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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Human Relations Commission - 12/07/2000 MINUTES-QUORUM MEETING HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MEETING DECEMBER 7,2000 Commissioners-Present Commissioners-Absent Chairperson:Mr.Oscar Hinojosa Mr.David"Phillip"Engel Vice Chair:Dr.Sylvester Peterson Ms.Olga Tamar Mr.William"Bill"Bonilla Ms.Lena Coleman Mr.Scott Elliff Dr.Stuart Elovitz Non-Voting Advisory-Absent Ms.JoAnn Kernick Rev.Willie Davila Mr.Joey Maldonado Ms.Anna Mercado-Flores ) '2) 5 Ms.Laura Rios :9. Mr.Errol Summerlin ' :Ms.Sandra Terrell-DavisMr.Joshua J.Vaughan* FE2001(*Last name changed from Jimenez) C ` VEi4 Staff—Present \ a OFFICE L.David Ramos 4 � `> June Shultz ��? d4� HRC Legal Advisor -Present Mr.Joseph Harney Oscar Hinojosa,Chairperson,called the monthly meeting to order on December 7,2000 at 5:00 p.m. It was determined that a quorum was present,therefore the Commission proceeded with a formal meeting. Chair Hinojosa introduced the new Interim Human Relations Director,L.David Ramos. Mr.Ramos provided a brief review of his professional background and experience. Then Chair Hinojosa introduced Youth Commissioner William "Bill" Bonilla. ATTENDANCE Roll Call—Members Absent:David"Phillip"Engel and Olga Tamar. (Informational Note:Joshua J.Vaughan—last name was changed from Jimenez.) Absences Review: Scott Elliff requested that his absence from last month's meeting be excused,because he was out of State on business—the Commission approved this as an excused absence. William"Bill"Bonilla's absences for School(Football requirements)were approved by the Commission as excused absences. Joshua Vaughan's absences for Student Council Meeting and School Play were approved by the Commission as excused absences. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES The minutes from the November 2,2000 Commission Meetings were reviewed. Correction noted on Scott Elliff's absence, and references to him in minutes were actually Dr.Elovitz. Also JoAnn Kernick requested we change name to Olga Tamar regarding spelling corrections. The minutes were approved,with changes as noted. 1 ,iia CA; NEfb) CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT The Chairperson had no report at this time. COMMITTEE REPORTS Housing Committee—No report at this time. ADA Committee—Mr.Ramos gave an update. This Committee holds a meeting once a month. The meetings are being held at City Hall. They met yesterday and Mr.Ramos attended. They want the Human Relations to be involved,because they are working towards becoming a Commission. They want to formalize into a Commission because of the high turn over of members. The needs are great in the Community. If they become a Commission then the members will be appointments by the Mayor and City Council. Joseph Harney,CCHRC Legal Advisor,indicated that the Legal Department was assisting with development of an Ordinance creating the Commission. Presently they are advocates committee. There will be another meeting on January 10,2001,to vote on the draft ordinance. The Mayor and City Manager want them to work with the Human Relations Commission. Our Chair or designee will sit on the new Commission. Additionally,they will be adding a new position the Human Relations Commission, like that of Commissioners Summerlin, Rios and Maldonado,but it will be for ADA representation. It has been proposed that it will be Crystal Lyons,their present Chair. Mr.Ramos and a representative from Engineering will sit on the Advisory Committee, both Departments will provide administrative support. Commissioner Summerlin asked if the City would have other persons in addition to Mr.Ramos? Mr.Harney explained that with the formation of a Commission,the Commissioners would be trimmed down,but there could still be community involvement. Commissioner Summerlin asked how many City Staff will be on the Mayor's Task Force, as opposed to the proposed nine member Commission? Mr.Harney indicated there would be two—Human Relations and Engineering. Mr.Harney indicated that around mid-January to February 2001,this information would be brought before the City Council for a vote. NEW BUSINESS Introduction of the new Interim Director of Human Relations, David Ramos. Mr. Ramos again briefly reviewed his background—he has worked with the City for 15 years. Most of his experience is in the field of Human Resources, Employment Law,EEOC and Labor Law,Migrant Workers and Housing. He has been a Personnel Director at Levi Strauss. OLD BUSINESS Ms.Shultz mailed the policy to each Commissioner,along with the Acknowledgment Form. Each Commissioner has been asked to review the policy and then sign the Acknowledgment Form and return the signed form to the Human Relations Office or submit it at the end of this Commission Meeting. The Hate CrimeNiolence Brochure was finalized and printed. Dr. Gurley wanted to complete this project, prior to her departure. Copies