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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.27.24 HRC Minutes (Final) 4CHUMAN RELA110NS COMMISSION Cultivating Community Through Social Justice MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, August 27, 2024 6:00 pm — 7:30 pm (Virtual) Member Role Attendance Commissioners Lynn McGee(LM) Commissioner, Chair Present Jenn Sykes(JS) Commissioner,Vice Chair Present Josh Ravitch(JR) Commissioner Present Brooke Capps Yaroni(BCY) Commissioner Present Jemm Merritt—Feder(JM) Commissioner Present Rhian Ford(RF) Commissioner Present Tonya Jones(TJ) Commissioner Present Nathalie Volkheimer(NCV) Commissioner Present Michael Fath (MF) Commissioner Absent Anjail Taylor(AT) Commissioner Absent Ruby Garcia(RG) Commissioner Absent Orange County Staff Paul Slack Director,Chief Equity and Human Rights Officer Present Courtney McLaughlin(CM) Department of Equity and Human Rights Staff Absent Guests Amy Eckberg Sustainability Department, Orange County Present Gene Troy Program Mgr., NC Human Relations Commission Present Alice Berry Community Member Present I. Call to Order/Quorum—Lynn McGee, Chair(6:00-6:02) a Community Member Request-(6:02-6:07): Alice Berry spoke regarding a concern over a housing project planned in the Chapel Hill township on a site where there is a possible enslaved graveyard she referred to as Potter Field. She has spoken to the Planning Board and Housing Departments and received no response. She asked if the HRC can help. Chair McGee requested her number so they could directly talk the following day about the issue and possible areas of help from the county. II. Minutes Approval—June 25, 2024(6:02-6:04) Moved.•_JR_ Seconded- BCY Approved III. County Updates-OCOEI Staff(6:04-6:15) Paul Slack, Director, OEI A. Introductions: Paul Slack, Director of Office of Equity and Inclusion B. Share Point Site Update: Delayed but CM is setting up a folder in her OneDrive for us to access for our files. C. Budget Update: Pending and will be available in Sep HRC meeting. D. Fair Housing Complaints Status: Paul advised us that this is no longer part of their department, and we will not be getting updates. Blake Roesser from the Housing Department is currently responsible for updates. Chair McGee advised that the HRC Charge (Section I, Part C.1.d) states that the HRC is to "monitor complaints involving discrimination" Modifications to the HRC Charge is necessary if we will not have information provided regarding complaints involving discrimination. E. ADA Compliance Update: The county is requiring that all documentation stored online be ADA compliant so that screen readers can be used to view the documents. Paul stated that all online documentation that currently exists will be modified, and all new documentation will need to be prepared in the proper format for compliance. The ADA compliance requirement is effective starting in 2025. F. Veteran Services Officer Position Update: Brynn Schreiner, a 27-year veteran, has been hired for this position, and will report to Paul Slack. He will handle anything pertaining to Veteran Services. IV. Executive Committee Report- Lynn McGee (6:15-6:25) A. Retreat: A discussion on the timing of the retreat prompted a decision to send out a Doodle Poll to determine the day to hold the retreat. A Google form will be sent to commissioner requesting topics for the retreat. Since the budget details will not be available until the September meeting, date options for the retreat will include dates in Oct& Nov so that we can plan our events for next year. B. Upcoming Events: i Blackwood Farm Enslaved Graveyard Marker Field Trip and update (Jemm) ii Historic Preservation Commission Meeting, 8/28/24: This meeting has been moved to Sept 25 per Paul Slack. Jemm & Lynn to attend the Historical Preservation Commission meeting to present the idea of the Enslaved Historical Marker Project and request their co-sponsorship. Ideas can be presented to BOCC for funding as a joint commission project. Additional ideas include: 1) "Adopt-a-Memorial Site" program whereby organizations can take responsibility to clean and maintain these enslaved graveyards as they are identified throughout the county; 2) partner with schools to have student art displayed during Black History Month that led to the enslaved gravesites. C. Vacancies:Two HRC vacancies (One open, Michael Fath). Three applicants attended June 2024 HRC mtg. Please submit your scoring rubric for each attendee (Alex Fowler, Corey Hogans, Shane Lukas) to Chair by Sept 16. Nathalie Volkheimer has resigned as Secretary and will resign as commissioner upon on-boarding of new commissioners. D. Communications-(Jemm): Courtney is working with IT to add Jemm as an