CC Minutes - 03/11/09 Work Session

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Ms. Leonard and Ms. Reza reviewed the four objectives/priorities in the work plan, as outlined in the Agenda Item Summary (AIS) and attachment entitled Human Rights Commission FY10/11 Work Plan. Ms. Reza discussed the outcomes of the first goal, which had to do with working to increase the Human Rights Commission’s effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability in responding to and aiding in the resolution of incidents of discrimination and harassment. She stated that the primary responsibility for achieving the outcome would fall on the Advocates Response Team (ART) and the Human Right Support System (HRSS), which would focus more on the management of the goal and working with volunteers. Ms. Leonard related that the second goal, which sought to promote relationships between the community and HRC through collaborative work on human rights issues, would be achieved by increasing the training and education for commissioners and in community engagement and support. She said the commission hoped to sponsor community summits so that community members could come and talk to elected officials and a human rights summit to educate the community. She stated that HRC leadership, HRC staff, and the Education and Outreach Committee would take primary responsibility for this goal. Ms. Leonard stated that the third goal was focused on enhancing the relationships and communications with the City of Eugene council, boards, commissions, and staff. She said the HRC ordinance contained language regarding how the HRC might interact at policy levels and with department chairs. She noted that the primary responsibility for the goal would fall to the leadership of the HRC, the HRC itself, and the individual liaisons to the other commissions and the Civilian Review Board (CRB). Ms. Reza said the fourth goal was around working toward the implementation of a Human Rights Framework. She related that the HRC was getting a lot of feedback from other cities looking to Eugene as a possible example of a human rights city. She said they hoped to present a recommendation to the City Council in that regard, possibly in the form of a draft human rights ordinance to push forward the framework of a human rights city. She stated that the goal would be worked on by the commissioners and the community members that were interested in it. Ms. Leonard indicated that she would send the councilors an email with all of the acknowledgements she wanted to share with them. She related that the Accessibility Committee had been working on taxi accessibility, the City’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) transportation plan, the bicycle and pedestrian plan, curb cuts, accessible signals and intersections, and things along that line. Ms. Leonard said the HRC wanted to have a clearer plan for how incidents of hate, such as hate graffiti, would be handled. She underscored the importance of responding in a way that engaged the community and showed the community’s ability to provide support rapidly. Ms. Leonard thanked the councilors, and especially Mr. Clark for serving as the council liaison to the HRC. She welcomed Mr. Brown as the new council liaison to the HRC. Ms. Reza reiterated the desire of the HRC to figure out ways to better collaborate with the council in addition to finding better ways to provide support and advice to the council on issues related to human rights. She asked for council input about ways the HRC could provide this type of support. She also asked how best the HRC could use its liaison to further communication between the council and HRC. MINUTES—Eugene City Council March 11, 2009 Page 6 Work Session