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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Human Relations Commission - 09/03/1992 MINUTES HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MEETING SEPTEMBER 3, 1992 Commissioners Present Commissioners Absent Dr. Kate Haltom, Chair Sarah Guidry Jimmie McCUrn Sandra Longoria Green Grandis Lenken Rosalie Beaty Staff Present Lynda Herndon-Sutherland Jacquelyn Harrell Terry Mills Henry Gorham Clyde E. Bourk June E. Shultz Ilousumi Shaw Adell Lucas The regular monthly meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by the chair, Kate Halter. The roll call was taken and a quorum was present to conduct a legally constituted meeting. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES It was moved, seconded and vote the Minutes of August 6, 1992 be approved as read. CIIAIRPERSON'S CONE/LENTS "Commissioner Haltom stated, "All About eve, Betty Davis .has a line "Fasten your seat belt, it's going to be a bumpy night, "And so it has been, a bumpy night for the Commission - it may always be a little bumpy if we are on the cutting edge of issues. Commissioner Haltom also stated, "speaking of issues and our deliberation on them, we need to ask ourselves: 1. Is the issue clear, do yon understand it? 2. Is the issue in line with our Ordinance? 3. Am I committed to the issue? 4. Am I willing to bear the cost? The cost of several of the Commissioners was considerable ugly phone calls, anonymous mail (I even got mail with postage due) with threat. I want to thank those that took a lot of heat! We need to move forward as a team for we perform a very valuable and crucial service to the community. Remember we have specific powers and general duties. We must keep these two in balance and perspective. And to help us do that the Chair asked Jim Bray, City Attorney to speak to us on Section 24-4 General Duties, he has a range of interpretation." HUMAN 86TATICNS CaeffS.STQ1 ratur'FS PAGE 2 INIROWCPION OF GUESTS Mr. Jimmy Bray, City Attorney, spoke m Ccnnissioner's duties frau Section 24- 4 of Ordinance No. 20838 - General Duties a simple overview. Mr. Bray stated he is only making a staff presentation and would answer questions as this is not a specific posted agenda item. Mr. Bray stated he sees the Ordinance broken down into two primary areas. 1. Complaints - The three areas where the Commission is authorized and delegates the Human Relations Department to investigate complaints of discrimination in - (1) Housing, (2) Enployment and (3) Public Accoamadations and discrimination in specificlyy named groups basically Race, Sex, Age, National Origin, and Disability, taking complaints and determinating a violation 2. Advisory to the City Council - a broader area studying other problems 3. ? ake recommendations with respect to prejudice, bigotry, discrimination in the camnurity or among groups in the community. This also includes such things as your education effort, and recommending changes to the Ordinance. 4. nlucation of the public if something conte up misleading such as rumors. 5. & 6. Investigation of Lcmplaints - other than Housing Employment and Public Accommodation. 7. Fbrk with City contractors Cu City contract compliance. Commissioner Beaty asked if there is a violation under Federal statutes to retaliate, intimidate, or interfere with anyone trying to assist someone under Fair Housing law. Mr. Jimmy Bray discussed briefly the Fair Housing Law and said he will discuss this specific question at a later date. Comnissioner Bourke asked if the City is dear on what the Cartnission's duties are. Also Camlissioner Pnurke stated no group has mentioned the educational aspect of what the Commission has done through the years. Commissioner Peaty stated everyone on the Commission is aware of their role and we need to inform the Community of our duties and responsibilities and any misinformation about the Commission needs to be clarified publicly. CHARTER REVISION UPDATE Commissioner Beaty stated the Commissioners received her report on the City's Task Force on Charter Revision. She outlined eleven proposals which were distributed at the recent meeting. Commissioner Beaty said of the eleven proposals, two proposals from the Human Relations sub-committee for Carter Revision were considered. MON RIlATiaS CCVEISSSIai MINIMS 46/ PACE 3 CHARTER REVISION UPDATE (continued) (1) On Terms limitation, the Human Relations Charter Revision sub-committee recommended three two-year tens consecutively. Commissioner Beaty read frau the Preliminary Draft Report of the Charter Revision Camnittee: Proposition 3. An amendment to provide term limitations for the mayor and council corners limiting then to serving four two-year terms consecutively in each office, to take effect beginning with terms of office commencing in April 1993. (2) Proposition 8. An amendment conforming the discrimination categories in employment with current federal law; for example, race, sex, national origin, etc. Commissioner Beaty reported she asked one of the Ford members (John Bell, Attorney) what would be the best recommendation for listing these bases for discrimination in our City Charter. Mr. Bell stated rather than list all groups as they become protected, they are trying to simply this and specify a version to "protect all groups under law". Camnissioner Beaty also stated other recommendations will be made later after a demographic study is made. Jacquelyn Harrell asked Commissioner Beaty about another item that had been presented to the Human Relations Camiission by Mr. Ron Hudson on Council prayer openings and separation of church and state which had teen referred to the Charter Revision subcommittee. Camnissioner Beaty told the Commission the Charter Revision Committee did not discuss that item, although it had been presented. Therefore, it is no longer under consideration with the Human Relations Commission. It was reported Mr. Hudson needs to be notified. ORDINANCE CIX'R'IIrriam REPORT Sarah Guidry No report Commissioner Halton discussed the drafting of two letters: (1) Mayor's Commission on Aids and found out there is no such commission. They have a Coalition on Aids. Commissioner Halton told the Commission since Camnissioner Sutherland was appointed to serve m the Mayor's Commission on Aids she should be appointed to serve on the Coalition on Aids. Coomiissioner 'leaty made a notion that Lynda Sutherland serve on the Coalition on Aids. The motion was of seconded and passed unanimously. (2) Letter to City Council-Commissioner Halton stated she and Commissioner Guidry will draft a letter and Commissioners can care by the office to read and sign the letter to the City Council. Commissioner Sutherland made a notion and it was seconded by Camnissioner Mills that Commissioners visit the Human Relations Commission office to read and sign the letter to Council members when it is ready. HOMAN REZATIONS ancsSIGM MINUTES PAGE 4 411I JOB CORPS- Clyde Rourke No Report - owmissioner Rourke stated next meeting a speaker will be available frau Job Corps. MAYOR'S CCl"d1Irrtt ON DISABILITIES - Grandis Lenken Jacquelyn Harrell will notify Commissioner Lenken when the next nm sting of the Mayor's Committee m Disabilities is scheduled. Commissioner Bourke read a letter to the Cxmnission regarding the role of Commissioners on behalf of the citizens of Corpus Christi. A copy is attached to these minutes. PUBLIC CO inNT New Employee Jacquelyn Harrell introduced Mr. Henry Gorham to the Ca-mission. Mr. Gorham has worked for the City a number years and is the new Senior Investigative Supervisor for the Human Relations Department. Rai Hudson expressed his disapproval of the Human Relations Commission's 41/ Notice of Meeting and Agenda posting. He stated they were superfluous -- meaning being more than is needed, desired or appropriate. Commissioner McCurn asked how, when, and what direction do we go in educating the City am the autonomous role the Commission has. She stated further, that is where our problems are and that is where they will continue to he unless the City recognizes the Commission as an autonomous body. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to care before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m. Chair Date