Minutes_Human Rights Commission 10 11 10Rol! Call:
Present: Anthony Allen, Chair
Lori Apel
Marcos Rubinstein
Colin Scott
Forum Updates
Fair Housing Forum:
No report given.
CITY OF DUBUQUE
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES OF
October 11, 2010
Commissioner Allen called the meeting of the Dubuque Human Rights Commission to order at 4:25
p.m. on Monday, October 11, 2010, at the City Hall Annex, 1300 Main Street, Dubuque, Iowa.
R.R.S. Stewart
Lynn Sutton, Vice Chair
Absent: Pam Sharrad Frederick Davis
Katrina Wilberding
Staff: Kelly Larson Carol Spinoso
Molly Menster
Approval of Minutes
Commissioner Rubinstein moved to approve the September 13, 2010 meeting minutes.
Commissioner Stewart seconded. Commissioner Allen stated that his name was misspelled in the
first paragraph. All in favor of approving the September 13, 2010 meeting minutes as amended.
ADA Forum:
Commissioner Stewart stated that she will prepare the press release announcing the results of the
ADA Roundtable. Kelly stated that the Report has been forwarded to the City Manger and that staff
will put the report on the website.
Review and Discuss Proposed Changes to the Administrative Rules
Kelly asked Commissioners to review the proposed changes to the Rules and to submit questions or
any proposals to her. Commissioners will discuss, amend if necessary, and adopt final changes to
the rules at the November meeting.
Decide on Request from Justice Not Politics Coalition
Justice Not Politics is a broad -based coalition of organizations committed to protecting Iowa's judicial
system. Currently there is concern about efforts to vote out three Supreme Court Justices because
of a disagreement over a ruling. The group is asking for Commission support. Commissioner
Rubinstein moved to join in supporting the efforts of Justice Not Politics. Commissioner Stewart
seconded. All in favor. Commissioner Wilberding submitted a draft letter to the Editor in support of
Justice Not Politics.
Caseload Report
A written report for September 2010 was submitted. Commissioner Allen was pleased to see all of
the education and outreach being presented to the area schools.
Chairperson's Report
Commissioner Allen reported that he is involved with the Leisure Services Open Gym program and also the
Dubuque Independent Football League and is attempting to arrange ICC training for those groups. He
distributed sign -up sheets for the scheduled post meeting work sessions. Commissioner Stewart moved to
send a published agenda announcing those work sessions at the same time the regular monthly meeting notice
is sent out with the goals listed as action items. Commissioner Scott seconded. All in favor. The Chair
expressed concerns about the lack of commissioner attendance at meetings. There was discussion about
changing the meeting time. Commissioner Rubinstein will prepare and send a survey so they can determine
which meeting time works best in order to maximize commissioner attendance.
Director's Report
A written report was submitted. Kelly reported that the Police Community Dialogue on Race meeting
that was scheduled for Tuesday has been cancelled. They are working on rescheduling that
meeting.
Relating to the Boards and Commissions pilot ICC training session, Commissioner Stewart stated
that she had attended the first session and found it to be beneficial. Commissioners Apel and
Sharrad also attended that session.
Commissioner Stewart reminded Commissioners Allen and Rubinstein that they need to prepare a
letter of thanks for the panelists participating in the Police Community Dialogue on Race sessions. In
follow -up to last month's meeting, she asked if there should be any more discussion regarding the
elimination of the DCSD's equity director position and their efforts in handling the general equity
issues. Commissioner Rubinstein felt strongly that those issues be addressed by a representative at
a Commission meeting. Commissioner Allen suggested that they approach the DCSD offering
support and assistance in dealing with that matter. This item will be added as a specific action item
under old business on next month's agenda.
Proudly Accessible Dubuque Report
Commissioner Rubinstein moved to table this action item until the November meeting.
Commissioner Sutton seconded. All in favor.
Review and Discuss Goals
Art Roche provided the initiatives identified during goal setting.
Goal #1: Address data from the ICRC fair housing testing study.
Commissioner Allen will obtain and evaluate the data from the fair housing testing study as soon as it
is received in early 2011.
It was suggested that they schedule the joint goal setting with the Housing Commission after the data
from the study is received in early 2011. To get the dialogue started, Commissioner Allen
volunteered to write a letter to the Housing Commission explaining the initiative and asking for their
participation in a joint session. Commissioners Scott and Sutton also volunteered to help out on this
goal.
Goal #2: Improving the performance of the HRC to support new role of the HR Department
- Commissioner Allen will send a reminder letter to commissioners regarding attendance
policies.
- Commissioner Rubinstein indicated that he may have a list of local companies with diversity
groups.
Goal #3: Reinstitute disability sub - committee for areas not addressed by Pad.
It was suggested that this sub - committee focus on the areas of transportation and housing.
Goal #4: Facilitate the creation of a tenants' association.
Commissioner Allen envisioned facilitating the creation of the association, with the group then
branching off on their own once established. He asked that Commissioners review the goals, commit
to the initiatives they have an interest in, and be prepared to vote on approving them at next month's
meeting.
New Business
Adjournment
Motion to adjourn by Commissioner Rubinstein. Second by Commissioner Sutton. All in favor.
Meeting adjourned at 5:40 p.m.
The next meeting will be November 8, 2010.
Minutes approved as submitted'
Minutes approved as corrected