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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHRC Minutes 091420 9 110 HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION Cultivating Community Through Social Justice MINUTES Monday, September 14, 2020 6:00 pm—7:30 pm Virtual Meeting via GoToMeeting, LogMeln, Inc. MEMBERS PRESENT STAFF Dion Graham Tara May, Civil Rights Specialist Ana Garcia-Turner Melvyn Blackwell, Intake Specialist Tomeka Ward-Satterfield Frances Castillo James Spivey MEMBERS ABSENT Samantha Beecham (unexcused) Stephanie Harrell (unexcused) Allison Mahaley(excused) GUESTS Brennan Bouma—Sustainability Coordinator I. Call to Order A. Ms. Frances Castillo called meeting to order @6:05pm. A quorum was present. II. Minutes Approval A. Ms. Castillo reported there were notes from the latest meeting. There were no minutes for the last meeting due to lack of a quorum. III. Discussion on BOCC Community Forum Plan A. Ms. Castillo reported that she is still waiting to hear back from the County Attorney's office regarding Facebook communication policy. B. Ms. Castillo announced that the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has requested the HRC to take action regarding the concerns voiced during the BOCC's Community Listening Session. Ms. Castillo explained Chapel Hill has formed a group, Reimagining Community Safety Taskforce (RCST), comprised of thirteen (13) individuals. She asked HRC members how they think the HRC should move forward based on the listening session. She suggested facilitating a community focus group or a community conversation to get the community's input. C. Mr. James Spivey suggested that the HRC choose proper wording before the HRC engages in a conversation with the community. He discussed the phrase, "defund the police" and how it may send the wrong message. He suggested it may be necessary to provide education to the public around this concept. Mr. Dion Graham agreed that there should be a dialogue with the t community about the phrase and its concept. HRC members discussed dates to host a community conversation. Ms. Anna Garcia-Turner suggested that the HRC wait until the RCST begin their work, then have a conversation with them before the HRC host a community conversation. Ms. Tomeka Ward-Satterfield disagreed and suggested the HRC, not wait on the RCST's initiative, but engage residents outside of their target area of Orange County(Chapel Hill). IV. Presentation from Brennan Bouma—Commission for the Environment, Staff A. Mr. Brennan Bouma facilitated a presentation on the Orange County Climate Action Fund-Project Eligibility and Scoring for the fiscal year 2020-2021. 1. Mr. Bouma offered the HRC to be a part of the project application scoring process. Mr. Spivey inquired if there was any mention of the initial programs being scored against the Social Justice Goals (SJGs). Mr. Bouma explained the SJGs were included in the abstract for the items of the application. 2. Ms. Castillo suggested how might the HRC's involvement at the beginning of the application process versus the end may have been more conducive. Mr. Bouma explained the possibilities of the scoring process changing in the spring of 2021. He will send the application questions to Ms. Tara May for her to share with the HRC. Mr. Bouma invited the HRC to provide feedback or suggestion for edits on the application's questions. 3. Mr. Spivey discussed the SJGs and the reason the goals were created. He explained the SJGs act as equitable measure for programs and policies. He expressed his concerns whether the BOCC used the SJGs in the creation of the application. Mr. Spivey does not think the HRC should be a "rubber stamping" body. 4. HRC agreed, by consensus,that they will make an inquiry to the BOCC before they make any decisions on this initiative. They will inquire whether the BOCC used the SJGs as it relates to this project. 5. Ms. May will send HRC members a copy of the adopted Social Justice Goals for Orange County as a guide. Ms. May noted that Mr. Melvyn Blackwell sent a link to the SJGs. She reminded members that the SJGs are a part of each abstract of the BOCC agendas and minutes. V. HRC Applications&Recommendations A. Mr. Spivey discussed how the HRC is supposed to have a member from each municipality in the county occupying a seat. Ms. May informed HRC members that the only open municipal seat on the board is Chapel Hill. Ms. May noted that Dr. Debby Stroman was the last member that represented Chapel Hill. B. Ms. May reported the BOCC will review HRC applications when they meet on November 12, 2020, so recommendations for the open seats will need to take place at the next HRC meeting. Ms. May indicated she would send out current applications for consideration to the HRC before the next meeting. VI. HRC Events&Committee Reports A. Pauli Murray Awards 1. Ms. May reminded HRC members there needs to be a standing committee for this event. She encouraged members to let her know if they are interested. B. Community Conversation 2020 1. Ms. Castillo discussed planning the Community Conversation, and asked if any members would be interested in being on a sub-committee. HRC members discussed what they might want the virtual community conversation to look like. 2 2. Ms. May explained and provided examples of the type of promotional avenues for the Community Conversation (i.e. social media, listserv). She encouraged HRC members to think about their target market for outreach. 3. Ms. Garcia-Turner and Mr. Graham both suggested that the conversation be on or about November 15,2020(11/15/2020). Ms.Garcia-Turner and Mr.Graham both suggested hosting the event sometime after November 3, 2020 was best. There was a consensus to host the event on 11/15/2020 for the duration of at least 1.5 hours. 4. Ms. Ward-Satterfield, Mr. Graham, and Ms. Garcia-Turner volunteered to be on the sub- committee. VII. Adjourn A. NEXT MEETING: Monday, October 12, 2020 at Virtually, via GoToMeeting, LogMeln, Inc. 3