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Home My WebLink About2021-10-05 Bd Comm minutesItem Number: 4.a. October 5, 2021 AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Civil S ervice Commission: September 21 Item Number: 4.b. October 5, 2021 AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Climate A ction Commission: J uly 12 Item Number: 4.c. October 5, 2021 AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Community P olice Review Board: A ugust 2 Item Number: 4.d. October 5, 2021 AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Community P olice Review Board: A ugust 30 Item Number: 4.e. October 5, 2021 AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Housing & Community Development Commission: A ugust 19 Item Number: 4.f. October 5, 2021 AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Human Rights Commission: A ugust 24 1r :.® CITY OF IOWA CITY ,-.Z.;"‘' MEMORANDUM Date: October 1, 2021 To: Mayor and City Council From: Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator Re: Recommendation from Human Rights Commission LULL✓ 11C4IIUVu1.3 L101,11I ,iaa I® — '-l-- - ZI (Date) At their August 24, 2021 meeting the Human Rights Commission made the following recommendation to the City Council: The Iowa City Human Rights Commission recognizes the hardships to Iowa City residents caused by the COVID pandemic. Some of the most impacted have been ineligible or otherwise unable to access federal benefits, relief programs and stimulus payments available to others. We would urge the Iowa City Council to consider allocating American Rescue Act funds as direct payments and other assistance to these residents, such as the $8M pilot program promoted by the Excluded Worker Fund coalition, in conjunction with Johnson County. Additional action (check one) No further action needed X Board or Commission is requesting Council direction Agenda item will be prepared by staff for Council action S:RECform.doc Approved Minutes Human Rights Commission August 24, 2021 Emma J. Harvat Hall Commissioners present: Mark Pries, Siri Bruhn, Jessica Andino, Jason Glass, Bijou Maliabo, Roger Lusala, Tony Sivanthaphanith. Commissioners not present: Adil Adams, Ashley Lindley. Staff present: Stefanie Bowers, Daisy Torres. Others present who spoke: Jason Genck, Danielle Wilson, Juan Manuel Galvez Ibarra, Dr. Kathy Lee-Son, Ninoska Campos, Jacquelin (last name unknown), Rosa Brito Pastor, Emily Sinnwell, David Goodner, Barb Stanerson, Ann Houlahan. Recommendation to City Council: Yes, the Iowa City Human Rights Commission recognizes the hardships to Iowa City residents caused by the COVID pandemic. Some of the most impacted have been ineligible or otherwise unable to access federal benefits, relief programs and stimulus payments available to others. We would urge the Iowa City Council to consider allocating American Rescue Act funds as direct payments and other assistance to these residents, such as the $8M pilot program promoted by the Excluded Worker Fund coalition, in conjunction with Johnson County. Further, given the urgency of the situation many of these residents are in, we would support the City Council directing some portion of the funds to this cause immediately while input is gathered and considered on the use of the funds in total. This would not prohibit further use of the funds for the same purposes once all other options are considered. Motion passed 5-0. (Lusala and Bruhn were not present for the vote). Meeting called to order: 5:31 PM. Land Acknowledgement: Andino read the land acknowledgement. Approval of the minutes from the July 27, 2021 meeting: Pries moved; the motion was seconded by Lusala. Motion passed 6-0. (Maliabo not present for the vote). Public comment of items not on the agenda: None. Iowa City Comprehensive Recreation Facilities and Program Master Plan: Jason Genck and Danielle Wilson, Consultants with Berry Dunn had a conversation with the Commission on how to successfully engage the community specifically as it relates to recreational facilities. To date, Genck and Daniel have spoken with City staff in Human Rights, Police Outreach, and Neighborhood and Development Services. Their preliminary plan is to get out and engage with the community on the master plan. Suggestions from Commissioners included reaching out to: local non-profits, service providers for persons who are homeless, youth service organizations, South District Neighborhood Association, and the Great Plains Action