Human Relation Commission Meeting
Regular MeetingUrbana, IL · April 14, 2021
Minutes
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING APPROVED
_____________________________________________________________________________________
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
DATE: Wednesday, April 14, 2021
TIME: 5:30 p.m.
PLACE: Urbana City Council Chambers
Urbana City Building
400 South Vine Street
Urbana, Illinois 61801
*Virtually Via Zoom
_____________________________________________________________________________________
MEMBERS PRESENT: Stacie Burnett, Megan McKissack, Peter Resnick, Frances Rigberg, JulieRobinson
Schaeffer.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Rev. Florence Caplow
LATE ARRIVAL: Carol Bradford
1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL, AND DECLARATION OF QUORUM
Chair Frances Rigberg called this meeting of the Urbana Human Relations Commission to order at
5:30 p.m. Roll was taken. A quorum was present.
2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Chair Frances Rigberg called for a motion to approve the agenda. Peter Resnick moved to approve
the agenda. Megan McKissack seconded the motion. The motion was approved by a roll call vote.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. March 10, 2021
b. March 18, 2021
Megan McKissack made a motion to approve the minutes from the March 10, 2021 regular
meeting and the March 18, 2021 special meeting. Julie Robinson Schaeffer seconded the
motion. The motion was approved by a roll call vote.
4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
• Christopher Hansen shared his opinions about the posture of the Board and how they
interface with the public.
• Rev. Doctor Evelyn Burnett Underwood shared her agreement with comments that Francis
Rigberg made at the City Council meeting this week and emphasized the importance of
listening and paying attention and standing up for what is right.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Review of HRC By-Laws
Julie Robinson Schaeffer made a motion to approve the by-laws as presented. Peter Resnick
seconded the motion.
Peter Resnick asked if the new title for the Officer (Human Rights and Equity Officer) had
been changed in the ordinance yet. He suggested a friendly amendment to making a global
change in the document to reflect that change from Human Relations Officer.
Julie Robinson Schaeffer suggested removing widow headers.
The motion was approved by a roll call vote.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Housing Discrimination Regarding Prior Conviction
Peter Resnick introduced the topic of landlords and housing discrimination regarding prior
conviction. Mr. Resnick presented evidence on how this is unlawful according to the City
ordinance. His presentation is attached to the end of these meeting minutes. Mr. Resnick
provided a draft letter that he suggested sending to landlords that the Commission knows
have violated this ordinance. He also suggested eventually sending out a letter to all
landlords in the City informing them of the ordinance and explaining why this discrimination
is unlawful in the City of Urbana.
Peter Resnick made a motion that Commission members or staff or a combination thereof
do a review of the list that was sent to get a list of landlords that are advertising or indicating
on their application that an arrest or conviction record as a criteria and send a letter as has
been submitted to those landlords. Julie Robinson Schaeffer seconded the motion.
Stacie Burnett suggested hosting a workshop or seminar to address questions landlords may
have. Mr. Resnick said that will likely be necessary whenever the Commission sends the
more general letter to all landlords. However, for this first letter targeting a specific issue and
a specific number of landlords it likely isn’t necessary.
Carol Burnett spoke about how happy she is to see this issue come up and that the
Commission is moving forward on it.
Julie Robinson Schaeffer suggested putting a reference in the letter to the City code so
landlords can easily find the resource.
The motion was approved by a roll call vote.
b. EEO Workforce Statistics
• Bailey Edward Design
• Electronic Data Collection
• Foth Infrastructure & Environment
• Fuhrmann Engineering
• GHR Enginneers and Associates
• GROWMARK
• Lochmueller Group
• The Roderick Group
The EEO Workforce Statistics applications were reviewed. Stacie Barnett made a motion to
approve the applications. Megan McKissack seconded the motion. Carol Bradford made a
friendly amendment to the motion to approve the following:
• Bailey Edward Design – 2 years
• The Roderick Group – 2 years
• Electronic Data Collection – 1 year
• Foth Infrastructure & Environment – 1 year
2
• Fuhrmann Engineering – 1 year
• GHR Enginneers and Associates – 1 year
• GROWMARK – 1 year
• Lochmueller Group – 1 year
The motion was approved by a roll call vote.
c. Staff Report
Elizabeth Hannan gave an update on the timeline for hiring a new Human Rights and Equity
Officer. Ms. Hannan also reviewed contacts received regarding discrimination issues
7. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Peter Resnick announced that next week the U of I YWCA is doing a series of presentations
called Racism is a Public Health Crisis as a part of their Stand against Racism program. More
information can be found at YWCAUofI.org.
