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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-17-2012 Ad Hoc Diversity CommitteeA P._�. ®, CITY OF IOWA CITY M E M ` RA N D U M Date: December 14, 2012 To: Ad Hoc Diversity Committee 11M)embers Ifs* From: Marian K. Karr, City Clerk Re: Committee Packet for meeting on December 17, 2012 The following documents are for your review and comment at the next Committee meeting: Agenda for 12/17/12 (page 1) Minutes of December 10 (pages 2 - 5) Materials from City Clerk: • Subcommittee location & schedule (page 6) • Education piece /flier (page 7) • Opening statement from November (page 8) • Survey /Input draft form (pages 9 —10) • Proposed list of recommendations (page 11 -12) THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO ATTEND ALL MEETINGS AD HOC DIVERSITY COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA Monday, December 17, 2012 Harvat Hall in City Hall 410 East Washington Street 4:00 PM 1. Approve December 10 minutes 2. Subcommittee Information Gathering Sessions Schedule Locations Input form Format 3. General Board discussion 4. Tentative Meeting Schedule • January 3 — Helling Conference Room • January 14 — Harvat Hall • January 24 — Harvat Hall • January 28 — Harvat Hall (Council Meeting) • February 4 — Harvat Hall (Botchway absent) 5. Public Input 6. Adjournment I /- Ad Hoc Diversity Committee, December 10, 2012 Page 1 MINUTES DRAFT AD HOC DIVERSITY COMMITTEE DECEMBER 10, 2012 HARVAT HALL IN CITY HALL, 4:05 P.M. Members Present: Cindy Roberts, Joe Dan Coulter, Orville Townsend, Sr., Kingsley Botchway II, Joan Vanden Berg Members Absent: LaTasha Massey, Bakhit Bakhit Staff Present: Karr, Markus (4:10) Others Present: Charlie Eastham REVIEW MEETING MINUTES: Chairperson Botchway began the meeting with the December 3, 2012, meeting minutes. Coulter moved to approve the December 3, 2012, meeting minutes as submitted. Townsend seconded the motion. The motion carried 4 -0; Roberts, Massey and Bakhit absent. INFORMATION GATHERING SESSION DISCUSSION and GENERAL BOARD Botchway began the conversation by speaking about the various locations throughout the community where they would like to hold other public forums in. Karr noted that she did not check availability at any of these locations as she did not have specific dates. Coulter stated that he believes they should pick the top four from this list and then go forward with setting up public forums. Botchway agreed, asking which schools they should include in this list. Members agreed that City and West High Schools would probably have the largest turnouts. The discussion centered on the types of input each audience would likely contribute, with Townsend stating that lie believes having too much input is better than not having enough. Townsend also spoke to having a forum at The Spot. Others agreed that this is a crucial meeting place for their forum. Members continued to talk about the various locations, trying to determine the other top locations. Townsend stated that with the feedback given at the previous forum, they should definitely hold a public forum at Pheasant Ridge noting this would help the Committee gather even more detailed information from this neighborhood.. (Roberts arrived) Roberts added her opinion at this point, stating that high schoolers are one of the populations they were missing at the previous forum and that both high schools are needed in this input process. Members continued to discuss locations, coming to the agreement to add the Waterfront HyVee to the top Ad Hoc Diversity Committee, December 10, 2012 Page 2 four list. Townsend again suggested the Pheasant Ridge area. Karr stated that they could contact the hnmigrant Voices Project as they did a lot of the interpreting at the previous forum and see what they think about a community location. Members spoke to this briefly, with Karr reminding them that as they approach the holiday season they need to be aware of when school is in session. Vanden Berg suggested they tie in their public input with an event that is already taking place, such as family night at Twain. She and Karr offered to work together on seeing who has such upcoming events. Karr stated that she could contact IVP to see if they have suggestions for locations. The discussion continued, with Members talking about how they would like to handle the public input sessions in these four locations. Karr reminded Members there should be no more than three Members present at any one location so a quorum was not present. The discussion turned back to Pheasant Ridge and the population this would touch. It was agreed that they would add this location to their top five list (City High, West High, The Spot, Hy -Vee Waterfront, Pheasant Ridge Center). Karr will check availability of these locations and will have something to share by next week's meeting. Vanden Berg said she would contact the schools and relay the information to Karr for distribution. Coulter then spoke to how they plan to handle these upcoming sessions. He believes they should be fairly informal. Members continued to discuss the specifies of these upcoming forums, with the goal being to host them in the first few weeks of January. TENTATIVE MEETING SCHEDULE: Botchway noted that he has been looking at the tentative