City of Lawrence

Lawrence Human Relations Commission

December 3, 2015 – 5:30 PM

Minutes

 

Members Present:  Carl Edwards, Sarah Bloxsom, Martha Taylor, Nicole Humphrey, Jacqueline Becks, Katrina McClure

 

Staff Present:  Scott Wagner

 

Public Present:  None

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Commission Meeting Called to Order

The Lawrence Human Relations Commission (LHRC) Meeting was called to order by Vice-Chairman Carl Edwards, at 5:35 p.m. in the Carnegie Building, located at 200 West 9th Street, , Lawrence, Kansas 66044.  The meeting was held in the lower level conference room.

 

Vice-Chairman Edwards welcomed everyone to the meeting and discussed the role of the Lawrence Human Relations Commission as an advisory body to the Lawrence City Commission.  He noted that this meeting was originally scheduled for November 19, 2015, but that meeting was cancelled due to a lack of a quorum and re-scheduled for today, December 3, 2015.

 

Approval of Minutes

Vice-Chairman Edwards asked the commissioners if there were any additions or changes on the minutes from the August 20, 2015 meeting. There were none.  Commissioner Bloxsom motioned that the minutes be approved, it was seconded by Commissioner Becks, and all voted in favor.

 

Commission Updates

Scott Wagner updated the commission on changes to the board.  Chairman William Welch submitted his resignation prior to the meeting scheduled for November.  He has accepted a new position in Wichita with Wichita State University and had to re-locate there.  The board is presently without a chair, so that is why Vice-Chairman Edwards is running the meeting this evening.  According to the commission by-laws, a new election must be conducted when there is an opening for one of the board’s elected leadership positions and that is item number three on your agenda this evening.  Scott Wagner noted that Mayor Amyx appointed three new members to the Lawrence Human Relations Commission on December 1.  The new appointments are Katie Barnett, Caleb Stephens and Mike Machell and these members will receive training from staff and be available for the next meeting scheduled for February 18, 2016.

 

Election of Officers

Vice-Chairman Edwards began discussion regarding the election of officers.  He stated that he was willing to serve as Chair if the commission so desired.  Commissioner McClure nominated Vice-Chairman Edwards for the position of Chair.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Becks, and all voted in favor.

 

Chairman Edwards then noted that the board needed to fill the position of Vice-Chair.  He noted that the duties of the Vice-Chair are fairly uneventful, except in the absence of the Chair, and then the Vice-Chair must preside over the meetings.  Commissioner Taylor asked who among the remaining board members had experience serving on the commission.  It was noted by staff that both Commissioner Bloxsom and Commissioner McClure have been serving on the board.  It was also noted that Commissioner Taylor had previously served on the board.  Commissioner Bloxsom said that prior experience should not be a deciding factor, but willingness to serve.  Commissioner Becks nominated Commissioner Taylor to serve as Vice-Chair.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner McClure and all voted in favor.

 

Scott Wagner noted that the terms of the Chair and Vice-chair will be until May 2016 when the board traditionally selects leadership each year.

 

Receive Staff Report

 

Case Report Update – No update was available at the time of the meeting.  Scott Wagner said he would get that information from Elizabeth Hafoka and email it to the commission.

 

Scott Wagner noted that the Human Relations outreach video had been finalized and was posted on the City’s website.  Future uses would include training and outreach and promotion and the video should serve the commission well for the future.

 

Training Opportunities

Steven Lehwald attended a HUD week one investigations training the week of August 24th in Nashville, TN.  Scott Wagner attended the 2015 National Fair Housing and Training Conference, September 1-3 in Washington, D.C.

 

HUD Proposed Rule  On October 21, 2015 HUD published a proposed rule on Quid Pro Quo and Hostile Environment Harassment.  Copies of the rule were passed out to the commission.  Scott Wagner provided some highlights of the rule and expected to have more information at the February Human Relations Commission meeting.

 

Department of Justice Handout

Scott Wagner passed out an information brochure recently distributed by the U.S. Department of Justice – Civil Rights Division.  The handout was on the Americans with Disabilities Acts and Persons with HIV/AIDS.

 

Outreach Activities

Scott Wagner reported on outreach activities since the last meeting.  It was noted that the commission was a sponsor of the Festival of Cultures held Sunday, September 27, 2015 in South Park from noon to 5 p.m.  The commission had a table with outreach items and brochures about the commission at the event.  Scott Wagner noted the event seemed to be very well attended this year and that a great variety of cultures were on display at the event.

 

Scott Wagner provided an update on the issue of commemorating the passage of the City’s first Fair Housing ordinance in 1967.  He said he would like the commission to appoint a sub-committee at the February 2016 meeting to work on ideas to promote this historic achievement.  He has done some preliminary research on the background of the law and staff has presented the idea of collecting some oral histories of persons who worked on passing the ordinance.  Scott Wagner has identified a volunteer researcher with Watkins Historical Museum who is interested in this project and is meeting with him on December 4, 2015.  Other ideas might include a panel discussion of key individuals involved, with a possible airing of the discussion by Kansas Public Radio.  A panel display could also be created to chronicle key events and highlight documents and photos from the era.  The subcommittee might wish to work with members of the public as well to solicit ideas.  Staff will continue to work on this issue.

 

Scott Wagner reported that he has been meeting with the USD497 committee that is planning the Martin Luther King Day festivities.  MLK day is January 18, 2016 and the community/USD497 celebration will be held January 21 at South Jr. High.  Commissioners may be needed that evening to help with the event and/or to escort winners on stage to receive their awards.

 

Commission Items

The list of proposed 2016 meeting times and location was presented.  Commissioner Taylor moved that the 2016 meeting dates be approved.  Commissioner Becks seconded the motion and all voted in favor.

 

A 2016 Fair Housing Month Poster Contest was discussed.  Scott Wagner provided some background on the inaugural 2015 contest as did Commissioner Bloxsom.  Staff noted that if the commission wished to sponsor a contest in 2016, it should be decided now so that planning could begin.  Commissioner Taylor moved that the commission sponsor a 2016 contest.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Bloxsom and all voted in favor.  Commissioner Bloxsom and Commissioner Humphrey volunteered to work with staff and the community partners to plan the contest for 2016.

 

Commissioner McClure provided a report on the forum at the University of Kansas hosted by the Chancellor on Wednesday, November 11, 2015.  She noted that the Chancellor did the best she could to answer questions regarding the issues surrounding race and discrimination on campus.  She said the group called Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk did present a list of demands.  The leader of the group is also president of the Black Student Union. Staff provided some recent news articles from the Lawrence-Journal World and the University Daily Kansan from coverage of these events.  Discussion among the commission took place and there was general consensus to continue to follow these events and that commissioners should attend any future public forums if at all possible.  Scott Wagner asked if nametags would be helpful for the commissioners so that they could be identified as members of the Lawrence Human Relations Commission.  The commission indicated support for this and staff said they would work on obtaining nametags for future events.

 

Public Comment

There was no public comment.

 

Adjournment

Commissioner Bloxsom motioned and Commissioner Humphrey seconded for adjournment, all voted in favor to adjourn at 6:30 P.M.