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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHRCS 2001 Minutes CITY OF LANSING HUMAN RELATIONS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT HUMAN RELATIONS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD December 6, 2001 Minutes CALL TO ORDER The December meeting of the Human Relations and Community Services Advisory Board was called to order by Board Chairperson Bob Egan at 6:18 p.m. in the 9' Floor City Clerk's Conference Room of City Hall, Lansing, Michigan. Present: Chair Bob Egan,Noel Copiaco, Kirklin Hall, and Monica Martinez Absent: Amy Hodgin (excused) Staff: Genice Rhodes-Reed, Ph.D., Director; Kip Gomoll, Deputy Director-, Amanda Bunker LPD Liaison: Captain Julie Williams, Lansing Police Department APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was accepted as presented. APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was moved by Rev. Hall and seconded by Mr. Copiaco to accept the minutes from both the September 27 and November 8 minutes as presented. CHAIR'S REPORT Chairperson Bob Egan asked Board Members to defer discussion of 2002 goals and the 2002 meeting schedule of the HRCS Advisory Board until new business. DIRECTOR'S REPORT Dr. Rhodes-Reed briefed the Board on the recent National League of Cities (NLC) Institute for Youth, Education, and Families Site Visit that occurred November 26 through 28. A meeting of key leaders is scheduled for December 10 and a meeting of the entire team is tentatively scheduled for January, with regular monthly meetings to follow. The NLC project is aimed at improving K-12 education in Lansing Schools. Dr. Rhodes-Reed discussed the Fiscal Year 2003 Budget Requests and stated that a color laser printer for the department was her number one priority for Technology Requests. Chair Egan asked Dr. Rhodes-Reed her top three priorities from the six proposed new programs. The Director's three priorities are 1) continuing with Community Unity, 2) Living Wage Ordinance enforcement, and 3) the Police/Community Conference. The Board agreed to write a letter in support of the Director's 2002 Budget Priorities. 1 Human Relations and Community Services Advisory Board Meeting December 6, 2001 Page 2 The Mayor's Executive Assistant, David Wiener, has requested departments to provide summaries of their goals and accomplishments for the 2001 calendar year. These are due on Monday, December 10. They will be incorporated into the Mayor's Annual State of the City Address. The Mayor's theme will be Neighborhoods and Families. Dr. Rhodes-Reed updated the Board on the status of the CommUnity Unity Initiative. She distributed copies of the revised website, which includes the revised purpose, guiding principles and recommended action steps, and an updated activities list. The next challenge of the group is to decide priorities. The Work Group is drafting a letter to area superintendents to encourage their school district's participation with CommUnity Unity. The Group is considering a monthly luncheon, at a nominal cost of about $10, with a speaker. The next CommUnity Unity Forum is scheduled for January 20, at 3:00 p.m., location to be determined. Dr. Rhodes-Reed clarified the funding criteria and reporting requirements for City funded human services programs. She noted that contract compliance and program outcomes continue to improve_ She also reviewed recent requests for funding. Rev. Hall volunteered to work with Director Rhodes-Reed to help develop a system for improving coordination of youth programs in order to improve outcomes and accessibility. The 2001 Summary of Youth Programs was distributed to the Board. Dr. Rhodes-Reed reported that the Living Wage Ordinance is expected to pass in the year 2002. She also provided updates on the status of prevailing wage enforcement. Team Pain, the contractor for the Ranney Skate Park, has not responded to the most recent letter of BRCS for payroll information. The City has appealed the US Department of Labor's decision in favor of Davis Construction concerning the Lansing Avenue Pump Station Project and the case is now in the fact-finding phase. The Board was provided with a letter from John Pollard and an article from the Michigan Bulletin regarding supplier diversity. Dr. Rhodes-Reed discussed the formation of a Diversity Advisory Committee comprised of Department Heads to ensure that each department was actively purchasing goods and services from Lansing minority-owned businesses. She is also planning to host a forum in 2002 for interested vendors and noted the important priority of this effort for the department. Dr. Rhodes-Reed discussed the status of the vacant Secretarial position and the vacant EEO position, formerly held by Deputy Director Kip Gomoll. She anticipates that both positions will be filled within the next two months. Regarding the Secretarial position, it was suggested that the Board write a letter to the Mayor's office acknowledging the difficulties in filling the position. Chair Egan asked that it be noted that Dr. Rhodes-Reed is to be congratulated for going above and beyond her duties in the course of performing her job. It was suggested by Rev. Hall that the Board write a letter of commendation to the Mayor. Human Relations and Community Services Advisory Board Meeting December 6, 2001 Page 3 OLD BUSINESS Board Member Business Cards were distributed. LPD LIAISON'S REPORT It was agreed to watch the training video created by the Lansing Police Department and the office of the Lt. Governor to aid law enforcement officers in dealing with the hearing impaired. Ms. Martinez raised this as an issue at a previous meeting. Chair Egan requested the LPD hiring statistics for the next meeting. It was agreed that discussion of the MAPS data would be the first priority under "Old Business" next month. NEW BUSINESS The Board identified five issues to work on during the 2002 year. Arranged from highest priority to lowest they are as follows: to better connect community resources, especially better directing people to resources for the homeless and for mental health; to continue work with CommUnity Unity, ensuring equality at all levels, concentrating on supplier diversity, and reintroducing dialog circles on diversity; to seek public input on a Civil Rights Ordinance; to identify and implement improved communication between the Board and the community; and, to establish or recreate a HRCS award for outstanding community leadership. Suggestions to improve public attendance at next year's meetings included press releases, news paper articles, spots featuring the Board on City TV and the HRCS website, when launched, and, creating a brochure. Deputy Director Kip Gomoll suggested that separate meetings be held solely for public input, without normal Board business being conducted. Next year's meeting schedule was accepted with one change. The meeting that would be held on July 4 has been changed to July 11. Rev. Hall thanked the Board for the card they sent following his surgery. He also commended the Board on its renewed energy. Director Rhodes-Reed also commended the Board on its focus and thanked members for their commitment to improving our community. PUBLIC COMMENT There was no public comment. NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be January 3, 2001, at 6:00 p.m., in the 9th Floor City Clerk's Conference Room of City Hall in Lansing, Michigan. ADJOURNMENT With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:08 p.m. CITY OF LANSING HUMAN RELATIONS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT HUMAN RELATIONS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD November S, 2001 Minutes CALL TO ORDER The November meeting of the Human Relations and Community Services Advisory Board was called to order by Board Chairperson Bob Egan at 6:30 p.m. in the 9" floor City Clerk's Conference Room, of City Hall, Lansing, Michigan. Present: Chair Bob Egan, Noel Copiaco, and Amy Hodgin Absent: Kirklin Hall (excused), Monica Martinez (excused) Staff: Genice Rhodes-Reed, Ph.D., Director; Kip Gomoll, Deputy Director LPD Liaison: Lt. Russell McKenzie, Lansing Police Department Due to the lack of quorum, no official business was conducted. