Minutes_Human Rights Commission 3 11 19 Copyrighted
May 6, 2019
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 1.
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUM MARY: Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission of 4/23;
Cable N Commission of 5/1; City Council Proceedings of
4/15, 4/29; Civil Service Commission Minutes of 3/7, 4/18;
Historic Preservation Commission of 4/18; Historic
Preservation Fair Committee of 4/18; Housing
Commission of 3/26; Human Rights Commission of 3/11;
Investment OversightAdvisory Commission of 4/24;
Library Board of Trustees Council Update #182 of 4/25;
Long Range Planning Advisory Commission of 4/17; Proof
of publication for City Council Proceedings of 4/1; Proof of
publication for List of Claims and Summary of Revenues
for Month Ending 3/31.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission Minutes of Supporting Documentation
4/23/19
City Council Proceedings of 4/15/19 Supporting Documentation
City Council Proceedings of 4/29/19 Supporting Documentation
Civil Service Commission Minutes of 3/7/19 Supporting Documentation
Civil Service Commission Minutes of 4/18/19 Supporting Documentation
Historic Preservation Commission Minutes of 4/18/19 Supporting Documentation
Historic Preservation Commisson Preservation Fair Supporting Documentation
Committee Minutes of 4/18/19
Housing Commission Minutes of 3/26/19 Supporting Documentation
Human Rights Commission Minutes of 3/11/19 Supporting Documentation
Investment OversightAdvisory Commission Minutes of Supporting Documentation
4/24/19
Library Board ot Trustees Council Update#182 of Supporting Documentation
4/25/19
Long Range Planning Advisory Commission Minutes of Supporting Documentation
4/17/19
Proof of Publication for City Council Proceedings of Supporting Documentation
4/1/19
Proof of Publication for List of Claims and Summary of Supporting Documentation
Revenuesfor ME 3/31/19
DUBUQUE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES OF
March 11, 2019
Commissioner Allen called the meeting of the Dubuque Human Rights Commission to order at
436 p.m. on Monday, March 11, 2019, at the Jule Operations & Training Center, 949 Kerper Blvd.,
Dubuque, lowa.
Roll Call:
Present: Anthony Allen, Chair Miquel Jackson
Adrienne Breitfelder Erin Muenster
Gerald Hammel Kate Parks
Jay Schiesl, Vice Chair
Absent: Ashley Melchert Nicole Borovic
Staff: Kelly Larson Carol Spinoso
Approval of Minutes from February 18, 2019
Motion by Schiesl, second by Hammel to approve the meeting minutes of February 18, 2019.
All in favor.
Reports
Caseload Report
The February 2019 caseload report was received and filed.
Chairperson's Report
The MFC Black History Month events on February 26'h was well attended and had excellent
performers.
Attended the BMC opening of the Manhood Project which was very engaging with a young
man presenting on a forum he created entitled Heal the Hood. Participants also had the
opportunity to tour the John Deere Dubuque Works facilities.
He continues to receive complaints from black males in regards to off duty police officers
who approach them using derogatory language. He will meet with a couple of individuals
who voiced concerns to get specific details, and then meet with Mark Dalsing to have a
conversation.
Working with local coaches to provide baseball opportunities for young men. They will
work with the Dream Center and DOME All Sport in planning that program with the hope
that it will be self-sustaining.
The Chair voiced concerns about the lack of attendance by Commissioner Melchert, and
the lack of progress in action item #2 under the education goal that lists the timeline as July
2019. The Chair is recommending that they proceed with sending a letter to the City
Council for replacement. Further discussion will be held at the April meeting.
Director's Report
Written reports submitted quarterly.
Old Business
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New Business
Complete Worksheets for City Council Goal Setting
Commissioner Schiesl moved and Commissioner Parks seconded to table this item until
the April 8, 2019 meeting. All in favor.
