Human Relations Commission

MINUTES CITY OF DEKALB Human Relations Commission September 5, 2017 The Human Relations Committee (HRC) held a Meeting on September 5, 2017 in the Executive Conference Room at City Hall. Chair Larry Apperson called the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m. A. ROLL CALL The following members of the HRC were present: Larry Apperson (Chair), Lisa King, Norden Gilbert, and Ellingsworth Webb. Members absent at roll call were: Joe Gasitiger Robert Williams, and Maurice Bailey. The following City staff members were present: Management Analyst Aaron Stevens. Notes were taken by Analyst Stevens. B. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA – ADDITIONS / DELETIONS The agenda was approved. C. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION No public participation occurred. D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes from the June 6, 2017 meeting were approved. E. OLD BUSINESS a. Strategic Plan Chair Apperson reviewed sections of the City of DeKalb Strategic Plan that the HRC may consider as priorities for further actions going forward, such as continued funding for Cultural Competency Training for City employees. Commissioner Webb stated that the HRC should continue an open dialogue with City leadership personnel, elected officials, and the community to address why Cultural Competency training is critical so that the need for the training to be continued long-term is not underestimated in the future. Chair Apperson listed off the FY17 visions, strategies, and goals that were included in the abbreviated version of the Strategic Plan that was previously distributed by Lauren Stott on June 9, 2017. Chair Apperson stated that the specific FY17 vision, goals, and strategies  Human Relations Commission Meeting September 6, 2017 Page 2 of 3 were emailed to the Commissioners as a cut out selection taken from the full Strategic Plan so that the HRC could discuss which items they should prioritize and support as initiatives the HRC might focus on going forward in 2017 and into 2018. Commissioner Gilbert stated that he does not believe diversity is integrated into the Strategic Plan adequately because the word diversity, and/or related expressions of the term are not included in certain sections where they should have been. Chair Apperson stated that the version Commissioner Gilbert was reviewing was the select portion of the Strategic Plan that was emailed by Lauren Stott, and that the full version of the plan may further address diversity. Commissioner Webb stated that the City should include members of the community of different ethnic backgrounds for building on the Strategic Plan and developments that may come forth from it. In particular, the sections of the Strategic Plan that involve, or should focus on, creating diversity in the Community, should include members of diverse ethnicities as part of the planning process. e. Ex-Offender Re-Entry Updates Commissioner Webb communicated that DeKalb County Court Services was awarded the “Swift, Certain, and Fair” grant in the amount of $600,000 for a probation program under the DeKalb County Court Services. Commissioner Webb stated that this may have some bearing on the Ex-Offender Re-Entry research initiatives currently being discussed by the HRC. For clarification, further research revealed that the grant mentioned above was awarded in 2016. F. NEW BUSINESS a. Commissioner Webb stated that the Annie Glidden North (AGN) Revitalization Plan will most likely have an impact on the focus of the HRC as it relates to the HRC’s purview of the City’s Strategic Plan. Commissioner Webb provided a brief background on the purpose and intended goals of the AGN Revitalization Plan, as well as the Task Force of community members that will be appointed by Mayor Smith to serve as an advisory group throughout the project. Commissioners Webb and Apperson requested that the Complete Strategic Plan, as well as the selected version of the Strategic Plan that the HRC was specifically requested to review, and the background materials for the AGN Revitalization Plan be sent to the HRC Commissioners to review for our next meeting. Analyst Stevens stated that Commissioner Bailey had communicated that he will be unable to attend HRC meetings throughout the fall semester due to a night class he is currently enrolled in. Chair Apperson stated that he will communicate with Commissioner Bailey to ask if he will have availability on the first Thursday of every month and coordinate the new meeting time with the Commissioners if necessary.  Human Relations Commission Meeting September 6, 2017 Page 3 of 3 The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for October 3rd, 2017 but there is a possibility that the meeting will be rescheduled to October 5th, 2017 pending availability of some Commissioners. G. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m. ___________________________________________________________________ AARON STEVENS, Management Analyst Minutes approved by the Human Relations Commission on: October 5, 2017