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was accepted as presented. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Minutes could not be approved due to lack of a quorum. These minutes will be added to the December agenda. CHAIR'S REPORT Chairperson Bob Egan reminded Board members that at the December meeting each member is to present three action goals for consideration. These goals should reflect what the Board would like to achieve in Year 2002. DIRECTOR'S REPORT Director Rhodes-Reed reported on the Community Unity Forum. She presented the Board with a list of recommendations and action steps that have been developed. She is seeking input on how to consolidate these recommendations and the steps needed to prompt effective action. She stated that Forum participants were divided into five groups based on the recommendations from the first forum. She asked the Board their opinions about whether the same facilitator should be used at each meeting to maintain continuity. Discussion followed. Dr. Rhodes-Reed reported that the Lansing State Journal convened a Crisis Communications Summit November 15. The goal is to coordinate efforts in the greater Lansing community to provide accurate information as expeditiously as possible. This will include a phone tree and victim support information. The City's consideration of a proposed "Living Wage" ordinance was discussed. It was recommended that union representatives, a local business representative, and a representative of the Chamber of Commerce be invited, to address this issue at a future Board meeting. It was suggested that such a meeting be held in the community. We should advertise the event and invite the general public. It was suggested that Mayor Hollister be invited to the February Board meeting, so that he could share his vision for the Advisory Board and the Board could share its goals. The Director reminded the Advisory Board that a calendar of its meetings for the year 2002 needs to be submitted to the City Clerk ten days prior to the first scheduled meeting of the new year(January 3, 2002). The Board will discuss the proposed schedule. The Deputy Director advised Board members that City-funded human services agencies have submitted their first quarter reports. He also indicated that the U.S. Department of Labor is investigating the question of prevailing wage compliance on one of the City's construction projects. OLD BUSINESS Name Tags. Name tags were presented to Board Members. Chair Bob Egan suggested that they should be remade and he volunteered to work with Director Rhodes-Reed on a new design. The magnetic backing was not practical, so the new tags will have a pin. Business Cards. Will be distributed at our next meeting. LPD LIAISON REPORT Lt. Russell McKenzie stated that no hate-crime reports have been taken. However, he indicated that there has been an increase of vandalism caused by teenagers. The training video created by the Lansing Police and the office of the Lt. Governor to aid law enforcement officers in dealing with the hearing impaired is now finished. The video will be aired on City TV, Cable 28, and Cable 12. NEW BUSINESS None. PUBLIC COMMENT There was no public comment. NEXT MEETING Will be held on December 6, 2001, at 6:00 p.m., in the 9th floor City Clerk's Conference Room of City Hall in Lansing, Michigan. ADJOURNMENT With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Amy Hodgin, Board Secretary CITY OF LANSING HUMAN RELATIONS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT HUMAN RELATIONS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD September 27,2001 Minutes CALL TO ORDER The October meeting of the Human Relations and Community Services(HRCS)Advisory Board was called to order by Vice Chair Bob Egan at 6:30 p.m. in the 91 floor City Clerk's Conference Room of City Hall in Lansing, Michigan. Present: Vice Chair Bob Egan,Noel Copiaco;Kirklin Hall,Amy Hodgin,and Monica Martinez Staff: Genice Rhodes-Reed,PhD.,Director Kip Gomoll,Linda Adams LPD Liaison: Captain Julie Williams,Lansing Police Department APPROVAL OF AGENDA Vice Chair Egan asked if there were any changes to the agenda. It was moved by Mr. Hall and seconded by Mr. Copiaco to accept the Agenda as presented. The motion carried unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was moved by Mr.Hall and seconded by Ms.Martinez to accept the minutes from the September 13, 2001 meeting as presented. The motion carried unanimously. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT On September 13,2001,the HRCS Advisory Board e-mailed a"Letter to the Editor"to the Lansing State Journal. As of today, it has not been published. The Human Relations and Community Services Department has developed a Unity in Community website to help facilitate the sharing of information in the wake of the September 11,2001 tragedies. It can be reached through a link from the City's web page at www.cityoflansingmi•com. The site includes resource information, as well as recommendations from the September 16 Unity in Community Forum. Advisory Board members were encouraged to visit the web site. Chair Egan offered kudos to Director Rhodes-Reed and the HRCS staff for their hard work in getting the web site up so quickly. DIRECTOR'S REPORT to the Board for their support of the September 16 Unity Director Rhodes-Reed offered her thanks in Community Forum. All the comments on the forum indicate it was well received by the community. It is also felt that the diversity of the community was well represented. The recommendations that were made at the forum have been included in the Board members' meeting packet. Human Relations and Community Services Advisory Board Meeting of September 27, 2001 Page 3 Elections. Vice Chair Bob Egan vacated the Chair and asked Director Rhodes-Reed to assume the floor to conduct the election for Board Chair. The resignation ofPaul Novak resulted in the position of Chair of the Advisory Board being vacant. Director Rhodes-Reed asked if there were any nominations from the floor for the position of Chair. Ms. Martinez nominated Bob Egan, who accepted the nomination. With no other nominations from the floor, Mr. Hall moved to close nominations. The motion was seconded by Ms.Martinez and passed unanimously. A voice vote was taken. Mr. Egan was unanimously elected to the position of Chair of the HRCS Advisory Board. Mr. Egan assumed the floor as Chair to continue elections. Mr. Eged t other e floor for nominations for the position of Vice-Chair. Mr. Egan nominated Monica Martinez. nominations from the floor,Mr.Hall moved to close nominations. The motion was seconded by Copiaco and passed unanimously. A voice vote was taken. Ms.Martinez was unanimously elected to the position of Vice-Chair of the HRCS Advisory Board. Mr. Egan opened the floor for nominations for the position of Secretary. Mr. Copiaco nominated Amparo "Amy"Hodgin. With no other nominations from the floor, Ms. Martinez moved to close nominations. The motion was seconded byNoel Copiaco and passed unanimously. A voice vote was taken. Ms. Hodgin was unanimously elected to the position of Secretary of the HRCS Advisory Board. LPD LIAISON REPORT ansing Police continue to be involved in the community. Captain Julie Williams reported that the L After the September I I tragedies,there were concerns about those perceived to be from the Middle East as potential targets for ethnic intimidation and violence. The area reported a slight decrease in crime in the