Human Relations Commission

MINUTES CITY OF DEKALB Human Relations Commission Jan 2, 2018 The Human Relations Committee (HRC) held a Meeting on Jan 2, 2018 in the Executive Conference Room at City Hall. Chair Larry Apperson called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m. A. ROLL CALL The following members of the HRC were present: Larry Apperson (Chair), Ellingsworth Webb, Joe Gastiger, Norden Gilbert, Maurice Bailey. Members absent at roll call were: Robert Williams, Lisa King. 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 Public comments are kept with associated agenda items throughout. D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes from the December 7, 2017 meeting were approved with modification to second paragraph under item 3 Strategic Plan Activity. E. OLD BUSINESS 1. Welcoming City Updates Commissioner Joe Gastiger summarized a meeting held this afternoon with City staff members Dean Frieders, Gene Lowery, and Aaron Stevens, two HRC members, and the Welcoming Western Counties Organization to collect staff feedback and discuss the feasibility of adopting a “welcoming ordinance”. Gastiger stated that City staff were not enthusiastic about the idea to adopt this ordinance for several reasons. Chief Lowery and Dean Frieders did not attend tonight’s HRC meeting, therefore Gastiger provided a few examples of their reasons aforementioned. Gastiger stated that City staff are most interested in identifying any and all instances of potential discrimination towards undocumented residents and interdict to rectify those specific issues rather than adopt a broad ordinance  Human Relations Commission Meeting January 2, 2018 Page 2 of 5 that may not be effective by itself or become familiar to the public. Gastiger stated that ultimately, City staff agreed to and supported the idea of drafting and publicizing a proclamation that reiterates the March 2017 press release issued by Chief Lowery regarding the Police Department’s policy on community resident’s immigration status. Gastiger recommended a proclamation be made stating that City of DeKalb Police Officers will not question any persons on the status of their legal U.S Citizenship or documentation thereof. Gastiger stated that he would request the proclamation described above be publically supported and announced by the Mayor, Chief Lowery, and City Attorney Dean Frieders. Mayor Jerry Smith, who was in attendance at this meeting, stated that he would support such a proclamation and that the authority to issue said proclamation rest solely with the Mayor’s position. Commissioner Ellingsworth Webb and Commissioner Norden Gilbert both stated that the emphasis going forward should be on public information and communicating the City’s policy to residents in the community through various outreach initiatives. Dana Yara of Welcoming Western Counties, who attended this meeting and the meeting with City staff aforementioned, stated that there is a need to get members of the community involved to help collect input from undocumented residents and people connected to them to better inform the process of addressing discrimination issues. Yara summarized his interpretation of the outcome of the earlier meeting held with City staff. Yara stated he believes while a proclamation is a good and necessary first step, the community should continue to draw support for adoption of the official ordinance. Dave Becker of Welcoming Western Counties, also in attendance, stated that they have homework to do in finding out where gaps are in the policies or laws such as the Illinois Trust Act for protecting undocumented citizens. He stated that he interpreted the City’s main objection to the ordinance to be centered on the risk of losing federal grant funding from the Department of Justice and other agencies due to non-compliance with federal mandates. Becker stated that he would like to research what impacts welcoming ordinances have had in communities that have adopted them. Herb Rubin, a member of the public in attendance, spoke of a proclamation made by a prior Mayor stating that the City will not discriminate against people of the Islamic faith. Rubin stated that outreach for this issue is critical and that historically the City has not conducted outreach particularly well. Rubin stated that the proclamation should be made now while still continuing to work towards the adoption of an official ordinance. Irene Rubin, a member of the public in attendance, stated that there is definitely a need in the community to adopt a welcoming ordinance and that the notion that it may not be widely heard by members of the community or that they may never become aware of its existence is absurd. Rubin stated that the information would be circulated through various media outlets as well as through outreach initiatives. Rubin implored the HRC and meeting attendees as a group to stand up and do something about this now. Jim Luebke, a member of the public in attendance, stated that the City Attorney and Chief Lowery do not implement policy, and doing so is the responsibility of the Mayor and City  Human Relations Commission Meeting January 2, 2018 Page 3 of 5 Council. Luebke stated that an ordinance would ensure Police Officers will be bound from asking individuals of their citizenship status and that such an ordinance should be left to the discretion of the Mayor and Council. Commissioner Gilbert stated that leadership in the community, along with members of the community have to make a concerted effort to convey the City’s stance on the matter. Gilbert stated that making such a concerted effort is more important than just making a proclamation or adopting an ordinance. Webb indicated his support of Gilbert’s statement and said that there also is a definite need