Item 3A: Approval of City Council Minutes

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4. ACTION: Human Rights Commission Membership Councilor Clark, seconded by Councilor Taylor, moved to concur with the Human Rights Commission recommendation to remove the Position 6 incumbent from the commission and fill the vacancy from the non-commission members of the commission’s standing committees. Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Zelenka, moved to amend the motion by making the council the body that makes the appointment. Human Rights Commission staff Holly LeMasurier indicated that the code calls for the commission to appoint a member from among its standing committees. Councilor Taylor withdrew her motion. Councilor Zelenka withdrew his second. Responding to a question from Councilor Poling, Ms. LeMasurier indicated that the commissioner in question would have missed six months, including two absences before a proposed leave. Responding to a question from Councilor Clark, Ms. LeMasurier indicated the term in question was due to expire in July. Councilor Clark concurred with Councilor Poling’s remarks. Councilor Poling said he did not understand what was going on and for that reason would not support the motion. City Manager Ruiz said it was not merely an issue of missed meetings, but an anticipated absence that would mean a total of six meetings, or half the individual’s term, would be missed. Councilor Poling pointed out that a leave of absence could be granted by the commission. Councilor Brown said the individual in question also missed events and subcommittee meetings that were attended by other commissioners. It was not merely a question of missing two meetings. Councilor Poling said he had considerable respect for HRC Chair Linda Hamilton but the letter that was sent was not informative and lacked transparency. Councilor Pryor agreed that a significant part of the problem was the lack of full communication about the rationale for removing the commissioner in question. He understood the concern about attendance but said that removing a person from a commission should not be done capriciously. He did not have enough information about the situation to make a judgment at this time. Councilor Ortiz noted her long-time membership on the commission and noted that there was no precedent in her memory, as persons who did not attend were encouraged to resign. She did not know why that approach was not taken, but if the chair of the commission was making the request she was happy to support the motion. However, she did not perceive the votes were in place. Councilor Pryor left the meeting. City Manager Ruiz recommended that the council postpone action until June 28. MINUTES—City Council June 14, 2010 Page 9