period following September 11, but now crime has risen to the levels seen before the tragedy. She stated that officers of the Lansing Police Department recently participated,through a coordinated effort with the State Police and the Office of Lt. Governor, in the production of a training video to aid law enforcement officers in dealing with individuals with hearing disabilities. The video is an introduction for officers and gives several examples of situations for officers to understand the need for varied approaches when dealing with the community. Accompanying flash cards will be given to officers. Copies of the video will be made available to both precincts and will be used in training. The Police Department is also arranging to have the video shown on CityTV. Ms. Martinez raised questions about this issue at the September 13, 2001 meeting. Chair Egan requested that Board members identify key community issues they believe the Board should address. In order to permit adequate time for discussion, members were asked to limit the number of issues to three. These issues will be discussed at the December meeting. CITY OF LANSING HUMAN RELATIONS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT HUMAN RELATIONS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD September 13, 2001 Minutes CALL TO ORDER The September meeting ofthe Human Relations and Community Services Advisory Board wascalled to order by Vice Chair Bob Egan at 7:15 in the 9`' floor City Clerk's Conference Room, City,Hall, Lansing, Michigan. Present: Vice Chair Bob Egan, Noel Copiaco, Kirklin Hall, Amy Hodgin, and Monica Martinez Staff: Genice Rhodes-Reed, Ph.D. Director, Kip Gomoll, Linda Adams Guests: Daniel Rienecke, President, Ingham County Equal Opportunity Committee Vice Chair Egan stated due to the resignation of the Chair, Paul Novak, he would preside over the meeting. There was discussion regarding leadership and vacant positions within the Board. Since a quorum was not present, approval of the meeting minutes, agenda, and other business was postponed until Mr. Hall's arrival at 7:25 p.m. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Vice Chair Egan asked if there were any changes to the agenda. It was moved by Mr. Copiaco and seconded to accept the Agenda as presented. The motion carried unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was moved by Mr. Hall and seconded to accept the minutes from the May 1, 2001 meeting as presented. The motion carried unanimously. CHAIR'S REPORT A letter of resignation has been received from Paul Novak. Vice Chair Egan stated that with this resignation the position of Chair is vacant. The position of Secretary is also vacant. As Vice Chair, Mr. Egan will act as Interim Chair until elections are held. Board members were asked to review the roster included with the meeting packet and notify Director Rhodes-Reed of necessary revisions. Also included in the packet was an attendance summary for 2001. New Board member Amy Hodgin was introduced and welcomed to the Board. Human Relations and Community Services Advispry oars Meeting of September 13, 2gp1 par, 2 DIRECTOR'S REPORT J)r. odes-Reed reported that much had occurred since the last meeting,most notably the tragedy ip New York,Washington,D.C. and Pennsylvania. She met with Mayor Hollister today who asked that the Human Relations and Community Services Department coordinate community activities in ilie wake of terrorist attacks. Dr. Rhodes-Reed asked for suggestions on how to move forward as community. Graffiti has been removed and a random shooting took place in East Lansing. She §gggested formation of a ethnically and religiously diverse coalition,with a first meeting of the group tNs Sunday at 3 p.m. in City Council Chambers. Representatives of various groups would be invited tp discuss Tecp�nmendations to prevent acts of retaliation and hate crimes. The Department has a list of approximately 25 groups that should be invited to participate in the forum. Each group would be asked to work with members of their Iespective community and friends to ensure a widespread community effort. Vice Chair Egan suggested that this issue be postponed as a point ofnew business for discussion at the end of the meeting to allow more time. The South Side Youth Coalition is a group involved in planing activities for young people. Through the partnership ofthe Coalition withthe Lansing School District,students were able to earn up to two elective credits toward their high school diploma. It is felt that the program was successful,with 20 high school students completing it. Included in the Board's packet were letters of appreciation received from two individuals involved in the program. Vice Chair Egan stated that this summer he had an opportunity to talk with Dr.Rhodes-Reed several times about the program and applauded her hard work. On July 28, 2001, a man was shot by Lansing Police in the stomach when they approached and attempted to escort him to Community Mental Health. His condition has been upgraded to stable; he is doing well and is expected to recover. Chief Mark Alley will be meeting with community mental health administrators to discuss how to help officers learn more about how to deal with citizens with mental illnesses. It was asked if there has been feedback from the community. It was noted that attorney Jeffrey Feiger has filed a lawsuit against the City on behalf of the family. Ms.Martinez asked about police policies in dealing with people who are hard of hearing or who have trouble communicating. It was suggested that this is an issue that the Advisory Board may want to investigate. One suggestion was that the Lansing Police Department use a flash card program. Dr. Rhodes-Reed will look into this and report back to the Board at the next meeting. The City has received an award for technical assistance from the National League of Cities (NLC). Mayor Hollister and Director Rhodes-Reed were scheduled to present at the NLC September 19-22, 2001 conference; however, the Mayor asked all department heads to remain in town. Technical assistance designed to improve grades K-12 will be provided for 30 months. The project team will identify the needs the technical assistance will address. The Human Relations and Community Services Department has experienced staff changes. Kip Gomoll has been appointed Deputy Director of the Department. This appointment has created a vacancy in the Equal Opportunity position. Applications have been received for this position and will Human Relations and Community Services Advisory Board Meeting of September 13, 2001 Page 3 be reviewed. Paul Elam has been hired into the position of Grants Writer and Program Coordinator. Linda Adams has transferred from the Clerk's office into the position of Administrative Secretary. Mr. Gomoll reported that first quarter payments to human services agencies have been vouched. He also reported that the Michigan Supreme Court recently issued a decision (Sharp v the City of Lansing) in reference to an affirmative action case involving the City. The City is reviewing the Supreme Court's opinion. In reference to the Department's prevailing wage enforcement function, Mr. Gomoll reported that the U. S. Department of Labor (USDOL) had completed their investigation in reference to an allegation of underpayment of wages by a contractor on one of the City's construction projects. This investigation was the result of findings of the Department which had been forwarded to USDOL. USDOL decided in favor of the contractor. The City is appealing the decision. NEW BUSINESS Dr. Rhodes-Reed reported on the recent events. The City Emergency Management Team was activated September 11 and has continued to meet in response to the national crisis. This team is headed by the Mayor and comprised of his staff, department heads, the Board of Water and Light, the Lansing School District,and other essential community agencies. As a result ofthe current crisis, several recommendations have been advanced. Among these are the need to issue identification cards or badges to all City employees, and the need for increased awareness of businesses and sectors of our community that may be potential targets of retaliation. Board members expressed their unanimous support and willingness to attend a meeting to be held in Council chambers on Sunday, September 16', at 3 p.m. Mr. Hall expressed support,but will not be available because of a prior commitment. It was moved by Vice Chair Egan and seconded that the board send a letter to the editor of the Lansing State Journal. The motion was carried unanimously. The Board agreed that the letter should be drafted as soon as possible. Another recommendation was that the Mayor place a wreath in front of City Hall in memory of the people who died in New York,Washington,D.C.,and Pennsylvania. This suggestion was discussed but no action was taken. PUBLIC COMMENT Daniel Riencke,President ofthe Ingham County Equal Opportunity Committee(ICEOC) stated that the ICEOC serves the 27 department and 3,700 employees of Ingham County government. The committee meets monthly, with meetings scheduled on the first Thursday of each month. Agenda items may include statistical reports from the various departments on their hiring. The Committee tries to ensure representation in all areas ofmanagement;the total employee base for Ingham County is fifty percent women. It is very difficult to get people to recognize that the work of the Committee Human Relations and Community Services Advisory Board Meeting of September 13, 2001 Page 4 is good for employees. They meet with department heads every month to talk about EEO and items to provide diversity within the work force. Some of their other accomplishments include starting a minority vendor program and developing a cultural awareness calendar. The Committee has tried to improve relations with the community by buying ads in programs for various events. They want to encourage people to think of the County government as a good place to work. The Committee does not have the capability to serve the entire community. One of their goals is to find out what different communities are doing. They would like to work with the City to find out about available resources and the different groups and organizations that work with the City. Ms. Hodgin asked Mr. Riencke about current and future programs being considered by the County to ensure consideration of minority business in the Lansing area. Dr.Rhodes-Reed stated that she was very glad to hear of the County's efforts and looked forward to working with them.. NEXT MEETING At the next meeting, a meeting calendar for 2002 will be approved. After discussion it was determined that the Thursday, October 4, 2001 meeting would be rescheduled for Thursday, September 27, 2001 to begin at 6 p.m. in the City Clerk's Conference Room, 9'Floor, City Hall; the November meeting scheduled for Thursday, November 1, 2001 at 7 p.m. in the City Clerk's Conference Room,9t'Floor,City Hall was rescheduled to begin at 6 p.m.;and the December meeting scheduled for December 6,2001 at 7 p.m. in the City Clerk's Conference Room, 9'Floor, City Hall was rescheduled to begin at 6 p.m. It was moved by Ms. Martinez and seconded to accept the 2001 meetings as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Items to be discussed at the next meeting: 1. Leadership positions and elections within the Board 2. Public relations issues similar to those mentioned by Mr. Riencke of the ICEOC 3. Update on availability of name tags and business cards for Board members. ADJOURNMENT With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m. City of Lansing HUMAN RELATIONS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES May 1,2001 CALL TO ORDER The April 3, 2001 meeting of the Human Relations and Community Services Advisory Board was called to order by Chairperson Paul Novak at 7:15 p.m. in the 9''Floor Conference Room of City Hall. Present: Chairperson Paul Novak, Bob Egan, Noel Copiaco, Kirklin Hall, Monica Martinez Absent: Julius Smith(Excused) Staff: Dr. Genice Rhodes-Reed, Director; ReChelle Kendrick APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved as submitted. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the April 3, 2001 were approved as submitted. DRAFT TAX ABATEMENT UPDATE The Board discussed revisions of the Workforce Utilization Form required of companies that request tax abatements. The form will be modified to include information about outstanding federal or state employment discrimination lawsuits. The Board recommended that recipients of tax abatements be asked to complete the form annually as well as at the time of initial application.The Board also agreed that entities outside the City that receive abatements through 425 Agreements should also be required to provide information annually about workforce composition. Chairperson Novak agreed to finalize the form prior to the next meeting. DIRECTOR'S REPORT Dr. Rhodes-Reed thanked Mr. Egan for preparing the minutes of the last meeting and informed the Board that the Tax Abatement request of Strategic Interactive,Inc.had been considered at the April 30, 2001 Council Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting. Council approved a six (6) year tax exemption to expand their business at a new site. Completion of an Affirmative Action Plan was required as a condition for issuance of the certificate. The Plan, which will include annual goals, analyses of workforce composition,and targeted recruitment strategies,is due within the next six (6) months. Racial/ethnic groups presently constitute 9.4% of the workforce. Dr. Rhodes-Reed commended Melanie Winnicker for her advocacy on behalf of homeless people. She was recently instrumental in securing $10,000 from People's Church for homeless prevention activities. This amount will be matched by $10,000 from HRCS funds. Ms. Winnicker will also prepare a grant to the Capital Regional Community Foundation seeking an additional matching amount of $20,000. The Board asked Dr. Rhodes-Reed to offer their commendation to her, as well. Rev.Hall also praised her for the presentation she made at his church concerning homeless services. Human Relations and Community Services Advisory Board Meeting Minutes of May 1, 2001 Page 2 Dr. Rhodes-Reed advised the Board that the HRCS Budget Hearing for FY 2002 would be May 4, 2001 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. She said she expected the hearing to go smoothly because programmatic and accountability issues had been addressed with the COW in March. She also noted that discretionary funding will likely be insufficient for the next fiscal year to address basic human services needs due to higher natural gas prices. The City of Lansing and Lansing School District submitted a joint application to the National League of Cities Institute for Youth, Education, and Families Municipal Leadership for Expanded Learning Opportunities program last month. If approved,the City will receive 30 months oftechnical assistance at no cost to improve the accessibility and quality of after-school programs. Selection decisions will be made in late May. Selections have been made for the Deputy Director and Grants and Program Manager positions. Formal announcements will be made prior to the next Board meeting. Testing for the Administrative Secretary position are planned, making selection likely by the end of May. The South Side Youth Coalition will be implementing an 8-week program for older teens at Hill in late June.The program will include structured recreational activities as well as academic courses for credit. The final report of the Undoing Racism Task Force was presented to