Minutes_Human Rights Commission 3 12 18 Copyrighted
April 16, 2018
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 1.
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: Airport Commission of 3/26; Cable TV Commission of 4/4;
Community Development Advisory Commission of 3/28;
Historic Preservation Commission of 3/15; Human Right
Commission of 3/12; Library Board of Trustees Update of
3/29; Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission of 3/13;
Resilient Community Advisory Commission of 3/1 ; Zoning
Advisory Commission of 4/4; Zoning Board of Adjustments
of 3/22; Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings
3/19
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Airport Commission Minutes of 3/26 Supporting Documentation
Cable N Commission Minues of 4/4 Supporting Documentation
Community DevelopmentAdvisory Commission Minutes Supporting Documentation
3/28
Historic Preservation Commission Minutes of 3/15 Supporting Documentation
Human Right Commission Minutes of 3/12 Supporting Documentation
Library Board of trustees Update of 3/29 Supporting Documentation
Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Minutes of Supporting Documentation
3/13
Resilient Community Advisory Commission Minutes of Supporting Documentation
3/1
Zoning Advisory Commission Minutes of 4/4 Supporting Documentation
Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes of 3/22 Supporting Documentation
Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings 3/19 Supporting Documentation
DUBUQUE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES OF
March 12, 2018
Commissioner Schiesl called the meeting of the Dubuque Human Rights Commission to order at
4:35 p.m. on Monday, March 12, 2017, at the City Hall Annex, 1300 Main Street, Conference
Room II, Dubuque, lowa.
Roll Call; j
Present: Anthony Allen, Chair Kate Parks
Adrienne Breitfelder Jay Schiesl, Vice Chair
Indigo Channing
Absent: Nicole Borovic Miquel Jackson
Jerry Hammel Ashley Melchert
Staff: Kelly Larson Carol Spinoso
Taj Suleyman
Oath of Office
Commissioner Melchert was not present for Oath of Office
Approval of Minutes:
Motion by Allen, seconded by Parks to approve the meeting minutes of February 12, 2018. All in
favor.
Caseload Report
The February 2018 caseload report was received and filed.
Chairperson Report
Commissioner Allen reported that the February 24t" Expungement and Employment
Barriers Clinic that was organized by lowa Legal Aid and the Dubuque branch of the
NAACP was well attended and very successful. These clinics are being held at other
locations throughout the State.
Commissioner Allen stated that he presented on black historical events during the MFC's
Black History Month event on February 27�n
Commissioner Allen reported that he, Commissioner Schiesl, and other city staff will be
attending the Des Moines Civil Rights Symposium Wednesday, March 14, and that he will
be participating on a panel with Anderson Sainci and Chief Dalsing where they will discuss
the dynamics of the MOU between the City and NAACP.
Tom LoGuidice and Mary Gitau initiated Partnership for Black History Resources to assist
with presentations during Black History Month and throughout the year.
Director Report:
The quarterly report will be submitted in April.
Kelly Larson shared that there is a bill pending at the state level that would amend the lowa
Civil Rights Act to allow for criminal penalties if an individual is found to be impersonating
someone with a disability who needs a service animal.
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C , f
Old Business:
Commissioner Schiesl recommended that commissioners review the four studies and prepare for
discussion at the April meeting. Those studies include: 1) GDDC — Community Perceptions
Survey from 2017; 2) ISU — Central Avenue Corridor Study from 2017; 3) U of I — Schools,
Neighborhoods, and Student Outcomes from 2013; and 4) U of I — Portrait of Poverty Study from
2012.
Commissioner Parks stated she reviewed the studies and offered to provide summaries prior to the
April meeting. She stated that the 2013 University of lowa Education Study has been presented to
the school district. The study offered recommendations, so it was suggested they invite Mae
Hingtgen to a meeting to allow further discussion on this study and provide an opportunity for Mae
to provide information as to what the district is doing with this information. Commissioner Schiesl
will reach out to Mae for follow-up under Goal #1.
Kate stated that she was contacted by a Loras student who is seeking available resources in the
area for the Latinx community. Commissioners recommended that she offer the Presentation
Lantern Center, LULAC, the Hispanic Ministry, Evelyn Nadeau, and Marcos Rubinstein as
resources.
New Business:
Anthony proposed that they invite a student from Hempstead High School to next month's meeting
to talk about the "I Read" program she created. Anthony would like to connect with this student
and possibly help recruit students into this program.
Relevant to the educational piece, Commissioner Channing detailed involvement with restructuring i
the teen programing, and invited any commissioner recommendations or guidance in addressing
issues. There will be two summer programs offered; one program to help youth with mental health
issues, and one for LGBTQ Youth. They have begun program planning for the Better Together
LGBTQ Summit that is scheduled for September 22, 2018. The Fine Arts Festival is held in May,
and they are seeking youth to display and sell their art work at a booth that has been donated. A
subgroup is meeting to work on expanding the I'm A Dubuquer campaign to achieve more buy-in
from the community, and to possibly take information into the classrooms. Pride is tentatively
scheduled for the first weekend in June.
Taj announced that on April 17t" there will be a Know Your Rights &Legal Immigration Clinic to be
held at the Cathedral Church from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. He reported that the school district is sending
nineteen staff members to the 32-hour Developing Equity Framework Workshop that city staff will
be presenting this spring.
Standinq Items: Goals
Goal #1: Establish sustainable and consistent equity in the DCSD to live up to the mission and
vision statement of the District.
Commissioner Schiesl reported that the subcommittee presented the report and recommendations
to the Inclusive Dubuque Education Group. The group seemed concerned about the information
presented, especially with the discrepancies with the minority population in the downtown schools.
They were informed that discussions were beginning to take place in the school district related to
these issues, and that Mae Hingtgen is part of that group.
Commissioner Breitfelder questioned whether it would be helpful to invite some of the Connection
Specialists that have been working in the Title 1 elementary schools, to possibly provide some
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insight into those positions. Anthony suggested inviting Chris Singletary, the supervisor of that
program, to the May meeting to provide details of that program.
Commissioner Schiesl will reach out to Rick Dickenson to invite him to the July meeting so he can
provide an update related to the Central Avenue Corridor initiative.
Goal #2: Collaborate with the Housing Commission and other partners in the City to make certain
we accomplish the following for the benefit of the community.
Commissioners Channing and Parks expressed interest in reviving the Commission's newsletter.
Anthony recommended they meet with past commissioner Tom LoGuidice for input since he was
the creator of the newsletter. The newsletter was distributed via email to various groups and
organizations including local diversity groups. Staff will forward the diversity groups list to
commissioners for assistance with updating.
Commissioner Schiesl asked if there were any updates on the Source of Income issue. Kelly
recommended that commissioners view the Monday, March 5t" Council meeting. During that
meeting, staff provided an update on SOI, community members provided input, and Council
members had lengthy discussion on that issue. Kelly stated that she is working with Maggie Baker
from Loras about possibly having students input and analyze housing data that is being collected.
Goal #3: Collaborate in the elimination of barriers in employment to reduce the poverty rate in
Dubuque.
Anthony will speak with Miquel about possibly chairing this goal.
Adiournment:
Commissioner Allen moved to adjourn, Commissioner Channing seconded. All in favor. The
meeting ended at 5:58 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting is Monday, April 9, 2018.
Minutes approved as submitted:
Minutes approved as corrected:
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