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12/17/1996 (2) .,. t ' ~ ~ . " .: "", ... . '1>"..~.' . ' ., ~" > ' ' .' .: :; I I' \' ..'.. '., ~ , ' ~' 0" . , .. . . . .:. ~ .' , , . '" ' . . . . . , . . .' "> " ., , .. . . . . , . '. .' '. ' . , ': '0.., " ' . .:! . ~ . I " " . " ',. .,' ~ " .. .' , , '.' ., , c. .' ,. ~ . .. : '. , . o,,;;,o'.\llIr: .,~. .~ ":.'I~.........,. ,. T , ._<~,. ~'i.f,.~t,:~~.;.:..,,:.~,1t.t!'.I~H."'? .~':,>"'.l~'I,:\:-:"':~::.:r~,';.~'.~ :..~;.' .'~ \..;'.:.' :.)c. . ~ :" '., ..... '. ~" I . c' l CRB . Community Relations Board Minutes. Date' ',' '~~Jaev t1' ) \ gq Co " .~-_. , ' " I' .I t i .J~00,; .~~........... .......... , . t', I . 1 I.' 'l". " . I' . 'l>' L' ,-:. '.'.,. ,.....'..... ....,.....,. ""'.',',.. . .' ..' . . ',' , : .' .,:-, " . ~..,.. . ~. . .' .' . . , ...', ' . '., . I. . ',,-.1 . , . .:.1 ~ .: .J 'J .' " .. :,';}i:A;:~,j;:;::!M{' .:';:.: '." :'.' ..... r~ COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD CITY OF CLEARWATER December 1 7, 1996 Present: Herbert Freitag Gabriel Cazares James Murray, Jr. Thomas Fry Johnny Long Susan Diner' Vacant Seat Eleanor Breland Sally Ruby Leslie Dougall-Sides Brenda Moses Absent: Wayne Meissner Jill Perrino Milton Rooks Jonathan Wade Jeffrey Jones Naomi Williams Chair Member Member Member Member Member Human Relations Director Human Relations Manager Assistant City Attorney Board Reporter Member Member Member Member Member Member The meeting was called to order at 5:40 p.m. in the third floor conference room at City Hall, Clearwater, Florida. In order to provide continuity for research, the items will be listed in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. Due to the absence of a quorum, no action was taken, and general discussion ensued. o 1. Call to Order A. Roll Call Sally Ruby, Human Relations Manager, called the roUt It was noted that Member Kay Vega submitted a letter of resignation. She is relocating to lake County and expressed thanks for the opportunity to serve with the members of this Board. B. Introduction of New Member Chair Freitag introduced and welcomed Mr. Johnny Long as a new member. Mr. Long gave a brief overview of his background and expressed his interest in working with this Board. 2. Approval of Minutes - September 17. 1996 0,.;.'. . . Due to the absence of a quorum, no action was taken. mCRB12.96 1 12/17/96 , . , ,. '. .',' ; '. '.'" . . .'", . ". \ t '.' . .. ,.., ....-... ".:.':' .....' ....'....:.......',:...'..'.,..,..,':....'.,' . . ..' .,', ,'.> .. .... . '.' .' '.-. ].,....~~.. " ,".,'" . ~". .:: .,' '..'., , . .",:' .' ..,~. .,' ' ".., ,"1\, . '~J..a.....I,' ...,.}~,~ , :., ',.,~..\ ,I. ,. . .,..,;' ';,",..',.,.; ,.,'.."..: '., ,'+. '~.::'~ .:.....l"....~:w'.;'.l~\.:.'...;'..'":..' :.,...:.'.,.....'.:",:.,,\. .~.~.:'.' :.....: ".:.:."':".~'::..,.:',.','.'.r, \I~.: ...;..'::...'..,.~"':-,"..: :.l~,.','\.'.t, l, ,oJo (~ 3. Old Business A. Turman v. Giss - Institution of Litigation Assistant Attorney, Leslie Dougall~Sidest updated the Board on Turman v. Giss, a fair housing matter which falls under the City code. This case involves a refusal to rent housing based upon race. Ms. Turman was present. This Board has previously reviewed the determination for reasonable cause and given their consensus to proceed with the administrative proceeding. The City Attorney's office forwarded the matter to the Oivision of Administrative Hearings in Tallahassee, which assigns hearing officers to administrative cases. The case was scheduled to be heard December 23, 1996, but has been abated until January of 1997. Ms. Turman has indicated she is interested in proceeding in court in a litigation forum as opposed to an administrative forum. The City Attorney spoke with the City Commission at their last meeting asking for their approval to file litigation in federal court to pursue this case in litigation. Under the City charter, whenever the City Attorney's office is to institute litigation as the plaintiff, City Commission approval is required. The City obtained approval at the December 1996 meeting. A question was asked if the owner of the property was still unwilling to make any concessions, and Ms. Dougall-Sides confirmed no concessions have been made. Conciliation attempts have been made to no avail. Although there was no quorum at this meeting, a consensus from the Board members in attendance was to proceed with the court action. I:) B. Social Services Grants Ms. Ruby distributed a City of Clearwater Social Services Program funding table. The table was given to this Board as a courtesy for discussion regarding social service programs. This