the COW on April 19. Council referred the report to HRCS for review and recommendations about next steps.Dr.Rhodes-Reed said recommendations would include involvement of the Board in confronting racism in our community. Discussion followed about strategies to systemically address racism in our community. Mr.Copiaco, Mr. Egan, and Rev. Hall volunteered to work with her in reviewing the Task Force Report. Dr. Rhodes-Reed distributed a copy of the Year 2000 Report prepared by the Commission Investigator,Bernard Brantley. She asked the Board to review the report and provide any comments prior to the next meeting. She provided an update on MDCR Complaints. As indicated at the last meeting,a complaint alleging discrimination was filed by a City employee. Two complaints were filed by LA Globe. Information was provided to MDCR concerning allthree which failed to support these claims.Initial investigations revealed no evidence of discrimination in any. She will keep the Board informed about their status. Dr.Rhodes-Reed suggested that the Department and Board host an annual reception in July and invite the Mayor,Council,various agencies funded by the department,legislators, and others. She said this would be a good way to review accomplishments, identify future directions, and recognize extraordinary efforts such as Ms.Winnicker. She said the department would improve public relations efforts in FY 02. Like LPD, in the future correspondence thanking staff will be sent to Board members along with meeting minutes and other materials. Human Relations and Community Services Advisory Board Meeting Minutes of May 1, 2001 Page 3 Dr.Rhodes-Reed announced that she would sponsor registration for members interested in attending the Alliance Against Hate Crimes Conference held on May 16. The Board identified organization of a community response to hate crimes as a priority some months ago. She distributed a flyer concerning the I"Annual Prayer Walk for the Homeless sponsored by Loaves and Fishes on Tuesday, May 22, from 7 to 9 p.m. The School Bond Celebration will be held at UAW Local 602, located at 2510 W. Michigan Avenue, from 8 to 11 p.m. on May 1. She also commented that the lunch served to the homeless last Friday at the Salvation Army by Representatives DeWeese and Murphy had gone well. She thanked Board members for their work with the Department and invited them to join her at the Lugnuts' City Suite on Friday, May 11. Tickets to the game and refreshments will be provided. OTHER BUSINESS Chairperson Novak asked if elections of officers would be held in June or July. Mr. Egan answered that it would be July. Mr. Copiaco asked about the amount of funding provided to Loaves and Fishes. Dr. Rhodes-Reed said their FY 02 allotment of$15,000 was recently increased by$5,000 to balance their budget. She added that they also receive HUD emergency shelter and MSHDA funds which the City helps to secure and their clients would likely receive homeless prevention funds, if needed. She will provide the Board with a list of funding which the City provides to all homeless agencies. COMMUNICATIONS None NEW BUSINESS None PUBLIC COMMENT None ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m. NEXT MEETING The date of the next meeting is Tuesday, June 5, 2001. City of Lansing HUMAN RELATIONS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES Apri13, 2001 CALL TO ORDER The April 3, 2001meeting of the Human Relations and Community Services Advisory Board was called to order by Vice-Chairperson Robert Egan at 7:15 p.m. in the 9`h Floor Conference Room of City Hall. Present: Robert Egan,Noel Copiaco, Monica Martinez, Julius Smith Absent: Paul Novak,Rev. Kirklin Hall(excused) Staff: Dr. Genice Rhodes-Reed, Director APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved as submitted. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the of December 7,2000;February 13,2001;and March 1,2001 were approved as submitted. DIRECTOR'S REPORT Dr.Genice Rhodes-Reed thanked the Board for their letter of support for the Department's FY 2002 Budget. She announced the Human Services Ordinance was approved by the City Council on March 26, 2001. Dr.Rhodes-Reed provided the Board with a copy of recommendations and explained discussions she had with Council concerning the use of FY2001 discretionary/contingency funds. She also reported on the Lansing Police Department traffic brochure and provided members with an update on the Legislative Black Caucus meetings in March. Additionally, Dr. Rhodes-Reed announced to the Board that a Hate Crimes Workshop is scheduled for May 16, 2001 at the Holiday Inn South. Kip Gomoll will serve as the department liaison with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights and the Board to help organize a community response to hate crimes in case these should occur. Dr. Rhodes-Reed provided an update on the first workshop sponsored by the Lansing Area Public Purchasing Group (LAPPG)which was held on March 2. This group, composed of representatives of the City of Lansing, State of Michigan, Ingham County, Lansing School District, Lansing Community College, Board of Water and Light, and Michigan State University was formed to improve the representation of racial/ethnic groups and women in their respective organizations through information sharing, networking,and working together to identify and implement strategies. The City was represented by Mayor Hollister,Finance Director Bob Swanson,Purchasing Director Amy Magistro, John Green and Stephanie Boggs from the purchasing department as well as Kip Gomoll and herself. Other partner organizations were also well represented. Human Relations and Community Services Advisory Board Meeting Minutes of March 1, 2001 Page 2 Dr. Rhodes-Reed reported that the last meeting of the Undoing Racism Task Force was held on March 30. She presented information about HRCS mandates and accomplishments to ensure equity in our community. Kip Gomoll had previously made a presentation.The Task Force plans to present recommendations to the Council Committee of the Whole on Thursday, April 19, 2001. Dr. Rhodes-Reed informed Board members that three complaints alleging discrimination had been recently filed against the City with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights,one by a City employee and two by the LA Globe. The Board had an extensive discussion concerning the complaints, but took no action. COMMUNICATIONS Joan Jackson Johnson's Letter of Resignation: The Board unanimously received the letter of resignation from Dr. Johnson. Board members expressed deep appreciation for the work and commitment of Dr. Johnson to the Human Relations and Community Services Advisory Board. NEW BUSINESS None PUBLIC COMMENT None ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m. NEXT MEETING The date of the May meeting is Tuesday,May 1,2001 at 7:00 p.m. The Board agreed to set the date for the next meeting at that time. City of Lansing HUMAN RELATIONS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES March 1, 2001 CALL TO ORDER The March 1,2001 meeting of the Human Relations and Community Services Advisory Board was called to order by Chairperson Paul Novak at 7:15 p.m. in the 9`h Floor Conference Room of City Hall. Present: Chairperson Paul Novak, Bob Egan, Noel Copiaco, Kirklin Hall, Monica Martinez, Julius Smith Absent: Dr. Joan Jackson-Johnson Staff. Dr. Genice Rhodes-Reed, Director; ReChelle Kendrick APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved as submitted. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the February 13 meeting were distributed, although action was not taken. Minutes of the December meeting were unavailable. