12.12.16 HRC Packet
Human Relations Commission
Monday, December 12
1777 West Conference Room
1777 Broadway
Boulder, CO 80302
6 p.m.
I. Call to Order
II. Agenda Adjustments
III. Approval of Minutes
A. November 21, 2016
IV. Community Participation (non-agenda action items)
V. Action Items
A. Responses to City Council Questions for Retreat
1. HS budget
2. Employers Promoting Citizenship
3. YOAB, lowering age requirement for local elections
4. Sanctuary City
5. Given new social climate -closer tie between Human Relations and Police
6. Multicultural Center
VI. Discussion/Informational Items
A. December 5 Safe and Welcoming Community Meeting
1. Sanctuary City
2. Communication with Other Major Institutions (CU, County)
3. DACA and Other Immigration Issues
4. Safety Zone Signage
B. Living Wage Update
C. Welcoming and Inclusive Work Plan Update
D. Event Reports
E. Follow Up Items
VII. Immediate Action Items
VIII. Adjournment
Attachments:
Minutes: November 21, 2016
Memo: HRC Responses to Council Questions 2017 Goals
Memo: Sanctuary City – City Attorney
Human Relations Commission
Monday, November 21, 2016
1777 Broadway
Council Chambers
Boulder, CO 80301
6 p.m.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:
José Beteta
Lauren Gifford
Nikhil Mankekar
Emilia Pollauf
Shirly White
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:
None
STAFF PRESENT:
Carmen Atilano
Linda Gelhaar
I. Call to Order
The Nov. 21 HRC meeting was called to order at 6:02 p.m. by S. White.
II. Agenda Adjustments
None.
III. Approval of Minutes
Oct. 17, 2016 – E. Pollauf moved to approve Oct. 17, 2016 minutes. J. Beteta seconded.
Motion carries 5-0.
IV. Community Participation (non-agenda action items)
A. Four YOAB members gave a presentation to lower the voting age in local elections to
16 years of age.
B. Members of the community spoke about:
Fear after elections
Government responsibility for keeping people safe
Rapid response taskforce
Web site record of what is happening in community
Promotion of safety and crime prevention
Protection of rights to peaceful assembly-and civil liberties
Importance of Sanctuary City , especially for DACA
Concern of suppression of voice and civil liberties
Need an official message from City of Boulder
Identify a symbol people can wear
Need to feel safe from bullying in schools—students need a safe place to study
V. Action Items
A. Resolution Declaring the City of Boulder’s Support for the Standing Rock Sioux
Tribe’s Opposition to the Construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline –
Representative gave a presentation on the issues surrounding the construction of the
pipeline on native lands. Staff recommends that HRC not move forward on a
recommendation to City Council on a resolution at this time without City Council
direction for staff to devote time and resources for a full analysis of this issue. N.
Mankekar moved to approve bringing resolution forward to council. E. Pollauf
seconded. Motion carries 5-0.
B. CoIH Fund Reports
1. Boulder School for German Language and Culture –
Germany’s Reunification Day – Representative gave a
presentation and details of the event. N. Mankekar moved to
approve report. L. Gifford seconded. Motion carries 5-0.
2. KGNU and Motus Theater – Immigrant Stories –
Representatives gave a presentation and details of event. N.
Mankekar moved to approve report. J. Beteta seconded.
Motion carries 5-0.
3. Playback Theater West – Sharing Our Immigration Stories
– Representative gave a report on the event. L. Gifford moved
to approve report. N. Mankekar seconded. Motion carries 5-0.
C. CEF Reports
1. Postoley – Folk Dancing on the Plaza – Representative gave a
presentation of event, reviewed budget and showed pictures of
participants dancing on the new portable floor in front of the Tea
House. J. Beteta moved to approve report. L. Gifford seconded.
Motion carries 5-0.
D. CIF Applications
1. El Centro AMISTAD – Justicia Refrescante – Representative
gave an overview of the project and played a video about the
benefits of healthy food. E. Pollauf moved to approve a grant
for $1500. N. Mankekar seconded. Motion carries 3-2.
2. BMoCA – The Studio Project- Representatives gave an
overview of the recurring project that creates safe spaces for
teens, including low-income teens, to enjoy their community and
express themselves through art. E. Pollauf moved to approve a
grant for $1500. N. Mankekar seconded. Motion carries 3-2.
VI. Discussion/Informational Items
A. Employers Promoting Citizenship, Bob Norris – Gave presentation.
Staff will follow-up with questions to council for January 2017 retreat.
B. December HRC Meeting Date (Dec 12) – The December meeting will
be moved from Dec. 19 to Dec. 12, 2016.
C. January HRC Meeting Date (Jan 4, 5 or 9) The January meeting will
be moved from Jan. 23 to Jan. 9, 2016.
D. Living Wage Update – C. Atilano gave update on issues.
E. Safe and Welcoming Community Update C. Atilano provided update
and gave clarification of HRC’s role in advising council on a Safe and
Welcoming Community. The HRC would like an update from the
Boulder PD at December meeting.
1. Community Informational Meeting – Meeting date is Dec. 5,
2016 from 6 – 8 p.m. with the location TBD.
F. Welcoming and Inclusive Work Plan Update – Staff gave an update
about the Community Perceptions Assessment, which is going to council
on Feb. 14, 2016.
G. City Policy and Representing HRC –
1. food. E. Pollauf moved to approve a grant for $1500. N.
Mankekar seconded. Motion carries 3-2.
