HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Human Relations - 10/18/2004CITY OF BOULDER
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES
October 18, 2004
6:00 p.m.
City Council Chambers
1777 Broadway, 2"d Floor
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:
Nino Gallo
Jill McFadden
Mariagnes Medrud
Rob Smoke
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:
Brenda Lyle
STAFF PRESENT:
Carmen Atilano
John Bunzli
Richazd Johnson
Erika Krouse
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair M. Medrud called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.
II. AGENDA ADJUSTMENTS
None.
III. APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER 2004 MINUTES
R. Smoke moved to approve the September, 2004 minutes. J. McFadden seconded. The
motion passed 4-0.
IV. PUBLIC HEARING (AGENDA ITENLS)
There was commentary regarding the Housing Occupancy Ordinance, with some people
concerned that use of the domestic partnership registry could violate the privacy of same-
sex couples, thereby jeopardizing jobs and lives in nearby cities not protected by
ordinance. The ACLU argued that domestic partnership should be public, to minor public
heterosexual marriages, and that the extended occupancy rights with regard to domestic
partnership should be limited to same-sex couples, rather than including heterosexual
couples also on the registry. There was discussion about the possibility of fraud on the
part of college students and corrupt landlords. There was support for an extended Martin
Luther King Day celebration, and an appeal for funding for the 2005 celebration.
V. COMMLJNITY PARTICIPATION (NON-AGENDA ITEMS)
None.
VI. ACTION ITEMS
A. Grantee Reports -
1. Boulder Asian Festival -Art Figel, Brenda Pierson. J. McFadden moved to
approve the report, and N. Ga11o seconded. The motion passed 3-0. (R. Smoke
had left the room).
2. Boulder Jewish Festival -- Boulder Jewish Festival presented plans for the 2005
festival.
3. El Centro Amistad- N. Ga11o moved to approve the report, and J• McFadden
seconded. The motion passed 4-0.
B. Request for Usage of HRC Interpreting Equipment, EI Centro Amistad - J.
Santiago needs equipment for Nov. 2"d, documentary on Day of the Dead in Spanish,
would like English simultaneous translation. Oct 22 - Nov. 14`~'. Cost - waive fees for
check-in and usage. N. Gallo moved to approve usage of the HRC interpreting
equipment by El Centro Amistad. R. Smoke seconded, and the motion passed 4-0.
C. Housing Occupancy Regulations, J• Yeg~an - Staff had been directed to look at
options for extending occupancy regulation. Some issues included the potential risks
to same-sex domestic partners if their names are part of public record, and whether
the same extended rights should be available to heterosexual domestic partners. To
prevent abuses, one option is to enact a 90-day waiting period between an individual's
domestic partnerships, to mirror heterosexual divorce proceedings. Staff recommends
that the city: 1.) change the definition of the family to remove the "co-sanguinity"
term and list allowable relationships; 2.) include registered domes[ic partners under
"heads of household"; 3.) enact the domestic partnership registry by ordinance; and
4.) extend occupancy rights in city code. The HRC expressed appreciation for
ACLU's efforts on this issue. J. McFadden moved to forward the ordinance as
recommended by staff wi[h the request that City Council investigate language
allowing for extended rights to second cousins, use language to protect privacy of
same-sex couples, and try to find fur[her ways to reconcile differences so that all
interested parties feel satisfied. N. Gallo seconded. The motion passed 4-0.
D. 2005 Martin Luther King Celebration Proposal, C. Atilano - Staff inet with
representatives from community groups, and has designed a plan for an extended
2005 Martin Luther King Day celebration at the Boulder Theater. R. Smoke moved
that the HRC allocate up to $10,000 for the Martin Luther King Day celebration. J.
McFadden seconded, and the motion passed 4-0.
VII. DISCUSSION/INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
A. Human Service Fund Technical Review Committee, R. Johnson - The 2006
Technical Review Committee is short one member, and the Human Services Fund is
beginning to solicit interested parties.
B. Longmont Town Hall Meeting on Marriage Equality - PFL.AG and other
community groups organized a well-attended meeting in Longmont on Friday night,
with a panel discussion.
VIII. IMMEDIATE ACTION ITEMS
None.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
N. Gallo moved to adjourn, and J• McFadden seconded. The motion passed 4-0. The
meeting was adjoumed at 8:52 p.m. by M. Medrud.
Attested:
Board Secretary
Approved:
~ ~~ h/~~
HRC Chairperson