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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-20-2016 Human Rights Commissionl . 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. a • rsMill tea...._ CITY OF IOWA CITY 410 East Washington Street AGENDA Iowa City, Iowa 52240-1826 (319) 356-5000 (319) 356-5009 FAX Human Rights Commission WWW.icgov.org Tuesday, December 20, 2016 5:30 p.m. Helling Conference Room, City Hall 410 Washington Street Call Meeting to Order and Roll Call Approval of Minutes from the Following Meeting: November 15, 2016 Public Comment Of Items not on the Agenda Presentation of Certificate of Appreciation to Commissioner Paul Retish Items for Discussion: a. Funding Request Annual Choice Event 2017 b. Creating An Inclusive Community c. Building and Crossing Bridges Together (Ad Hoc) d. City of Iowa City Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant Update e. Know Your Rights Series Spousal and Partner Domestic Abuse (Ad Hoc) (December 18, 2016) f. MLK Proclamation (For January 17, 2017 Council Meeting) g. Iowa City Community School District Equity Committee h. University of Iowa's Center for Human Rights Advisory Board Announcements from Commission Members Announcements from Staff Set Next Regular Meeting for January 17, 2017 at 5:30 p.m.— 7:30 pm to review Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant Applications Set a Special Meeting for January 25, 2017 at 5:15 p.m. — 7:15 p.m. to review Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant Applications Adjournment Lunch & Learn (February 28); Annual Youth Awards (May 10, 2017); Annual Human Rights Breakfast (October 25, 2017) Agenda Item Materials Agenda Item 2 Minutes DRAFT Human Rights Commission November 15, 2016 Helling Conference Room Members Present: Eliza Willis, Andrea Cohen, Paul Retish, Adil Adams, Kim Hanrahan, Joe D. Coulter, D'Angelo Bailey, Barbara Kutzko. Members Not Present: Shams Ghoneim. Staff Present: Stefanie Bowers. Others Present: Haley Henscheid, Kelly Clougher, Tracy Peterson, Jane Meggers, Sue Ellen Salisbury, Mary Larson, Deb Pearson. Recommendations to City Council: The City of Iowa City should declare the second Mondays of October as Indigenous People's Day. A vote was taken and passed unanimously 8-0. See attachment to the minutes entitled Indigenous People's Day. Call to Order: Hanrahan called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM. Approval of October 18, 2016 Minutes: Coulter moved to approve the minutes; the motion was seconded by Bailey. A vote was taken and the motion passed 8-0. Public Comment of Items not on the Agenda: Sue Ellen Salisbury, Mary Larson, Deb Pearson and Jane Meggers commented on the hateful rhetoric and acts that have been committed against members of the community who are Muslim since the Presidential election. The following suggestions were made to the City government/Human Rights Commission. 1) Provide guidance to the public on what to do if you believe you area victim of a hate crime including legal guidance; and 2) provide a response from the Police Department as to why no officer went to visit the family's home after the initial call for service was received reporting the hateful letter that was placed on the family's front door. The Commission will discuss outreach and education they can implement in response to this incident at its next meeting date. Indigenous People's Day: Coulter asked the Commission to recommend to the City Council for the second Mondays of October to be declared as Indigenous People's Day. Haley Henscheid, Kelly Clougher, and Tracy Peterson discussed their support for the Commission recommending this to the City Council. Coulter moved to make the recommendation; the motion was seconded by Bailey. A vote was taken and the motion passed 8-0. Lunch & Learn: The last Lunch & Learn for the year is scheduled for December 7. Attendance has been low at the last two events. The program may need to be reevaluated in terms of outcomes and content and/or modified if numbers continue to be low. Social Justice Racial Equity Grant: The grant application will be available to apply for from December 1, 2016 — January 5, 2017. The Benefits of Disability in the Workplace: Evaluations from the program held on November 3 were positive. Future workshops on this topic are planned for 2017. Proclamations: Bailey accepted the proclamation for National American Indian Heritage Month at the November 1 City Council meeting. Adams accepted the proclamation for National Disability Employment Awareness Month at the October 18 City Council meeting. Human Rights Breakfast: The annual event was well attended. Some Commissioners felt the keynote remarks were inappropriate and placed the Commission in a bad light. The Commission over the next year will think about potential keynote speakers for the 2017 Breakfast. Ad Hoc Committee on Know Your Rights: A future event is being planned around educating the public on their rights. The committee meets later this month to discuss this series. Building and Crossing Bridges Together: A follow-up meeting with the planning committee will be held in the future for next steps. Ad Hoc Committee on Why Vote? What's in it for Me? The committee held another event at the Broadway Neighborhood Center prior to Election Day. At this time, it is believed that this initiative will be ongoing. The committee hopes to be active in-between elections. Voter education is a big part of the series. Iowa City Community School District Equity Committee: At the November meeting the committee discussed the District's report card for schools. However, the information on student achievement was presented in the aggregate. Committee members requested for it to be presented individually in the future. Reports of Commissioners: Hanrahan recently presented to school district administrators on LGBTQ youth concerns and challenges. Adams has encouraged members of the Sudanese community to attend City Council meetings and to become more involved in local government. Willis recently viewed a documentary entitled Starving the Beast. The film explores the finances of public universities as states provide less funding and increased regulation which has left rising tuitions and increased student debt. Bailey reported a few interactions with law enforcement that he believes were racial profiling. Cohen is working with a student intern who would like to see the Commission and City play a more active role in community mental health. At the October Commission meeting Kutzko mentioned that she serves on the Diversity and Social Justice Committee for the University of Iowa School of Social Work and that it will be hosting an open forum on sexual harassment. Since that time, the planners of the forum have decided to make it a closed forum. Adjournment: 7:01 PM. Late Handouts from November 15, 2016 Meeting Indigenous Peoples` Day Gains Momentum As A Replacement For Columbus Day By BILL CHAPPELL • OCT 7, 2016 TweetShareGoogle+Email LoveHa Black hear holds a sign calling for the abolishment of Columbus Day during a demonstration in Seattle in October 2015. The city approved the designation of Indigenous Peoples' Day in 2014. Elaine Thompson /AP Originally published on October 7, 2016 7:36 pm The state of Vermont and the city of Phoenix have joined the list of places that now call the second Monday in October Indigenous Peoples' Day, in a show of momentum for honoring indigenous people on the federal holiday that's named for Christopher Columbus. Phoenix is now the largest U.S. city to recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day, according to member station KJZZ, which says the move came on a unanimous vote. Other cities have adopted similar laws in recent years, including Seattle and Minneapolis. The city council of Denver, which observed Indigenous Peoples' Day last year under a temporary proclamation, embraced a permanent observance this week — a development that's particularly striking because Denver is where the idea for a holiday honoring Christopher Columbus first took root. "Colorado became the first state to observe Columbus Day as an official holiday," acWrding to The Denver Post, "and in 1909, Denver held its first Columbus Day parade." / -/ / // Denver's move comes two months after Boulder's city council declared that Indigenous Peoples' Day will be celebrated on every Columbus Day holiday. But the push to rename the Columbus holiday is being turned back in some areas: This week, the Cincinnati City Council rejected an Indigenous Peoples' Day proclamation, for instance. Although Columbus Day has been a federal holiday since the 1930s, more than half of U.S. states don't mandate a paid day off for the holiday. As of 2015, only 23 states gave employees a paid day off for the day. For years, only one state — South Dakota — officially designated the second Monday in October to honor the people and cultures that thrived in North America before Europeans' arrival. Alaska's governor adopted Indigenous Peoples Day last year; we'll note that the state, like Hawaii and Oregon, had previously not recognized Columbus Day. As of this week, Vermont also recognizes the second Monday of October as Indigenous People's Day, after Gov. Peter Shumlin issued an executive proclamation. In it, Shurnlin noted that Vermont was founded on land that was long inhabited by the Abenaki people. South Dakota adopted Native American Day back in the 1990s; California observes a day by the same name, but it does so on the fourth Friday in September. Late last month, Nevada's governor established American Indian Day in the state; it was observed on Sept. 23. As for the reasons behind the push for change, here's what Lakota activist Bill Means told Minnesota Public Radio back in 2014, when Minneapolis adopted Indigenous Peoples' Day: "We discovered Columbus, lost on our shores, sick, destitute, and wrapped in rags. We nourished him to health, and the rest is history," Means told MPR. "He represents the mascot of American colonialism in the Western Hemisphere. And so it is time that we change a myth of history." Copyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/. Support groves for Indigenous People's Day amid Columbus Day criticism USA Today Network USA TODAY NETWORK 1:45 p.m. CDT October 10, 2016 As Christopher Columbus Day becomes an increasingly criticized federal holiday, some cities are celebrating Native Americans instead. The cities of Phoenix and Denver will celebrate their first official Indigenous People's Dav_ on Monday. The cities are part of a growing movement to acknowledge Indigenous People's Day, in recognition of the suffering Native American people endured during American colonization. _Phoenix City Council members voted 9-0 Wednesday to establish the day as an annual city commemoration event. The move neither creates an official city holiday nor does it replace Columbus Day, which Phoenix doesn't observe as a city holiday. Phoenix is now the largest U.S. city to recognize Indigenous People's Day as an annual event. Other cities that observe it include Minneapolis, Seattle, Denver, Portland and San Antonio. In Vermont, Gov. Peter Shumlin proclaimed Monday Indigenous People's Day in the state, replacing what had been observed in previous years as Columbus Day. In a proclamation signed Oct. 6, Shumlin said he encouraged Vermonters to "recognize the sacrifice and contributions of the First Peoples of this land" on what has nationally been a day recognizing the arrival of explorer Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. While many are in support of recognizing Native Americans on Columbus Day, not everyone has jumped at the chance to change the federal holidays name. Cincinnati's city council reiected a proclamation last week that would have recognized Indigenous People's Day instead of Columbus Day. Likewise, Oklahoma City leaders shot down a proposal to recognize Indigenous People's Day for the second time in a row. The idea for Indigenous People's Day was first proposed in 1977 by a delegation of Native Nations to the International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas, according to the Vermont proclamation. At least nine cities celebrated Indigenous People's Day for the first time last year. Sharon Coolidre of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Dustin Gardiner of the Arizona Republic, The Burlington (Vt.) 