11/29/1995
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Com~unity Relations Boar~ Minutes
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MEMBERS PRESENT
Paula Boulton
Gabriel Cazares
Herbert Freitag
Wayne Meissner
James Murray, Jr.
Kay Vega
CITY STAFF PRESENT
Eleanor Breland
Sally Ruby
Nicol~s Rivera-Ruiz
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COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD - CITY OF CLEARWATER
Minutes of Meeting - November 29, 1995
MEMBERS EXCUSED
Jeffrey Jones
Susan Diner
Gay McGill
Milton Rooks
CALL TO ORDER!
ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order at 5:45 p.m. by Herbert Freitag,
chairman, and roll was called. It was noted that there was an
absence of a quorum.
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APPROV AL OF
MINUTES
The minutes of the August 23, 1995, meeting were reviewed but
could not be approved due to a lack of quorum.
Nicolas Rivera-Ruiz, staff investigator, gave a history of the
Guadalupe festival in Mexico and related its importance to the
people of that country. He spoke to the members about the local
celebration of the festival at St. Cecelia's Church on December 10,
1995, and gave them an agenda of events, urging members to
attend. It was noted that St. Cecelia's Church will open a free
clinic particularly addressing the health needs of Spanish speaking
clients. Gabe Cazares joined Mr. Rivera~Ruiz in giving members
an update on the rapidly growing Mexican community in
Clearwater. Mr. Cazares spoke of an organization addressing the
needs of the Hispanic community which exists in Tampa and
indicated he would like to have a similar organization in place in
Clearwater. He urged the Community Relations office to fund a
needs assessment for the local Spanish speaking population and
suggested that Margarita Ramo from Farm Workers Self~Help in
Dade City would be an excellent person to conduct such a survey.
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Sally Ruby reported on the N.A.H.R.W. conference which was held
in Tampa in October. She said the staff received excellent
mediation training as part of the program. Additionally, Gabe
Cazares was honored by participants and she shared pictures of the
event. She attended the State Civil Rights Conference reporting that
the Florida Commission of Human Relations faces budget cuts
which would severely impact their effectiveness. Also, the state
director has moved to out-station several employees in communities
throughout Florida. Gabe Cazares urged members to make the
Pinellas Delegation aware of their concerns regarding reducing the
Commission's already inadequate budget.
,.)
Mr. Freitag again urged members to attend the Guadalupe festival
and to bring toys for the children to the Community Relations
office.
Mr. Freitag gave a report on R.C.S. where he serves as a Board
liaison. He said that their emergency housing facility is expected to
be completed by January 1996.
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A discussion about the proposed consolidation of Pinellas county
community relations offices ensued. It was noted that the St.
Petersburg office is quite backlogged while the Clearwater office
handles their cases in a timely and efficient manner in spite of the
lack of growth in terms of funds and investigators. The St.
Petersburg office is in favor of a consolidation. It was noted that
elsewhere federal and state governments are trying to pass duties
down to lower government entities. This consolidation would have
the opposite effect. Entities currently supervised by the county e.g.,
PSTA, etc., are experiencing difficulties and, as a result, there was
concern about the consolidation proposal. Members also spoke of
the fact that the County Sheriffs' Department, a large, well
established, entity recently assumed the functions of the Dunedin
Police Department. In the current county proposal, the opposite
would take place, with the county developing a new organization to
take over the functions of an established, successful, City entity.
Members agreed that this appeared not to be in the best interest of
citizens.
Ms. Breland discussed some of the points talked about in the
November 27th meeting regarding consolidation. If convenient
seryices are to be kept available for the citizens, there would
necessarily be an up-county and a down-county office. The up-
county office would probably be in Leon Russell's office. Of
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concern to both city governments is what will happen to staff-~
retirement~ vacation~ sick leave, who will have a job, and where
will they be located. All three government agencies have different
policies for their employees. If the employee elects to stay with
their city~ then that city would need time to find a position for them,
whether by transfer, demotion~ promotion, whatever.
Ms. Breland was queried as to who was in favor of the
consolidation. She was not sure about The Florida Commission on
Human Relations~ but Leon Russell is in favor of it. Initially ~ St.
Petersburg proposed this consolidation as a means to cut money
from their budget. The plan did not come from the county or the
City.
The query was made as to what would happen to the community
relations/civil rights function as opposed to complaint processing in
the City and in S1. Petersburg. Ms. Breland said the City of
Clearwater intends to continue providing the community relations~
Affirmative Action, and ADA functions, based on conversations
with the City Manager. But as far as St. Petersburg is concerned,
they work differently, not having the outreach function as part of the
office which would be absorbed by the county.
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, It was queried why exactly does the county want to take on this
combined function and if there would be a saving to the taxpayer.
Ms. Breland stated that instead of two different agencies there would
only be one. The cities will both save money-~however, the county
proposes retaining the $200~OOO they currently pay to the two
agencies.
Ms. Breland said the next meeting with the county would occur
within two weeks (December 18) when they will distribute a
proposed organizational chart. Mr. Freitag requested a copy of this
draft. Members concurred that he should then meet with Betty
Deptula to discuss the Board~s concerns and secure her opinion.
The final decision on the issue of consolidation would be made by
Betty Deptula who would present her recommendation to the City
Commission. After a lengthy discussion the Board members
suggested leaving the Clearwater Office of Human Relations intact
and letting the county take over the St. Petersburg office on a trial
basis. The Board felt that the Clearwater Office is doing an
excellent job for community and citizens whereas the county could
not function at the same level. Members felt the Clearwater office
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has made great strides in keeping abreast of problems in the,
community and solving them. The body felt that the proposed
consolidation would represent a move backward.
Ms. Breland said if this consolidation goes through, the City would
need to rescind parts of their ordinance relating to employment and
housing discrimination processing.
Eleanor Breland presented members with a report from the City's
1995 job program.
Jim Murray requested that the staff phone members in order to
determine a more satisfactory meeting time due to the fact that a
quorum was not present at this meeting.
Members wish to have a meeting in January 1996, to be updated on
any changes proposed for the Office of Community Relations. It
was agreed that staff would poll all members regarding a
satisfactory date and time to meet in mid-January.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:50
p.m.
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Attest:
~Lt /)(~!:/J-i~
, Acting Boar&1ieporter '
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