Item 3A: Approval of City Council Minutes

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Mr. McGowan reported that the highest number of cases still were in relation to the EPD, with race, ethnicity, and disability cases also being high. Ms. Urbina gave an update on the HRC's commitment to addressing emerging issues. She said that a difficult problem for the HRC was to say "no." She said that people were always bringing issues before the commission with the expectation that the commission would do something about those issues. She repeated that these issues were important and that it was extremely difficult to say "no." Ms. Urbina reported on the following issues which the commission did address: . The Eugene Public Library access issue - brought forth by an HRSS advocate · Racial Profiling/Race Relations - partnered with the City Club for Study Circles on Racism and partnered with the City to provide diversity training for City Councilors · Held a Mental Health and Human Rights Forum on March 26,2005 - future forums were planned . Held a joint meeting with the Police Commission . Worked with Communities United for Better Policing (CUBP) · Participated in and monitored the Complaint Process and Civilian Oversight research done by the Police Commission · Social Security Number Policy Outreach - The HRC was charged with developing and administering the $5,000 contract to coordinate outreach activities in the Latino and Spanish-speaking communities. The HRC selected Centro LatinoAmericano to conduct the project. Commissioners and EPD person- nel visited six area churches and presented information to a total of 1,130 adults. This provided entire families with the opportunity to have one-on-one time with representatives from the EPD, the HRC, and the Police Commission. Ms. Rich reported on the Gender Identity Code revision work which had been ongoing since 2002. She said that the ultimate goal was to add gender identity as a protected class in the City's anti-discrimination ordinance. She said that the process had been an extraordinary learning experience for all involved and that the more that was learned, the more it was apparent that there was much to do before passing the legislation on to the City Council. Ms. Rich said there had been wonderful community input and response. She noted the list of Gender Identity Work Group members on page 14. She thanked those members and the staff for all of their time and research. She said that the work would continue. Ms. Rich began a review ofthe 2005-06 Work Plan. Goal]: Build Community Within the Human Rights Commission that Encourages Accomplishing its Community Work with Integrity Ms. Rich said that the HRC would be concentrating on actively recruiting new members for the HRC and its committees. She said that it was exciting meeting people at different events such as the Asian Celebration, informing them of the HRC and its work, and eventually having some of them become active members and participants in the program. Goal2: Build Community Within City Government that Holds City Organization Accountable on Issues of Social Justice Ms. Urbina said the commissioners were very excited to partner with the City in the development ofthe issues of race and homelessness. She said the HRC could bring the voices that were not usually heard to MINUTES-Eugene City Council Work Session October 24, 2005 Page 11