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N Y w > an d Y f0 C^ U` Co N N CL N Y — E w J 0 .0 ` C C •a m t n o a 3 a D= N\ O W m E a u t C w O LO w E E �0 C pJ 'yO O.p 0 ' u = o�Om o 0 o a N i O O m w a+' C C m G O N w p L 5 u y Y C C J •- a= o w N E w m N n�w 3 c E c EE. c o .c c °' N Z• m 3 n m u° a° m c 3 c. m E N m ti From: Shams Ghoneim[mailto:shamsghoneimnaxnchsi.com] Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2016 5:10 PM To: Stefanie Bowers Subject: Re: Oct. 13 Building &Crossing Bridges together Report and Evaluations Thank you. I also have the following to report: UICHR : *I served as a Panelist for the Islamophobia in the 21 st Century event and Art exhibit on November 3rd at the Senate chambers. * The Program Committee will meet on November 15 at the Law School. * The Advisory Board will be holding its semi=annual meeting and dinner on November, 29. Commissioner report: I will be a Speaker on Islam/hiterfaith dialogue and challenges meeting the Muslim Community at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Iowa city on November 27. Thank you Shams Human Rights Commission Attendance Record TERM 12/15 1/19 - 2/16 3/15 4/18 5/17 6/21 1 7/7 7/19 8/16 9/20 10/18 11/15 NAME EXP. 15 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 Joe D. Coulter 1/1/2019 X X X X X ON X X O/E X O/E X X Adil D. l/l/2019 — O/E O O/E O X X X X X X X X Adams Eliza Jane 1/1/2019 --- X O/E X X X X X X X X X X Willis Paul Retish 1/l/2017 X O/E X X X X X X X X X X X Orville 1/1/2017 X X X X X X X X X R R R R Townsend, Sr. Karol Krotz l/l2017 — — __ — __ O O 0 R R R R R Andrea Cohen 1/1/2018 -- X X X X X X X X X X X X Kim 1/12018 X X X O/E X X X X X O X X X Henrahan Shams l/l2018 X O/E X X X X X X X X X X O/E Ghoneim Barbara l/l/2020 --- --- __ — --- X X Kutzko D'Angelo 1/12020 -- - __ __ __ __ -_ _-- — X X Bailey Key X = Present O = Absent O/E= Absent/Excused R = Resigned --- = Vacant '0 HRC APPLICATION FORM REQUESTING SPONSORSHIP FY17 Today's Date: 11/18/2016 Group/organization Name: Contact person: EmmaGoldmanClinic Lucy Morris, boardmember Phone number: 646-675-6534 Agenda Item 5a -a7 L; 2'� CITY OF IOWA CITY 410 East Washington Street Iowa City. Iowa 52240-1826 (319) 356-S000 (319) 356-5009 FAX www.lcgov.org Email address: lucymorris2@gmail.com Date ofactivi /event/ ro Friday, Januarl20,2017 tY P !'�: Event location and address: The EnglertTheatre221 E. WashingtoriSt. Is the event location wheelchair accessible? Yes Is the event location accessible to individuals with visual impairments? Yes Describe the and how it contributes to Human Rights: tospeakforthefirsttime in Iowa City aboutfeminism,the body, politics,andsocialjustice. Amount of funds requesting and itemized budget (please provide budget on separate sheet): $250 Other funders involved? Yes How will this activity/event/program be marketed? Throughpres,weleasesgocialmedia,EGC'sChoiceAlert andmailing lists, local media,andthroughother interestecbrgan izations. Will sponsors be mentioned and/or sponsor logos be used in the marketing of the activity/event/program? They'll bethankeciattheevent,in the ChoiceEventprogram andadvertisingeaching3,000communitymembers. Is the activity/event/program a fundraiser? If so, explain: It is a fundraiser for the deProsee Action Fu It is afundraiseffor thedeProser4ction Fund. Please acknowledge by initialling here that you have read the cover letter to this form: LA Submit request to: Stefanie Bowers Human Rights Coordinator City of Iowa City 410 E. Washington Street Iowa City, IA 52240-1826 Or By facsimile to 319-887-6213 or email to stefanie-bowers@iowa-city.org. To: Stefanie Bowers Human Rights Coordinator City of Iowa City Human Rights Commission Re: Itemized budget for the Annual Chioce Event Requesting $250 towards: -Speaking fee and travel costs for guest speaker Lindy West -Space rental, The Englert Theatre With thanks, Lucy Morris Board member, EGC 646-675-6534 lucymorris2@gmaii.com Agenda Item 5b Responses/suggestions from commission members on creating solutions: 1. Create or find a "train the trainers" model for parents to cope, single parents to cope, minorities to cope, all others. 2. Continuation of and/or series of events similar to the Building & Crossing Bridges Together" program.* 3. Workshops, booths/tables and web -video on what is considered hate speech. 4. Sponsor events/workshops addressing topics related to interaction between law enforcement and communities of color, refugees, and immigrants. 5. Program on how a minority/refugee/immigrant person can communicate with law enforcement effectively and without fear when facing hate acts/speech. 6. Partner with faith communities to spread the message of inclusion and kindness.* 7. Hold a community wide solidarity event with food sharing "bring a dish" from the many communities comprising our city. 8. Host events for all city staff on how to positively interact with different populations from different cultures, religions, and national origins.* 9. Incorporate the topic of hate speech and hate crimes with a Know Your Rights series. 10. Sponsor an immigrant rights and the rights and security of Muslims workshop.* 11. Work with community groups to identify barriers (for example language, accent) in communication between victims & law enforcement and how to address it. 12. Create a "rapid response" group among us that can participate in public events or demonstrations of support when such incidents of hate speech occur. 13. Work closely with the school district to educate students, teachers, administrators, parents, and other stakeholders on the right to not be abused verbally, physically, or through any form of media. 14. Hate speech/act hotline, hate speech/act online support community and recurring hate speech/act emotional support group meetings. 15. Publicizing more prominently the City's stance on hate speech/a hate speech and act -free messaging campaign with audio and visual messages.