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Minutes - Human Relations - 01/23/2012 City of Boulder Human Relations Commission Minutes Monday, January 23, 2012 2160 Spruce, Boulder, CO 6:00 p.m. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Leisha Conners Bauer Jonathan Dings John Paul Hams Amy Zuckerman Susan Gesundheit COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Carmen Atilano Beth Van Dusen 1. Call to Order The January 23, 2012 HRC meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m. by L. Conners Bauer. II. Agenda Mustments Add Announcements as Agenda item #8. III Approval of Minutes A. Zuckerman moved to accept the November 14, 2011 minutes with the following correction, change the date to read November. S. Geshundheit seconded. The motion passes 4-0. J. P. Harris joined the meeting in progress at 6:40 p.m. IV. Community Participation None. V. Action Items A. 2012 HRC Work Plan- J. Dings moved to accept the 2012 HRC Work Plan with the following changes, correct the grammatical error in 4-C, and change the language in 1-C to be more affirmative and to read: create opportunities rather than look for opportunities, specifically with regard to awareness of homeless issues. S. Gesundheit seconded the motion. The motion carries unanimously. B. 2011 Community Event Fund Report- Village Arts Coalition (VAC) Melba Shepherd distributed copies of the report the HRC. Overall, the event was very successful, attendance was very good at the 2011 event numbering in the thousands. VAC did suffer a financial loss, there were fewer vendors and they did not do as well as in previous years. There were no food vendors. The largest expenses include the tent rental, overnight security and rental of the sound equipment and the cost of the sound technician. L. Conners Bauer asked if the event was translated into Spanish. Melba Shepherd replied that yes, it is always translated into Spanish. A. Zuckerman asked if VAC paid for advertising in the Daily Camera Melba Shepherd responded, yes, it is in the budget. J. Dings moved to accept the 2011 VAC report. S. Gesundheit seconded the motion. The motion carries 40. VI. A. Community Event Fund Interviews- Village Arts Coalition- Melba Shepherd thanked the HRC for the opportunity to present the project. VAC is a non-profit organization, whose mission is to promote culture through folk arts and dance. A key element in fulfilling this mission is to host the International Festival. The event promotes diversity and intercultural understanding. Funds for the event are drawn from membership, sponsors and vendors. The event is promoted through ads in the Daily Camera, public broadcast announcements and flyers. L. Conners Bauer asked if VAC plans to do anything significantly different from last years event. Melba Shepherd replied that the event will be largely unchanged. L. Conners Bauer asked how the financial loss aspect will be handled Melba Shepherd explained that VAC purchased T-shirts for volunteers last year and that they will not be purchasing shirts again this year. While most of the costs associated with ruining the event have increased, VAC does have reserves if there is a shortfall. V. 2012 Community Events Fund Decision- J. Dings moved to approve funding in the amount of $1600 for the 2012 VAC International Festival. A. Zuckerman seconded the motion. The motion carries unanimously. VI. B. Work Plan- 1. Poverty Simulation Project- L. Conners Bauer reported that with the approval of the 2012 Work Plan, one of the items stated in the Work Plan is to support community impact issues and initiatives, specifically the Boulder County Circles Campaign. The HRC is supportive of the Poverty Simulation Project and invited Eliberto Mendoza to give a presentation and to discuss what type of support the HRC can give to the project. Eliberto Mendoza, Coordinator of the Boulder County Circles Campaign briefly discussed the campaign and explained what takes place at a Poverty Simulation event. The event concept was developed by the Missouri Community Action Program. It is a one hour long event, where participants are invited to role play in the lives of real people who are living in poverty. There are four fifteen minute periods and each period represents one week. There are a maximum of 85 participants and the event includes an additional hour at the end for debriefing. Each participant is randomly selected with regard to the "family" they are to role play in. The scenarios are real and each participant has stated that they left the event with greater awareness of poverty issues. It takes at least 20 volunteers to put on the event. A. Zuckerman asked if there are a minimum number of participants required to hold the event. E. Mendoza replied that although there is not a stated minimum number, you would probably need twenty people to run the event. C. Atilano asked about Pay Day Loans. E. Mendoza reported that the pay day loan issue is a potential scenario in the simulation event. Emergency