were distributed to the Commissioners. There was discussion about purpose of the brochure and future plans for Hate CrimeNiolence educational programs and/or presentations. There was an inquiry on where we are regarding the Flour Bluff ISD incident. Mr.Ramos indicated that he hadn't been briefed about the matter,but that he was aware of the concerns through our local paper and media coverage. He hasn't talked with Dr.Gurley about the matter yet. He will follow-up with her. Ms. Shultz provided further information. She indicated that Dr. Gurley had attended several meetings with FBISD Admin. Staff,the Mayor, City Manager and NAS Representatives. They put together a special Task Force to review the matter and address the concerns. Dr.Gurley has provided general information and sample written policies/procedures and guidelines. She was informed that the students involved in the incident that brought the matter to the forefront had been placed in Alternative Classes. Vice Chair Peterson discussed his concern about the matter and gave an example of how his son was approached by two students with nazi sign and rebel'flag.There have been numerous events,by different individuals. Commissioner Elliff raised the point that Dr. Gurley had been in the process of developing plans for the Commission to focus some educational and outreach efforts through the media and PSA's. He expressed a concern that we not forget that this is still a priority. Chair Hinojosa agreed. Mr.Hinojosa then discussed that the City Manager had contacted him about the search for the new Director of Human Relations. They will be starting the search soon and will be using a panel from a focus group from various diverse groups within the community. There was general questions,concerns and discussion 2 by various Commissioners. Commissioner Summerlin expressed a concern about how the panel would be developed and whom it would be comprised of. He also asked what their role would be in the selection process. He was concerned about ensuring equality and due process in the selection and hiring of the new Director. Commissioner Elliff expressed a possibility that the panel could be used in development of qualities the City would like for the position. This has been done by other entities,such as with CCISD. Commissioner Terrell-Davis also expressed some concerns. Mr.Harney indicated that his understanding was that the City would be using a 2-Tier approach for the selection and hire of the new Director. Commissioner Summerlin asked Mr.Hamey to follow-up and obtain information on the actual process and procedures that would be used to fill the position. Mr.Harney agreed to do so. Commissioner Summerlin expressed that the Commission has a right and responsibility to ensure that the process is fair and equal to everyone. It is appropriate to make an inquiry about it. There was further discussion,then Commissioner Terrell-Davis indicated that Commissioner Mercado had a copy of the memorandum to the Commission sent out by the City Manager regarding the up-coming 2-Tier selection process. Mr.Ramos provided an update on the HUD Substantial Equivalency Interim Agreement. The information is in Washington, D.C.,it has been reviewed,however Loretta Dixon hasn't had a chance to review the response from the General Counsel. She was very optimistic that all changes had been made. We should know something by the end of the month. They will inform us by telephone and follow-up by mail. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT The Commissioners were provided with a copy of the November 2000 statistics that were presented for the normal Performance Measures report. Additionally,Mr.Ramos discussed the recent visit of Rodney Klein,the SADO State and Local Deferral Coordinator. They discussed the closure requirements and pending cases. Mr.Ramos has established the departmental priorities. They also discussed concerns and documentation requirements. Training was offered,but it will need to be scheduled after the Federal Budget has been finalized. The Budget has not been allocated yet. Mr.Ramos also discussed the expansion of the Department's responsibilities with regard to ADA issues. The Department will address ADA internal and external complaints, as well as current responsibilities in regard to employment, housing and public accommodation. Commissioner Summerlin expressed his concern about the needs that are presently not met in the community and how in the past the Commission had been discussing the need to identify and address violations that they become aware of. Mr.Ramos discussed some of the areas of ADA responsibility,which are now going to be broken out for specific attention. PUBLIC COMMENTS-Limited to two(2)Minutes None at this time. Motion made by Commissioner Coleman for the meeting to adjourn and seconded by Vice Chair Peterson. Meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m. Oscar Hinojosa,Sr.,Chairperson Date Minutes Approved 3