schedule. Karr stated the tentative schedule now is to meet again on December 17 and then take two weeks off. After some discussion, members agreed to meet on January 3 prior to the input sessions. Members continued to discuss the days and times for holding the public input sessions, agreeing that the week of January 7 -11 would be ideal. January meetings continued to be discussed, with Members agreeing to meet on January 14 and 24, with the 28 being held open in case they need it, but realizing there may be a conflict in the meeting room and with City staff due to a Council meeting. February meetings were reviewed briefly, as well. Botchway noted that lie will be unavailable for the February 4 meeting. Karr noted that she will work on an education pitch for the upcoming forums and try to have it in the next meeting packet so Members can review it. Townsend asked if they could return to the meeting minutes, on page 2. He reiterated what he said about the complaint being sent notice through the Human Rights and then basically they would contact the complainant and extend an invitation to work with them on their complaint. He wanted to make sure that it is clear that the complaint is going to stay with the PCRB with a courtesy note send to the Human Rights department. Karr stated that she believes this was clarified further on in the conversation, and that the recommendations could clarify that as well. Roberts then asked about the recommendation list and how the wording appears for that item. Members reviewed some of this, noting that they will be reviewing these in greater depth later. PUBLIC INPUT: -3 - Ad Hoc Diversity Committee, December 10, 2012 Page 3 Charlie Eastham spoke with Members. He stated that in looking at the recommendations and having listened to the information session that was previously conducted, both from this group and others within the city, he is not seeing anything about changes to police conduct, behavior, or practices. hi his personal opinion these would be well - warranted changes. Coulter interacted with Eastham, stating that they are involving the police, especially in training and culture diversity. Eastham stated that he believes it's not clear in the recommendation list `who' is being educated. Members spoke to this issue, making some adjustments to the recommendation list. Coulter also spoke about community policing and how they plan to have this as part of their recommendations. Townsend stated that his concern is how this education will be used and whether it will create the desired changes. ADJOURNMENT: Vanden Berg moved to adjourn the meeting at 5:15 P.M. Townsend seconded the motion. The motion carried 5 -0; Massey and Bakhit absent. Ad Hoc Diversity Committee, December 10, 2012 Page 4 Ad Hoc Diversity Committee ATTENDANCE RECORD 2012 Key. X = Present O = Absent O/E = Absent/Excused NM = Not a Member o rEXP. N W NAME (D N cn cc o Donna 03110/13 O/ X N N N N N N N N N N N Henry E M M M M M M M M M M M Cindy 03/10/13 X X X X X X X X X X X X X Roberts Joan 03/10/13 X X X X X X X O/ X X X O/ X Vanden E E Berg Bakhit 03/10/13 X X X X X X X X X X O X O/ Bakhit /E E Kingsley 03110/13 X X X X X X O/ O/ X X O X X Botchway E E /E Orville 03/10/13 X X X X X X X X X X X X X Townsend Joe Dan 03110113 X X X X X X X X X X X X X Coulter LaTasha N N N X X X X X O/ O/ X X O/ Massey M M M E E E Key. X = Present O = Absent O/E = Absent/Excused NM = Not a Member —� — \ } \ M w L \ a y 4 0 0 k{ \( 2 ) (D § § e �£ °w ®� /7 cr ° \ %/ }( ƒ( \ �ƒ )} co cu ^ A 2 _ § \ ¥ $ e a CL \ } \ _ m 2 R % § iA } \2 G W. i } A CD , § 2 —� — The City of Iowa City AD HOC DIVERSITY COMMITTEE PUBLIC INFORMATION GATHERING SESSIONS Tuesday, Wednesday, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2013 Jan. 9, 2013 Jan,_ 9, 2013 6:00 p.m. 11:00 -Noon ' '6-00-p ' m Pheasant Ridge Center City High School Hy -Vee Waerfront 2651 Roberts Drive Guidance;;b4iee Club Room.:; ' 1900 Morningside Drive 1720 Waterfront Drive Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013 10:30 -Noon West High School 2901 Melrose Thursday, Jan. 10,'Z J, 6:00 p.rti The Spot 1030 CYosspark Ave. TOPICS: 7. }, j ➢ operation of the City's transit system, including but not limited to the downtown interchange and ➢ operation of the City law enforcement, including but not limited to the Police Citizens Review Board (PCRB) as it relates to minority populations with a view toward promoting just and harmonioPs interaction between City government and minority segments of the community. OPENING STATEMENT INFORMATION GATHERING SESSION NOVEMBER 2012 I would like to thank you for coming to the Diversity Committee's Information Gathering Session. My name is Kingsley Botchway and I am the chair of the Committee. The co -chair is Cindy Roberts and Members are: Bakhit Bakhit, Joe Coulter, LaTasha Massey, Orville Townsend, Sr., and Joan Vanden Berg. On June 19, 2012 the City Council created an Ad Hoc Diversity Committee: 1) to study the operation of the City's transit system, including but not limited to the downtown interchange as it relates to minority populations and 2) to study the operations of the City law enforcement, including but not limited to the Police Citizens Review Board (PCRB) as it relates to minority populations. Tonight we will be discussing these