Brief bv the Leaque of lowa Civil and Human Riqhts Aqencies
Kelly conveyed that the City of Dubuque Human Rights Commission is a member of the
League of lowa Civil and Human Rights Agencies. She stated that she was contacted by
the Davenport Director about a case that is on appeal. The district court had decided that a
claim that was brought forward that included an age discrimination in education claim,
which was covered under the Davenport ordinance but not state law, did not have subject
matter jurisdiction. This is a due process concern for states that have coverages beyond
what is in the State Code. The League discussed this concern, and they have a group of
attorneys within the League that are working on the Amicus Brief. The League will vote
Thursday, jurisdiction by jurisdiction, to see if they have a majority of jurisdictions willing to
sign on to send the Brief to the court.
Commissioner Jackson moved to delegate the Director to vote in favor of forwarding the
Amicus Brief. Commissioner Hammel seconded. All in favor.
Election of Officers:
Commissioner Jackson moved to retain current officers —Commissioner Allen as Chair,
and Commissioner Schiesl as Vice-Chair. Commissioner Breitfelder seconded. No other
nominations. Both Chairperson Allen, and Vice-Chair Schiesl accepted the nomination.
Roll call:
Anthony Allen Yes Miquel Jackson Yes
Adrienne Breitfelder Yes Erin Muenster Yes
Gerald Hammel Yes Kate Parks Absent
Jay Schiesl Yes
All in favor.
Standinq Items: Goals
Goal #1: Education
The Chair attended the February 26'h DCSD equity meeting. They are currently performing
policy audits in tiers, beginning with the larger policies.
Goal #2: Housing
Alexis Steger, Housing and Community Development Director, and Teresa Bassler,
Assisted Housing Supervisor, were present to provide information on the Source of Income
Annual Report. Alexis reported that in 2018 the Council received the first annual SOI
report, and that the Council expressed a need for additional data.
Following that directive, Housing staff identified eight essential data sets for measuring
progress: 1) voucher lease-up rate; 2) assisted united by census tract; 3) location of
assisted units versus all licensed units; 4) new affordable units; 5) landlord participation
rates; 6) all available vacant units; 7) rent reasonableness; and 8) analysis of essential
services.
She stated that the lack of information from landlords is a barrier in understanding the
needs of the HCV participants. Staff recommended policy changes that would allow the
collection of additional data to help assess housing needs in the community. The Council
approved an ordinance requiring property owners or manager to report which rental units
accept HCV during the annual rental license process. This will allow the collection of data
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for further analysis of the housing needs in the City. Lastly, she stated that they have
begun the rebranding process of the HCV program, with a large part of that process
focusing on landlord education.
Goal #3: Employment
The $2,500.00 that staff requested through the budget process for the Race Conference
has been approved.
Commissioner Breitfelder reported that she had emailed Councilmembers Jones and Rios
inquiring about their perspectives on childcare opportunities for the workforce.
Councilmember Jones communicated to her that they were in the early stages in looking at
this issue and that their big indicator was looking at data to see where there may be gaps in
child care accessibility and if that is associated with any particular area in the city.
Kelly added that statewide childcare is an issue and they are trying to get more funding for
statewide employment programs. IYs been determined here locally that people who come
through NICC or the Opportunity Dubuque Programs are finding that childcare is a barrier
for those who wish to complete those programs. The City Council has allocated funds for
this ongoing problem, and it was announced that GDDC will be piloting a program to
provide free childcare for workforce training participants. Commissioner Breitfelder will
again reach out to Councilmember Rios again to get his input.
Kelly stated that Ermina is no longer with the City, and that the Circles program has been
renamed Gaining Opportunities. Dawn DeMaio and Hollie Ohnesorge, the Family Self-
Sufficiency Program staff, are overseeing that program..
Adiournment:
Commissioner Breitfelder motioned and Commissioner Schiesl seconded to adjourn. All in favor.
The meeting ended at 5:56 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting is Monday, April 8, 2019, at
the Jule Operations & Training Center, 949 Kerper Blvd.
Minutes approved as submitted:
Minutes approved as corrected:
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