administrator for the Facebook and Instagram accounts. V. Climate Action Grant Review-Amy Eckberg from Sustainability Dept (6:25-6:35) A. Tutorial on how to score (see Attachment 1); there are 25 applications to review, and all commissioners are asked to score just the section pertaining to Social Justice & Racial Equity; applications will be available to all commissioner by the end of this week. Commissioners to score each individually and provide scores by Sep 30th to Courtney. VI. How Are HRCs Across NC Handling Middle East Unrest Discussions-Gene Troy (6:35-6:50) Currently,there are no HRC organizations in the state addressing the Israeli- Hamas conflict. However,there are three areas of concern across the state: 1) Attacks on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs: the Gibson-Dunn Law firm gives updates on DEI issues. 2) Affordable Housing& Fair Housing Issues: Many issues across the state involve cases involving service animals. 3) Hate Crimes Involving Anti-Semitism, Anti-Asian & Anti-Muslim: Gene strongly recommends we ha ve a Crisis Management Response Team in place, especially with the upcoming election. Voter protection is a key factor as many acts of voter suppression are on the rise. Gene recommends attending the NC Civil Rights/Human Rights Conference on Sept 17 & 18t" on the campus of Fayetteville Technical Community College at the Tony Rand Center. Paul will send the HRC commissioners the information (See Attachment 2). Requests to attend should be directed to Courtney (CC: Lynn McGee) and she will process requests. VII.Sub-Committee Reports (6:50-7:05) A. Policies and Procedures (Co-Chairs Josh & Anjail): No updates at this time. B. Outreach & Engagement (Co-Chairs Brooke & Rhian): Survey for community needs assessment is in process and to be finalized during retreat. C. Community Events: Co-Chairs Michael & Tonya 1. Community Book Read- "The Intersectional Environmentalist": Author has been contacted but no response. It is suggested we use a county building for this event. Dates are needed quickly so we can advertise. VIII. Other Business/Announcement(7:05-7:15pm): None IX. Adjourn (7:15) Moved.•_BCY_ Seconded.• RF Approved NEXT MEETING: Date:Tues, Sep 24, 2024 Location: Solid Waste Management Bldg., 1207 Eubanks Rd, Chapel Hill Attachment 1: Climate Action Grant Review Presentation Community Climate Action Grant ( CCAG ) • Timeline/Overview • CCAG is BOCC • Current and future • HRC recommended Commissioner L funding open to slight adjustment to Initiative community through scoring guidelines • 15t tax in NC to fight grant program which BOCC approved climate change • Scoring and eligibility • %2 of funding • % cent property tax guidelines created designated to schools for climate approved through BOCC for 2019-2020 budget • HRC reviews • Projects prioritized by applications for social social justice and justice/racial equity racial equity component only; CFE • First year projects run everything else by County • BOCC provides final approval Eligibility Guidelines • Non-profits, public entities and small business • All funds must be spent in Orange County and demonstrate a positive impact on OC residents and the environment • Must have legal standing to receive funds • On-going projects eligible if expanding or accelerating the pace or scope of program • Projects that contain repairs and replacement of necessary technology or infrastructure must show both energy efficiency improvements and demonstrate that the project is unlikely to be funded through another funding mechanism within the next 5 years. C ` CCAG Projects To Dater FY19-20 ]OIN US FORA HABITAT HOME ° Supplemental weatherization DEDICATION! ) OpIR ITRFEt_xILL610lOVGX 1 seade.X.e.•i za.aoxz rm ! ' LED Light Campaign ...L Solar for Schools �. CANE CREEK RE5EVOIR FY20-21 �� F, �: r SOLAR SWITCH EVENT Water Heater Replacement - You are invited to help us turn on our largest solar array at Cane Creek Reservoir! Cane Creek Reservoir 352.4kW Solar _ �• +- Solar on Affordable Habitat Homes Cedar Falls Park LED Light Conversion Solar-powered EV Charging Station Tree Planting Program FY 21-22 ■ Compost monitors Solar panels and green roof EV bike rack and charging station r 'f Low income HVAC replacement ,. Neighborhood Energy Resiliency Program Solar for Schools �` CCAG Projects To Date : FY 22-23 Habitat for Humanity rooftop solar Weatherizationa : Jz Compost Monitors _-- 203 Solar Project Pilot EV Garbage Truck HVAC replacements (CHCCS) FY23-24 y Rooftop solar on Empowerment's Peach Apts. 2 church solar projects Garden, greenhouse, EE washer/dryer project Weatherization for Habitat for Humanity Green infrastructure/workforce development for Urban Sustainability Solutions CHCCS-LED light project; OC