issues and these issues only. This is merely an information gathering session to enable issues to be submitted to the Diversity Committee. Committee Members may ask questions to the presenter but merely to clarify the issue. Each presenter will have 3 minutes to present their comments. Please let me know if you have any questions before we get started. If not, I'd ask the first presenter to come forward, introduce yourself and provide your name and address so that the Committee can contact you in the future if need be. Any information you wish to provide is important to us and will be discussed by the Committee during our future meetings. a Q Name Address On June 19, 2012 the City Council created an Ad Hoc Diversity Committee: 1) to study the operation of the City's transit system, including but not limited to the downtown interchange as it relates to minority populations and 2) to study the operations of the City law enforcement, including but not limited to the Police Citizens Review Board (PCRB) as it relates to minority populations. Your input is important to us. Law En%reement: Have you had the opportunity to interact with the Iowa City Police Department acid /or police officers at neighborhood events? F' What issues challenge the relationship between the police and the City's minority communities? In your experience what has worked best to strengthen the relationship between minority populations and the police? Why? What other recommendations would you make that would improve minority communities relations with the police? If you were the Police Chief, what effects would you undertake to improve police relations within minority communities? Have you heard of the Police Citizens Review Board (PCRB)? If yes, please explain. Name Address On June 19, 2012 the City Council created an Ad Hoe Diversity Committee: 1) to study the operation of the City's transit system, including but not limited to the downtown interchange as it relates to minority populations and 2) to study the operations of the City law enforcement, including but not limited to the Police Citizens Review Board (PCRB) as it relates to minority populations. Your input is important to us. Transportation: Do you use City transportation? Do the City bus routes work for you? Do they go where you need to go? How well does the schedule work for you? What issues challenge the relationship between transportation and the City's minority communities? What is working well? What needs to be improved? In your experience what has worked best to strengthen the relationship!between minority populations and City transportation services? Why? What other recommendations would you make that would improve minority communities relations and transportation needs? What effects would you undertake:to improve transportation within minority communities? -/C - PROPOSED LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS (page 1 of 2) 12 -10 -12 Police Citizens Review Board Education (Process, Procedure, Authority /power) Option for PCRB member to participate in complainant interview with Police City Manager participation in officer interview Human Right Coordinator involvement at the front end of a complaint Provide exit survey to the complaint Police Civil Service Recruitment Education State & federal regulations Barriers to testing Police Education (Process, Procedure, Authority /power) Develop "Community Policing" Program Improve Community Relations Annual evaluation of police performance re diversity issues; public report Transportation Explore flexibility re Sunday Service Involve Kirkwood in discussion re direct service routes for students Communications Better use of neighborhood associations to educate and inform Orientation of new residents Improve education of issues with School District Statement on website re City's concern for diversity /working to promote and collaborate cultural communities //- BOARDS AND COMMISSION PROPOSED LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS (page 2 of 2) 12 -10 -12 Pending Recommendations to Council from Human Rights Commission: The Human Rights Commission recommends to the Iowa City City Council that a committee be established to review the Police Citizen Review Board. That committee can be compromised of city staff, councilors or community members, but must contain at least one human rights commissioner. The review board would investigate the strengths and challenges of the current Police Citizen Review Board model and consider whether it is the right model for the city. In reviewing the strengths and the challenges of the current Police Citizen Review Board, the review committee would determine whether the current structure best serves the city. (March 20, 2012) Pending Recommendations to Council from Police Citizens Review Board. 1. To change the name to Citizens Police Review Board. (June 12, 2012) 2. To remove the language regarding Formal Mediation within the City Code and from the Standard Operating Procedures. (June 12, 2012) 3. To offer as an option, the ability for a Board member to accompany the complainant during the police investigation interview process for a PCRB complaint, at the complainant's request. (June 12, 2012) 4. Recommendation to change the Board's 45 -day reporting period to 90 -days. (October 9, 2012) ._/Z -