Item B: Annual Meeting with Human Rights Commission

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HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAM FY 2006 ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES ON RACE AND HOMELESSNESS LRCS Executive Manager Angel Jones about the Eugene Public Library's practice of issuing only temporary library cards to homeless residents. A new policy was implemented that ensures that homeless residents who provide a contact address through a recognized agency are issued permanent library cards. Recommendations on Homelessness Action Plan: In De- cember 2005, a subcommittee of the Human Rights Support System wrote a letter to the Homelessness Staff Action Team with recommendations that would enhance outreach and strate- gies. The two groups held several meetings and the staff team supported the subcommittee's offer to hold a number of "summit" meetings with homeless community members. Three gatherings were held and participant feedback was forwarded to the staff action team and City Council. In February 2005, the Eugene City Council held a retreat at which the Mayor and Council prioritized eight topic areas for further goal-setting. Two of these goals addressed issues of race relations and homelessness. The Human Rights Commis- sion made a commitment through its work plan to support, review, and provide input on the council's and organization's work on these priorities. The commission and its committees actively participated in furthering these priorities in many ways during FY 2006, including the following actions Training on Institutional Privilege: City Councilors, com- missioners, and community members participated in an all-day training on institutional privilege facilitated by members of the Interagency Diversity and Equity Consortium (IDEC) in Sep- tember 2005. City Council/Communities of Color Workshop: In the spring of 2006, city councilors, staff, and community members developed plans for an extended City Council session at which the mayor, city councilors and the city manager would meet with people from communities of color to share information about issues of race in Eugene. Facilitator Phyllis Lee was hired and she met with city councilors and community members be- fore the workshop. The event was held in July 2006 and was attended by approximately 80 people. At least twelve of the participants are currently associated with the Human Rights Pro- gram. Debrief sessions will take place in the fall of 2006. Council Priorities Progress Reports The commission In- vited staff leads for each of these priorities to report staff team progress. In October 2005, HRRS Executive Manager Lauren Chouinard provided a report on the council's priority on race action plan, and in December 2005, LRCS Executive Man- ager Angel Jones and action team member Mike Magee re- ported on the priority on homelessness Library Cards to People who are fall of 2005, a group of commissioners and met with City Manager Dennis Taylor and Policy on Issuing Homeless: In the committee members Page 13 FY 2007/2008 Work Plan FY 2006 Annual Report and Eugene Human Rights Commission