CC Minutes - 09/22/03 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Ms. Nathanson remarked that the commission's annual work program was expansive and asked if it was sufficiently flexible to allow the commission to address emerging issues. Ms. Ortiz said she felt the work program was inclusive of those issues about which commissioners were passionate. Mr. Dean responded that the work plan had been pared down over the past few years due to staff reductions, and the commission was also sharing the work load on some projects with Lane County and community organizations. Ms. Nathanson asked if the commission would be willing to prioritize work program items in the event that additional budget cuts required the scope of work to be further reduced. She expressed appreciation for the commission's efforts to share responsibility for some program elements with other agencies and asked for examples of those at a future date. Mr. Meisner echoed Ms. Nathanson's request for more information on programs that had been successfully shared or %pun off" to other agencies. He noted several items in common in the work plans for the HRC and Police Commission and expressed hope that staff resources could be efficiently used and efforts of the commissions would not duplicate each other. He asked what impacts the commission perceived State budget cuts to social service programs. Mr. Dean said the commission had been contacted by individuals who were concerned about loss of benefits. Mr. Van Steenbergen replied that the HRC and Police Commission, at a September 11, 2003, meeting, established an ad hoc committee to explore efficient ways to work together on police interaction with the community. Ms. Bettman thanked commissioners and subcommittee volunteers for their work on behalf of the City. She said it was difficult to quantify results or measure the impact of the commission's work because it was proactive and preventive in nature and not as tangible as a construction project. She sympathized with the commission's efforts to accomplish its work program with reduced staff resources. She asked commissioners for their opinions onthe characteristics of candidates the council should consider when filling HRC vacancies. She also asked if the commission's work program was based on a model from another community and how it compared to work being done, in terms of volume, in other cities. Ms. Ortiz stated she would like to see better representation of youth, both on the HRC and other boards and commissions. She said the HRC's Human Rights Support System was used as a model in the Bethel School District for conflict resolution and PeaceHealth was using the HRC's diversity program as a model. Mr. Dean agreed that the support system was a unique accomplishment for the commission and the model was being shared with many other jurisdictions and agencies. Mr. Van Steenbergen said that there were profound human rights issues facing the nation and the community and commissioners would continue to work on improving strategies and skills to deal with those issues. He said the commission's work in the community was often invisible because it was preventive in nature, but provided critical services to the City and to the public. Mr. Kelly commented that he had been the council's representative on the HRC since January and said it was an honor and pleasure to work with such a passionate, committed, and informed group. He also expressed pleasure with the quality of staff support provided to the commission. He described the thorough and deliberative process the commission used to develop the work MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 22, 2003 Page 4 Work Session