HomeMy WebLinkAbout10 28 2025 HRCHuman Rights Commission
October 28, 2025
Emma J. Harvat Hall at 5:30PM
410 E. Washington Street (City Hall)
Agenda
1.Call to Order
2.Presentation of the Heather Shank Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr.
Flaum
3.Reading of the Native American Land Acknowledgment
4.Report from the Police Department’s Community Outreach
5.Presentation by Escucha Mi Voz on its immigration work
6.Approval of Meeting Minutes – September 23, 2025 and October 1, 2025
7.Public Comment – Items Not on the Agenda
o Commentators shall address the Commission for no more than five (5)
minutes.
o Commissioners shall not engage in discussion regarding these items.
8.Correspondence
9.Review November Meeting Date & Reschedule if Needed
10.Consider Hosting a December Mixer/Listening Post
11.Commission Work Groups
o Transportation
o Access / Quality of Life
o Immigration
o Ordinance Revisions
o Community Outreach
o Housing
12.Grant Net Update – November 12, 2025
13. Explore Professional Development Opportunities
•For Commission and Community Members
14. Staff & Commission Member Updates
•Brief updates from staff and Commissioners.
•No discussion on updates.
15. Adjournment
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend. If you are a person with a disability who
requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this meeting, please contact the
organizer in advance at humanrights@iowa-city.org or by calling 319-356-5022.
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Draft Minutes
Human Rights Commission
September 23, 2025
Emma J. Harvat Hall
Commissioners Present: Doug Kollasch, Kelsey Paul Shantz, Emily Harkin, Mark Pries, Viana Qadoura,
Roger Lusala, Talya Miller.
Commissioners on Zoom: Lubna Mohamed.
Commissioners Absent: Elizabeth Mendez-Shannon.
Staff Present: Geoff Fruin, Tre Hall, Stefanie Bowers.
Meeting Called to Order: 5:32 PM.
Native American Land Acknowledgement: The Land Acknowledgement was read by Lusala.
Approval of Meeting Minutes of August 26, 2025: Priest moved; seconded Paul Shantz. Motion
passed 7-0.
Public Comments of Items Not on the Agenda: None.
Recommendations to City Council: None.
Local Option Sales Tax: City Manager Geoff Fruin presented on the local option sales tax that will be on the
upcoming Nov. 4th ballot.
- Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) 101 - The state of Iowa has a 6% Sales Tax. That is standard across the state,
and then they have an allowance for cities to have an additional 1% to make it 7% total. 93% of cities
have this 1% sales tax.
- A 1% sales tax would generate an estimated $8 to $10 million annually in new revenue for the city. The
revenue dispersed would depend on which cities have a local option sales tax and which don’t.
Depending on which communities are involved makes a difference in how much revenue is received.
Johnson County has a lot of visitors, thanks to the university, this traffic is one way to capture visitor
revenue to fund services and needs of the city.
- LOST: Comparison of Metro Cities – Fruin compares the larger cities in Iowa that have LOST, when they
started and how some do not have sunset dates. 7 communities in Johnson County adopted without
Sunset period, including this year, University Heights and Tiffin. LOST will be on the Iowa City, Coralville
and North Liberty’s ballot on November 4th.
- Community Survey Results – Fall 2024 LOST survey results stated that 72% of the respondents would
invest in streets, bridges and sidewalks (repair and new construction); 69% for affordable housing; 62%
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for provision of new and modernized parks, trails, and natural areas; 60% for investment in nonprofit
social services. Property tax relief is now required by the state. City Council has deliberated how LOST
would be distributed; 50% Property Tax Relief; 25% Affordable Housing (10% on 2014 ballot), 10% Public
Streets, Parks, and Facilities; %15 community partnerships.
- LOST proposed for this year does not have a sunset date and would need 50% plus one to pass on the
November 4th election. Tax would be collected beginning July 1 of 2026.
- Commissioners ask Fruin questions. Estimates sales tax revenue could be as high as $15 million, under
the revenue sharing formula, if other communities or voters participate. LOST categories cannot change
without going back to the voters but how the funds are spent within the category can change per city
council discretion during budget approval process and justified to the public. Sales tax supports revenue
in local governments in Iowa therefore the LOST distribution slit is an attempt to make dollars to benefit
populations that may be most burdened by this tax.
Update from the Police Department’s Community Outreach: Community Outreach Assistants Tre
Hall and Joshua Dabusu spoke on the following activities of the department.
- Invited and attended the Tip a Cop at Texas Roadhouse. All proceeds go to Special Olympics of Iowa.
Along with COREVA, raised $1,147.36.
- Dabusu attended Welcome Week on Sept. 21st with the Fire Department.
- Dabusu attended the Kickers with the Sudanese Soccer Club.
- African Fest is October 4th.
- Trunk or Treat at Pizza Ranch is October 23rd.
- Follow ICPD press releases for upcoming information on the times or to sign up.
- Dabusu speaks on his specialty working with immigrants and refugees and the goal to build the
relationship between the police and the community including communications and cultural
understanding.
Consider Approval of a Welcome Letter/Op-Ed to the Daily Iowan for University of Iowa Students –
- Miller voiced concern regarding the timing of release due to the University of Iowa removing gender
identity from their nondiscrimination policy.
- Harkin echoes that the University of Iowa removed gender identity from their nondiscrimination policy
but believes the letter is to separate the distinction between the City of Iowa City and the University of
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Iowa. Specifically, that within the city, gender identity, is still within the nondiscrimination platform.
Concluding that there should be changes if the differentiation does not come across
- Kollasch the city and university have their ‘hands tied by the state’ while the university made the knot
tighter, the city is looking at how can we shift the knot.
- Paul-Shantz two points should be asserted in the letter; that gender is a protected identity and there is
a welcoming community that will fight for that, also, acknowledging that people are experiencing risks
to their safety, well-being and threats to their very identity.
- Miller advises more tactile pieces of how the city is supporting and to include feedback from the Trans
Advisory Committee.
- Harkin advises holding meeting for students to come forward and talk about their experiences.
- Miller advocates for preparedness of any response to the letter from students / community. Pries
would like to make grammatical changes to the letter and flow. Commission will review and provide
feedback by September 29th. Pries and Kollasch agree to be sub-committee for letter. Revisions will be
sent out by Tuesday morning.
- Vote for approval of letter will be Wednesday, Oct. 1st at 6:30pm over zoom.
Consider Approval of a Statement on Homelessness in the Community –
Paul-Shantz provided the context for the statement that a person deliberately drove his car through a tent
encampment outside of Shelter House. In the months since the last meeting, there have been several more
developments and conversations amongst community leaders, including City Council and the Board of
Supervisors.
- Received feedback from Council Member for District C, Oliver Weilein. Weilein comments the letter
has correct amount of urgency to respond to the community and heavily accelerate commitment to
permanent supported housing and would like to see the letter released before the joint entities
meeting October 7th between City Council and the Board of Supervisors.
- Harkin agrees to edit housing statement by September 29th. Any additional feedback or changes will be
sent to staff.
- Vote for approval of final statement will be Wednesday, Oct. 1st at 6:30pm over zoom.
Formation of Commission Work Group:
- Commission advises working groups on non-discrimination policy, transportation, immigration,
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community outreach and housing. Commission has interest in community members joining the
working groups.
- Miller would like to expand the discrimination policies of protected statuses to include body size
whether that be height, weight, ability. Miller gave background that the University of Iowa Hospital
and Clinics are the birthplace of weight loss surgery.
- Kollasch reviews the ideas of the working groups on non-discrimination policy potentially adding body
diversity and criminal record; transportation; immigration and community outreach. Harkin adds
housing plus how gender identity / sexual orientation fits into discrimination.
- Paul Shantz expands on community outreach and how this working group could inform the direction
for the community such as resources, ways the commission can be supported and working with these
resources and community leaders.
- Pries adds the idea of having community members join the working groups. Harkin pitches it could be
rotating and offers a fresh perspective. Lusala adds this would be a great way to recruit future
commission members.
- Miller and Harkin will work on non-discrimination policy and expansion. Miller will lead on non-
discrimination and Harkin would lead on Housing. Paul Shantz adds how transportation can also fit
within non-discrimination policy and how it’s an essential resource to have access to supplies and
resources within the community. Paul Shantz will assist Harkin with housing.
- Lusala will work on immigration if Mendez-Shannon agrees.
- Kollasch asks Staff to add a community listening post event to the next meeting’s agenda while Miller
would like to help host events in the future. Kollasch agrees to help Paul Shantz with community
dialogue if needed.
- Kollasch expresses how these working groups are more on an ad hoc basis and if other needs come up,
commissioners can decide to work on ‘XYZ’.
2025 Human Rights Awards: Commissioners arrive by 7am. Pries with the opening, Kollasch
announces awards, Mendez-Shannon will hand awards out, will need a closer. Kollasch, Harkin and
Lusala received nomination packet and will select award winners. Paul Shantz encourages fellow
commissioners to propose new categories for future awards to better recognize community as the
world evolves. Lusala and Paul Shantz will not be present at the breakfast.
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Community Dialogue Conversations Update – No update. Paul Shantz asks group members; Miller,
Kollasch and herself to have a quick meeting about a time to meet before leaving the venue tonight.
Grant Net Update: Staff makes note that Mendez-Shannon is the lead on this but proposes to save
November 12th for about an hour to allow grantees to give updates and express any help they may need.
Paul Shantz expresses that everyone in the last two years that has received a grant are welcomed to
come talk and share with other grant recipients which allows the commission to listen to some of their
needs.
Professional Development for Commission and Community Members: Staff located a professional
development opportunity and asked if one or two commissioners want to volunteer to take the self-
guided courses and judge whether beneficial or not.
Upcoming Tabling Opportunities
- African Festival: Saturday, October 4th 12–9 – Kollasch and Harkin will be tabling from 12-2.
- Corridor Community Action Network Connect 2025: Saturday, October 11, 11-5 – Not available.
- Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Sunday, October 12, 2-5:30 – Qadoura will table.
Staff & Commission Updates:
- Staff mentions December mixer with new members mentioned in previous meetings and if commissioners
would like to revisit this to help with planning and supporting the event. Staff updates that commission
applications are good for a year and will also be considered with the newly received applications and if
there are any questions around commission terms to reach out and they will put you in contact with the
city clerk or city attorney for council policy and protocol that relates to filling unfulfilled terms.
- Lusala: Invites everyone to the African Fest.
- Qadoura: Participated in the Welcome Fest. Asked to speak during Sunday congregation at the
Nazarene Church and when hosting community events due to events in Palestine and highlighting
the safety of children. Qadoura is a volunteer at the Coralville Food Pantry since 2018 advocating for
necessity of human rights for food and participated in the Coralville Welcome Festival as well serving
around 700 people. Qadoura realizes the need of a safe space for children who do not celebrate
Halloween and has provided an alternative event on October 31st for the past 7 years and would like
it to be added to a future agenda.
- Paul Shantz – Expresses to take care of yourselves, ask for help, and find room for family and
community. She also noted the importance to promote donations and volunteering at organizations
due to cut funding. She concluded with a note on the launch of a volume on how identity-based
mass violence occurs in communities around the world and will share more as that is released.
- Kollasch – Echos Paul Shantz to take care of yourselves and the community.
- Pries – Active member of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa. September 5th, Executive Director, Guthrie
Graves Fitzsimmons’s topic was Project 2025. There will be protective accompaniment training
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Saturday, September 27th. Some commissioners will be at the ICE office in Cedar Rapids October 7th
at 7am.
- Miller – Thanks commission for warm welcome.