year $100,000 was granted to various agencies throughout the County. It was noted the Social Services Grants Advisory Task Force reviewed each request and awarded the grants according to a point system and other considerations. The Task Force makes every effort to allocate funds appropriately, especially to those groups that did not have other sources of funding. It was noted in January or February of 1997 the City Commission plans to review whether they will be continuing this process. Members of this Board would welcome the opportunity to share ideas with the Commission regarding social services grants. It was noted the grant process has changed over the years. Funds are now awarded based on recommendations of the Social Services Grants Advisory Board. The Icope Study done 5 years ago determined the social needs in the PineJlas County area. Child care, food and shelter were determined to be the three key needs. At one time, grants were awarded to those who requested them. This function was at one time the responsibility of the Finance Department. A process was started for competition of funds and to open up the process. A rating sheet was implemented. Final decisions are usually made at budget time. o mCRB12.96 2 12/17/96 '. ~ ' "<':_: .";'. , '-:. ',,~" ",".'. '.', ~ ,< "'t' .,.,-:. ,;""',,~~'<"'. '..",'.,'":; ,~.;, ""'~"~',..,:. ..,....': ;'\,"'..' ""', '.' \ . . . ".' " ' \'" .-. ., ....... '., \ ~'. '. . . .' . . . . ". . ' ., ,.~ I 'I'~":-"'-. ;.' ":~ L. :'",-,. ". ". 'I, . " ~. ... ....~.. . . ~'l'. , . "~~~-h-~tt',"" .~ . r "".",.. . . ~.. . . ,I, I~ 4. New Business A. Schedule of 1 997 Board Meetings Members received a packet in the mail of proposed Board meetings. Due to remodeling of City Hall, discussion ensued regarding canceling the January 28, 1997 meeting. No final decision was made. A suggestion was made to ask Chief Sid Klein if this Board could meet with him at his facility on January 28, 1997, since plans were to invite him to a Board meeting to speak about what he perceives are some of the difficulties in St. Petersburg, and what is happening in Clearwater to avoid those types of difficulties.. B. Chairman's Report A comment was made that Clearwater has traditionally avoided some of the problems that St. Petersburg and a lot of communities have experienced because the various segments of the population and the City tend to work together to maintain a strong foundation. C. Member's Reports on Community Involvement This topic was put on hold. ..:; D. Staff Report Ms. Ruby noted the mediation program is working beautifully. Mediators certified by the courts have volunteered to mediate discrimination cases. Notification is sent to both parties, and if they concur, a court certified mediator mediates the case at no charge. One staff member attends to ensure proper paperwork and signatures are obtained. It was noted the Justice Oepartment has assigned all 88 cases in the area to mediation, which has taken a huge caseload off the attorneys. Board members are welcome to attend a mediation case. Please contact Ms. Ruby for further details. 5. Other Business Chair Freitag shared a letter of resignation from Kay Vega. She has changed employment and is relocating to another county. The letter will be forwarded to the City Clerk's office. Member Gabe Cazares distributed a handout on common myths about immigrants. He noted issues such as immigration, the California Civil Rights Initiative, welfare and many other issues have been put on the back burner. The ACLU is taking these civil rights matters to court. o Chair Freitag will send a notice to all members regarding their attendance at meetings. He will ask whether members feel changing the day and time of meetings is necessary. mCRB12.96 3 12/17/96 t :. . : c',. ',', ",'\'!~' '~~'/;l.<~'''~i:;r;~~'.",i'l:4'':~:/'':J''':../;'''~::{~'.':'>:I;.~~;'~~:~'.'.';' :;'~~':'.., ,.:..~~... c'>.'.">:, . , ' "",!"" ""Ii ,,' ," '(I "'f~i,N'lf! ,il",l,.,'"o"""?,'\lt.l~.,,, ,J" "',il.,,",."" ' .', '.,'," " , ' ::Ji:/>,: ~'.;''''~,>,,,:;~!- ::,~'.::,,: '':'/:!~::~'~ ;~~'}J',~~~~t.r.m;?i~r~::/!{~;'r: :~.:,;;:\~:,~ ,\,> <~';;:,::~::, ,;;.':{':~,; ",'., :"',:'..' , , " .. . . & . I') , The next meeting of the Community Relations Board is scheduled for January 28, 1997 at 5:30 p.m. at the new Police Headquarters Building, Clearwater, Florida. The room number will be announced when known. ' ha r Community Relations Board \. Attest: ~/C~ Board Reporter (~ \, "'I " c( o '.' ,. mCRB12.96 4 12/17/96 ....~~~~ ~f.~~:. ,~;~t!.,~.~..t\C~~~:,~t~~\'1~~j~j. ~;;~;~~:~j}r~~~~<;~t~l~~j~~j~t'I\I.~;. i. i.< > ~ : ~'::~:\~if~ t .'\ :,.'