HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-18-2015 Human RIghts CommissionAGENDA
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
HELLING CONFERENCE ROOM, CITY HALL
August 18, 2015
5:30 P.M.
1. Call Meeting to Order/ Roll Call
2. Approval of Minutes from July 21, 2015 meeting
3. Public Comment of Items Not on the Agenda
4. Old Business:
a. Commission Action Plan 2015
i. Education Programming Update (Hart)
1. Affordable Housing Panel Discussion (October 5)
ii. Education Outreach Update (Ghoneim)
iii. Community Outreach (Hanrahan)
5. Upcoming Events/Programs:
a. Human Rights Awards Breakfast (October 28)
6. Reports:
a. Johnson County Americans with Disabilities Act Celebration (July 25) (Olmstead,
Ghoneim)
b. Council for International Visitors to Iowa City (August 10) (Olmstead, Retish)
c. Making Iowa City a Human Rights Community (Olmstead, Coulter, Hanrahan)
d. Job Fair (Retish)
e. Education Subcommittee (Retish, Olmstead, Hanrahan)
f. Building Communities Subcommittee (Townsend)
g. University of Iowa Center for Human Rights Board (Ghoneim, Olmstead)
h. Racial Equity & Diversity Initiative (Bowers)
i. Commission
j. Staff
i. ADA Compliance in places of Public Accommodation
7. Set Next Regular Meeting Date: September 16 at 5:30 pm
8. Adjourn
The Human Rights Commission meetings follow the Iowa City Community School District closings for inclement weather
except for early dismissals for heat.
Minutes Preliminary
Human Rights Commission
July 21, 2015 — 5:30 PM
Helling Conference Room
Members Present: Kim Hanrahan, Orville Townsend Sr, Ali Ahmed, Harry Olmstead, Paul
Retish, Shams Ghoneim, Edie Pierce -Thomas.
Members Not Present: Joe Coulter, Stella Hart.
Staff Present: Stefanie Bowers.
Recommendations to Council: No.
Call to Order:
Hanrahan called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m.
Consideration of the Minutes from the June 16 2015 Meetin Date:
Motion Townsend, seconded by Pierce -Thomas. Motion passed 4-0. Hanrahan, Olmstead abstained
(not at June meeting). (Ghoneim not present).
Meeting Business (Ghoneim present 5:37)
Annual Report for FYI
Commissioners approved the annual report. It was noted that in the future it might be helpful to lay out
complaint statistics in a different format. Bowers will check with possible alternative ways to report out
on statistics but mentioned that often times a complainant will check more than one characteristic as
opposed to just one, for example, race and color or disability and religion which makes it more difficult to
place in categories.
Commission Action Plan 2015
Education programming
The tentative date for a program on affordable housing is October 5 at the Iowa City Public Library
meeting room A. As the program develops additional information and details will be provided. Pierce -
Thomas asked that the Housing Authority Director be asked to participate.
Education Outreach
Ghoneim recently presented to the Consultation of Religious Communities. The presentation that
discussed the purpose and function of the Human Rights Commission and was well received.
Ghoneim passed out brochures on two community organizations—ToGather [sic] Together and Johnson
County Empowerment\Early Childhood Iowa to the Commission.
Community Outreach
Hanrahan attended the Juneteenth Celebration and reported that the turnout was terrific as were the
services and programs offered at the event. Hanrahan was able to get some feedback/opinions about what
it takes to create a human rights community from participants.
The Johnson County Americans with Disabilities Act Celebration (July 25)
Olmstead is speaking at this annual event being held on the Ped Mall. The event will offer live
entertainment and a keynote from Tara Fall author of Brainstorming: Functional Lessons from a
Dysfunctional Brain.
Reports
Construction/Trade Job Fair
Retish hopes to work with event planners to host another Job Fair in the near future that will offer a wider
array of employers. Retish will work with other Commission members to do outreach to employers.
Iowa City Pride (June 20)
Coulter, Hart and Pierce -Thomas attended this event as representatives of the Commission.
Community ID Kick Off (July 17)
Olmstead and Townsend both participated in this event as representatives of the Commission and were
given time to speak. Townsend noted the Kick-off was very well organized and the Community IDs will
benefit many in the community.
Motion to have the Council or the Commission send a letter thanking the Center for Worker
Justice for all its hard work, seconded by Ahmed. Motion failed 2-5. (Townsend, Hanrahan, Pierce -
Thomas, Retish, Ghoneim in the negative) (noting that all organizations, persons, community groups
and governmental agencies should be acknowledged).
Motion Olmstead to speak on behalf of the Commission at the Johnson County Board of
Supervisors meeting on Thursday, July, 23 to thank all those who helped with making the
Community IN become a reality, seconded by Ahmed. Motion failed 1-6. (Townsend, Ahmed,
Hanrahan, Pierce -Thomas, Retish, Ghoneim in the negative) (noting that all organizations, persons,
community groups and governmental agencies should be acknowledged).
Council for International Visitors (July 21)
Hanrahan, Ahmed, and Olmstead met with State Department -sponsored international visitors for a
discussion on human rights. The visitors came from Cote d'lvoire, Ghana, Indonesia, Sri Lanka,
Thailand, Gaza Strip and Estonia.
Human Rights Awards Breakfast (October 28)
The nomination forms for the awards will be available online in the near future along with a promotional
flyer.
Building communities
Townsend reported on the hiring of two Black Administrators for the Iowa City Community School
District.
Education Subcommittee
Hanrahan reported that the Equity Committee of the Iowa City Community School District meets
monthly and is more active and more visible to the community and the District than in the past.
Commission
Olmstead reported that City Channel 4 will be covering the ADA Celebration being held on Saturday,
July 25 on the Ped Mall. He also reminded Commissioners to attend the upcoming Resolving Disparities
in Johnson County for Youth of Color which is scheduled for July 29 and sponsored by the
Disproportionate Minority Contact Committee.
Ghoneim spoke on a recent meeting of The Gazette Writers Circle who has just authored an article on
"privilege".
Hanranhan provided an update on the LGBTQ Summit recently held at United Action for Youth.
Harahan provided pictures from the event and spoke of the possible reestablishment of a PFLAG
(Parents, Families, Friends and Allies United with LGBTQ People to Move Equality Forward) in the area
Staff
Bowers reminded Commissioners that the meeting for September has been changed from the 15 to the 16
because September 15 falls over Rosh Hashanah.
Adjournment: 6:47
Next Regular Meeting — August 18, 2015 at 5:30 p.m.
Human Rights Commission
ATTENDANCE RECORD
YEAR 2014/2015
n....
NAME
Edie Pierce-
Thomas
TERM
EXP.
I/1/2016
9/16/
14
-
10/2/
14
-
10/21/
14
-
11/18/
14
-
12/15/
14
-
v1/20/
15
X
2/17/
15
O/E
3/17/
15
X
4/l/
15
X
4/21
15
X
5/19
15
O/E
6/16
15
X
7/21
15
X
Joe D. Coulter
]/1/2016
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
O/E
Harry
Olmstead
I/l/2016
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
O/E
X
X
X
O/E
X
Paul Retish
1/1/2017
O/E
X
O/E
O/E
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Ali Ahmed
l/l/2017
O/E
X
X
X
X
O
X
O/E
X
X
X
O/E
X
Orville
Townsend, Sr.
1/1/2017
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
O/E
X
Kim
Hanrahan
1/1/2018
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
O/E
X
Shams
Ghoneim
1/1/2018
X
X
X
X
X
O/E
X
O/E
X
X
X
X
X
Stella Hart
1/1/2018
O/E
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
O/E
X
X
KEY: X
= Present
O
= Absent
O/E=
Absent/Excused
NM
= No meeting
--
= No longer a member
R
= Resignation
wr r
COMPLAINTS FILED BY AREA
Credit
Education
Employment
Housing
Public Accommodation
Total Number of Complaints
RESOLUTIONS
Mediated
No Probable Cause
Administrative Closure
Right To Sue
Lack of Jurisdiction
Satisfactorily Adjusted
Withdrawn
Probable Cause
Total Number of Resolutions
Summary
0
16
12
5
12
16
15
372
40'
2
2
5
3
11
25
1
0
0
0
0
0
3
2
1
0
23
32
In FYI 5, public accommodation is the area in which the most complaints were filed (15).
Employment and housing were second, with 12 complaints each, followed by education
(1) and credit (0). Race (19) and color (12) were the most common characteristics cited
for the alleged discriminatory conduct. These were followed by age (10) and disability
(9). Retaliation was alleged in 14 complaints.
In FYI 4, (16) complaints were filed in the area of employment, (5) in housing and (16) in
public accommodation. The characteristic cited the most for the reason for discrimination
in FY14 was disability (18), followed by race (17) and then sex (12).
' 37 complaints were filed in FY14. However, some complaints cite more than one area as the reason for
the discriminatory action. 41 reflects the number of all areas cited in each complaint.
' 38 complaints were filed in FY 15. However, some complaints cite more than one area as the reason for
the discriminatory action. 40 reflects the number of all areas cited in each complaint.
" `Lack of Jurisdiction' refers to complaints that allege discrimination on a basis or in an area not covered
by local law. Lack of jurisdiction could also include complaints that allege conduct/activity that even if true
would not violate local anti -discrimination law. When applicable such complaints are referred to
appropriate agencies. Examples would include Wage & Hour violations or Family Medical Leave Act
violations.
J E
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Summer 2015
ToGather
Together
You can make a difference. Join us in ToGather Together, an initiative of the Consultation of Religious Communities, to
support a county -wide effort to ensure that all of our children have the supplies they need to start school ready to learn.
In the past years the ToGather Together school supply drive brought together churches, social service agencies,
businesses, individuals, and schools in a county -wide effort to provide funding for back -to -school supplies so that each
child in need could start the year prepared to learn. Over 3,700 children were served in 2014 and we look toward an
even greater need in 2015 —our goal is to serve over 4,200 children this year. We believe that by pooling our efforts and
resources, we will ensure that all needy children are reached.
We need your help. We are seeking your sponsorship to purchase school supplies so we can best serve the children in
our community. Please consider a financial donation to the ToGather Together project and make a difference for our
children.
To make a donation supporting the children of Johnson County please send a check made out to "ToGather Together"
All contributions are tax deductible.
Mail to:
ToGather Together
P.O. Box 2025
Iowa City, IA 52244
To receive more information about ToGather Together and to find out how to get involved please contact Marsha Lowe
or Karrie Craig, the co -directors of ToGather Together at the email addresses below.
Thank you for supporting the students of Johnson County and helping our children be prepared to learn and succeed.
aAhXt
Karrie Craig & Marsha Lowe
Co -directors of ToGather Together
thecraigfamily@mchsi.com
marshalowe@gma il.com
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August
Packet Information
Agenda Item 4a
Ir
CITY OF IOWA CITY
Kumar RIONTS COMMISSION
Action Plan
January 2015 — December 2015
Adopted January 20, 2015
A goal setting session was held on October 2, 2014, at the Eastside Recycling
Environmental Education Center. The following Commissioners were in attendance and
participated at this meeting: Harry Olmstead (Chair), Andrea Cohen (Vice -Chair),
Shams Ghoneim, Paul Relish, Stella Hart, All Ahmed, Orville Townsend Sr., and Kim
Hanrahan. Also in attendance was Human Rights Coordinator Stefanie Bowers,
Commissioner Joe D. Coulter was unable to attend. What follows is the prioritization of
initiatives identified at the goal setting session. The initiatives will be reviewed by the
Commission at its monthly meetings on a quarterly basis.
ON -GOING INITIATIVES
Human Rights Breakfast,
Youth Awards.
Job Fair.
Collaboration with community organizations & groups.
Participation in community events.
Sponsor professional development programs.
ORGANIZATIONAL INITIATIVES
Continue sub -committees.
Initiate more educational programs and outreach programs from trends reported in the
Annual Report or the Equity Report.
Increase participation of all Commissioners in Commission sponsored events, programs
and outreach.
