Human Relations Commission

AGENDA Human Relations Commission Meeting Location: Executive Conference Room (Second Floor) City Hall, 200 South Fourth Street June 5, 2018 6:30 p.m. A. Roll Call B. Approval of Agenda – Additions / Deletions C. Approval of Minutes – May 1, 2018 D. Public Participation E. Old Business 1. AGN Revitalization Plan Update 2. Ex-Offender Re-entry Update 3. Youth Football House Bill Update 4. Assault Weapons Ban Research Update 5. Community Meeting Update F. New Business 1. July Meeting G. Adjournment  DRAFT MINUTES CITY OF DEKALB Human Relations Commission May 1, 2018 The Human Relations Committee (HRC) held a Meeting on May 1, 2018 in the Executive Conference Room at City Hall. Chair Larry Apperson called the meeting to order at 6:34 p.m. A. ROLL CALL The following members of the HRC were present: Larry Apperson (Chair), Joe Gastiger, Lisa King, Maurice Bailey, and Norden Gilbert. Members absent at roll call were: Ellingsworth Webb and Robert Williams. 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 one item under new business (Community Meeting Report). C. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION No public participation occurred. D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes from the March 6, 2018 meeting were approved. E. OLD BUSINESS 1. Welcoming Proclamation Status Chair Apperson provided an overview of the City Council meeting at which the Welcoming Proclamation was made. Apperson stated that he followed up with the Mayor after the council meeting to discuss distribution of the proclamation to other local organizations such as the school district. Apperson stated that the Mayor asked him to distribute copies of the proclamation which he did to the following: - DeKalb Community School District 428 Superintendent - NIU: President, Chief Diversity Officer, Dir. of International Student & Faculty Office (will send to Intern’l Student Assoc.), and Student Association - Other locations that have received copies are: the DeKalb Library and Connexion Communidad. Chair Apperson’s cover letter to each of the NIU administrators or offices requested that they share copies of the proclamation to relevant student organizations. Apperson explained that the Mayor decided not to distribute a media release from the City because that is not something the City has ever done for a proclamation in the past. Apperson stated that members of the HRC should take copies of the proclamation to any given event they may attend to distribute the proclamation. Commissioner Gastiger stated that he is disappointed in the Mayor’s decision to not issue a press release announcing the welcoming proclamation because this was something initiated by members of the Community and differs from other proclamations. 2. AGN Revitalization Plan Update Gastiger provided a quick update on the status of the Task Force. He stated there is an upcoming meeting to be held on Monday, May 7, 2018. Analyst Stevens explained that the purpose of the upcoming Task Force meeting is for the subcommittees to report their individual meeting outcomes back to the entire group and prioritize potential projects. Commissioner Lisa King stated that the City has not contacted the Township after she had asked if they could be contacted at a previous HRC meeting. Aaron Stevens who is also the Annie Glidden North (AGN) Revitalization Plan project manager stated that he has not yet contacted the township regarding the AGN project but that he will follow through with them in the next few days to discuss any potential collaboration that can take place. King stated that she thinks it is very important for the Township to be contacted and see’s any potential collaboration as a positive for projects and initiatives such as AGN. Gastiger suggested that Stevens should contact Dr. Amanda Durik, NIU Professor to discuss her research and any input she might have with developing interest and motivation in various City initiatives. Gastiger stated that Durik is an industrial/organizational psychologist who specializes in these areas and is currently working on a project, that is grant funded by NASA, to help youth become interested in space exploration and planetary sciences. 3. Ex-Offender Re-entry Update a. Recognition of Suits for Success Update Commissioner Norden Gilbert stated that the Mayor did recognize “Suits for Success” at a recent City Council meeting. Gilbert stated that Tom Burnette attended the meeting on behalf of Greenacres Cleaners and provided a quick presentation of the “Suits for Success” program. Greenacres Cleaners has displayed a framed copy of this recognition in their business. 4. Youth Football House Bill Update This item has been tabled until the next meeting. F. New Business 1. Highland Park Assault Weapons Ban Gastiger asked the HRC members if this is something they want to get behind and pursue with other organizations and members of the community. Gastiger suggested that the HRC would work in collaboration with youth across the community to promote an Assault Weapons Ban in the City of DeKalb. Apperson stated that the HRC should contact Police Chief Gene Lowery to initiate the conversation about a ban on assault weapons. Joe Gastiger indicated he would talk with Chief Lowery.  2. Community Meeting Report Apperson provided an overview of the Community Meeting he attended at New Hope Baptist Church. The meeting was held to discuss the facts surrounding the investigation commissioned by the DeKalb Community School District to determine how many students enrolled in district schools do not reside in DeKalb. Apperson distributed a handout written by the Welcoming Western Counties organization titled “District 428 Residency Checks” which is a document that researches the facts of the DeKalb School District residency problem claim. Apperson stated that New Hope Pastor Joe Mitchel provided an overview of the “District 428 Residency Checks” document at the community meeting held at New Hope. Apperson stated that the second community meeting is at “Connexion Comunidad on Wed., May 2nd. G. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at: 7:56p.m. ___________________________________________________________________ AARON STEVENS, Management Analyst Minutes approved by the Human Relations Commission on: