12/08/1982 Meeting (4) - Laserfiche WebLink

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~ . VI. CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSAL TO RESTRUCTURE THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AND e CALL FOR PUBLIC HEARING (memo distributed) Mr. Gleason introduced Marge Beck, Director of Council and Community Services. Ms. Beck said that changes were proposed to the structure and activities of the human rights commissions. She said that the proposed changes in structure called for retention of the five existing commissions, with a reduction from the current nine members per commission to a proposed seven members, and replacement of the current ten-member Human Rights Council with a five-member group made up of the presidents of each of the five commissions. Regarding proposed changes in commission activities, Ms. Beck said the commissions would work together to set yearly goals and work plans based on City Council goals and would make quarterly reports on their activities to the Presidents' Council, tracking their progress in meeting those goals. She said that each commission would sponsor or participate in at least two direct service activities to meet the needs of its constituent groups in the community. Ms. Beck said that each commission would send a written year-end report of its activities to the City Council. Ms. Beck gave some background on the proposal. She said that since the spring of 1982, staff and commission members have worked on an assessment of the human rights program and recommendations for improvements to the program. She sai d that as a part of this assessment City Council members, present and past commission members, City staff, and constituent groups had been surveyed by means of written questionnaires. She said the results of the questionnaires showed that the commissions were of value but that their work needed to be more closely coordinated with City goals, activities, and programs. Ms. Beck requested that e the council call a public hearing for December 13, 1982, on the proposed changes. She said she would discuss the changes in more detail at that time. Mr. Obie moved, seconded by Ms. Schue, to call a public hearing for December 13, 1982, to consider restructuring of the Human Rights Commissions. Councilor Obie requested that staff present information at the Oecember 13 meeting on the fiscal impact of the proposed restructuring. Councilor Miller suggested that the council consider reducing the number of members on each commission to five, rather than the proposed seven. She al so suggested that the council consider how it might do a more effective job of making appointments to the commissions. Roll call vote; motion carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned. session was held in the McNutt Room on improvements City's Capital Improvements Program. - (Recorded by Darcy Marentette) MDG:DCM:bm/CM7b22 MINUTES--Eugene City Council December 8, 1982 Page 4