Carol Bradford asked if Lemond Peppers, the City of Urbana’s new Community
Engagement Coordinator had been invited to attend an HRC meeting to share his goals and
plans for the future. Chair Frances Rigberg said that he had attended a meeting, but agreed
that more appearances would be a good idea.
8. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Commission, Frances Rigberg declared
the meeting to be adjourned at 6:27 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Tamra Jane Corbin
Recording Secretary
3
Agenda
URBANA HUMAN RELATIONS
COMMISSION
DATE: Wednesday, April 14, 2021
TIME: 5:30 pm
PLACE: *to be held virtually via Zoom, 400 S. Vine St., Urbana, IL 61801
AGENDA
1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL, AND DECLARATION OF QUORUM
2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. March 10, 2021 Regular Meeting
b. March 18, 2021 Special Meeting
4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Review of HRC By-Laws
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Housing Discrimination Regarding Prior Conviction
b. EEO Workforce Statistics
c. Staff Report – Elizabeth Hannan
8. ANNOUNCEMENTS
9. ADJOURNMENT
*Due to the Governor and Mayoral Emergency Orders, the Urbana City Council Chambers will be not be
open to the public during this meeting. For those wishing to provide public input, please follow the
instructions below on how to provide public input. Anyone can watch the meeting on streaming services,
UPTV, or attend virtually via Zoom webinar. Additional instructions are attached.
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: Apr 14, 2021 05:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Human Relations Commission
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83211956168
Or One tap mobile :
US: +13126266799,,83211956168# or +13017158592,,83211956168#
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 312 626 6799 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900
6833 or +1 253 215 8782
Webinar ID: 832 1195 6168
International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kUnvKE27z
Persons with disabilities needing special services or accommodations for this meeting should contact the City
of Urbana's Americans with Disabilities Coordinator at 384-2466.
Public Input and Viewing for Urbana City Council, Committee of the Whole, and some Boards and
Commissions
Anyone can watch the meeting on streaming services or UPTV. You can attend virtually via Zoom if you
wish to provide public input during the meeting. If you attend the meeting via Zoom, please turn off any
sound from other sources such as UPTV, as there will be a lag in the audio. The meeting will be recorded by
the City as part of the record. The recorded video will be available on the City’s website. The Zoom webinar
information is listed on the agenda.
PUBLIC INPUT GUIDELINES
The City of Urbana welcomes Public Input during open meetings of the City Council, the City Council’s
Committee of the Whole, City Boards and Commissions and other City-sponsored meetings. Our goal is to
foster respect for the meeting process, and respect for all people participating as members of the public body,
city staff, and general public. The City is required to conduct all business during public meetings. The
presiding officer is responsible for conducting those meetings in an orderly and efficient manner.
Public Input will be taken in the following ways:
Zoom Webinar Participant
Click on the link listed in the agenda to join the Webinar. You must provide your name and email address in
order to join the Webinar. If you wish to speak during Public Input, “raise your hand” and wait to be called
on by the meeting host. You must state your first and last name for the meeting record. Participants will be
muted except when they are called on to speak; video will remain off for all members of the public when
speaking.
Telephone Participant
Call the phone number listed on the Agenda. Enter the Webinar ID followed by the # key. All callers are
muted by default. If you wish to speak, “raise your hand” by pressing *9 once. When you are called on by the
host or presiding officer you will be un-muted. You must state your first name and last name for the meeting
record.
Email Input
You may email public input between 8 am and 4 pm on the day of the meeting to HRO@urbanaillinois.us.
Please put “PUBLIC INPUT” and the meeting date in the subject line.
Written Input
Any member of the public may submit their comments addressed to the members of the public body in
writing. If a person wishes their written comments to be included in the record of Public Input for the
meeting, the writing should so state. Written comments must be received prior to the closing of the meeting
record (at the time of adjournment unless otherwise noted).
Verbal Input
Protocol for Public Input is one of respect for the process, and respect for others. Ridicule, obscene or
profane language, lack of respect for others, and personal attacks are not acceptable behavior. Public Input
shall not be used to air personal grievances. Speakers should address all comments to the public body as a
whole and not to individual members or City staff.
