CC Minutes - 11/13/01 Work Session

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Ms. Middleton provided a brief overview of the commission's activities over the past year in the area of hate crimes, specifically noting the very successful Oregon Hate Crimes Conference co- sponsored by the commission. Mr. Deutsch expressed appreciation to Chief Hill and Mr. Johnson for their support of and commitment to human rights, particularly in response to the events of September 11. He discussed the commission's work in response to the events of September 11, acknowledging the efforts made by City leaders. Ms. Middleton reviewed the commission's efforts in encouraging community awareness, which included the Walk for Farmworker Justice and various outreach efforts conducted by the commission. Ms. Ortiz provided information about the commission's work with the Police Department, which included cooperative work on racial profiling, diversity trainings, the hate crimes conference, and joint meetings with the Police Commission. Ms. Middleton discussed the commission's efforts in building commission capacity, stressing the commission's efforts at self-education. Ms. Ortiz noted the commission's participation in the Police Department's diversity trainings, which in many cases involved commissioners taking time off work without pay. Ms. Ortiz called the council's attention to the information on complaints processed through the Human Rights Support System. She noted that because of budget constraints, no advocacy training had been done in some time to allow current advocates to hone their skills. Ms. Ortiz reviewed the commission's goals for fiscal year 2002, which were reflected in the commission's work plan on pages 25-30. Mr. Dean, chair of the Human Rights Commission's Accessibility Committee, expressed appreciation for Ms. Taylor's earlier information request on pedestrian safety devices for the blind, and emphasized the committee's networking with various groups, including the Police Department, on pedestrian safety and access. He said that many approaches were being tested in different cities, but there was a difference of opinion as to what was safe. The committee was working actively on the issue. He also mentioned the committee's work on updating the Accessibility Guidebook. Ms. Rich, chair of the Human Rights Commission Education & Outreach Committee, discussed the commission's efforts to establish a domestic partnership registry. A work group would be formed to determine how the registry would work and how the process could move forward. Ms. Rich briefly noted the commission's work to establish Eugene as a Human Rights City. She encouraged the City Council to have a work session on the subject, and to discuss any issues or concerns the commission could address in ordinance form. MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 13, 2001 Page 6 Work Session