HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-20-2016 Human RIghts CommissionAGENDA
Human Rights Commission
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
5:30 p.m.
Hailing Conference Room, City Hall
410 E. Washington Street
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CITY OF IOWA CITY
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240-1826
(319) 356-5000
(319) 356-5009 FAX
www.icgov.org
1. Call Meeting to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Approval of Minutes from the Following Meeting: August 16, 2016
4. Public Comment — Of Items not on the Agenda
5. Items for Discussion/Action:
a. Funding Request: Celebrating the World's Children
b. Proclamations
i. National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 — October 15)
ii. National Disability Employment Awareness Month (October)
c. Building and Crossing Bridges Together (October 13, 2016)
d. Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant Funding (December 1, 2016)
e. Human Rights Breakfast (October 26, 2016)
f. Ad Hoc Committee on Voter Education
6. Items to Report Out On:
a. Job Fair (September 13, 2016)
b. Iowa City Voter Registration for Persons with Disabilities (November 8, 2016)
c. Iowa City Community School District Equity Committee (Retish, Hanrahan)
d. University of Iowa's Center for Human Rights Board (Ghoneim)
e. Commissioner Information
f. Staff Information
7. Set Next Regular Meeting for October 18, 2016 at 5:30 p.m.
8. Adjournment
Agenda Packet
Minutes
Human Rights Commission
August 16, 2016
Lobby Conference Room
I11N II
Members Present: Eliza Willis, Andrea Cohen, Paul Retish, Shams Ghoneim, Adil
Adams, Joe D. Coulter.
Members Absent: Kim Hanrahan.
Staff Present: Stefanie Bowers.
Recommendations to City Council:
Yes. The Commission recommends that the Council adopt the amendments to the Human Rights
Ordinance as noted in the attached memo from the Human Rights Investigator.
Call to Order:
Ghoneim called the meeting to order at 5:31 PM.
Approval of July 19, 2016 Minutes:
With minor edits Coulter moved to approve the minutes; the motion was seconded by Cohen. A vote was
taken and the motion passed 6-0.
Funding Request for Iowa City Voter Registration for Persons with Disabilities:
Coulter moved to approve funding for actual cost or no more than $200 to create and print flyers that
advertise free transportation to persons with disabilities to vote at their respective precincts on Election
Day. The flyers will be posted in public places and sent to social service agencies, The motion was
seconded by Retish. A vote was taken and the motion passed 6-0.
Amendments to Human Rights Ordinance:
Amendments to the Human Rights Ordinance include removing all references to the term "housing
accommodation" as that term is not used in the Fair Housing Act, replacing the phrase "men and women"
with "persons" and conforming time periods to match Iowa Code Section 4.1(34). Coulter moved to
approve the amendments; the motion was seconded by Ghoneim. A vote was taken and the motion passed
6-0.
Building and Crossing Bridges Together:
To date a news release has been prepared and co-sponsors have agreed to do a variety of things in
preparation for the event including printing materials (University of Iowa Center for Human Rights) and
providing refreshments (University of Iowa Chief Diversity Office).
Human Rights Breakfast:
Diane Finnerty, Assistant Provost for Faculty at the University of Iowa, will be the keynote speaker. A
news release has been sent out announcing that nominations for the annual awards breakfast are currently
being accepted.
Monthly Meeting Follow Up:
Commissioners spoke on the need to be mindful of their roles and the importance they serve in the
community. All members should have a voice and if there are opportunities to utilize best practices and
set high standards monthly meetings are one of the best places for them to exemplify this behavior.
Tai Tomasi ADA Anniversary Event:
This event was held the Iowa City Public Library from 2-4 PM on Friday, July 22. Turnout was lower
than anticipated but the presentation was excellent. Mayor Throgmorton introduced Tai Tomasi.
Job Fair:
The annual job fair will be held on September 13. Registration is open and spots are filling up on a daily
basis.
Ad Hoe Committee:
Willis and Hanrahan met with representatives from the League of Women Voters to discuss the
possibility of a collaborative project where volunteers would canvass neighborhoods that have low voter
turn out to promote the importance of voting.
Iowa City Community School District Equity Committee:
The Committee continues to work on high turnover in areas of leadership and collecting data from the
various schools on outcomes for children of color and children with disabilities.
Reports of Commissioners:
Cohen reported on an upcoming program being sponsored by the Johnson County United Nations
Association Chapter for "Celebrating the World's Children."
Coulter reported on the 18th Annual Iowa Latinx Conference being held on October 7 at the Iowa
Memorial Union.
Adjournment: 6:39 PM.
Agenda Item 5b
ImaCITY OF IOWA CITY
MEMORANDUM.
-...�
Date: July 28, 2016
To: Human Rights Commission
From: Kristin Watson, Human Rights Investigator
CC: Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator
Re: Revisions to Human Rights Ordinance
IntroduddonBackaround:
The Human Rights Ordinance was given a comprehensive update in December, 2015.
At that time, reference to "housing accommodation" was removed, as the term had no
counterpart in the Fair Housing Act. The phrase was replaced with "dwelling." However,
we were notified by the oodifier that a few stray references to "housing accommodation"
remained in the Ordinance.
Because these references needed to be removed and replaced with "dwelling," we also
had the opportunity to address two other issues. First, the phrase "men and women"
was used in describing desired appointments to the Commission. Given Iowa City's
commitment to human rights for all, including those of all gender identities, we felt that
replacing "men and women" with "persons" was more inclusive and better reflected the
spirit of the City.