Adjourned: 7:52 PM.
The meeting can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/@citychannel4/videos.
Human Rights Commission
ATTENDANCE RECORD YEAR 2024/2025
(Meeting Date)
NAME EXP.
2027 - - - - - - - Z A Z Z A A A Z A
2027 X X Z X X P - P P X P Z P P P P
2025 X X X X X P - A A X P P P P P P
2025 X Z X Z A P - P A A Z - R R R R
2025 X X X X X P - A P X P P P P P P
2026 X X X X X P - P P A A P P A P
2026 Z X X A X P - P A X P P P Z P P
2026 Z X X A X A - P P X A A P P P A
2025 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - A P
KEY: P=Present
A = Absent
Z = Present via Zoom
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Draft Minutes
Human Rights Commission
October 1, 2025
Helling Conference Room
Commissioners Present: None.
Commissioners on Zoom: Lubna Mohamed, Elizabeth Mendez-Shannon, Doug Kollasch, Kelsey Paul
Shantz, Emily Harkin, Mark Pries, Roger Lusala, Talya Miller.
Commissioners Absent: Viana Qadoura.
Staff Present: Stefanie Bowers.
Meeting Called to Order: 6:35 PM.
Consider Approval of a Welcome Letter/Op-Ed to the Daily Iowan for Students.
Moved by Mendez-Shannon and seconded by Miller.
-Kollasch and Pries made final edits with additional edits and adjustments from Miller.
-Paul-Shantz brought attention to additional edit of encouraging young people and student to get
involved.
-Kollasch has reached out to the Daily Iowa and if able to submit the night of October 1st, there is a
possibility of the letter being released as early as October 2nd and at the latest by Friday, October 3rd.
Motion passed 7-0.
Consider Approval of a Statement on Homelessness in the Community.
Moved by Pries, seconded by Kollasch.
-Pries believes the letter is a good start of bridging a strong coalition between the Human Rights
Commission, Affordable Housing Coalition and Housing First, but alliance could be stronger.
-Pries recites letter stating, ‘Our call to action, ensure housing access as a right’ asking staff and
commission to add this protected right in the human rights document. Staff confirms it is covered
under Title II of the Human Rights Ordinance. Pries would like to elevate the point of housing as a
human right.
-Paul-Shantz amended statement, ‘Housing is a fundamental human right recognized in the 1948
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and reaffirmed in international treaties. Paul-Shantz
acknowledged Harkin’s involvement of reaching out and speaking with the staff of the Shelter
House.
Motion passed 7-0.
Adjourned: 6:51 PM.
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The meeting can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/@citychannel4/videos.
Human Rights Commission
ATTENDANCE RECORD
YEAR 2024/2025
(Meeting Date)
NAME
TERM
EXP.
5/28 7/23 8/27 9/24 11/26 12/12 1/28 2/25 4/1 4/22 5/13 5/27 6/24 8/26 9/23 10/1
Lubna Mohamed 2027 - - - - - - Z A Z Z A A A Z A Z
Doug Kollasch 2027 X Z X X P - P P X P Z P P P P Z
Viana Qadoura 2025 X X X X P - A A X P P P P P P A
Idriss Abdullahi 2025 Z X Z A P - P A A Z - R R R R Z
Mark Pries 2025 X X X X P - A P X P P P P P P Z
Roger Lusala 2026 X X X X P - P P A A P P A P Z
Kelsey Paul Shantz 2026 X X A X P - P A X P P P Z P P Z
Liz Mendez-Shannon 2026 X X A X A - P P X A A P P P A Z
Talya Miller 2025 - - - - - - - - - - - - - A P Z
KEY: P=Present
A = Absent
Z = Present via Zoom
Correspondence
Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. 12-2 PM
Scan the QR Code or Call 319-356-5015 to register
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend. If you are a person
with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to
participate in this meeting, please contact the organizer in advance
at humanrights@iowa-city.org or by calling 319-356-5022
Late Handout