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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10.24.23 HRC Minutes (FINAL) Meeting Minutes Tuesday, October 24, 2023 6:00pm – 7:30pm Seymour Center, Chapel Hill Member Role Attendance Commissioners Lynn McGee (LM) Commissioner, Chair Present Anjail Taylor (AT) Commissioner Present Nathalie Volkheimer (NCV) Commissioner, Secretary Present Josh Ravitch (JR) Commissioner Present Ruby Garcia (RG) Commissioner Present Jenn Sykes (JS) Commissioner, Vice Chair (via Teleconference) Present Jemm Merritt – Feder (JM) Commissioner Present Michael Fath (MF) Commissioner Present Orange County Staff Shameka Fairbanks (SF) Commissioner, Chief Equity and Human Rights Officer Present Melvyn Blackwell (MB) Inclusion Manager Present Courtney McLaughlin (CM) Community Engagement & Outreach Coordinator Present Rachel Collins (RC) Intake Specialist Present Guests Rhian Ford (RF) Applicant for HRC Membership Present Tonya Jones (TJ) Applicant for HRC Membership Present Brooke Capps-Yaroni (BCY) Applicant for HRC Membership Present Chris Barnes (CB) Applicant for HRC Membership Present Resident #1 Resident Present Resident #2 Resident Present Mariela Hernandez (MH) Community Advocate Present Marlyn Valeiko (MV) Language and Community Specialist, Office of Equity & Inclusion (Interpreter) Present Resident #3 Resident Present Denise Page Resident of Carrboro Present I. Call to Order (Agenda item I) i. Attendees of the meeting introduced themselves II. Approval of Minutes/Notes from previous meetings (Agenda item II) i. Meeting Minutes: September Minutes MOVED NC to approve minutes SECONDED RG APPROVED with none opposed III. Community Climate Action Plan Scoring Results (MB) Grant applications have been submitted with scoring to Orange County. ACTION MB to tally and distribute scoring of grants and distribute. IV. Executive Committee Report (LM, Agenda item IV) i. Fair Housing Training on September 30th training. LM was the only commissioner to attend. MF, NCV, JS are all currently trained. Future training will be scheduled ii. Orange County Community Remembrance Coalition MOU regarding HRC participation expired in 2021. If renewal process is approved by the commission, the County lawyers will review the latest MOU document. Discussion and decision. ACTION LM to investigate if HRC participants can observe an OCCRC meeting prior to moving forward with membership/MOU commitment. Notify commissioners accordingly ACTION MF and JM to attend a meeting and make recommendations regarding the MOU iii. HRC Applicant Questions and Scoring Rubric discussion (Agenda item IV.A). All voting members present will use the scoring rubric for the applicant review process and complete it before end of meeting. Scores will be tallied and summarized for recommendation to the BOCC (see Attachment 1). V. County Updates (SF) i. Pauli Murray Mural artist will start a mural next month on the Sportsplex. ii. Orange County Land Use Plan Workshops a. Plans are going out to 2050, attending a workshop would be positive iii. Ridgewood Residents presentation and discussion (Agenda item V.A): Each individual was permitted to speak for 3 minutes each. SF cognizant timekeeper a. Resident 1: A few residents attended the meeting, but indicated that they represent 60 people, 20 of which are documented as having these issues. There are issues with some residents who are undocumented and that is why more individuals are not inclined to officially complain. MV In the last couple of years, a corporation has taken over the property and rent has substantially increased (upwards of forty percent). b. MH Upon the County providing support, it was clear that rent was being paid. However, fees kept appearing. Eventually eviction notices were posted, but with no legal basis. This had a lot of adverse effects on people’s mental and physical health. Leases are month to month and therefore there is the threat that residents will be asked to leave. c. Resident 3: There is a court date eviction hearing on November 3rd. Not only are they charging us for fees we already paid, but they are also not servicing the lots – for example garbage does not get picked up. It is sometimes overflowing on to the streets. d. Resident 2: has been living here since 2021, and now feels living there is insufferable. The records of what is owed also reflect the costs of previous tenants; they are trying to collect rents from current residents for previous tenants. Full payment was given in October, but statements are still being sent indicating an outstanding balance. Trees have fallen on my mobile home and funds are not available to fix the house. Potholes are not handled and therefore parking is an issue. The movement of the mailbox has also meant mail has gone missing. There are ongoing issue with the management of septic waste. ACTION LM to investigate, with staff guidance, how to proceed. VI. Meet HRC Applicants (Agenda item VI.A). Scoring rubrics completed and submitted (MF, RG, LM, JR, AT, NCV) i. Q&A with Applicants: Each given 3 minutes per question, applicant order randomized ii. Discussion of the applicants for HRC (Closed to applicants) MOVED MF to accept all commissioner applicants SECONDED RG APPROVED with none opposed ACTION LM to summarize findings of the applicant review and scoring process for submission to the BOCC (Agenda item VI. A) VII. HRC Events and Committee Reports – Communications and Pauli Murray deferred until next meeting i. Community Read (RG/JR) Book Escape from Slavery for community read. Thursday, November 30th is the confirmed date, likely at 6.30pm MOVED MF $1,000 purchase books, approve honorarium, and event costs SECONDED RG APPROVED with none opposed VIII. NC National Association of Human rights Workers (NAHRW) Debrief i. Nathalie’s notes to be circulated with the minutes. (See Attachment 2) IX. Other Business iii. Subcommittee Establishment: 1) Community Events, 2) Policy & Procedures, and 3) Outreach & Engagement: Members should elect to be on one of the subcommittees. ACTION LM to send list of subcommittees to commissioner with results of the signup. iv. Content of Retreat for November Content of meeting is usually: guest speakers, calendar for 2023, collate the report for 2024 to deliver to the County Commissioners, Budget Review v. November & December Meetings & Retreat-Part II Combined Option ACTION MB to Doodle Poll for one combined meeting to occur between Nov & Dec, if possible X. Adjourn and Next Meeting i. Adjourn ii. Next Meeting: November & December Meetings & Retreat-Part II Combined Option ACTION MB to Doodle Poll for one combined meeting to occur between Nov & Dec, if possible Action Register-Oct 24 HRC Meeting Action Member Timeframe Community Climate Action Plan Scoring Results: Tally and distribute scoring of grants and distribute MB Nov 1, 2023 (Circulate via email) Orange County Community Remembrance Coalition-Verify date of next OCCRC mtg and eligibility for HRC to attend LM Oct 30, 2023 (Circulate via email) Orange County Community Remembrance Coalition: Next meeting attendance, MOU recommendation MF, JM Dec, 2023 Ridgewood Community: Investigate, with staff guidance, how advisory board is to proceed. URGENT LM 10-27-23 Application Review Process: Summarize findings of the applicant review and scoring process for submission to the BOCC LM 10-27-23 Application Review Process Summary: Provide scoring summary documentation for submission to BOCC LM 10-27-23 Send list of subcommittees w/ sign-ups LM 10/31/23 Nov/Dec meeting: Doodle poll for combined meeting in Nov & Dec MB Within the next week Attachment 1 Attachment 1-Con’t ATTACHMENT 2 ATTACHMENT 2-Con’t. ATTACHMENT 2-Con’t ATTACHMENT 2-Con’t ATTACHMENT 2-Con’t. ATTACHMENT 2-Con’t. ATTACHMENT 2-Con’t. ATTACHMENT 2-Con’t