Item B: HRC - Recommendations from HR Listening Project

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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: Human Rights Project Recommendations Meeting Date: October 24, 2011 Agenda Item Number: B Department: Central Services Staff Contact: Raquel Wells www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-8439 ISSUE STATEMENT Staff and Human Rights Commissioners have been assessing how to better achieve human rights framework goals and better support advisory groups connected to the council and stakeholders. This work session with the City Council, Human Rights Commissioners and staff is to report on the review and provide a series of recommendations for council’s consideration. BACKGROUND In April, the City Manager directed staff to begin looking at potential improvements to the current human rights system. Broad input from commissioners, staff and key stakeholders was needed to build understanding of:  the commission’s role with the Mayor and council, City staff, and the community;  best practices, needs and trends that impact the City’s role and practices around human rights; and,  models for an effective and efficient structure to support the City’s human rights goals. The Human Rights Listening Project has been a five-month, intensive project with several phases (see Attachment A). The project was overseen by a project team with equal representation from commissioners and City staff. The project reached over 600 community members to understand their views on the current status of human rights within the Eugene community and what they would like to see the commission and City of Eugene focus efforts on. Special outreach specifically to youth (14-24), immigrant communities, and community members who are currently un-housed were a priority of this project. Listening sessions included perspectives on accessibility, housing, communities of color, elected officials, City staff, and the general public. All of the information gathered from surveys, stakeholder interviews, focus groups, listening circles, and community events was compiled and provided to the University of Oregon Community Planning Workshop who performed an independent analysis of the comments received (see Attachment B). Staff researched other municipal models to help guide an understanding of national best practices (see Attachment C). All of the information provided a clear picture of some of the key issues to be addressed or considered (see Attachment A). S:\CMO\2011 Council Agendas\M111024\S111024B.doc