Schools-Solar Pedestal Array and EV charger project New for FY 24/25 : • No funding set aside for schools • $ 262,500 available for community projects • New signs made to promote program • Expect applications from Ag Sector • CAP alignment • Application tweaks Scoring Categories 7 categories; 26 total points M I= Social Justice and Racial Equity 6 Emissions Reduction 4 Efficient Use of Funds 4 Capacity of Applicant 3 Local Economic Development 3 Amount and Duration of Engagement 3 Time to Complete 3 To review the full application and background instructions, visit the CCAG webpage: https://www.orangecountync.gov/2534/Community-Climate- Action-Grant-Program The HRC reviews the Social Justice and Racial Equity Criterion only and the CFE will not have input into those scores. The CFE reviews and scores the six other criteria. Criterion 1 - Social Justice and Racial Equity This criterion has a maximum score of 6 pts (out of a total of 26 pts). 6. Who will directly or indirectly benefit from your project? Please be as specific as possible on the characteristics of these who will benefit including, gender, race, age, income level and geographic location. Also, what are the demographics of the area where your project takes place? Does your project help to address any racial disparities in the location it is proposed for? Please list any data sources used and show the steps of any calculations. 7. Please describe any ways in which low-income or marginalized communities/households were engaged in the creation of this project proposal. 8. Please describe any potential negative side effects of the project and describe the steps you are taking/will take to eliminate or minimize these impacts to any love-income or marginalized com munities/ho use holds. Criteria 1 Continued.... 9. Are the impacted residents already aware of the potential positive and negative impacts of your project and the .steps you are taLng? If not, please describe your plan to engage with them and how you vAll act based on their input. 10. During and after the project, what will your continued engagement with the impacted community be? 11. Please describe any other aspect of your project that is relevant to .Social Justice, Environmental Justice and Racial Equity, Approval CCAGTimeline Present CFE and HRC Sept-Oct recommendations to BOCC CFE and for approval in December, projects begin in January H RC review 2025 August 16— and score Application applications Deadline Applications will be forwarded for your review as soon as they are ready. Attachment 2: North Carolina Civil Rights/Human Rights Conference To Local Human Relations Commissions/Councils/Committees (Local HRCs), Local Human Relations Departments (Local HRDs), and Diversity, Equity&Inclusion Offices/Departments (DEI Offices/Depts.) On Tuesday, September 17, 2024, through Wednesday., September 18, 2024, the North Carolina Civil Rights/Human Rights Conference will be held on the campus of Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) at the Tony Rand Center, 222o Hull Road, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28303. The forum is being co-sponsored by: i-North Carolina Chapter of National Association of Human Rights Workers (NC-NAHRW) 2-City of Fayetteville-Cumberland County Human Relations Department 3-Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC) is the host of the North Carolina Civil Rights/Human Rights Conference. Dr. Mark Sorrells is the president of FTCC. (NOTE:See the attached of the North Carolina Human Rights/Civil Rights Conference.) SEND YOUR RSVP IF INTERESTED IN ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE If you are interested in attending the NC-NAHRW Conference, please go to the following link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/statewide-human-rightscivil-rights- conference-sponsored-by-nc-nahrw-registration- 95oigo694947?aff=oddtdtcreator The registration fee to attend the conference is $135.00. Registration to attend the conference ends on Thursday, September 5, 2024, at ii:59 p.m. Thank you for your consideration and your continuous work to improve human relations and diversity, equity&inclusion in your local areas. If you have questions, about the conference, you can send an email to me or call me at my direct telephone number listed below. Sincerely yours, Gene Troy Program Manager North Carolina Human Relations Commission Civil Rights Division North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings Direct Office Telephone Number (effective May 1, 2020): 984/236-i9i6 Fax Telephone Number(effective May 1, 2020): 984/236-1946 Email Address: gene.troyPoah.nc.gov Mailing Address: NC Human Relations Commission 1318 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1318