Minutes_Human Rights Commission 6 10 13CITY OF DUBUQUE
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES OF
June 10, 2013
Commissioner Allen called the meeting of the Dubuque Human Rights Commission to order at
4:42 p.m. on Monday, June 10, 2013, at the City Hall Annex, 1300 Main Street, Conference Room!!
Dubuque, Iowa.
Roll CaII:
Present: Anthony Allen, Chair Miguel Jackson
Andrea Helgager Jeff Lenhart
Howard Lee RRS Stewart, Vice -Chair
Absent: Andrea Beacham Mike Elliott
Staff:
Carol Spinoso Kelly Larson
Manisha Paudel
Reflections
Carol introduced Manisha Paudel, the new Human Relations Specialist.
Approval of Minutes
Commissioner Stewart moved to approve the meeting minutes of May 13, 2013. Commissioner
Lenhart seconded. All in favor.
Reports
Caseload Report
The written report for May 2013 was received and filed.
Chairperson's Report
Commissioner Allen reported that he has been working with the Dubuque Community
Advisory Panel in reviewing the Memorandum of Understanding between the NAACP and the
City of Dubuque. They are considering changing the name, and restructuring the way intakes
are performed.
Director's Report:
No report.
Old Business
Review and Discuss Goals
Goal #1: Increase opportunities for citizen dialogue and education on human and civil rights:
Howard, Miguel, Anthony, Jeff, RRS, Andrea H.
Commissioner Stewart distributed the Disabilities Awareness Month Proclamation she
prepared. Commissioner Stewart moved to approve the proclamation and Commissioner
Lenhart seconded. All in favor. The proclamation will be submitted to the City Council at their
July 1 meeting.
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Goal #2: Commission business /improve HRC quality: Miguel, Howard, Anthony, Andrea B.,
Mike, Jeff
Rule of the Month: Commissioners reviewed Title 8, Chapter 3, Article A, Disability
Discrimination and Chapter 4, Enforcement of Civil Rights. For next month's meeting
Commissioners will report on the following: Elliott/Stewart — 8 -3A -3; Allen 8 4 4(D);
Beacham — 8 -4 -5 (A) & (B); Helgager — 8 -4 -5 (C) & (D); Jackson — 8 -4 -6 (A)(1);
Lee — 8 -4 -6 (A)(2); Lenhart — 8 -4 -6 (B) & (C).
Goal #3: Community dialogue and education on bullying and violence:
Miguel, Howard, Andrea B., Jeff, RRS
Commissioner Stewart reported that she had attended the Pride Parade in Des Moines this
past weekend. The Cedar Valley is having their Pride Fest on August 24`h
Commissioners Stewart and Jackson met with Cori Burbach the Sustainability Coordinator
regarding the grant award for the DBQ Community BBQ. Carol will contact Cori to get the
charge code for expenses. The amount awarded was $1,900.00.
Commissioner Stewart invited Jodi Johnson from The Jule, and Michelle Huseman from
ECIA, to discuss transportation arrangements for the DBQ BBQ and other activities during the
Day of Peace event on September 21 at Clarke University. Jodi stated that they have the
Grey Line and the Night Rider that can accommodate riders. They will issue a press release
with details about the route for this event as time nears. She also stated that they can display
posters advertising the event in the buses.
Goal #4: Increase collaborations /partnerships to further the mission of the DHRC:
Howard, Miguel, Andrea H., RRS, Mike
Follow -up on Title VI Compliance — Crenna Brumwell
Crenna stated that she is reviewing the information that Commissioner Stewart sent her, and
has dome some research gathering plans from other communities. She stated that the City
has a number of Administrative Policies in place that cover a lot of the items that they are
requiring in a plan. This relates to Federal funding for transportation which gets filtered down
through the Iowa DOT. We are now required to make some compliance statements and
plans related to our civil rights ordinance saying that this is how we are going to handle these
situations. At this point she will need to meet with Engineering and Transit personnel to go
over the materials and their process. She indicated that the city currently does annual
compliance checks for projects which receive federal funding. The report requires that we
disclose any /all complaints against the City for alleged civil rights violations. She will keep
them informed as to the development of this plan.
New Business
Proposed Ordinance Amendment Related to 8- 3A -2(C) Exclusions
At last month's meeting commissioners agreed to move the words "transvestism,
transsexualism and gender identity from 8- 3A- 2(C)(2)(a) to 8- 3A- 2(C)(1) as they are not
considered sexual behavior disorders. Crenna suggested some reorganization of the entire
"Exclusions" section. Commissioner Stewart moved to approve the proposed ordinance
amendment with the changes suggested, and send it on to the City Council for consideration.
Commissioner Lenhart seconded. All in favor. The Legal Department will prepare the
amendment and the Chair and Vice -Chair will prepare a cover letter for the City Council.
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Commissioner Helgager reported that she is working on the I Love Campaign and they have
been awarded a Sustainability Grant. She questioned whether she could participate as a
Human Rights Commissioner, and asked if anyone was interested in working with her on this
initiative which will be in September. Commissioner Allen felt it was a good fit for their
partnership goals. Commissioner Helgager will forward information on this campaign to
commission members.
Commissioner Lenhart mentioned that the City Life Program ended last Thursday, and that he
will be putting together a diversity cookbook as his community project. He is accepting
recipes.
The next Circles initiative graduation is scheduled for June 21, and the Juneteenth celebration
will be at Comisky Park on Saturday, June 15.
Adjournment
Motion to adjourn by Commissioner Stewart. Second by Commissioner Jackson. All in favor. The
meeting of the Human Rights Commission adjourned at 5:45 p.m.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Mond
Minutes approved as submitted:
Minutes approved as corrected:
Y,
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