loans are available to Circle leaders in the amount of $300 with no interest. It is hoped that the Poverty Simulation Project will raise awareness and educate people that poverty can happen to anyone, it may be generational or situational and there are many factors that play in to the cause. With regard to HRC sponsorship, the Circles campaign needs volunteers and help promoting the event. L. Conners Bauer asked about specific expenses incurred for the event. E. Mendoza replied that with the exception of the space to hold the event, which is often donated, expenses include childcare, printed materials and Circle Leaders are each given a $25 gift card for volunteering their time. L. Conners Bauer asked when the event will be held? E. Mendoza stated that they would like to hold the event before school is out. J. Dings recommends holding the event in April rather than in May and that a proposal be brought back before the HRC. L. Conners Bauer asked C. Atilano if there are any items that the HRC cannot cover. C. Atilano stated that with regard to childcare, it is would be preferable to provide children's activities or use a drop off center to best deal with childcare licensing requirements. L. Conners Bauer asked E. Mendoza to bring back a budget for the event in February and that the city will look into potential meeting spaces. E. Mendoza also called attention to the Circles Campaig invitation which HRC members received in their packets. The "Big View Team" deals with systemic issues inherent in poverty. Circles leaders havebeen invited to meet with state legislators and to discuss these issues with elected officials. It is hoped that the HRC will encourage City Council to participate as they too have received invitations. 2. Committee Reports MLK Day Celebration. C. Atilano reported that invoices are still being paid from the event and there will be a budget prepared for the February meeting. The event continues to be successful and well attended. The MLK Planning Committee will meet later this week for a debriefing of the event. 3. Pilot RFP: Annual Immigrant Heritage Week- C. Atilano presented the Draft RFP. It will be launched on February 1, 2012 with a deadline for proposals on March 26, 2012. A. Zuckerman asked if the HRC needs to set a maximum amount per event. C. Atilano stated that in previous discussions the HRC did not want to limit the amount per event but rather a maximum amount for total allocation. J. Dings commented that he feels that maximum amounts provide good information to applicants with regard to the scope and size of the event. A. Zuckerman recalls discussing $3000-$5,000 per event. I Dings stated that the amount of $1500 has worked well with the CEF, however, since it is a fast time event he is comfortable allocating more thad this. C. Atilano commented that it is not likely that the events will have multiple sponsors and that they will likely be sole funded. I Dings commented that May is late to accept proposals for events to be held in October. C. Atilano replied that we can change the application deadline to the end of March and the HRC can hold interviews in April. L. Conners Bauer asked if we will be responsible for advertising for the event(s). C. Atilano replied that once we have the applications the City will advertise for the events. 4. 2010 Census- Stephanie Greenberg will be contracted with now that the 2012 HRC Work Plan has been approved. C. Atilano stated that we will be requesting more detailed information with regard to the following demographics: race, ethnicity, age and income. 5. Top Priorites for City Council. The HRC Memo was included in the City Council packets. C. SB12-002: Concerning Authorization of Civil Unions C. Atilano provided background information on the HRC's recommendation to city council regarding the authorization of civil unions. D. Board and Commission Recruitment. There are two open seats on the HRC. The deadline to apply is February 16, 2012 and interviews will be held in March. John Paul Harris announced his resignation effective immediately. He has accepted a position in Fort Collins and will be relocating. He thanked the HRC for the meaningful experience. E. Follow up Tasks- 1. Change the Date on the (November) minutes. 2. 4-C change the language to create opportunities rather than looking for opportunities on homeless issues. 3. 2012 budget/MLK budget 4. Funding contracts for VAC and SPAN 5. Pilot RFP for Annual Immigrant Heritage Week 6. Contact Stephanie Greenberg re: 2010 census data. VII. Action Items- No immediate action items and no announcements. VIII. Announcements. L. Conners Bauer presented I P. Harris with a plaque and thanked him for his service on the Human Relations Commission from April of 2010 to January of 2012. M A iournment - J. P. Harris moved to adjourn the January 23, 2012 meeting. S. Gesundheit seconded the motion. The motion passed with a vote of 5-0. The meeting was adjoumed at 7:42 p.m. Attested: Approved: v Board Secretary HRC Chairperson