* 16. Town hall meetings, meet and greet (social networking/meet a neighbor type of event), lunch & learn on the weekend.* 17. Support becoming Sanctuary City.* 18. Publicize the availability of protective services (police/fire/etc.). 19. Publicize the availability of organizations providing counseling.* 20, Publicize the availability of legal services for immigrants.* 21. Send opinion letters to the Press -Citizen, when the Commission is aware of a negative incident that occurs in the Iowa City community. *Indicates an activity/event/program that would be a duplication of other community efforts. Agenda Item 5c Stefanie Bowers From: Shams Ghoneim <shamsghoneim@mchsi.00m> Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2016 2:53 PM To: Stefanie Bowers Subject: Re: Wednesday November 30 at Noon , is our final Planning Committee Meeting to evaluate & share future recomendabon "building and Crossing Bridges together' Hi Stefanie; Yes please as we need as a Commission to be kept abreast of the end of year report/recommendation from the Ad Hoc Committee -Building & Crossing Bridges-. The report already included evaluation of the October 13 Event. We also need 4 volunteers from the Commission for a future Planning Committee for a 2017 event as per our message to the community at large, expectation, and current committee's proposal and recommendation. The October 13 Event was never intended as a one time occurrence but as a start of an ongoing community wide conversation,participation,and partnership across all real or perceived differences especially now following such abrasive presidential campaign and election. Thank you. Best regards Shams On Dec 1, 2016, at 2:37 PM, Stefanie Bowers wrote: Shams, Do you want this in the Packet for the meeting on the 20a'? Stefanie From: Shams Ghoneim [mailto:shams oneim(cf7mchsi.coml Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2016 2:37 PM To: Stefanie Bowers Cc: kim hanrahan; Andrea Cohen; Amy Weismann; Andrea Cohen; Charlie Eastham; Charlie Eastham; Kingsley Botchway; Benjamin Marks; Hannah Shirey Subject: Re: Wednesday November 30 at Noon, is our final Planning Committee Meeting to evaluate & share future recomendation "building and Crossing Bridges together" Dear Friends; The committee met yesterday as outlined below and there were only three of us attending: Charlie,Amy,and myself. We discussed the agenda/thoughts I shared with all by email before hand (see below) and the outcome is as follows: *Charlie & Amy are interested/ willing to remain as members of a near future Planning Committee in 2017. *I as yet to have confirmation from current Planning Committee members on their willingness to stay on. * We discussed many potential option for topics, format etc. but it would be left to the New Planning Committee and leadership to articulate these issues in view of the current negative climate that faces many of our community members. The meeting was adjourned at around 1:10 Pm. Thank you one and all. Best regards Shams From: Shams Ghoneim Date: Wednesday, November 30, 2016 at 10:26 AM To: Charlie Eastham, Charlie Eastham, Andrea Cohen, "Cohen, Andrea M", kim hanrahan, Kingsley Botchway, "Weismann, Amy", Hannah Shirey, "Marks, Benjamin" Cc: Stefanie Bowers Subject: Today's Planning Committee's meeting in City Hall at Noon Dear Planning Committee members; The following are some thoughts for us to talk about during today's meeting at Noon. Please also bring along your own thoughts on how to go from here at these rather challenging times for many of our collective communities. For those of you unable to join today's meeting,please feel free to share your input. Thank you. Best regards Shams Issues to consider/address: * Would you be interested/available to serve on a near future Planning Committee to continue the message/dialogue we have started on October 13? * What would be the suggested format , time frame, and topics to address? * What would we recommend to a new Planning Committee? * Any other thoughts regarding breakout groups etc.,location, event hours. * Following the January 20,2017 inauguration, many issues will come to pass or not? What would a future event look like? * The current and increasing hate speech/acts against many minorities are escalating, what would a future event need to address to offer support for all adversely affected persons. How to create a local Solidarity Movement across real or perceived differences? Building Allies. * How to involve Students K-12 & UI students? These are just few thoughts for us to potentially address today. Shams On Nov 23, 2016, at 3:44 PM, Shams Ghoneim wrote: Dear Committee members; I wish you all and your families a blessed Thanksgiving and may it be the very best one of all. It is time for us to meet one final time to share our input and ideas following the October 13, 'Building and Crossing Bridges Together" event. Please let me know if yo are able to and if not, please email me any input or recommendation to share with the ICHRC. Please Stefanie let me know if we can meet in City Hall. Thank you once again for all your many hours ,great ideas ,and counsel. The event could not have happened without each and every one of you. Best regards Shams December Correspondence r .� .