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leadership and communication and coordination were good. She said that more people were <br />needed to help with the work and the CIC had played a significant role in engaging the public. <br /> <br />Mr. Pap6 echoed Mr. Kelly's commendation of the commission and its work and offered in <br />contrast his recent experience in Idaho where a community there had to deal with an Aryan <br />Nation march and its aftermath. He suggested to the community that it consider establishing a <br />Human Rights Commission. <br /> <br />Mr. Meisner expressed his thanks and appreciation to the commission. He noted that case <br />statistics for the support system program appeared to be lower in 2004 and asked if the <br />commission would prefer flexibility in the use of the staff member assigned specifically to case <br />management. Human Rights Program Director Greg Rikhoff replied that since the position was <br />added, the commission's staff had decreased by one position and the support system was <br />managed flexibly by staff. <br /> <br />Referring to the "wish list" on page 27 of the report, Mr. Meisner suggested that the commission <br />should clarify its intent by referring to the topics as a "wish list" of activities instead of items that <br />might be discussed at commission meetings. <br /> <br />Mayor Torrey asked if the Accessibility Committee was involved in discussions with LTD about <br />the impact of bus rapid transit (BRT) on accessibility of the downtown streets. Mr. Souers <br />replied that a committee representative was now on LTD's Accessibility Committee and <br />attending meetings. <br /> <br />Mayor Torrey urged Mr. Souers to contact Chris Henry, the City staff person who was handling <br />issues of BRT and accessibility on Willamette Street and 10th Avenue intersections. He said <br />decisions would be made very soon and it was imperative that the Accessibility Committee be <br />involved. <br /> <br />Mayor Torrey noted that the HIV Alliance was requesting additional funding for its needle <br />exchange program and there was little public support. He asked if the commission had worked <br />with that organization or been contacted for assistance. Ms. Rich replied that the HIV Alliance <br />had not sought help from the commission. Mayor Torrey suggested that an HRC staff member <br />contact the alliance. <br /> <br /> Ms. Bettman moved, seconded by Mr. Poling, to approve the <br /> Human Rights Commission goals and work plan for FY 2005. <br /> <br />Ms. Bettman said she supported the commission wholeheartedly and commended their ambitious <br />goals and work plan. <br /> <br />Mr. Kelly said he enthusiastically supported the commission's goals and work plan. He offered <br />his perspective as a commission member on what the community could do to improve its human <br />rights efforts. He said the community has a "blinders on" smugness about being a progressive, <br />tolerant bastion in the Northwest and while that was true in many aspects, there still existed very <br />real issues of racism and discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, and other factors. He said the <br />first step in addressing those problems was to acknowledge them. <br /> <br />Mayor Torrey complimented the commission members for their hard work and participation in <br />events throughout the community. He thanked Ms. Rich for chairing the commission. <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 26, 2004 Page 5 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />