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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Minutes - 06/01/98 Work Session MINUTES Eugene City Council McNutt Room--City Hall June 1, 1998 5:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Tim Laue, Bobby Lee, Scott Meisner, Nancy Nathanson, Laurie Swanson Gribskov, Betty Taylor Betty Taylor, Ken Tollenaar. COUNCILORS ABSENT: Pat Farr. I. CALL TO ORDER The June 1, 1998, Eugene City Council meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m.; His Honor Mayor James D. Torrey presiding. II. ANNUAL WORK SESSION WITH THE HUMAN RIGHT COMMISSION (HRC) Those present introduced themselves. Commissioners present were Scott Seibert, James Poynor, Neil Van Steenbergen, Marshall Peter, Ron Chase, Favoure Miller, Madeline Hoffman, Gillette Hall, Norma Dominguez, Martha Fish, and Laura Stockford. Ms. Nathanson arrived at the meeting. Human Rights Commission Chair Scott Seibert introduced the report and reviewed the commission's key activities and accomplishments over the last year, highlighting the commission's relationship with the Police Department and the City Council among them. He noted that much of the work previously done by the inactive HRC Committee on Discrimination and Harassment had been taken up by the Human Rights Support System (HRSS). Emerging Issues HRSS Mr. Van Steenbergen reported on activities of the HRSS and described the process for addressing complaints that come to the system's attention. He pointed out that it was a relatively Iow cost program for the City, noting that 2,082 volunteer hours supported the system over the last 13 months. Mr. Van Steenbergen said the HRSS received support from Lane Community College and the Lane County Human Rights/Affirmative Action Committee for advocate training and expanded and deepened its relationship with the City's Police Department by providing three training sessions for department staff and officers. He noted that six complaints to the HRSS were initiated by police officers against community members. Mr. Van Steenbergen concluded his report by saying that the program does much and kept growing without any advertisement. He was indebted to the council and staff for their support. MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 1, 1998 Page 1 5:30 p.m. Police External Review Process Gretchen Miller, former commissioner, updated the council on the police external review process and said the proposed charter amendment would come before the council in the near future. She said she hoped that the external review amendment was approved by voters, should it go on the ballot, saying it was not "anti-police." Ms. Miller said the process worked as a community outreach mechanism that would greatly improve the quality of life for many in the community. She urged the council to support the External Review Advisory Committee's recommendations and thanked it for the opportunity to serve on the commission. City's Camping Ordinance Mr. Poynor thanked the council for its attention and the Council Committee on Homelessness and Youth for its work. He said the commission hoped the camping ordinance would be made a permanent part of the code and that the problems that have been identified can be resolved through better communication with all involved. Immigrant Justice Issues Ms. Hall said there was growing community concern over Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) activities in the area and the commission will likely become more actively involved in those issues in the coming year. She said the commission hoped to address two issues: 1) the legal framework in the long term; and 2) in the short term, observe and develop some code of conduct for INS. She called this report a "heads up" for the council as the item will be placed on a future council agenda. Mr. Seibert indicated that this was the major topic at the last HRC meeting, crediting the Eugene Police Department for following State law by not involving itself in documentation matters. Diversity Mr. Poynor read a report by Jennifer Boudin on community diversity, suggesting a structured public dialogue on diversity through small study circles. The report identified preliminary pilot projects conducted by the HRC Education and Outreach Committee and called for involvement from community groups to reach as many people as possible. Mr. Poynor said members of the council could expect an invitation to participate in the program in the near future. Favoure Miller discussed building an effective multi-cultural organization, emphasizing the importance of the commission modeling the values that the City was being held to. She said the commission had created a work group to make recommendations for staff training workshops and review the commission's practices to ensure that all "feel fully informed and included in all the work that we do." Work Force Diversity Mr. Peter said the commission's interest in work force diversity had intensified in the last year because there were two complaints made by City employees alleging racist behavior by co- workers; and given Chief Leonard Cooke's resignation, which represented a "major step backward in terms of diversity in upper management in the City," it raised a red flag. He said the commission asked three things of the council: 1) in thinking about work force diversity, think broadly and include gay and lesbian people, elders, people with disabilities, people of color, and MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 1, 1998 Page 2 5:30 p.m. women; 2) support the internal assessment under way examining the state of diversity in the City work force; and 3) as the financial position improves, ask the Human Resource and Risk Services Department to reaffirm its commitment to a work force that reflects the "richness of our community." Ms. Fish called attention to interim staff assignments in the City Manager's Office, the Police Department, and the Planning and Development Department and asked that the commission "have a say in designing the process for selecting staff" to fill these positions. City's Boards and Commissions Mr. Seibert recalled the commission's ongoing concern with the City's boards and commissions, particularly with gender balance and geographic representation. He said the commission was pleased that the council had given this specific attention and had invited it to participate in the discussion. Mr. Seibert said the commission will bring some "housekeeping" issues before the council in the coming year, including review of the City's anti-discrimination ordinance. He noted that there have been few problems with the ordinance and gave some credit for that to the support of the City Council. Mr. Laue arrived at the meeting. Work Plan Mr. Seibert reviewed the commission's work plan. He discussed work activities and assignments under Goal 1: "Build community within the Human Rights Commission that encourages accomplishing its community work with integrity." Ms. Stockford reviewed planned activities and assignments for the commission's Goal 2: "Build community within City government that holds City organization accountable on issues of social justice." Mr. Seibert described activities and assignments for Goal 3: "Work with Police Department and community members to promote equitable, respectful treatment by the police of all people in Eugene, particularly vulnerable populations." Ms. Stockford discussed work activities and assignments for Goal 4: "Respond to discrimination, harassment, and incidents of inequity." Mr. Seibert described work activities and assignments for Goal 5: "Encourage and promote community awareness and collaboration on critical human rights issues." He noted the United Nations 50th anniversary of the International Declaration for Human Rights on December 10 and announced that the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment annual conference will be held in Eugene on October 16-18, 1998. Mr. Seibert acknowledged the tremendous support the program had received from volunteers, including some City employees, specifically Greg Rikhoff, Mary Feldman, and Francisca Johnson. Ms. Stockford spoke about the significance of gratitude and singled out the following commission "partners" for their contributions: the executive managers for their work on the City's MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 1, 1998 Page 3 5:30 p.m. diversity plan and for providing benefits for domestic partners; Warren Wong for attending HRC meetings and supporting the commission's work; for Police Chief Cooke and Interim Police Chief Jim Hill; Police Captain Roy Brown, Lieutenant Rick Siel, and Sargent Tim McCarthy; Helen Towle; Melissa Pearson; Marilyn Mays; Ruth Koenig; recording staff Kim Young and Elise Self; the City Council, particularly councilors Bobby Lee and Scott Meisner, and Mayor Torrey. Council Comment/Questions Ms. Nathanson expressed regret that the council's committee charged with reviewing the City's board and commission system had not had an opportunity to complete its work. With regard to the issue of enforcement of parking regulations by citizens, she called the commission's attention to articles in the Nation's Cities Weekly reviewing such programs in other communities and suggested a literature search. Addressing a suggestion from Ms. Nathanson, Mr. Van Steenbergen said the HRSS always invites graduates of the City's Police Academy to train and volunteer their time as advocates for the system. Ms. Nathanson concluded her remarks by expressing concern about budget cuts and the feasibility of setting up a program under the housing code. She wondered about a role for the commission in establishing such a program. Mr. Seibert said it made sense for the commission to address that and the council may wish to add it to its charge. Ms. Swanson Gribskov thanked the commission for its work and wondered about its collaboration with other communities. Mr. Seibert said that he attends monthly meetings of the Salem Human Rights Commission, which was the closest active group, and he serves on the State Bureau of Labor. Ms. Swanson Gribskov expressed concern with the commission's wish to participate in selecting City management staff. Mr. Seibert explained that the commission did not wish to "sit at the table" but wanted some sort of broad community discussion about what the City needs and how that will be measured in six months or a year. Mr. Lee commended outgoing and incoming commission volunteers and called the City Manager Pro Tem's memorandum on his expectations of City managers/executives on diversity and human rights "excellent." Mr. Johnson said there was plenty of room for involvement by the commission and community in many ways, adding that the issues around work force diversity included retention, working environment, and service delivery. Mr. Lee noted that managers had "bought into the plan." Mr. Johnson added that managers' performance appraisals would include a section on diversity and working environment. Addressing a question from Mr. Tollenaar, Mr. Van Steenbergen said that if the proposed external review process was implemented, he envisioned expanding many of the things the HRSS had done into external review. He explained that the process developed in HRSS allowed people who have complaints to be listened to and to have resolution. The review board would address issues that the HRSS had not dealt with and that the proposed auditor can handle. Mr. Chase said the proposal calls for a contact point early on in the review process where the HRSS will be involved if the complainant and officer accept mediation. If the parties do not agree to mediation, the internal review was monitored by the auditor. Ms. Miller said the auditor was more of an "inside" person who had access to all the information and can review police actions for purposes of recommending changes. She added the process addressed problems that required more of an "institutional response." MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 1, 1998 Page 4 5:30 p.m. Mayor Torrey invited input from the commission on qualities for a new city manager, saying it was not necessary to wait until a process for recruitment and selection was developed as the council had not yet decided on a time line. He expressed concern about reaching out to the Asian community and neighborhoods, noting some neighborhoods do a great job of involving residents and some do not. Mayor Torrey also expressed concern for particular populations, specifically single parents and said he hoped the commission would find a way to include them in the work plan. Mr. Lee noted that he has just been elected to the Asian Council and will relay the Mayor's concern and keep the council apprized of activities. Mr. Tollenaar moved, seconded by Ms. Nathanson, to approve the Human Rights Commission Goals and Work Plan for FY99. Ms. Taylor said she shared Ms. Swanson Gribskov's concern about the commission's involvement in selecting a new city manager and asked for clarification. Ms. Nathanson referred to the language in the commission's report and said she did not see a need to change it. Mr. Johnson clarified that he determined the hiring process for City staff and the council determined the process for a new city manager, but added that there will be a role for community members although the process has yet to be designed. In response to a question from Mayor Torrey, Mr. Seibert said the commission simply wished for an opportunity to give input. Mr. Lee pledged to work with the HRC to address concerns from both bodies. Roll call vote. The motion passed unanimously, 7:0. Mr. Seibert reflected on his tenure as chair of the commission, expressing appreciation for the honesty and integrity of council conversations that have "been critically important to developing the commission's relationship with the City as an organization." He thanked the council for its work and support. The meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, James R. Johnson City Manager Pro Tem (Recorded by Yolanda Paule) R:~1998~Admin Services~CIS~Council~cc980601ml.wpd MINUTES-Eugene City Council June 1, 1998 Page 5 5:30 p.m.