®�. CITY OF IOWA CITY Date: November 8, 2016 To: Iowa City Landlords and Rental Property Managers From: Kristin Watson, Human Rights Investigator Re: Service Animals and Emotional Support/Therapy Animals Recently, this office has received multiple inquiries regarding assistance animals in the leasing/ renting of housing in Iowa City. This memorandum is meant to provide general guidance regarding these animals. What are assistance animals? There are two types of assistance animals, governed by two different federal laws, with corresponding state and local versions. The first is a "service animal," which is governed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The second is governed by the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and can be either a traditional "service animal" or an "emotional support/therapy animal." Definition of a service animal: The ADA narrowly defines a service animal as one that has been trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability. A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of a person's major life activities. Disabilities may be physical, mental, sensory, or intellectual. Many disabilities are not obvious to a casual observer, for example, a seizure disorder. Under the ADA, a service animal may only be a dog or a miniature horse. The ADA specifically excludes emotional support/therapy animals from qualifying as service animals. Definition of assistance animal: The FHA defines an assistance animal as one that is "necessary to afford the individual [who has a disability] equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling" and includes both service animals and emotional support/therapy animals. Under the FHA, the assistance animal may be any animal. What if I have a "no pet allowed policy" or impose a higher security deposit for tenants with a pet? An assistance animal is not a pet. Therefore, no pet -associated rules or fees apply to them. A landlord cannot reserve "no pet" apartments, charge extra deposits or surcharges, impose weight limits or breed restrictions, designate special stairways or elevators for the animal's use, exclude the animal from common areas, or impose any other restrictions that might be allowable if the animal were a pet.' What proof can I require from a potential or current tenant who expresses a need for a service animal or emotional support/therapy animal? When a tenant or prospective tenant expresses a need for an assistance animal, the housing provider may ask only two questions: (1) Do you have a disability, i.e. "a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities?" and (2) Do you have a 1 Iowa City's Code of Ordinances makes an exception for owner -occupied housing. If (1) the owner resides on the property, and (2) the owner rents four or fewer rooms within a single dwelling, or the owner occupies a unit in a dwelling with four or fewer independent units, the owner is exempt from the provisions of Title 2, the Human Rights Ordinance. (However, the owner still may not discriminate in advertising.) See § 2-3-5: Housing; Exceptions. November 8, 2016 Page 2 disability -related need for the assistance animal, i.e. does the animal 'Work, provide assistance, perform tasks or services, ... or provide emotional support that alleviates one or more of the identified symptoms of [the] existing disability?"Z If the answer to both is yes, the housing provider must allow the animal. However, the housing provider may verify the tenant's responses. If the disability is not readily apparent or previously known to the housing provider, the provider may ask the person to provide documentation regarding the existence of the disability. The housing provider may not ask for medical records or specific detailed information regarding the disability, but may require that the existence of an actual disability is confirmed by a licensed medical professional. (This can include a physician, psychiatrist, social worker or other mental health professional.) The housing provider may also ask for documentation establishing that the animal alleviates one or more symptoms of the existing disability. Again, the provider may require that the need for the animal is acknowledged by a licensed medical professional. Typically, this will be contained in the same document that confirms the existence of the disability. Must a service animal or emotional support/therapy animal receive special training? A service animal is not required to be professionally trained, and is not required to wear a vest, harness, or collar identifying it as an assistance animal. Some service animals are highly trained; guide dogs for the vision -impaired undergo extensive, verifiable training. However, many service animals are trained by their owners to do the tasks the owners require. Mobility - impaired owners, for example, are capable of training their service animals to fetch dropped objects themselves. Emotional support/therapy animals may perform their function simply by their presence without the need for training. Similarly, no certification is required. In some circumstances, the same animal may provide assistance to more than one person. For example, the same dog might alert both members of a deaf couple to knocks on the door or morning alarms. Housing providers are not required to accept online "club membership" or "certification" documents that claim the animal is an assistance animal. Sham assistance animal certification services are prevalent on the internet; a housing provider is not required to accept this "documentation." The provider may ask a tenant to obtain a letter from the tenant's treating medical professional (or ask the medical professional to complete a housing provider's form) confirming the existence of a disability and the need for the assistance animal to alleviate the symptoms of that disability. Housing providers are not required to accept an animal that poses a genuine threat to the health and safety of others that cannot be alleviated (such as by requiring that the animal be muzzled when it is out of the tenant's unit). This threat must be based upon actual evidence related to the specific animal; it cannot be based upon generalizations regarding breeds or other ambiguous fears. Similarly, housing providers are not required to accept an animal that causes substantial physical damage to the property of others that cannot be alleviated by other means. Again, this must be based upon objective evidence related to the specific animal's actual conduct, not speculation. Tenants may be required to pay for any damage their assistance animals cause. However, they cannot be required to pay additional deposits or fees in advance of actual damage. If you have questions regarding topics addressed in this memorandum or the obligations of housing providers to tenants with a service or support/therapy animal in general, please call the office at 319-356-5015 or 319-356-5022. Quarterly, the Iowa City Human Rights Office will provide guidance memos to local landlords on fair housing to assist in providing good outcomes for both landlords and tenants in this community. Please send fair housing topics you would like to receive guidance on to humanri.ghts@iowa-city.com. z Quotations from HUD Guidance Memo "Service Animals and Assistance Animals for People with Disabilities in Housing and HUD -Funded Programs," FHEO-2013-01. r CITY OF IOWA CITY IP4 MEMORANDUM Date: November 17, 2016 To: Geoff Frain From: Steven J. Rackis, Housing Administrator Re: Update on Transition Payment to Tenants of Rose Oaks Apartments firm City's Affordable Housing Fund Background: On August 16, 2016, the City Council of the City of Iowa City resolved that each of the two -hundred and seven (207) households with a valid lease at the Rose Oaks Apartment Complex as of February 27, 2016 shall be eligible, upon application, to receive a transition payment of $250 from the City's affordable housing fund. Subsequent to the resolution, it was determined that there was one (1) additional tenant eligible for the $250 transition payment. Therefore the total number of tenants eligible for the Rose Oaks $250 transition payment equaled two -hundred and eight (208). Discussion: Following is the data for the Rose Oaks transition payment effort as of November 17, 2016: One -hundred and forty-two (142) applications for the $250 Rose Oaks transition payment have been mailed or retrieved in -person, The City issued a total of $35,500 for Rose Oak transition payments as of November 17, 2016. Conclusion: The deadline to apply for this payment was October 31, 2016. No additional applications will be processed unless the tenant's application meets the City's requirements for a late appeal. Following is a list of the Cities and States where the Rose Oaks $250 Transition payments were sent: Iowa City IA 108 Coralville 1A 12 Cedar Rapids IA 5 Des Moines IA 3 Burlington IA 2 Banton AR i Gary IN i Keota IA 1 Lake Jackson TX Orlando FL Saint Cloud MN Springfield OH Tiffin IA Unity WI Urbandale 1A Waterloo IA Westbrook ME Marian Karr LZIP2J From: City of Iowa City <CityoflowaCity@pubiic.govdeiivery.com> Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2016 9:34 AM To: Marian Karr Subject: Iowa City Mayor issues statement supporting a diverse and safe community SHRRE Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web gage. �M°, I OW.A CITY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: 11 /17116 Contact: Marian Karr, City Clerk Phone:319-356-5041 Iowa City Mayor issues statement supporting a diverse and safe community Over the past week, a number of intimidating acts have been directed toward definable groups of Iowa Ctians. Monday's incident involving an intimidating message being posted on the door of a Sudanese family exemplifies the point. As a result of this and related acts, many residents are feeling increasingly fearful and threatened. We on the City Council understand that Iowa City residents have strong feelings about the results of the November 8 election. Some Iowa Citians are feeling profoundly shocked and grief-stricken; others are feeling pleased. Thoughtful and respectful dialogue and debate about controversial issues is appropriate. It is part of the democratic spirit of engagement that has long been part of fife in Iowa City. Verbal and physical acts that threaten or intimidate people with whom one disagrees are not part of our culture. They do not reflect who we are. We celebrate our community's diversity, and we welcome all residents who live here, regardless of their national origin, color, religion, sexual orientation, or gender Identity. We are committed to our City Charter, the human rights provisions of our City Code, and the provisions of the U. S. Constitution that protect civil liberties and provide equal protection under the law. We strongly condemn any political rhetoric, regardless of viewpoint, that involves threatening or intimidating language. We strongly condemn any actions that involve the threat or fact of physical harm to others. On behalf of the City Council, I urge every member of our community to uphold our shared values of compassion, inclusion, respect, and dignity, and to continue building an environment in which everyone is valued and everyone has the opportunity to thrive. NEWS RELEASE November 29, 2016 Media contact: David Mussatt Email: dmussattnausccr.¢ov Tel: (312) 353-8311 The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Announces Appointment of Advisory Committee Members for Arkansas, Iowa, Ohio, and Pennsylvania WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights announces the appointment of members to the following Advisory Committees. For the state of Arkansas, the Commission appointed: Warigia Bowman, Chair, Resident of Little Rock; Ericka Benedicto, Little Rock; Mike Cantrell, Jacksonville; Jimmy Cline, Benton; Diana Gonzalez Worthen, Springdale; Valerie Hunt, Fayetteville; Carol Johnson, Hot Springs; Xavier Medina, Fayetteville; Josh Mostyn, Rogers; Cynthia Nance, Fayetteville; Lee Rudofsky, Bentonville; Robert Steinbuch, Little Rock; Sean Teuton, Fayetteville; Brian Vandiver, Little Rock. For the state of Iowa: Joe Coulter, Chair, Resident of Iowa City; Emma Aquino-Nemecek, Mount Vernon; Genevieve Babecki, Davenport; Nancy Boettger, Harlan; Juan Garcia, Waukee; Anthony Gaughan, West Des Moines; Sheryl Leonard, Holstein; Cynthia Miller, Des Moines; Angela Onwuachi-Willig, Grinnell; Allan Richards, Tama; Leonard Sandler, Iowa City; Sal Valadez, West Liberty; Zach Whiting, Ruthven; Art Figueroa, Sioux City; Richard Dedor, Urbandale. For the state of Ohio: Diane Citrino, Chair, Resident of Solon; Cassandra Bledsoe, Cleveland; Deborah Burstion- Donbraye, Warrensville Heights; Subodh Chandra, Cleveland; Catherine Crosby, Dayton; Sharon Davies, Bexley, Dilip Doshi, Miamisburg; David Forte, Lakewood; Scott Gerber, Ada; Emerald Hernandez, Columbus; Kevin McDermott, Upper Arlington; Robert Salem, Toledo; Mark Strasser, Columbus; Edith