Minutes_Human Rights Commission 10 10 11CITY OF DUBUQUE
Dubuque Human Rights Commission
MEETING MINUTES OF
October 10, 2011
Commissioner Allen called the meeting of the Dubuque Human Rights Commission to order at 5:09
p.m. on Monday, October 10, 2011, at Keystone AEA — Room 3B, 2310 Chaney Road, Dubuque,
Iowa.
Roll Call:
Present: Anthony Allen, Chair Mitzi Krey _
Kurt Hansen RRS Stewart
Mike Elliott Andrea Beacham
Absent: Megan Gloss Regine Ronek
Judie Root
Staff: Kelly Larson Carol Spinoso
Approval of Minutes
Commissioner Hansen moved to approve the Dubuque Human Rights Commission meeting minutes
of September 28, 2011. Commissioner Elliott seconded. All in favor of approving the meeting
minutes as submitted.
Reports
Caseload Report
A written report for September 2011 was submitted.
Chairperson's Report
Commissioner Allen expressed disappointment in commissioner attendance at the October 7th goal
setting; and since there was not a quorum present, they will need to reschedule that session. It was
the consensus of the commission to hold the goal setting session from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on
Saturday, December 3 at the Prescott Neighborhood Resource Center. Staff will check with absent
commissioners to verify their availability.
Director's Report
Kelly reported that the ICC Training Team is conducting three rounds of training for new city staff. A
contract has been signed with NICC to offer classes through their business consortium beginning in
January. They will begin working with Hillcrest, Goodwill and the Riverview Center in helping them
create their own internal intercultural competence teams. Staff is working with the Multicultural
Family Center in updating our list of interpreters and translators that we have for various languages
and will need to have people available who have gone through the State Certification Program in
Iowa.
Old Business
Review and Discuss Goals and Collaborations:
Goal #1: Fair Housing — Joint forum with Housing/Transit Commissions
Commissioner Allen reported that this goal was completed August 15.
Goal #2: Improve Commission Performance
Commissioner Allen asked staff to prepare an attendance list and send it out to the commission. He
stated that he will send reminder notices to commissioners the Friday prior to a commission meeting.
Goal #3: Establish a Working Group to Facilitate Transportation Goals
This goal was completed August 15. Commissioner Stewart serves on the Transit Board so she will
provide updates as they meet.
Goal #4: Establish a Tenant Association
Commissioner Allen suggested further dialogue on this at goal setting.
New Business
Commissioner Beacham announced the Diversity University for students at Clarke University which
will be held November 11. Some topics include anti - bullying, and harassment with regards to color
and sexual orientation. She would like to see the commission's goals include some work on bullying,
not just in the schools, but citywide.
Commissioner Allen distributed the meeting notice for the October 11 Safe Community Advisory
Commission. This month's meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. at Lincoln School and the public is
welcome to attend.
Commissioner Beacham called for a recess at 5:39 and Commissioner Hansen seconded. All in
favor.
CITY OF DUBUQUE
Joint Meeting — October 10, 2011
Dubuque Human Rights Commission, Dubuque Dispute Resolution Center
Dubuque Community Advisory Panel
Commissioner Allen convened the joint meeting of the Dubuque Human Rights Commission (DHRC),
Dubuque Dispute Resolution Center (DDRC) and Dubuque Community Advisory Panel (DCAP) at
5:47 p.m., Keystone, 2310 Chaney Road, Dubuque.
Introductions:
Anthony Allen: DHRC, DDRC, DCAP
Roger Maiers: DDRC
Scott Baxter: DCAP
Lynn Sutton: NAACP
Corine Murray: DDRC
Kurt Hansen: DHRC, DDRC, DCAP
Carol Spinoso, Intake Specialist
Kelly Larson, Human Rights Director
Mike Elliott: DHRC
Mitzy Krey: DHRC
Judy Giesen, DCAP
Andrea Beacham: DHRC, DCAP
Graciela Canerio- Livingston: DCAP
RRS Stewart: DHRC, DDRC
John Digman: DDRC
Commissioner Allen shared that as Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission, he wanted the
Commission to meet with various groups and organizations that share the same goals. He provided
background information as to the creation of DCAP. Roger Maiers provided details on the formation
and process of the DDRC. Kelly provided details of the Department's restructuring as a result of a
recommendation by the Safe Community Task Force which focused on strengthening preventative
work in the community related to human rights. As a result of that, once complaints are formally filed
with the Human Rights Office, they are forwarded on to the Legal Department for the Assistant City
Attorney to make the actual legal determination on the complaint. This allows staff more time to
focus on in -house mediation and education and outreach out in the community.
In an attempt to collaborate, Commissioner Allen offered the following questions: 1) In what ways can
we work together to facilitate goals for each group? 2) What are the barriers that each organization
faces? 3) In the coming year is it possible to plan a forum related to bullying, harassment and
community involvement?
It was suggested to extend that to include bullying that occurs due to disability, stature, and sexual
orientation. Commissioner Beacham mentioned that Galena held City -wide mediation training for
community members to teach people to talk with one another. Commissioner Hansen has contact
with Professor Dan Olsen from Wartburg Seminary who is researching the concept of contempt who
may be an interesting contributor to a forum such as this. Judy Giesen recommended retired Chief of
Police John Mauss as someone to speak on civility.
It was recommended as a first step that each group set dates by which to have goals established and
then to share that information among these agencies.
A barrier is that both the DHRC and DCAP are faced with ongoing membership turnover. Another
concern is the rumor circulating in the Hispanic community that there is a federal effort through
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), who are here attempting to locate people without
proper immigration documentation. Lynn Sutton stated that the city is aware of this concern through
conversations at the Hispanic Community Group meetings, and that the rumors are not true and they
are working to address the issues as well as dispelling the rumors. A question was raised as to
whether Dubuque was involved in the Secure Community initiative through the Department of
Homeland Security and if there was a relationship with local law enforcement? Kelly explained that
the Secure Communities Initiative has to do with sharing of fingerprint information between agencies
and that the County Sherriff's Department, not the Police Department, handles all fingerprint
information. In any event, the federal agencies involved can share information freely without the
cooperation of the local sheriff's department and that has recently been clarified by a federal policy
change. John Digman and Scott Baxter provided information as to the policies and procedures of the
Police Department when it comes to immigrant arrests. Commissioner Allen asked that Lynn provide
updates from the Hispanic Community Group meetings.
As citizens there are things they can do. The Dreams Act will come up again and the Human Rights
Commission could take a stand on it and talk to representatives in Congress and say as a
commission we think this is a matter of justice and we think these kids need to be allowed to be
educated. Judy Giesen stated that there are people who can make a presentation on the Dreams
Act to the Human Rights Commission. Commissioner Allen suggested discussing this at goal setting.
Commissioner Allen will arrange future dates when the commission can meet with representation
from the DDRC and DCAP as we continue on with this process.
Adjournment
Motion to adjourn by Commissioner Elliott and second by Commissioner Krey. All in favor. The
meeting of the Human Rights Commission adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
Minutes approved as submitted:
Minutes approved as corrected: