Human Relations Commission

AGENDA Human Relations Commission Meeting Location: Executive Conference Room (Second Floor) City Hall, 200 South Fourth Street May 1, 2018 6:30 p.m. A. Roll Call B. Approval of Agenda – Additions / Deletions C. Approval of Minutes – February 6, 2018 D. Public Participation E. Old Business 1. Welcoming Proclamation Status 2. AGN Revitalization Plan Update 3. Ex-Offender Re-entry Update a. Recognition of Suits for Success Update 4. Youth Football House Bill Update F. New Business 1. Highland Park Assault Weapons Ban G. Adjournment  Draft MINUTES CITY OF DEKALB Human Relations Commission March 6, 2018 The Human Relations Committee (HRC) held a Meeting on March 6, 2018 in the Executive Conference Room at City Hall. Chair Larry Apperson called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. A. ROLL CALL The following members of the HRC were present: Larry Apperson (Chair), Ellingsworth Webb, Joe Gastiger, Lisa King, Robert Williams, Maurice Bailey and Norden Gilbert. Members absent at roll call were: None 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 with the addition of two items added under new business. C. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Public comments are kept with associated agenda items throughout. D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes from the February 6, 2018 meeting were approved with one minor grammatical change. E. OLD BUSINESS 1. Welcoming City Updates Chair Apperson provided a quick overview of the status of the welcoming proclamation. He explained that Chief Lowery suggested a minor change to include the full sentence of the section of the press release the quote referenced in the proclamation was taken from. Apperson explained that the Mayor stated he would like to see commissions be more active in public meetings so he asked Chair Apperson to add comments at the Council meeting following the proclamation statement. Commissioner Webb stated that the HRC should invite all public bodies that will receive distribution materials for the welcoming ordinance to the Council Meeting on March 12. Webb stated the HRC should prepare a press release that can be sent to the public bodies with the invitation to the Council Meeting and sent to the media. Chair Apperson stated he would speak with the Mayor to discuss distributing a press release prior to the March 12th meeting and also coordinate with Dana Yarak to have the press release translated to Spanish. Public Participation - Representatives from the N.I.U. Dream Action organization stated they would assist with distribution of the press release to interested community organizations. Analyst Stevens stated that he would pass the draft press release to the City Communications person to put it on the official City template. 2. AGN Revitalization Plan Update Commissioner Gastiger provided a quick overview of the last Transportation, Infrastructure, and Open Space subcommittee meeting that occurred on March 2. Gastiger stated that flex bus lines, and more service lines will be implemented through the Voluntary Action Center (VAC) transportation service. Gastiger stated he would like to see bus service lines to the industrial area to places of employment such as 3M and Panduit. Gastiger stated that DeKalb Sycamore Area Transportation Study (DSATs) is applying for several grants to achieve the new service lines and in the worst case scenario, it would take 2 years to receive grants to implement new services. Gastiger stated that the subcommittee will be discussing potential projects for positive changes to Welsh Park at the next meeting scheduled for March 19. Commissioner Webb provided a brief overview of the discussions items the Housing and Commercial Development subcommittee is focusing on. Webb stated that the subcommittee has had its first meeting and the second meeting is scheduled for March 14. 3. Selection criteria for locations for direct Strategic Plan distribution Chair Apperson explained that the purpose of this item is to look at how the City may be able to distribute information related to the City of DeKalb 2015 Strategic Plan throughout the community. The City has asked Chair Apperson to get any ideas from the HRC. Webb stated that one way the plan could be distributed is to give out flash drives with the City logo that have the plan loaded on them. He suggested that the flash drives could be given out at events and throughout the community. Gastiger stated that the HRC should research what community organizations or groups could assist with distribution of the plan though their networks. Commissioner King discussed placing the plans in public access locations throughout the City such as Church’s, public libraries, restaurants, grocery stores, and other places people commonly visit. Commissioner Bailey stated that the plan should be placed in the lobby of City Hall and the Police Department. The HRC discussed the idea of publicizing City core values along with the Strategic Plan. Gastiger suggested posting a simple short brochure with a reference to the strategic plan and include questions that motivate people to go to the City’s website to read the plan and/or ask for further information. Chair Apperson will set-up a meeting with Acting City Manager, Patty Hoppenstedt, to relate these HRC ideas. 4. Ex-Offender Re-entry Update a. Recognition of Suits for Success Update Commissioner Gilbert stated that he spoke with Eric Armstrong of Greenacre Cleaners and Eric has agreed to be at the March 26th Council Meeting for a “Suits for Success” recognition ceremony. Gilbert will prepare a statement for recognition of suits for success to be read at the March 26th meeting. F. New Business 1. Youth Football House Bill – CTE Prevention Act Commissioner Williams discussed a state legislation bill titled CPE Prevention Act (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) that will be voted on that would ban youth under the age of 12 from playing in tackle football leagues. Williams stated that concussions and other brain injuries that occur in tackle football is a serious problem at all levels, but even more so for youth football players. The HRC discussed agencies to discuss this issue with. Chair Apperson suggested that Commissioner Williams contact the DeKalb County Department of Public Health to broach this issue. Gastiger suggested contacting the school districts and asking about how information is provided to parents related to concussions as a result of playing a sport. Williams stated he sent a letter to the editor of the Daily Chronicle and spoke to the superintendent of the DeKalb Community School District about this issue but he would like the HRC to consider how they might take a position on the bill publically. 2. “Weapons of War” Commissioner Gastiger discussed the idea of pursuing a local ordinance that would in some way prohibit the ownership of assault weapons in the City of DeKalb. Gastiger provided a handout of the Highland Park Assault Weapons Ban Ordinance that the U.S. Supreme Court decided not to rule on after a challenge of the ordinance was made by the National Rifle Association (NRA). Commissioner King announced that the NIU Police Department is conducting active shooter training that is open to the public. G. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:04 p.m. ___________________________________________________________________ AARON STEVENS, Management Analyst Minutes approved by the Human Relations Commission on: