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05-16-2017 Human Rights Commission
1 P I et ON T3 1 CITY OF IOWA CITY 410 East Washington Street AGENDA Iowa City, Iowa 52240-1826 (319) 356-5000 Human Rights Commission www. gov.or356-S09 FAX g www.icgov.org Tuesday, May 16, 2017 5:30 PM. Heldng Conference Room, City Hall 410 E. Washington Street 1. Call Meeting to Order and Roll Call. 2. Approval of Minutes from the April 25, 2017 meeting. 3. Public Comment of Items not on the Agenda. 4. Collaborating with Community Organizations. 5. Refugee Summit (June 16, June 17). 6. Parties in the Park. 7. IC Pride (June 17). S. Juneteenth (June 24). 9. Speaker Suggestions for 2017 Human Rights Awards Breakfast. 10. Report from Rapid Response Team. 11. Report from Building and Crossing Bridges Together: Hancher Programming Opportunity. 12. Report from the Iowa City Community School District's Equity Committee. a. Public School Candidate Forum. 13. Report from the University of Iowa's Center for Human Rights Advisory Board. 14. Announcements from Commissioners. 15. Announcements from Staff. a. Strategic Planning Meeting for the Social Justice Racial Equity Grant is set for Tuesday, July 11 from 5:15-7:15 (Meeting Room A at the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center). 16. Next Regular Meeting: June 20, 2017 at 5:30PM. 17. Adjournment. ff you will need disability -related accommodations in order to participate in this meeting please contact the Equity Director, Stefanie Bowers, at 319-356-5022 or at stefanie-bowers(cDjowa- crtv.ora. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs. Agenda Items Draft Minutes Human Rights Commission Hailing Conference Room, City Hall April 25, 2017 Members Present: Eliza Willis, Jeff Falk, Shams Ghoneim, Adil Adams, Barbara Kutzko, Tahuanty Pena, Joe Coulter. Members Not Present: Kim Hanrahan, Andrea Cohen Staff Present: Stefanie Bowers. Recommendations to City Council: No. Call to Order: . Willis called the meeting to order at 5:30PM Approval of March 14, 2017 Minutes: Coulter moved to approve the minutes; the motion was seconded by Ghoneim. A vote was taken and the motion passed 6-0. (Pena abstained as he was not appointed to the Commission at the time of the March 14, 2017 meeting). Hancher Programming Opportunity: Kutzko and Falk met with representatives from Hancher to discuss potential collaborations Hancher will present a list of possible programming to the Commission in the near future. Refugee Summit: At this time one or two commissioners hope to attend this event that is being held on June 16 and June 17 at West High School. Iowa City Pride: Coulter and Willis will staff this event being held on June 17 in downtown Iowa City. Coulter will pick up any needed supplies for the event from the Human Rights Office. Summer in the Park: A list of the park addresses will be provided in the May packet. Commissioners will attend Party in the Park in their respective neighborhoods. Staff will provide Human Rights Commission t- shirts to Commissioners for these events. Youth Awards: The annual event will be held on May 10 at 7PM at The Englert Theatre. Over 50 youth will be recognized. Commissioners selected Sabrena Shields, Student Family Advocate at North Central Junior High to receive the Youth Ally Award. A vote was taken and the motion passed 7- 0. Report from the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights: The advisory board will meet on May 1. Announcements: Ghoneim and Coulter both met with visitors from Italy on April 3 to discuss immigration and Community IDs. The event was sponsored by the Council for International Visitors to Iowa Cities. Coulter has attended many Commission sponsored events including the Government of Racial Equity's Advancing Racial Equity: The Role of Government Iowa, two fair housing trainings and a lunch and learn on immigration law and employment. Ghoneim reported on a recent open house held at the Iowa City Mosque on April 14. She also noted that she has been appointed to the Iowa City Mosque Board of Trustees and that the American Civil Liberties Union Iowa Chapter will hold a meeting here in Iowa City on May 7. Kutzko is on the planning committee for the annually held Johnson County Juneteenth Celebration. This year, she is in charge of the Health Fair, in addition to the many vendors who will be in attendance. She is working with organizing University of Iowa medical and dental students to attend this year's event to speak with area youth. Adams recently participated and helped organize a fundraising event for South Sudan. He also attended a community discussion at the Johnson County Neighborhood Centers concerning youth and illegal drug distribution. Willis met with Cohen and Hanrahan to revise the Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant form and processes for FY18. They plan on submitting a proposal to the entire Commission prior to the July 11 meeting date. Staff: The strategic planning meeting for the Social Justice Racial Equity Grant is set for July 11 from 5:15 — 7:15PM at the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center. Next meeting date May 16, 2017 at 5:30PM. Adjournment: 6:48PM. Human Rights Commission Attendance Record - TERM May June July July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. NAME EXP. 17 21, 7, 19, 16, 20, 18, 15, 20, 17, 21, 14, 25, 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2017 2017 2017 2017 Barbara I/I/ --- --- --- --- --- --- X X X X X X X Kutzko 2020 Jeff Falk 1/1/ --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- - X X X X 2020 Tahuanty 1/1/ --- --- --- --- - - — - -- X Pena 2020 Joe Coulter 1/1/ O/E X X O/E X O/E X X X X X O/E X 2019 Adil Adams 1/1/ X X X X X X X X X X X X X 2019 Eliza Jane 1/1/ X X X X X X X X X X X X X Willis 2019 Andrea 1/]/ X X X X X X X X O/E X X X O/E Cohen 2018 Kim 1/1/ X X X X O X X X X X X X O/E Hanrahan 2018 Shams I/1/ X X X X X X X O/E X X X X X Ghoneim 2018 Key X = Present O = Absent O/E = Absent/Excused R = Resigned Agenda Item 6 PARTIES IN THE PARK 2017 6:30-8 pm June 8 Court Hill June 15 Kiwanis June 22 North Market Square June 29 Oak Grove July 6 Creekside July 13 Reno July 20 Mercer July 27 Glendale August 3 Wetherby August 10 South Hickory Hill August 17 College Green August 24 Brookland Park SNNVH 0 �r� ^■(rN tOryylyy ® Y F� a9O OMSSN nH NVWAVO 1LOSS W in MllL36o N.Atla ^�$$ e- Jy 0 2 Ut LRON o s F DOv 3AW ldtl w F y99 E HARVE lSOd RAW 15T 3 m y O 4w318tl RITALYN O �p©N VERBE• is aaowWm ® O RUNDE�L�y V 3NId RUSSEl1 NG, r lytl3d OAN W)�£Y S Atll O aOl �o g SUxwT'f ST j i 0 AVMOVOaS SWAB08 ADum S* N3%O v 5O G 2 6 gA Bvj ,DB C Z. o m a® m N Q Dung NtlA�'N` INAan08 NMI 1S 1S39110 K Z- 15 3RLOSOO NO1N110 Y� 1i3f•3" slam g g is xostavw U3OZSU3A F SIll3 i 3N IN lU X NOSY3d Q H/U�DSON w >/(� 6 O O F K L ��TZ T to 331 ca dlM O 02 y Q O a a F'^ ® m 1 iT SONSST v c" U U w O O O o N 1 ® � o We" TPMT CAµol"AL SUVO OAI911WS oltla3W3 HSISN30 h� 3016 e53M 31H.D1S3MQ O Ito, � k�!� NME U `_► VO w B W OATS Nail women 9ONIM1S3M ? FO Q W Y C N W DUSLIN a � � 3xac�m L' "c �' _ z $ � 751'=Hc E oa`Y ogF iLgm u`o oft U'cq o,n'C ��E— FL E awt� a 31W"d DIMm m w O m r a .$ a `a t m« t= c a zzoz a oO0 OoO��S'acccee<� �, rCrrr'v>3�3p30`ii000S- opE =� NNNNMMtN+f ��+l �immmmmR�a R<V Oa V� t �6 a a3MOH1olS _+e � Y A V J6 C�N�V31 a6yd5 Nb�1 JV`ZY 12_ Z cc�nY arrow sae ua mrw �Z, Z,cl Up m YJ C N Q p �,W y C V O�ry J d L'n C d CF C u Y L 10 10 FO L/ 1 Q m m m V V V V V p Jp N W q Lp d N N_ V 00 j 3 d U UULL LLED2222=m.32 'A f4N(YI O1l11D I�OJ 01�'itiem4 epYN�N�tiNNNNNN May Correspondence r �'��1•® CITY OF IOWA CITY ,t MEMUKA N "I U M Date: April 26, 2017 To: Iowa City Business Owners From: Kristin Watson, Human Rights Investigator Re: Service Animals Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), privately -owned businesses that serve the public are prohibited from discriminating against individuals with disabilities. The ADA requires businesses to allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals onto the premises in whatever areas in which the public is usually allowed. This memorandum is intended to provide general guidance regarding service animals in public spaces. If you have questions regarding topics addressed in this memorandum or your rights and responsibilities regarding assistance animals in general, please call the office at 319-356-5015 or 319-356-5022. What is a service animal? A service animal is not a pet. Therefore, 'no pet' policies do not apply to them. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal may only be a dog or a miniature horse. 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. The ADA includes psychiatric service animals. For example, some veterans with severe PTSD require a service animal to clear buildings for them before they enter, as they did during tours of duty.' Does a service animal need to wear a vest, harness, or other identifier? No. If a service animal does not need to wear anything to identify it, how can a business determine that an animal is actually a service animal and not a pet? It may be obvious that the animal is a service animal, as in the case of a guide dog for the visually impaired. If it is not obvious, employees may ask only two questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? and 2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform? Employees may not ask for documentation, ask to see the dog perform the tasks or work it has been trained to do, or ask about the person's disability. Can a person have more than one service animal? Yes. The service animals may perform different tasks. For example, a person may need a guide dog for a visual disability, as well as a glucose -alert dog for diabetes. It is also possible for a person to need two animals for the same disability. A person may need one dog on either side to assist with stability, for example. Staff may ask the same two questions regarding each service animal. ' The ADA does not recognize emotional support/therapy animals, as the Fair Housing Act does. Therefore, a psychiatric service animal under the ADA must be a dog or a miniature horse, while an emotional support animal under the Fair Housing Act may be any kind of animal. Businesses are not required to allow Fair Housing Act emotional support animals (such as cats, rabbits, etc.) on the premises. April 26, 2017 Page 2 Does a service animal have to be professionally trained? No. The owner of a service animal may train it to do the tasks or work needed if the owner is capable of doing so. Do employees have to supervise or care for the service animal? No. The service animal is entirely the owner's responsibility. What if the service animal is causing a disturbance? The animal must be under the handler's contro12 at all times. Under control usually means leashed. Under limited circumstances, the animal may need to be off leash to do its job. In that case, control must be maintained by voice commands, hand signals, or other effective means to which the animal has been trained to respond. Under control also means that the animal should be quiet and not disturb other patrons.3 Barking once in a quiet environment such as a theater or library is not enough to remove the animal, but if its owner/handler cannot promptly restore control, the establishment may ask that the animal be removed. Can staff exclude certain dog breeds due to concerns about safety? No. A service animal cannot be excluded because of general fears about its breed. A particular service animal may be excluded only if it poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others, based upon its actual behavior or history of behavior. If the threat is alleviated, such as by muzzling a dog known to bite, the service animal must be allowed. Can service animals be excluded for any other reason? Service animals may be excluded if they would "fundamentally alter' the nature of the goods, services, programs, or activities provided to the public, or if legitimate safety concerns or public health rules prohibit the animal's presence. For example, a service animal must be allowed on the deck of a public pool, but may not enter the water. A service animal may also be excluded if it demonstrates that it is not housebroken. However, the service animal may not be excluded due to fears that it might not be housebroken. Does a service animal need to follow City codes regarding licensing and vaccinations? Yes. Service animals must have any locally -required tags and vaccinations. Can a person bring a service animal with them through a salad bar or buffet line? Yes. The service