2. BMoCA – The Studio Project- Representatives gave an
overview of the recurring project that creates safe spaces for
teens, including low-income teens, to enjoy their community and
express themselves through art. E. Pollauf moved to approve a
grant for $1500. N. Mankekar seconded. Motion carries 3-2.
H. Council Pre-Retreat (Jan. 10) Questions – Commissioners to provide
staff with questions in next two-three weeks. Staff will provide a draft
response at December meeting.
1. Sanctuary City
2. Human Services Budget
3. Lowering the voting age in local elections
4. Multicultural Center
5. Human Relations and Police Relationships
I. Event Reports – HRC members gave updates on community activities
they attended in November, which included The Diversity and Inclusive
Summit at CU.
J. Follow Up Items – Staff will follow-up on items identified in the
meeting.
VII. Immediate Action Items
None.
VIII. Adjournment
J Beteta moved to adjourn the Nov. 21, 2016 meeting. N. Mankekar seconded. Motion carries
5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 10:08 p.m.
Attested: Approved:
Board Secretary HRC Chairperson
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
TO: Mayor and City Council
FR: Human Relations Commission
RE: HRC Responses to Council Questions 2017 Goals
Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback on the Council work plan and ideas
regarding meeting 2017 goals.
1.HOW DO YOU THINK THE CITY CAN IMPROVE ITS PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
PROCESS? HOW WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THAT COUNCIL ENGAGE WITH
THE COMMUNITY?
Increase funding to nonprofit partners through the Human Services Fund (HSF). The HSF has
been flat since 2008. For the last six years, the amount requested from the HSF has exceeded the
annual allocation by an average of over $900,000. The delta is even larger when you consider the
buying power of the dollar. Since nonprofit service providers are key partners in the effort to
address complex social challenges, we need to ensure that these organizations are healthy and are
broadening their capacity to address problems in our community.
2. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE CITY’S TOP THREE PRIORITIES SHOULD BE IN
2017?
Establish Sanctuary City Polices and Facilitate Promotion of Citizenship Among Employers
Efforts to create safe and inclusive communities are now concentrated in municipal and state
government departments. Sanctuary city policies can help build trust and address racial tension.
Meanwhile, robust citizenship programs encourage financial empowerment, create bridges
between government and immigrant communities and foster representative government.
(Nationally, fewer than nine percent of those who are eligible to naturalize apply for citizenship
due to a range of barriers.) Meanwhile, two concrete ideas to consider are non-citizen voting in
local elections and a municipal identification card.
Build Closer Ties Between Human Relations and Police
Programs such as Mediation, Restorative Justice, Ordinance Enforcement (human rights and
failure to pay wages), and Youth Opportunities have a considerable impact on civic engagement,
Attachment: HRC Responses to CC 2017
court caseloads, incarceration rates and trust. Ongoing communication and collaboration enhance
the effectiveness of both community relation and law enforcement.
Lower Voting Age in Local Elections to 16
This would enable young people to develop the habit of voting and become engaged in local
issues while they are living in their hometown. Local schools could cover ballot issues under
consideration and their impact on students. Along with other cities that are extending voting
rights to younger people, Boulder’s action could contribute to a national, long-term effort to
address the low voting rates in the country.
3. WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL BE THE CITY’S THREE BIGGEST CHALLENGES
OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AND HOW SHOULD WE ADDRESS THEM?
Quick and Decisive Local Government Responses to Community Concerns on a Range of Issues
At the November 2016 HRC meeting, 71 people attended to express concerns regarding civil
liberties, democratic process, gender equality, immigrant safety and other issues. The December
5, 2016 Safe and Welcoming Community presentation drew about 100 participants who raised
similar issues. There is need for proactive communication, clearly expressed policies and
decisive action in response to confusion. Beyond the steps outlined in #2 above, there are not yet
more specific answers regarding how to address the concerns and confusion.
Family Homelessness Prevention
Increase the one-time budget allocation for Family Homelessness Prevention so families have
access to short-term emergency rental assistance for up to six months. Eviction prevention is a
goal in the draft Homelessness Strategy and a recognized best practice. It also produces savings
in shelter and other social service costs. It also helps protect children, in particular, from trauma
due to housing instability. One, two, or even three months is often not long enough for a family
to recover from financial instability, especially when it results from job loss. Six months is not an
unreasonable amount of time for someone find a job in a rapidly transforming economy.
Encourage Cultural Familiarity and Versatility
With a significant number of organizations doing work that facilitates interaction across cultural
lines, Boulder can go far to create constructive interaction among communities that make up its
population. Valuable knowledge and leadership exist in the university community, nonprofit
organizations, businesses and faith-based communities. Those resources could be brought
together under the umbrella of a broadly based, local multicultural center.
Attachment: HRC Responses to CC 2017
Attachment: Sanctuary City - City Attorney
Attachment: Sanctuary City - City Attorney
Attachment: Sanctuary City - City Attorney
Attachment: Sanctuary City - City Attorney
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Attachment: Sanctuary City - City Attorney
Attachment: Sanctuary City - City Attorney
Attachment: Sanctuary City - City Attorney
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Attachment: Sanctuary City - City Attorney
Attachment: Sanctuary City - City Attorney
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Attachment: Sanctuary City - City Attorney
Attachment: Sanctuary City - City Attorney
Attachment: Sanctuary City - City Attorney
Attachment: Sanctuary City - City Attorney
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Attachment: Sanctuary City - City Attorney
Attachment: Sanctuary City - City Attorney