12/15/2000COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD
CITY OF CLEARWATER
December 15, 2000
Present: Robert Reece Chair
Johnny Long Vice Chair
Thomas Fry Board Member
Isay Gulley Board Member
E. J. Robinson Board Member
Paul Hartigan Board Member
6 Vacant Seats
Absent: Wayne Meissner Board Member
Also Present: Eleanor Breland Human Relations Director
Kathy Baird Staff Assistant III
Due to a lack of a quorum, no official business was transacted at the meeting. The members informally discussed the following items:
The discussion began at 5:45 p.m.
The first item discussed was the draft of the proposed amended Community Relations Ordinance from the summer of 1999. Members had reviewed a copy of this draft in their agenda
packages. Eleanor Breland stated that the proposed ordinance was drafted when it was anticipated that the Department would continue doing contract investigations for HUD and EEOC, therefore,
the ordinance still contained occupational designations for members, etc., as were required to comply with contracting requirements.
Mr. Reece and Mr. Fry put forward the idea that 5 – 9 members would be a sufficient number for such a board. Other members agreed and it was further stated that occupational categories
would not be needed. Ms. Gulley and Mr. Robinson mentioned that ideal members would be citizens who were well acquainted with community needs and concerns and with other citizens in
a leadership role. Paul Hartigan stated that it is very important that there be Hispanic representation on the Board. As to the number of meetings per year, members stated that it
would be best to defer that issue until it is decided exactly what the Board’s role would be.
The next item discussed was the survey conducted by the Human Relations Department of other Florida cities in relation to Community Relations Board activities. Synopses of these
surveys were included in the agenda packages for the members’ review. Kathy Baird briefly summarized the survey results. The majority of cities with community relations boards are
EEOC or HUD contract agencies and the boards review cases in the same way as Clearwater’s Board previously did. Two notable exception were Tallahassee and St. Petersburg. Tallahassee
is involved in many proactive community activities such as “Days of Dialogue” and study circles. Their board assists in the conceptualization and planning of these events. St. Petersburg,
in addition to a board which reviews cases, has a “Rapid Response Team” which helps advise the city and defuse situations such as riots, hostage incidents, etc.
Various potential Board activities were discussed: study circles, crisis intervention, a watch dog and complaint review function. Mr. Robinson stated that he would be open to whatever
the
direction the Board might see fit to take as long as the Board had the necessary authority to carry out these functions. To this Mr. Long added that the Board would also need the support
of the City Commission.
Members concurred that they would like to continue meeting from time to time until a carefully considered decision is made regarding the Board’s future role.
The discussion was concluded at 7:15 p.m.