06/23/1975 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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--- sented by the women's groups - an auditing process requiring an annual report to the City Council on status of human rights, especially with regard to women's programs, and the manner of membership appointments. He said it was his firm be- e lief that elected officials should have the power to designate membership on official city bodies, that membership should be nonpartisan, and that the body should fit into the city's political structure. He said the women's proposal could exclude representation from nonorganization members, minorities, elderly, and even men who could contribute by serving actively on the commission. It would "lock in" established organizations to the exclusion of organizations which might be formed in the future, and more importantly might exclude the experience needed in employment, education, and housing. The Mayor thought it an important feature also to separate the investigative and enforcement actions from the con- ciliation and adjudication actions to provide the impression of impartiality in decisions on discrimination complaints. He emphasized that his proposed Human Rights Council would not be an "umbrella," but its duties would be limited and have carefully defined specific functions, primarily one of co-ordination. It would serve as an advisory group to the Mayor and make "Council ready" proposals, also review budget requests, if the Council saw fit, and analyze human rights areas on a broad basis to make certain women's rights were adequately represented. He asked for favorable consideration of his proposal which he thought not too far removed from that made by the women's groups except in the area of overall co- ordination and composition of the commission. Councilwoman Beal thought the Mayor's proposal was "gi ving words to one side, and the decision to the other." She said a large number of women's groups behav- ing in a reasonable way had presented a reasonable request, and they should have an answer now, that six years was long enough to see how the "appointment power" and the Human Rights Commission and other governmental bodies had operated for e or against women. Councilman Williams didn't disagree with the need for a women's commission but he felt overall management in the general area of human rights needed to be faced. He visualized creation of a separate women's commission leading to creation of a separate minorities commission, etc., leading to fragmentation of the human rights program not into two parts but into perhaps six, seven, or eight parts. He felt the ~ayor's suggestion worthy of Council consideration. Councilman Murray endorsed the concept of a separate women's commission but not to the extent that it might dilute efforts toward furthering the rights of minority groups within the community. He hoped for an opportunity to review the Mayor's proposal, since it had been presented the first time at this meetingr to weigh it against the women's proposal.for a separate commission before he made his decision. Also, he hoped the women's groups had an opportunity to review it and respond be- fore action was taken. Councilman Keller concurred and said he hoped the women would want a "good" decision. In that respect, he called attention to previous discussions wherein Councilwoman Beal had deplored "quick" decisions. But to avoid letting the issue get away as they sometimes do, he suggested setting a time limit within which to bring the issue back with input and response from the women's groups on the Mayor's proposal. However, Mrs. Beal urged action at this meeting, calling a public hearing on the proposal at the June 23 Council meeting. She said the Mayor's proposal addressed the wide area of human rights problems without sufficient emphasis in anyone area. She said that human rights in the area of minorities had been taken care of. It e was the majority - women - who had suffered. The women were here, she said, to address a specific problem. Councilwoman Shirey wanted to see action taken at this time also. She felt the problem was not the same as for minoritiesr that the organization proposed by the Mayor was essentially the same as the present Human Rights Commission and would not address the women's problems. *1, 6/23/75 - 17