Second, time periods given throughout the Ordinance were unclear, as they simply
referenced a number of days during which something must be done, or after which
something could not be done. There was no clear direction regarding days upon which
City Hall Is dosed. if the last day of the time period fell on a weekend or holiday, did that
mean the time period expired before the weekend or holiday began, or on the next
business day?
Recommendation:
Amend the Human Rights Ordinance to:
1. Remove the stray references to "housing accommodation" and replace them with
"dwelling" to conform to the rest of the Ordinance,
2. Replace the phrase "men and women" with "persons," and
3. Add a section to the Ordinance stating that where a time period is given, counting of
the time shall conform to Iowa Code Section 4.1(34), which, in a nutshell, means that if
the time period expires on a weekend or federal or state holiday, the time period is
extended to the next regular business day.
Human Rights Commission
Attendance Record
NAME
TERM
EXP.
9/16
15
10/20
15
11/17
15
12/15
15
1/19
16
2/16
16
3/15
16
4/18
16
5/17
16
6/21
16
7/7
16
7/19
16
8/16
16
Joe D. Coulter
1/1/2019
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
O/E
X
X
O/E
X
Atli] D.
Adams
1/l2019
--
--
--
--
O/E
O
O/E
O
X
X
X
X
X
Eliza Jane
Willis
1/l/2019
—
---
---
---
X
O/E
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Paul Retish
1/12017
X
X
X
X
O/E
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Orville
Townsend, Sr.
1/1/2017
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
R
Karol Krotz
1/12017
--
--
-
--
_
___
__
__
O
O
O
R
R
Andrea Cohen
1/12018
---
—
--
--
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Kim
Hanrahan
1/l2018
X
X
X
X
X
X
O/E
X
X
X
X
X
O
Shams
Ghoneim
1/1/2018
X
O/E
X
X
O/E
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Key
X = Present
O = Absent
O/E= Absent/Excused
R = Resigned
-- = Vacant
HRC APPLICATION FORM REQUESTING"'�"`�
SPONSORSHIP FY17
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410 East Washington Street
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Iowa City. Iowa S2240-1826
(319) 3S6-5000
356-5009
Today's Date: •
(319) FAX
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Contact person: h d re& Cdh" V .
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Date of activity/event/program: SO nACW , OC�" L3 . _
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Is the event location wheelchair accessible? 7�
Is the event location accessible to individuals with visual impairments?
budget (please provide budget on separate sheet): 00
Other finders involved? i" s
How will this activity/event/program be marketed? ,, 8061hi M1gb
Will sponsors be mentioned and/or sponsor logos be used in the marketing of the activity/event/program?
Is theactivity/event/program a fundraiser? If so,
Please acknowledge by initialling here that you have read the cover letter to this form:
Submit request to:
Stefanie Bowers
Human Rights Coordinator
City of Iowa City
410 E. Washington Street
Iowa City, TA 52240-1826
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By facsimile to 319-887-6213 or email to stefanie-bowers@iowa-city.org.
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Johnson County Chapter, United Nations Association —USA
c/o Iowa UNA, 20 E. Market Street, Iowa City, IA 52245
August 15, 2016
"Celebrating the World's Children," a program highlighting the ethnic diversity of Johnson County and the
work of United Nations agencies which benefit children across the world, will be held Sunday, October 23,
2016, from 2:00 to 5:00 pm at the University Club, Iowa City, The Johnson County Chapter of the United
Nations Association has chosen this way to mark the 71st Anniversary of the United Nations.
Ray Muston, retired University of Iowa Administrator in Higher Education and Business, will serve as Master
of Ceremonies, and local children from different backgrounds and ethnicities will perform traditional songs,
dances, poetry and readings. The "Celebrating the World's Children" program is enclosed.
We invite you, as a member of our community who is also committed to celebrating diversity, to partner with
us as a sponsor of this event. We are excited to provide children an opportunity to exhibit their cultural
identity and to support their sense of belonging and accomplishment.
There are two levels of sponsorship
Business and corporate sponsors: $200
Non-profit organizations: $100
Both sponsorship levels provide two complimentary tickets to the event, public thanks by the Master of
Ceremonies, and your name in the program. Table space for organizational displays will also be available.
Children participating in the program will receive two complimentary tickets. All other children under the
age of 12 will be admitted free of charge. General admission is $10.00.
A member of our planning committee will contact you within the next week to discuss your level of
participation. We hope we can count on your support.
Sincerely yours,
Jean Lloyd -Jones
President
Eric: 1
Sponsorship information:
Habitat for Humanity
$100
Hills Bank and Trust
200
Iowa Children's Museum
100
Iowa City Foreign Relations Council
100
McGuire Piano Studio
100
MidwestOne Bank
200
UNESCO City of Literature
100
United Action for Youth
100
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Seeking volunteers to help at polls in
November election
Volunteers will help person's with a disablility cast their ballots at local
polling stations on November 8, 2016.
Volunteers will need to complete a short training session
VOLUNTEER INTEREST CONTACT: Harry at 31g 855-2666
Help someone to vote: Because every vote matters!
Made possible with the help of ID Action, the Cities of Iowa City and Coralville, the ARC
of Southeastern Iowa, NAMI of Johnson County, Johnson County Auditor's Office, the
Iowa City Human Rights Commission, and League of Women Voters of Johnson County