Thrower, Cincinnati; David Tryon, Broadview Heights; Lee Strang, Berkey. For the state of Pennsylvania: Patricia Hopson -Shelton, Chair, Resident of Lancaster; Marcus Allen, Philadelphia; Christopher (Kip) F. Armstrong, Danville; Juan M. Baez, Philadelphia; Steven D. Irwin, Pittsburgh; Julia E. Kernan, Philadelphia; Deborah Gordon Klehr, Philadelphia; Romana S. Lee-Akiyama, Philadelphia; Blake Lynch, Middletown; Angela McGiver, Philadelphia; Yvette A. Nunez, Philadelphia; David R. Osborne, Camp Hill; William Greg Rothman, Mechanicsburg; Riya S. Shah, Langhorne; Stewart M. Wiener, Oreland. Advisory Committee members conduct reviews and produce reports and recommendations concerning local civil rights issues, including justice, voting, discrimination, housing, education, and other important themes. The Commission, by Congressional mandate, establishes Advisory Committees in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Appointees to the Committees serve four-year terms and are unremunerated. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is an independent, bipartisan agency charged with advising the President and Congress on civil rights matters and issuing a federal civil rights enforcement report. For information about the Commission and its Advisory Committees, please visit bgp://www.usccr.gov and follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/usccrgov From: City of Iowa City <CityoflowaCity@public.govdelivery.com> Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2016 11:19 AM To: Stefanie Bowers Subject: City of Iowa City offers Social Justice and Racial Equity (SJRE) Grants SHRRE Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. cma I0W/1 CI 1 i FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: 12/01/2016 Contact: Stefanie Bowers, Equity Director Phone:319-356-5022 City of Iowa City offers Social Justice and Racial Equity (SJRE) Grants Iowa City -based organizations can apply for an SJRE grant that is specifically designed to advance social justice and racial equity. The City Council approved $25,000 for this grant for fiscal year 2017, which begins July 1, 2017. The purpose of the grant is to encourage, empower and engage social justice and racial equity initiatives by funding programs, activities, initiatives and educational outreach that has impacts on eliminating inequities in the community. The SJRE grant lists six priority service areas: Education, Building Community, Housing, Criminal Justice, Health, and Employment. After reviewing the submitted grant proposals, the Human Rights Commission will forward its recommendations for grant allocations to the City Council which has final review and approval on allocation. Organizations whose programs, services or activities address one or more of the six priorities will be considered first for funding. To apply, visit www.icpcv.oral/SJREarantacclication. Applications will be accepted December 1, 2016 — January 5, 2017. For those organizations selected, funding will be awarded by June 1. ! t t Questions? Contact Us CITY Of IOIVA CITY U%IXO(11W Of 4111PAAUN STAY CONNECTED: if °U in �' © SHHRE ' Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web pa-ge. °0f IOWA CITY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: 12/7/2016 Contact: Stefanie Bowers, Equity Director Phone:319-356-5022 Sample Survey results for Impediments to Fair Housing Choice now available In February 2014, 210 users of Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) were surveyed as to whether they believed they had experienced housing discrimination in the last three years. HCVs are federal subsidies that provide rental assistance to eligible individuals. The Iowa City Housing Authority administers the program. Holders of HCVs are able to lease affordable, privately owned rental housing. The purpose of the program is to provide individuals with safe, affordable housing options. HCV and other rental subsidies are very useful to individuals, particularly in high cost housing markets like Iowa City. To be eligible for the HCV program, an individual/household must meet family composition requirements and must earn no more than 50% of the area median income. In the 2014 survey results, 21 % of HCV users believed they had been discriminated against in the last three years. Discrimination based on the use of HCV was the most cited reason for the discrimination (31 %), followed by receiving other forms of public assistance (28%), race, national origin or color (27%). At the time of the 2014 survey, it was lawful for a housing provider to refuse to rent to an individual who used HCVs to subsidize their rent. 2014 survey results can be located online at hfo://bit.ly/2fXibtn. In June 2016, Iowa City's fair housing laws were amended to provide protection for individuals who use HCV or other rental subsidies to supplement their monthly rental income. Housing providers can no longer refuse to rent to an individual just because they use HCV to subsidize their rent. Between August and September 2016, the Iowa City Human Rights Office sample surveyed 150 HCV holders with Iowa City addresses. Of that number, 32 individuals responded (20%). The Iowa City Human Rights Office enforces the City's fair housing laws and conducted this survey to determine whether HCV users saw an immediate difference in their ability to rent housing in Iowa City since the new law went into effect. The 2016 Annual Report of the Iowa City Housing Authority cites 826 total HCVs in use in Iowa City. This report can be found at htto://bit.ly/2h6Efz4. In reviewing the results of the 2016 sample survey, the Human Rights Office recommends the following set of action plans. Collaborating with local housing advocates, social service agencies and the Iowa City Housing Authority to provide extensive outreach to individuals using HCV. The outreach efforts are intended to bring awareness and knowledge to individuals so that they are aware that they can file complaints when they believe they have been treated differently based on a protected characteristic in their search for housing, and that