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT Chairperson Novak provided a tax abatement survey which he drafted to annually assess work force composition. He asked Dr.Rhodes-Reed about the number of recipients of tax abatements.She said that about two or three were granted each year, about 25 in the last ten years. Chairperson Novak questioned how the survey would be distributed each year. Dr. Rhodes-Reed suggested that the department mail the survey each year to all companies with an active abatement and ask that it be returned by a deadline. She said that it would need to be decided whether the survey should be answered on the basis of work force composition for a calendar as opposed to the City's fiscal year. She said the department would be responsible for following up and summarizing the information received. Chairperson Novak pointed out that,as a proactive measure,the Board would release the results annually to the Mayor, Council and the public. Chairperson Novak stated that the survey should also include a question about whether a judicial finding had been issued against a company because of a violation of federal or state employment discrimination laws. Ms.Martinez suggested that companies also be questioned about settlements, as well. Chairperson Novak responded that rather than asking for information about judicial findings, it would be better to ask companies to list any cases where an allegation of employment laws had been made DIRECTOR'S REPORT Dr.Rhodes-Reed said that she and Joe Graves had met with Undoing Racism Task Force co-chairs, Mike Bryanton and Sharon Peters about their expectations and recommendations likely to be presented Council by March 31,2001. Although the direction of the Task Force still seems unclear Human Relations and Community Services Advisory Board Meeting Minutes of March 1, 2001 Page 2 in some respects,it appears that recommendations will include training and a summit or conference on racism. Discussion then centered on the department's role in implementing Task Force recommendations. Dr. Rhodes-Reed reiterated her concerns that this initiative not become a referendum on City government or HRCS. She urged that the focus be broader than the City of Lansing in order to effect systemic change. Following the last meeting, Councilperson Meyer asked her about the use of human services funds to implement Task Force recommendations. She said this initiative was not consistent with identified basic human services funding categories. She also said it would be difficult to identify the amount of funding needed at this point because the Task Force had not yet agreed upon specific recommendations. She urged that this initiative be funded from Community Supported Agency funding. Dr. Rhodes-Reed said she would be meeting with Council President Adado prior to the March 9 meeting of the Task Force. She will be presenting information regarding what the City is doing at their March 23 meeting. She said that at the last meeting of the Undoing Racism Task Force,the Editor of the Flint Journal made a presentation about what that community is doing. She acknowledged the importance of the role of the media in facilitating acceptance of difference in a community. The City Attorney has now composed the living wage in ordinance language. So that Lansing is not adversely impacted by this effort,the administration has encouraged and union representatives have agreed to lobby county officials regarding adoption of a living wage ordinance. Dr. Rhodes-Reed said that the living wage would have increased from$10.66 to$11.03 per hour since last year. This compares with a current minimum wage of$5.15 per hour. The issue of how companies would accommodate a wage increase when poverty guidelines change after a company has negotiated a project was briefly discussed. The department contracted with Doak Bloss to prepare the proposal which was submitted to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority on behalf of the Greater Lansing Homeless Resolution Network. Ten agencies,which provide services to the homeless,would share$251,400 if this grant is awarded. Dr.Rhodes-Reed distributed copies of the proposal which she said provided a good overview of what the department's role has been in facilitating continuum of care activities. On Friday,March 2,2001, the first workshop of the Lansing Area Public Purchasing Group will be held. The group consists of public agencies—the City, State of Michigan,Ingham County,Lansing Community College,the Board of Water and Light,and Michigan State University—and was formed to collaboratively identify and implement strategies to increase the representation of protected group members who do business with these organizations. The group facilitator will be Reggie Williams who is recognized nationally for his efforts to improve supplier diversity. Mayor Hollister along with representatives of all of the partnering agencies will attend. The partnering agencies agree that they have similar issues attempting to identify people of color who sell the goods and services that we want to purchase. A great turnout is expected. The NAACP, Lansing State Journal, and John Human Relations and Community Services Advisory Board Meeting Minutes of March 1, 2001 Page 3 Pollard have been invited to attend this meeting at no charge. In the future,partnering agencies will provide information together to the public about their progress. The City has received several letters from John Pollard concerning vendor representation of minorities. The School Bond has now become tied to this issue. He did not attend the March 2 meeting of the Lansing Area Public Purchasing Group. Dr. Rhodes-Reed questioned whether anyone had comments on the Lansing Police Department Traffic Stop Brochure. The Lansing Police Department is ready to finalize it. Bob Egan questioned whether citizens or the police would complete the Management Analysis for Traffic Stop Form. It was his understanding that officers would have people fill out the form when a ticket was issued. As noted in the procedure, sworn personnel will complete the form at the time of each traffic stop, regardless of whether a citation is issued. The form would not be completed if the stop were investigatory. Mr. Egan clarified that the definition of a traffic stop may be for any moving traffic violation or a violation related to licensing,registration,or equipment. Officers would be required to complete the form if it relates to one of these issues. It would not be completed if a person's vehicle were stopped for a reason other than this. Dr. Rhodes-Reed said that she would be meeting with the City Council to discuss passage of the Human Services Ordinance and other issues related to the FY 2002 budget on March 8. She reviewed budget line items and her recommendations to reduce the proposed department budget by $26,800. In FY 2002, the HRCS Salaries and Wages line item is shown as 10% higher than the current year. If currently vacant positions were filled at entry levels,it would be possible to reduce this line item by$9,200. The$5,000 Capitol Expense item is for furniture. This line item will be reduced to zero. The Overtime Salary account will be reduced from $4,000 to $2,000. Miscellaneous/Operating Expenditures include supplies,small equipment items,duplication/printing of documents,copies,travel, consultation, etc. The City will not hire a Washington Lobbyist next year so this will result in a savings of $4,350 in Miscellaneous/Operating expenditures. This account would be reduced by an additional $6,304 in order to meet the target of$26,800. She reported that LA Globe was scheduled for a hearing with Council on March 15 to discuss recommendations concerning the liquor license of LA Globe. She said that LA Globe had filed two complaints alleging discrimination had been filed with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. HRCS will be purchasing a table for the Cesar Chavez dinner which will be held on Friday, March 30, 2001, at the Lansing Center. She asked Board members to let her know if they would like to attend. Noel Copiaco suggested that the Board also support the event by purchasing an ad in the patron booklet. PETITIONS - None NEW BUSINESS - None Human Relations and Community Services Advisory Board Meeting Minutes of March 1, 2001 Page 4 PUBLIC COMMENT-None NEXT MEETING The date of the April meeting is Thursday, April 5, 2001, at 7:00 p.m. ADJOURNMENT It was moved and seconded that the meeting be adjourned. Chairperson Novak declared the meeting ended at 8:40 p.m. City of Lansing HUMAN RELATIONS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES February 13, 2001 - CALL TO ORDER The February 13,2001 meeting of the Human Relations and Community Services Advisory Board was called to order by Chairperson Paul Novak at 7:15 p.m. in the 9`h Floor Conference Room of City Hall. Present: Bob Egan,Noel Copiaco,Kirklin Hall,Monica Martinez, Chairperson Paul Novak Absent: Dr. Joan Jackson Johnson (excused), Julius Smith Staff: Dr. Genice Rhodes-Reed, Director; Annie Hicks APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved as submitted. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The Chairperson established that a quorum was present. The minutes of the regular December 7, 2000 meeting were not available for review. CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT/UNDOING RACISM TASK FORCE UPDATE Rev. Kirklin Hall and Mr. Noel Copiaco provided an update regarding the last meeting of the Undoing Racism Task Force. Dr.Sharon Banks described current initiatives in the Lansing.School District(LSD) to combat racism. She said that efforts were underway to make sure that everyone in the LSD has had training on issues related to race. She was very clear about what will and will not be tolerated. Dr. Banks also talked about the need to upgrade Lansing schools and to pass the millage that hasn't been increased in 19 years. Two attorneys discussed the legal definition of racism and its relationship to power and privilege. Rev.Hall said he felt that minorities did not have a problem talking about racism because they have lived with it and have definite viewpoints. Some-white brothers and sisters,liowever,-o not appear comfortable discussing racism. He said the members of the Task Force need to discuss their feelings about race and racism with each other as a necessary first step. He said it would be important for all points of view to be heard. He also expressed concern about action being taken on the recommendations of the Task Force which are slated for release at the end of March. Dr. Rhodes-Reed shared that the Undoing Racism Conference that she attended was 2'/z very intensive days of how to address problems in the community related to race. She also expressed concern about what the specific aims of the Lansing Undoing Racism Task Force would be,concern that it not just be a referendum on the Human Relations and Community Services Department or City government. The State of Michigan needs to be actively involved in the process along with business and other partners. The Task Force should also be composed of people other than those who are middle class. She said that City staff have previously participated in Dialogue Circles. It Human Relations and Community Services Department Advisory Board Meeting Minutes of February 13, 2001 Page 2 was clearly not a good experience for some. She said that whatever forums are convened to discuss race in the future,the skills of the facilitators will be critical. People have to be ready. Careful thought needs to be given to what we want to accomplish and what must be done to move us as a community in a positive direction. The Task Force has invited people involved in race initiatives in Flint and Grand Rapids to discuss what they are doing- Sharon Peters talked about future direction at the last meeting,but a number of members were absent. Rev. Hall_ acknowledged the difficulty in trying to legislate anything dealing with race. You can't force people. Mr. Copiaco noted that often times those most in need of participating in discussions about race are the most resistant. He said that an obvious positive about the Dialogue Circles is that those involved can take their insight back to their respective communities. He suggested that members from the Church of Today from Warren, Michigan be invited to make a presentation to the Task Force. Rev.Hall emphasized the importance of viewing Lansing in relation to surrounding communities. Even though racism may not bean issue in Lansing,there appears to be less balace in theseareas. He said he felt the Task Force was headed in the right direction,but that time constraints(meeting every other week for only two hours)may limit the effectiveness of what the Task Force can achieve. The group is expected to complete a list of recommendations by the end of March. DIRECTOR'S REPORT Dr. Genice Rhodes-Reed reported that only about 15 people attended the racial profiling training provided by LPD on January 27 and 28. It was very educational and provided an opportunity for community input. She said this would have been a good opportunity for the community to understand the purpose for the data collection,what information would be collected,the difference between a traffic stop and an investigatory stop, and what citizens should do if stopped by police. The Board discussed the difference between the two types of stops and the need to collect data on both. Dr. Rhodes-Reed explained that the consultant expressed concern about the intensive data collection that would be required to do this. Members asked whether other communities collected data on both types of stops. She said that shebad obtained information from Philadelphia which she would provide to interested members for review. Rev. Hall pointed out that issues related to racial profiling will likely be ongoing. He said he felt that simply talking to officers about this issue wasn't likely to be effective. Chairperson Novak added that data wpuld be helpful in deterring disparate treatment based�on race. The Board agreed that stops that may not generate paperwork may well be those that people are most concerned about. A recent article in the Lansing State Journal dealt with a review of data concerning traffic stops in East Lansing. The study concluded that it was not possible to discern what the data meant. Dr. Rhodes-Reed expressed concern that the Lansing study might yield similar results. She commended Chief Alley for taping a valiant step in addressing this important issue. Actual data collection for this project began on Monday, February 12. Human Relations and Community Services Department Advisory Board Meeting Minutes of February 13, 2001 Page 3 The City Council Public Hearing for the Human Services Ordinance,which would codify funding for human services as 1.25 percent of the General Fund, was held on January 8. She asked for the support of the Board in getting the ordinance passed. She clarified that it is not an increase in funding, She is scheduled to meet with the Committee of the Whole on March-8 to discuss department functions and the ordinance. She said that Council is meeting with departments this year to discuss functions and questions as a precursor to the Budget Hearings which will follow. The Board will be kept appraised of progress. Rep. Paul DeWeese and Rep. Murphy met with homeless agencies in December to discuss their concerns and possible strategies to address problem areas. They wanted to host a luncheon to further discuss these issues. A date of March 23 has now been selected for that meeting which will be held at the Salvation Army. Dr. Rhodes-Reed said that she has been unable to identify data which supports claims about increases in homelessness in our community. The data-obtained actually suggests the contrary. Given