Item B: Workshop with Human Rights Commission

Home Browse Search

ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Workshop: City Council Priority Issue - Joint Meeting with Human Rights Commission Meeting Date: December 29, 2006 Agenda Item Number: B Department: Human Resource and Risk Services Staff Contact: Lauren Chouinard www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5663 ISSUE STATEMENT This item is part of the City Council’s priority to “Enhance understanding of race issues and improve race relationships.” One of the action plan items in the priority calls for a meeting between the council and the Human Rights Commission (HRC) to explore strategies for the council, HRC, and the City organization to more effectively assess, manage, and support issues of race and diversity in the community. A second action plan item calls for the development of an integrated, rapid response plan outlining actions to be taken by the council when acts of racism happen in the community. The focus of this joint meeting will be a discussion regarding the development of a hate incident response plan. Many of the hate incidents in Eugene are acts of racism. Attachment A is a rough draft of a response plan provided for discussion purposes. BACKGROUND In August 2005, the City Council adopted an action plan for the council priority on race. In July 2006, the City Council met with 65 members of the communities of color for a dialogue on issues of race and race relationships in the community. In October 2006, an ad hoc committee known as the Community Committee on Race (CCR) was formed. The CCR was tasked with reviewing notes and suggestions that came from the July meeting and developing a set of recommendations from the community to the council. One of the topics of discussion by the CCR has been the need for public officials to swiftly respond when acts of racism and hate occur in the community. This has also been a topic of discussion by the Human Rights Commission. Given the convergence of the council’s action plan items, discussions at the CCR and HRC, and the recent occurrences of racist and hate graffiti in the community, the topic of a hate incident response plan was chosen for the council/HRC workshop on January 8. The meeting will begin with a brief summary of the CCR’s progress to date. Phyllis Lee, facilitator of the July 12 City Council and community meeting, will be present to facilitate the workshop discussion. RELATED CITY POLICIES This workshop is related to action plan items in the City Council priority to enhance understanding of race issues and improve race relationships. L:\CMO\2007 Council Agendas\M070108\S070108B.doc