Public comment shall be limited to no more than four (4) minutes per person. The Public Input portion of
the meeting shall total no more than one (1) hour, unless otherwise shortened or extended by majority vote of
Persons with disabilities needing special services or accommodations for this meeting should contact the City of
Urbana's Americans with Disabilities Coordinator at 384-2466.
the public body members present. The presiding officer or the city clerk or their designee, shall monitor each
speaker's use of time and shall notify the speaker when the allotted time has expired. All public comments
should be addressed to the public body as a whole. A person may participate and provide Public Input once
during a meeting and may not cede time to another person, or split their time if Public Input is held at two (2)
or more different times during a meeting. The presiding officer may give priority to those persons who
indicate they wish to speak on an agenda item upon which a vote will be taken.
The presiding officer or public body members shall not enter into a dialogue with citizens. Questions from
the public body members shall be for clarification purposes only. Public Input shall not be used as a time for
problem solving or reacting to comments made but, rather, for hearing citizens for informational purposes
only.
Accommodation
If an accommodation is needed to participate in a City meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s
Office at least 48 hours in advance so that special arrangements can be made using one of the following
methods:
• Phone: 217.384.2366
• Email: CityClerk@urbanaillinois.us
*In order to maintain reasonable decorum at a meeting, the presiding officer or any member of the public
body may call a speaker “out of order”. The presiding officer of the meeting shall have the authority to
provide a verbal warning to a speaker who uses abusive, harassing, threatening, or defamatory language, or
who engages in disorderly conduct that disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of a
meeting. If the speaker refuses to cease such remarks or conduct after being warned by the presiding officer,
the presiding officer shall have the authority to mute the speaker’s microphone and/or video presence at the
meeting. The presiding officer will inform the speaker that they may send the remainder of their remarks via
email to the public body for inclusion in the meeting record.
*Definitions of Types of Language and Conduct That May Warrant Verbal Warning:
“Abusive” means harsh, violent, profane, or derogatory language which would demean the dignity
of an individual or which is intended to humiliate, mock, insult or belittle an individual.
https://www.lawinsider.com/dictionary/abusive-language
“Harassing” means to annoy or bother someone in a constant or repeated way; to make repeated
attacks on another person.
https://www.learnersdictionary.com/definition/harass
“Threatening” means to say that you will harm someone or do something unpleasant or unwanted
especially in order to make someone do what you want.
https://www.learnersdictionary.com/definition/threaten
“Defamatory” means a statement or communication that tends to harm a person's reputation by
subjecting the person to public contempt, disgrace, or ridicule, or by adversely affecting the person's
business. A statement that is likely to lower that person in the estimation of reasonable people and in
particular to cause that person to be regarded with feelings of hatred, contempt, ridicule, fear, or
dislike.
Black's Law Dictionary (11th ed. 2019)
Citations that Authorize the Presiding Officer to Bar Offensive Language During Public Comment:
The following citations provide the legal basis for adopting UCC Section 2-5(b)(1)(d) that allows the
presiding officer of a City Council, Committee of the Whole, or a City-sponsored board or
commission regulate “abusive, harassing, threatening, or defamatory language” during public
comment. The following Attorney General binding opinions and case law essentially classify abusive,
“harassing, threatening and defamatory language as “manner”, not “content”, of speech that can be
reasonably regulated under the First Amendment. UCC Section 2-5(c) (Ordinance No. 2020-09-049.
Attorney General binding opinion numbers 2019 PAC 59187, 2018 PAC 55462, 2016 PAC 45349;
Persons with disabilities needing special services or accommodations for this meeting should contact the City of
Urbana's Americans with Disabilities Coordinator at 384-2466.
Milestone v. City of Monroe, Wisconsin, 665 F.3d 774, 783-784 (7th Cir. 2011); Vega v. Chicago Board of
Education, 338 F.Supp.3d 806, 811 (N.D. Ill. 2018); Sandefur v. Vill. of Hanover Park, 862 F.Supp.2d
840, 847 (N.D. Ill. 2012); I.A. Rana Enterprises, Inc. v. City of Aurora, 630 F.Supp.2d 912, 920-923 (D.C.
N.D. 2009).
Persons with disabilities needing special services or accommodations for this meeting should contact the City of
Urbana's Americans with Disabilities Coordinator at 384-2466.
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