W INITIATIVES
Objective
Action Step
Lead
Other
Expected
Target
Start
mpletion
Commissioner
Commission
Members
Outcome
Audience Date
�'
ate
Outreach to
Hold
Kim Hanrahan
Involved
Orville
Foster
Community
Community
Ustening
Townsend Sr.,
Community
Posts
Stella Hart
Dialogue &
Community
Engagement
Outreach to
Present
Joe D. Coulter
Paul Retish
Maimaln
Council
Council
Proclamations
Positive
, Provide
Relationship
Notice of
with the
Upcoming
Council
Programs &
Events
Educational
Events on
Stella Hart
Harry
Community
CommunRy,
Events for the
Affordable,
Olmstead
Engagement,
Community
Universal, &
Education, &
Accessible
Outreach
Housing
Educational
Presentations
Shams
Orville
Awareness
Schools,
Presentations
on Who the
Ghoneim
Townsend Sr.,
about the
Community
to the
Commission is
All Ahmed
Commission &
Groups,
Community
and the Rate
Access to
Service Clubs,
the
Resources
Faith
Commission
Communities
Plays In the
Community
Agenda Item 4ai1
Stefanie Bowers
From:
Stefanie Bowers
Sent:
Monday, August 10, 2015 12:27 PM
To:
Stefanie Bowers
Subject:
Affordable Housing
Attachments:
The Status of Housing in Iowa City.docx
From: Stella Hart [mailto:stella.d.hart@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, August 10, 2015 11:32 AM
To: Stefanie Bowers
Subject: Re: Affordable Housing
Hi Stefanie,
Attached is a draft of the community education event plan for your review. If you have a chance to look it over
today and there are parts that need to be revised, I can edit it and return it to you by the end of the day today for
inclusion in the next HRC packet.
As far as the prepared questions listed here, I think it would be best to cut the list down to the 5 most critical. I
would like to get my fellow commissioner's opinions on which questions are most critical (whether or not they
are included in this draft) at the August meeting.
I reached out to two UI public policy professors (the authors of the study I cite in this document) and both said
they would be interested in participating as panelists.
Best,
Stella
The Status of Housing in Iowa City
Human Rights Commission Community Education Event
Monday October 5 Library Meeting Room A
Outcomes/expectations: Panelists will provide overviews and resources on issues
related to affordable housing in Iowa City. The free and open -to -the -public event will
begin with an introduction of panelists and their areas of insight. The panelists will
address and discuss prepared questions and then take questions from audience
attendants.
Possible questions:
1. The definition of affordable housing is housing that costs 30% or less of an
individual's or household's total income, regardless of whether the house is
owned or rented. How does the concept of affordable housing apply to different
socioeconomic groups in Iowa City - such as college students, single people,
families, retirees, and individuals with disabilities?
2. What factors contribute to the high cost of housing in Iowa City?
3. What types of housing are most needed? (Single family homes, apartment
buildings, etc.)
4. Define accessible housing. How is accessibility planned, ensured, maintained?
5. How has the housing market in Iowa City changed since 1990? What are current
trends and predictions for the next 10, 20 years in terms of development, housing
affordability, and accessibility?
6. Subsidized housing in Iowa City is increasingly concentrated in specific areas.
Concentrated poverty impedes class mobility. How else does this affect our
community? What can be done to increase income -diversity in neighborhoods
throughout the city?
7. How does Iowa City currently serve its population of individuals experiencing
homelessness? What safeguards are in place to help individuals keep their
housing and avoid homelessness?
8. How can we encourage more landlords to accept Section 8 vouchers? Should
having Section 8 be a protected characteristic under the human rights policy for
the city?
9. How can community members advocate for affordable housing in Iowa City?
10. Would raising the minimum wage in Johnson County/Iowa City affect
positively/negatively community member's abilities to afford housing?
11. What incentives are needed for developers to build and manage the low cost
housing options Iowa City needs?
12. What should tenants do and who should they contact if they think that their
landlord may be negligent or unwilling to do proper maintenance?
Statistics:
• Throughout the U.S. and Iowa, housing has become less affordable, as average
incomes have stagnated and the cost of housing has increased.
• For every 100 renter households considered extremely low-income (earning less
than 30% of the area median income), there are 30 affordable and available
housing units.
• In Iowa City, the lack of affordability is more pronounced than elsewhere in Iowa.
From 2007 to 2010, the percentage of renters who are cost -burdened increased
from 57.1 % to 63.5%. From 2007 to 2011, average rents for a two -bedroom
apartment increased 30%, from $650 to $848.11 During that same period of time,
median sales price for homes in Iowa City grew from $163,000 to $167,000.12
The percentage of homeowners who are cost -burdened rose from 24.6% in 2007
to 28.3% in 2010.
• If these trends continue, it is highly likely that over two-thirds of Iowa City renters
and close to one-third of Iowa City homeowners will be cost -burdened by 2020.
Via http://ppc.uiowa.edu/sites/default/files/edited affordable housing reportpdf