animal must be allowed to remain with its owner at all times. However, the service animal must remain on the floor. A business is not required to allow the animal on chairs or tables. Similarly, the ADA does not require any business to allow the service animal to be fed or watered on the premises. The City of Iowa City Office of Equity and Human Rights has been providing memos to local businesses on areas of discrimination since August of 2016. Please send other topics you would like to receive guidance on in the future, or inquiries regarding discrimination issues, to h u m a n ri a hts lcD.i owa-c i tv. co m. 2 Usually the handler will be the owner/person with a disability. Sometimes, it may be an aide or companion to that person. 3 This does not apply if the service animal has been provoked. Service animals should not be approached, teased, touched, or otherwise distracted while working Stefanie Bowers From: Stefanie Bowers Sent: Monday, May 08, 2017 11:11 AM To: 'Tyler Hupp' Subject: RE: Proposal of Revision to Iowa City Equal Opportunity Ordinance Tyler, I received your correspondence on Tuesday, May 2 requesting that Iowa City include atheists as i protected class under our human rights ordinance (Title 2). In my time at the City l have not received a complaint from an atheist that he/she has been discriminated against due to his/her atheist beliefs, nor does the City Attorney recall such a complaint during the last 21 years. However, it is our opinion that the Iowa City Human Rights Ordinance (ICHRO) currently prohibits discrimination based on atheist beliefs. "Religion" is not defined in the ICHRO. However, Section 2-7-3 of the ICHRO requires that the ordinance be broadly construed to effectuate its purpose. In addition, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission interprets the federal prohibition on discrimination based on religion to include discrimination because a person is an atheist and we often look to federal law for assistance in determining whether there is probable cause to believe that religious discrimination has occurred. Finally, discrimination based on "creed" is also prohibited under the ICHRO. Sincerely, Stefanie Bowers Equity Director/Human Rights Coordinator From: Tyler Hupp [mailto:thupp.easterniowaatheists@gmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2017 3:15 PM To: Stefanie Bowers Subject: Proposal of Revision to Iowa City Equal Opportunity Ordinance Dear Stefanie Bowers, My name is Tyler Hupp and I am a member of the Eastern Iowa Atheists. The Eastern Iowa Atheists are requesting that the city of Iowa City, Iowa amend its current Equal Opportunities Ordinance to include atheists as a protected class of citizens. Our inspiration for such a request stems from an amendment passed on the a of May, 2015 by the city of Madison, Wisconsin in which the Madison Equal Opportunities Commission added atheists to the list of protected individuals included in the city's Equal Opportunities Ordinance. The ordinance protects citizens from discrimination in areas of housing, employment, public accommodations and City facilities. Iowa City would have the opportunity to join Madison, WI by passing this proposed amendment as well as further secure its reputation as an inclusive and nondiscriminatory city. As more citizens are declaring themselves as atheist and nonreligious, it is becoming increasingly important to recognize the diversity of thought, belief, and culture in this country, and more specifically in the state of Iowa. Adding such an amendment would send a message to those in the community who fall under the proposed protected class that their city recognizes their rights and privileges as well as encourages them to achieve their highest potential in the city of Iowa City, IA. We appreciate your time and consideration into this request and would welcome a future discussion through email, a meeting at the city office, a private meeting at a date and location of your choice, or by phone by contacting me at 661.316.5080. We would respectfully request a response by the 9th of May, 2017 Respectfully yours, Tyler Hupp Member Eastern Iowa Atheists Stefanie Bowers From: Inside Out <insideoutreentry@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, May 08, 2017 11:23 AM To: Stefanie Bowers Subject: Thurs. May 18 -7he Delicate Struggle of the Ex -Offender Identity' led by Johnathan Kane Hi Stefanie, Harry Olmstead suggested I forward this to you. If you can share, that would be. great! Mike Hello, We want to invite you to an exciting talk/discussion on Thursday, May 18 from 7:00-8:30 PM held at 500 N. Clinton Street - entitled "Pros and Convicts: The Delicate Struggle of the Ex -Offender's Identity" This will be led by Johnathan Kana, a Texas musician who was formerly incarcerated and now focuses on restorative justice. He is in Iowa City as part of the Oakdale Community Choir concert. This talk celebrates the encouraging trends among government stakeholders to lead the way in helping society think differently about returning citizens while also cautioning those who work with offenders against inadvertently erecting stumbling blocks to their successful reintegration by enabling a false identity of denial, minimization, and/or victimization. - Johnathan Kana A meaningful second chance is about so much more than just being set free. It's about being equipped to move forward into a new future. - Johnathan Kana Reentry after incarceration is never easy or simple. We are excited to hear and engage Mr. Kana on this important topic. Here is a link to his blog: httos://redeeinvourtime.wordi)ress.com/ Also, a reminder that our Summer Concert is Saturday, May 20 from 4-7 PM. It will feature Kevin "B.F." Burt & Band and other music. And Robert Cruder will return as emcee! Come celebrate a busy and productive year at Inside Out Reentry Community. Thanks, Mike Inside Out Reentry Community 500 N. Clinton St., Iowa City, IA 52245 319-338-7996 or. contact Mike Cervantes 319-621-6263 (cell) Register for this upcoming business education program: ;;; Building ■ ■ ■ Business Basics to learn how to develop a plan to launch your own business! Saturday, May 20, 2017 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Kirkwood Community College - Iowa City Campus Commons 1816 Lower Muscatine Road, Room 137 Please RSVP! Workshops are free for those who pre -register, or $5 at the door. Lunch provided. Register by e-mail to neighborhoodsQiowa-city.org or RSVP to the event on the City of Iowa City Government Facebook page, or call Neighborhood Services at 319-356-5230 9:30-9:50 a.m.: Introduction join us from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. to work on your game plan! We are committed to improving opportunities for women, immigrants and persons of color to start their own businesses. Diverse businesses support inclusive communities! Sign up for this free program to help launch your business successfully! rhedule & Workstations — 10 a.m.-Noon: Five workstations available. Each will focus on major concepts of a business plan. Participants rotate to the next station every 20 minutes to learn about a new topic. Noon-1 p.m.: Roundtable lunch with small business owners. Participants may sit with the business owner most aligned with their proposed business. Workstation #1: What's your business idea? Organization and management, creating your company description or product. Workstation #2: Who are your customers? Market analysis, sales and marketing. Workstation #3: Flow Will your business operate? Financial projections (realistic revenues/expenses). Workstation #4: Where will the money come from? Financing needed and available financial programs, etc. Workstation #5: What resources are available? Find out who can provide assistance, understanding city and county permits, licenses, credit repair assistance. If you need translation services, please contact Tracy Hightshoe at 319-356-5230 or neighborhoodsQiowa-city.org by May 10. We'll do our best to try to accommodate your request. If you will need disability -related accommodations in order to participate in this program/event, contact Tracy Hightshoe at 319-356-5230 or at neighborhoodsQiowa-city.org. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs. Sponsors: pp qq � ' 1 ,!: IN iB'El ��S'�t�.i, 3 a Nills Bank �� O; CITY OF IOWA CITY o O �un�o�a CJuheac{� Connection UNESCO CITY OF LITERATURE