Society. Staff will follow-up this conversation by forwarding Genck’s contact information out to Commissioners. American Rescue Plan & The Excluded Workers Fund: Representatives from the Excluded Worker’s Fund asked the Commission to recommend to the Johnson County Board of Supervisors and the Iowa City Council to immediately create an $8 million pilot project now, with no restrictions, in order to meet needs of excluded workers. An $8 million Excluded Workers Fund pilot program would deliver $3,200 in stimulus to the 2,500 most vulnerable and excluded workers. The city and the county should split the cost of the pilot fund 50/50, $4 million each, and work with the Excluded Worker’s Coalition to iron out the other details. Comments made under this agenda item from supporters of the Excluded Workers Fund included: • Excluded workers and their families cannot continue to wait for the money. • The withholding of these funds is a human rights issue. • The funds are the needed foundation of equity for all residents who need assistance and help. • The funds should be distributed to those most invisible. • Many of the excluded workers do not qualify for unemployment or medical benefits/insurance. • Latinos experienced the worst parts of the pandemic. • During this pandemic excluded workers either lost their jobs, had their hours cut, and/or both extremes. • Excluded workers cannot wait for the comprehensive plan but need the financial support immediately. Glass moved to recommend to the City Council a prepared statement he wrote, Pries seconded. After discussion, it was decided to add the 8-million-dollar request to the recommendation. Motion passed 5-0. (Lusala and Bruhn not present for the vote). HRC Subcommittees: Housing: No update. Anti-Racism: No report. Health Equity: the group is working on getting college student support for some of its initiatives. Commission Statement in Support of Black Lives Matter: Commissioners were encouraged to review the City’s Preliminary Plan to Restructure the Police Department that was sent out by staff back in July. Social Justice and Racial Equity Grants: There is still one organization that has not submitted their final report for the fiscal year 2020. National Hispanic American Heritage Month Proclamation: Andino will accept the proclamation at the September 7, 2021 City Council meeting. Human Rights Awards: The awards will be presented on Wednesday, October 27 at 7:30AM at City Hall. Nominations are being solicited through September 30. There will be no breakfast this year due to the ongoing pandemic. Reports of Commissioners: Maliabo is enjoying her work at a local funeral home. Andino has been selected as a board member of the Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County and has her first meeting this Friday, August 20. Staff Reports: Torres provided an update on the success of the B.U.L.B. (Building Unity Linking Businesses for Safety) program event. It was held at Riverfront Crossings and over 25 vouchers were distributed on August 10th. Bowers encouraged Commissioners to participate in several upcoming events including Part 2 of the School to Prison Pipeline (Sept. 8) and the in-person discussion with Civil Rights Activist Joan Trumpauer Mulholland and her Filmmaker son Loki on her life and times as a Freedom Rider. Adjourned: 7:41 PM. (To view this meeting video please visit https://www.icgov.org/city-government/boards/human-rights- commission.) Human Rights Commission ATTENDANCE RECORD YEAR 2021 (Meeting Date) NAME TERM EXP. 1/26 2/23 3/23 4/27 5/25 6/22 7/27 8/24 9/28 10/26 11/23 12/28 Adil Adams 2021 X X E X X X E E Jessica Andino 2021 X X X X X X X X Siri Bruhn 2021 - - - - - - - X Jason Glass 2022 X X X X X O/E X X Ashley Lindley 2021 X X X X X X X E Roger Lusala 2023 X X E X X X X X Bijou Maliabo 2023 X X X X X X X X Mark Pries 2022 X X X X X O/E X X Tony Sivanthaphanith 2023 - - - X X X X X KEY: X = Present O = Absent O/E = Absent/Excused NM = No meeting --- = Not a Member Item Number: 4.g. October 5, 2021 AT TAC HM E NT S : Description L ibrary B oard of Trustees: August 26 Item Number: 4.h. October 5, 2021 AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Planning & Z oning Commission: August 19 Item Number: 4.i. October 5, 2021 AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Planning & Z oning Commission: S eptember 2 Item Number: 4.j. October 5, 2021 AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Public A rt Advisory Committee: August 5