Human Rights staff will investigate their complaint at no charge As part of the work plan, the Human Rights Office will also conduct more training opportunities and educational outreach on fair housing laws and regulations to the public. One of the biggest challenges the Human Rights Office encounters is that violations go unreported either because individuals do not believe that filing a complaint will change anything or they fear retaliation to them or their loved ones if they report it. Any effective outreach must counteract these thoughts and opinions. Human Rights staff quarterly reviews rental advertisings online and in print for fair housing violations. Violations of fair housing laws can include rental listings that use language discouraging individuals from renting based upon protected characteristics and can result in legal action against the housing provider, as well as the publisher of the advertising. Starting in 2017, individuals who believe they have been discriminated against will have the additional option of submitting a housing discrimination complaint via the City's website 24/7, in addition to the written form which is currently in use. The 2016 Impediments to Fair Housing Choice document can be accessed at http://bit.iVl2gRodp5. r CITY OF IOWA CITY MEMORANDUM Date: December 9, 2016 To: Iowa City Business Owners and Managers From: Kristin Watson, Human Rights Investigator Re: Sexual Harassment in Employment This memorandum is meant to provide guidance regarding sexual harassment in the workplace. If you have questions regarding information addressed in this memorandum, please call the Human Rights Office at 319-356-5015 or 319-356-5022. The Iowa City Human Rights Ordinance prohibits sexual harassment in employment. Sexual harassment is a form of harassment based upon sex. Sexual harassment victims may be of the same or opposite sex as the harasser. Sexual harassment is defined as any unwelcome advances, requests for sexual favors, or verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, where 1) submission to the conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of the victim's employment, or 2) submission to or rejection of the conduct by the victim is used as the basis for any employment decision, or 3) the conduct substantially interferes with the victim's work performance or creates a hostile, intimidating or offensive working environment. Examples include: • Repeated, unwelcome suggestive comments, gestures, emails, texts, or pictures. Unwelcome physical contact of a sexual nature. Requests for sexual favors in exchange for employment benefits. • Subtle or direct threats that a sexual or personal relationship is required for employment, promotion, or other favorable treatment in the workplace. • Subtle or direct threats that a sexual or personal relationship is required to avoid unfavorable treatment or consequences in the workplace. Employers should actively endeavor to prevent sexual harassment. Employers can do this by: 1) clearly communicating in written policies that sexual harassment will not be tolerated. 2) establishing an effective, written complaint process that includes flexible reporting options; is provided to all employees; and is posted in a prominent location, on the employer's website, and in the personnel handbook. Best practices include requiring all employees to sign an acknowledgment that they have received the policy against sexual harassment and the notification of complaint process. 3) regularly providing preventive training. 4) addressing any complaints promptly and appropriately. (An individual who believes they have been sexually harassed may file a complaint with the Human Rights Office within 300 days of the most recent discriminatory act.) If harassment is committed by a supervisor and there is a negative change in the victim's employment status such as demotion, undesirable changes in hours or shift times, decreases in pay, or termination (legally this is known as a °tangible employment action"), the employer will be liable. If the harasser is a co-worker and there is no tangible employment action, the December 9, 2016 Page 2 employer will be liable only if it knew or should have known of the harassment and failed to take corrective action. The harasser may also be held individually liable. Defense against liability is created when reasonable care is taken to prevent harassment and prompt corrective action is taken when the employer is made aware of any incidents. If a victim unreasonably fails to take advantage of appropriate corrective measures, the employer may also have a defense. Available penalties for violations of the Iowa City Human Rights Ordinance include reinstating or promoting of victimized employees; payment to the complainant of damages caused by the discriminatory or unfair practice which may include actual damages, emotional distress damages, front pay, court costs and reasonable attorney fees; and other relief such as compliance reporting. Employers that regularly employ fewer than four employees are exempt from the Ordinance, as are certain other employers. (Family members of the business owner are not counted when determining whether the employer regularly employs four or more individuals.) See Section 2-3-1(F) of the Ordinance. The Iowa City Human Rights Office hopes to provide memos to local businesses on unlawful discrimination on a regular basis to assist in providing positive outcomes for both businesses and individuals in this community. Please send other topics you would like to receive guidance on in the future, or inquiries regarding any issues of concern, to humanrights@iowa-city.org Kn �-)w Your Rights Spousal and Pat-tnea• Abuse Laws and Resources Presenters Include Representatives From The Following Organizations: • Iowa City Police Department ■ Nisaa African Family Services • Domestic Violence and Intervention Program Sponsored by the City of Iou+a City Iluman Rights Commission To RSVP email humanrights@iowa-city.org to learn more about the City of Iowa City Human Rights Commission visit www.icgov.org/humanrights.