welcome –Chair Valerie Couch 2. Human Rights in Housing: Examining Local Opportunities for Advocacy and Action a. Presentations and discussion with Jenna Pilcher (Oklahoma City University School of Law, Housing Eviction Legal Assistance Program (HELP)), Gregory Beben (Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Inc.), and Lisa Chronister (Assistant Director of the Oklahoma City Planning Department) ***10-minute break*** 3. Items for Discussion/Action a. Approval of Minutes from the HRC Meeting held on July 24, 2024 4. Compliance Officer’s Report – Emma Winiski 5. Committee Reports/Updates 6. HRC Chair’s Report – Valerie Couch 7. Remarks and Announcements a. Members of the Public b. Members of the Commission c. Members of the City Staff 8. Adjournment 3