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• It is important to recognize the gap in understanding that exists among people and broaden the <br />community's knowledge of human rights. Human rights should be both an umbrella philosophy <br />and a lens through which all City decision - making occurs. (Hammitt) <br />• Consider the City's role in terms of the white privilege model; the City is a major landowner with <br />the right to make and enforce laws and determine what services to provide, and it is important <br />that decisions related to those areas are made through a human right lens to ensure they are the <br />right decisions. (Medary) <br />• The City has a responsibility to create bridges and opportunities for those who cannot look out for <br />themselves or share their perspectives. The HRC raises awareness of those voices and the poor <br />conditions that people sometimes live in. (Wells) <br />• The principles of diversity, equity, and human rights form the underpinnings for a respectful work <br />place. A respectful work place is necessary to allow those who provided services to the <br />community to work at their highest level, which is what the community expects and needs. That <br />strengthens the organization, which helps reinforce a similar culture in the community. (Corey) <br />• It is important to protect human rights because people are sometimes treated differently because <br />of how they look. Anti - immigrant sentiment adds to that, and sometimes the community is not <br />safe. Eugene has a municipal model that works but it needs to be revised in response to changes <br />in the community so Eugene is open and safe for everyone. (Johnson) <br />• The purpose of government is to protect people's rights and establish justice. The best work of <br />the HRC helps the council to achieve those goals. (Clark) <br />• The HRC helps to keep commissioners connected to accessibility and homeless issues. (Fish) <br />Those present briefly discussed the symbolic nature of local resolutions directed at actions taken by <br />governments in other states, such as a resolution directed against the laws passed in Arizona related to <br />illegal immigration, as opposed to potentially more effective resolutions aimed at actions taken by units of <br />governments more directly related to the City of Eugene. <br />City Manager Ruiz asked those present to consider what issues addressed by the council would benefit <br />from a human rights perspective. <br />Mayor Piercy could think of few topics the council discussed that lacked a human rights component and <br />suggested the question was better cast as what was the appropriate role of the HRC. She suggested that <br />the HRC could bring items to the council that it believed required more attention. <br />Ms. Taylor suggested the commission could offer input on the Downtown Public Safety Zone. <br />Ms. Andrade believed that more community education about human rights in general was needed. <br />Mr. Poling suggested the HRC could help the City transition its current focus on fostering affordable <br />housing and employment in downtown to accomplishing those same goals in other areas of the <br />community. <br />Ms. Mortensen emphasized the HRC's interest in homelessness and its desire to place more energy on the <br />topic. She advocated for the creation of a more fluid communication system between the HRC and the <br />council. She questioned whether the council- commission "buddy" system worked as effectively as <br />possible and called for more discussion of that. She thought such communication was vital. <br />Mr. Pryor asked the HRC for its perspective on whether human behaviors as opposed to human <br />conditions justified something like the Downtown Public Safety Zone. He also asked for HRC discussion <br />MINUTES— Eugene City Council May 18, 2011 Page 3 <br />Work Session <br />