the failure to verify claims about increases,she said it seemed more politically astute to focus on the complex needs of homeless individuals when advocating for increased funding or services. Ms. Martinez, who is on the Community Kitchen Board ofDireriors, said that she has noticed a decrease in the numbers from past years. Dr. Rhodes-Reed said that Board members would be provided with a copy of the FY 2001 Emergency Shelter Grant application which-theAepartment prrparPd for submission lo MSHDA. This application provides a good summary of the involvement of the department in insuring adequate services for homeless individuals. The department has hired Doak Bloss to prepare the HUD application this year. Only one agency—Volunteers of America—responded to the RFP issued by the department for day shelter for homeless individuals. Rev. Hall invited HRCS to discuss the needs of homeless individuals in our community with membersnfhis church. They meet on the first Saturday of each month from 10 to 12. Dr. Rhodes-Reed said that she or Melanie Winnicker would attend. The Living Wage issue is on the table again. The revised draft of the ordinance has been provided to the legal department for review. The South Side Youth Coalition plans to implement a program for older teens which will include a job training component at the Harry Hill Career Center. Structured recreational activities are also being planned for 15 and 16 year old youth at the Boys' and Girls' Club. Rev.Hall asked Dr. Rhodes-Reed if she was familiar with LEDGE,a new job training program. He said they were doing some good things and fulfilling a community need. Minorities have been shown to have difficulty passing apprenticeship tests and this program is designed to help them to prepare. Dr. Rhodes-Reed said LEDGE had contacted the department about funding for their job Human Relations and Community Services Department Advisory Board Meeting Minutes of February 13, 2001 Page 4 training program and Black Technology Day. She said that given the several new programs aimed at providing life skills and job training to youth, program outcomes and costs might be improved by coordinating efforts. COMMUNICATIONS The Board acknowledged receipt of the Board of Police Commissioners' schedule of meetings and minutes. DRAFT RULES OF PROCEDURE Mr. Egan initiated discussion on changes of the draft Rules of Procedure. He pointed out that the new committee structure was designed to facilitate the work of-the Board. The number of committees was reduced from four to two. He suggested that Standing Committees meet an hour prior to the meeting of the full Board. These committees would then be able to submit a full report to the Board. He suggested that each committee review relevant ordinance and charter sections to clarify mandated responsibilities at their initial meeting. Rev.Hall pointed out that the first Thursday appeared to be a difficult day for the Board to meet. He suggested changing the meeting day. Discussion followed. Due to the fact that two seats would be up for reappointment in June,it was decided to table this discussion until then. ifovmver,if-more convenient,it was decided to reschedule March,April and May meetings. Members noted that they had been provided an annual schedule at the beginning of each year and expressed frustration about having to rearrange their schedule in order to have a quorum after time had already been set aside. Suggested corrections of the-Board Rules of Procedure included: Omit the-sentence-on meetings (section 6B).There were questions about what"petitions"were and whether theseshould continue to be included on the agenda. The agenda should be user friendly. Because the public will be able to ask questions during the Public Comment section of the meeting, it was decided to eliminate "petitions." The issue of requiring all members to. sign all reports issued by the Board was discussed. Given that reports would require Board approval, it was decided that it would not be necessary to obtain signatures. The issue of majority/minority opinions was discussed. All Board members may sign correspondence, if desired. It was recommended that the words, Standing Committee, be reinserted for greater clarity. There is no longer a Budget Committee. The City Charter, however, requires the Board to provide verification (reference in meeting minutes or a letter) indicating that they had been provided information about the department's budget. It was moved and seconded that the Board Rules of Procedure be adopted as amended. DRAFT TAX ABATEMENT POLICY Chairperson Novak distributed a survey which he designed to assess the work force composition of companies receiving tax abatements. He suggested that this information be compiled and disseminated to City Council each year. Two modifications of the survey were suggested: (1) change the format to `fill-in-the-blanks' so that it can be easily completed; and, (2)add a question that inquires abort pending or settled lawsuits concerning discrimination. Human Relations and Community Services Department Advisory Board Meeting Minutes of February 13, 2001 Page 5 The HRCS department would be asked to distribute the survey each year. Draft of the survey was referred to the Policy Committee. Ms. Martinez and Rev. Hall volunteered to work on this committee. Dr.Rhodes-Reed agreed to e-mail the Workforce Utilization Report which is currently being used to collect data on work force composition at the time that the tax abatement-is requested. The Policy Committee agreed to bring their recommendations to the March Board meeting. PETITIONS - None NEW BUSINESS Board members discussed the need to collect information on all types of traffic stops, including those identified as investigatory. Dr. Rhodes-Reed pointed out that the Board of Police Commissioners has already begun data collection, so it was unlikely that changes would be made at this time. Members agreed,however,that this concern should be expressed to the Board of Police Commissioners. Chairperson Novak volunteered to draft a letter for the March meeting of the Board. It was suggested that he phone�Chaiirperson Frederick Prior to sending the letter. Dr.Rhodes-Reed indicated that the FY 2002 budget is a continuation budget. The major difference would be the inclusion of the full-time salary for the department deputy director position which Council approved at the last Budget Hearing. Rhesaid that because of the slow growth rate,all City departments would berequired to provide suggestionsabouthowtheir budgets could be reduced to identified target levels. HRCS will be required to cut the proposed budget by $26,800. She said a portion of this would come from the salary account by hiring new staff at entry levels. A significant portion would also be taken from the department's Miscellaneous Operating Account with the Overtime Account being cut from $4,000 to $2,000. She expressed concern about how the Community and PoliceAelations Conference,which-she has proposed be held later this year,would be funded. The last conference, jointly funded by HRCS and LPD, cost $11,000. Chairperson Novak suggested that expenditures be identified which were specific to three program areas. Supplementary appropriations for these programs might be more easily obtained later_ Dr.Rhodes- Reed requested that the Board provide a letter as soon as possible to be included with budget materials which will subsequently submitted to Council. It was decided that the Program Committee would draft the budget letter. Dr. Rhodes-Reed agreed to provide general budget information to Mr. Egan and Mr. Copiaco who volunteered to serve on the Program Committee. PUBLIC COMMENT-None NEXT MEETING The date of the next meeting is Thursday, March 1, at 7:00 p.m. The Policy Committee will meet prior to the meeting of the full Board. ADJOURNMENT