Item A: Human Rights Commission Annual Report

Home Browse Search

ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: Annual Meeting with the Human Rights Commission Meeting Date: June 30, 2010 Agenda Item Number: A Department: Central Services/City Manager’s Office Staff Contact: Holly LeMasurier www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5619 ISSUE STATEMENT This work session provides an opportunity for the City Council and Human Rights Commission (HRC) to discuss shared goals and the HRC work plan. Commissioners will provide a brief update on accomplishments of FY10, and will highlight issues and key work items for FY11. BACKGROUND The City Council and the Human Rights Commission hold an annual meeting to review the work of the commission, and discuss human rights issues. The council approved a two-year work plan for the Human Rights Commission in 2009. The Human Rights Commission FY10/11 Work Plan is focused on four goals:  Increase Commission effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability in responding to and aiding in the resolution of incidents of discrimination and harassment.  Promote relationships and build capacity between the community and Human Rights Commission through collaborative work on human rights issues.  Enhance relationships and communications with the Eugene City Council, Equity and Human Rights Board, other commissions, and City staff.  Work toward the adoption of a Human Rights City Framework. The goals of the work plan expand capacity to address important issues in our community through the Human Rights Commission, City Council and City organization, all in partnership with community members and organizations. The Human Rights Commission in its current form, and the standing committees of the commission, were established by Ordinance 19732 in 1990. The commission has 15 members, 14 of whom are appointed by the City Council and one who is a member of the council. The current City Council liaison is Councilor George Brown. The commission’s history goes back even further than 1990. The Human Rights Program began in the late 1960s with a Human Rights Commission that focused on race relations and issues of the community's ethnic minority members. It developed into five constituency-based commissions: Commission on the Rights of the Aging; Commission on the Rights of People with Disabilities; Commission on the Rights of Minorities; Commission on the Rights of Women; and Commission on the Rights of Youth. A President’s Council with a representative from each commission was charged with Z:\CMO\2010 Council Agendas\M100630\S100630A.doc