Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/14/1976 Business Meeting 328 JOINT CITY COUNCIL ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING - HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 14, 1976 The City Council met in session jointly with the Human Rela- tions Commission at its regular meeting on this date at the ' Southeast Community Center, Yakima, Washington, at 7:30 P.M. Council members present at the meeting were Mayor Betty L. Edmondson, Ralph Holbrook, Dr. Bill Simmons and Nadine Walker. Council members absent were Jean Allard, W. K. "Pete" Moore and Gordon Wonder. Human Relations Commission members present were Frank Frederick, Hope Gomez, Mary Gustafson, Mary Hersey, Naomi Shephard, Chair- man Jay Spearman and George Tamaki. Commission members absent were Delores Goodman and Mike Schwab. The meeting was called to order by Jay Spearman, Chairman, Human Relations Commission. He referred to the previous Commission minutes and stated that they had planned to discuss the Affirmative Action Goals and Timetables - 1976 Update, but because of holding the joint meeting with the City Council, they would leave that for a later meeting. He explained that the Joint Meeting is being held to discuss the response the Council has made to the Commission recommendations regarding the Human Relations Officer position, duties, etc. Mayor Betty Edmondson referred to the recommended October 1, dead- line for Council report on these recommendations and explained that the City Council had appointed a committee of three to meet re- garding this matter. The Committee members appointed were Ralph Holbrook, Chairman, Betty Edmondson and Nadine Walker. Councilman Ralph Holbrook referred to the report from the Committee copiesiof which have been distributed to the Commission on this date and reported on each Commission recommendation with the Council's responses. He explained that the Committee hasn't had ' the opportunity to take these back to the Council but feel that the responses are the consensus of the entire Council and indicated there may be some refinements. 1. Regarding the position of Human Relations Officer, the Committee recommends that the officer should be called Community Relations Officer and will be responsible to the City Council. 2. The Committee recommends that the Community Relations Officer should routinely audit the Affirmative Action Program to insure that the objectives are being carried out in compliance with the law and are consistent with Council policy. The Committee also feels that the Affirmative Action Program is the responsibility of management, the responsibility of the City Manager and each one of the department heads. They believe that"' the Community Relations Officer.should view auditing position and be the eyes and ears of the Council to see that this is done. 3. In making position responsible to the City Council, the Committee feels confident that a liaison will de- velop between the Commission and Council. Thus, appoint- ing an individual Council representative should be unnecessary. They feel the Mayor and City Council would be the Community Relations Officers boss. 4. The Commission's recommendations number four and five were grouped together under this item. With respect to the allocation of funds from Commission programs, the Committee suggests that the Commission submit for consideration a budget forecast of desired plans and programs with cost estimates. These requests will be evaluated among other City prograMs and budgeted accord- ingly. Also, that the need for clerical support should be reflected in this manner. 329 SEPTEMBER 14, 1976 Mr. Holbrook reported that the Committee had talked about the appointment of an interim officer, at the time, looking into some- one with the Community Development Department but were unable to come up with anyone. They anticipate the hiring of someone within the next six weeks or two months and during that time will designate someone with the Community Development Depart- ment to come to the meetings to explain expenditure of Community Development Funds and what the Community Development Department is doing regarding neighborhood meetings, etc. Acting City Manager Dick Zais stated that he will work with Director of Community Development, Fred Stouder, on this matter. There was discussion regarding the neighborhood meetings that have I been held in the past. The Human Relations Commission members 'were interested in getting information about future meetings. 1Councilman Simmons reviewed his ideas on the matter and stated that he hoped the Community Relations Officer is very public irelations oriented and can explained what is trying to be 'accomplished. Also that this person will be the Commission's :voice to the Council and that anytime the Commission wishes to come to the Council and request time for social and human 'concerns that they will do so. It was the consensus of the Council members that the Human Relations Commission can come lbefore the Council at any time they wish. The proposed job description as attached to the responses to the recommendations was discussed. Commission members asked if they are to be a part of the screening process in the hiring of this person and were assured by Council members that they ,are. Commission members asked if they have Affirmative Action ; problems between now and the time someone is hired, what do they do. Council members explained that the Affirmative Action Program was handled in the Personnel Office by Marilyn Farnham, Personnel Officer, before there was a Human Relations Officer and will be handled by that department in the interim as well as in the future with the Community Relations Officer monitoring land auditing it routinely as suggested previously. ;Council members indicated that they feel this meeting has been ,productive and that they are pleased with the Commission's re- action to the Council responses to the recommendations. Jay Spearman stated that the Commission feels that the Council has come up with very good responses to the recommendations and is also pleased with this joint meeting. He reported that there will be a workshop conducted on October 13, at 17:30 P.M. at the Cascade Natural Gas Company, with general !assistance from Portland State College, on the matter dealing with multi-ethnic cultures and communications and invited 'Council members to attend. There being no further business to come before this joint meeting, and the Human Relations Commission indicating that they will continue for a short meeting, it was MOVED Councilman Holbrook, seconded by Councilman Simmons that the Council's portion of the meeting be adjourned at the hour of 9:30 P.M.: carried, Edmondson, Holbrook, Simmons and W alker voting aye by voice vote. Allard, Moore and Wonder 'absent. 'READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY , •ATE 0 24....4.174 t COUNCILMAN ATTEST: • ‘Sd CITY CLFrK MAYOR