to find out who else is in support of this initiative and bring information to the table supporting that there is a legitimate need to give reassurance to undocumented residents in the community. Webb stated that so far, it has only been the HRC along with a small group who have attended the last two meetings, requesting this initiative, and that they collectively do not know who else is beseeching a welcoming ordinance within the City. Gastiger asked Analyst Stevens to provide any additional input on this item as he was also in attendance at the aforementioned meeting with City staff. Stevens stated that it is difficult to have this conversation in its entirety without also hearing from Chief Lowery and Dean Frieders because they have knowledge on the issue, that cannot be spoken to at the present meeting which attendees most likely do not have. Stevens stated that meeting attendees really cannot come to their ultimate decision on the matter without first hearing input from Chief Lowery and City Attorney Frieders to understand all implications of adopting a welcoming ordinance. Mayor Smith stated that he is fully supportive of a proclamation but that ultimately the policy decisions are up to City Council and not staff. Mayor Smith, stated that the City commissions are underutilized and need to be included in policy making. Smith stated that the proclamation is a good idea in his opinion. Smith stated that over the last 6 months there has been a major culture change within City operations that staff does not set policy and that policy making is the responsibility of Council only. Smith stated that the proclamation should include fluid language to insinuate within its context, that advocacy groups, the HRC Commission, and others are encouraged to continue assessing development of a welcoming ordinance. Chair Apperson stated that there is a definite need to communicate a proclamation or policy before March 5, 2018 due to the upcoming expiration of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) to help reassure undocumented citizens that the DeKalb police will not work in coordination with immigration authorities to detain or deport any individual. Chair Apperson asked what the next step towards this initiative for the HRC should be. Gastiger stated that he would like to make a motion towards the drafting of the said proclamation. Gastiger also emphasized the importance for the HRC to work towards circulation of information such as the March 2017 press release issued from Chief Lowery, through the school district and various other community points of contact. Gastiger stated  Human Relations Commission Meeting January 2, 2018 Page 4 of 5 that a joint statement between the D428 Superintendent, Mayor, and Police Chief should be formed and publicized. Motion – the Human Relations Commission will advance towards formation of a working group including but not to exceed two members of the HRC, Chief of Police, and other organizations as deemed necessary to draft a proclamation for communicating the City’s policy of not questioning individuals regarding immigration status for consideration by the Mayor. Additionally, the working group will assess the development of a joint-statement to be issued between the City and School District to publicly reiterate the immigration status policy referenced in the proclamation. Motion was initiated by Gastiger, seconded by Ellingsworth. Motion carries. 2. 2018 Cultural Competency Training Budget Chair Apperson stated that the $6,500 discussed at the December 7 HRC meeting was not put back in the FY18 Budget to fund facilitators for Cultural Competency Training. Apperson asked the commissioners what interest they had in exploring other alternatives for recruiting volunteer facilitators for training including and/or researching grant funding opportunities through the DeKalb County Community Foundation. Apperson stated that he will meet with City staff to discuss alternatives for providing training to public safety employees. Apperson stated he will research the grant writing process for submissions to the DeKalb County Community Foundation 3. AGN Revitalization Plan Update Analyst Stevens stated the next Task Force meeting will most likely be January 17th. No further discussion on this item occurred. 4. Strategic Plan Public Information Sharing Apperson stated there are several individuals in the community whom he has conversed with that were not familiar with the DeKalb 2025 Strategic Plan, and that it is apparent that the broad based population of the City has no knowledge of this plan. Apperson discussed the possibility of using mailers sent to physical home addresses to better publicize the strategic plan. Chair Apperson stated he will contact Assistant City Manager Patty Hoppenstedt to discuss ways of communicating the strategic plan to the community-at- large. 5. Ex-Offender Re-entry Update Motion - Commissioner Gilbert requested a motion be made to request City council to recognize Eric Armstrong for his contributions to the “Suits for Success” program at the Proudly DeKalb portion of a City Council meeting. Initiated by Norden Gilbert and seconded by Maurice Bailey.  Human Relations Commission Meeting January 2, 2018 Page 5 of 5 F. NEW BUSINESS 1. Potential Guests for Future Meetings Discussion The HRC discussed inviting members of the Hope Fair Housing organization based in Wheaton, IL to an upcoming meeting to discuss a grant they received to work in DeKalb, and 2 other communities to address the issue of hate crimes. G. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:23 p.m. ___________________________________________________________________ AARON STEVENS, Management Analyst Minutes approved by the Human Relations Commission on: February 6, 2018