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10/03/2000COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD CITY OF CLEARWATER October 3, 2000 Present: Robert Reece Chair Johnny Long Vice Chair Wayne Meissner Board Member Thomas Fry Board Member Isay Gulley Board Member E. J. Robinson Board Member Paul Hartigan Board Member 6 Vacant Seats Also Present: Eleanor Breland Human Relations Director Kathy Baird Staff Assistant III To provide continuity for research, items are listed in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. ITEM 1 – Call to Order The Chair called the meeting to order at 5:45 p.m. at City Hall. ITEM 2 – Roll Call and Approval of Minutes from 8-31-99 Meeting Members introduced themselves. Member Fry moved to approve the minutes of the August 31, 1999 meeting, as submitted in written summation to each Board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM 3 – Future Role of Community Relations Board Review Current Ordinances. Members reviewed the current Community Relations Board Ordinance. Ms. Breland briefly reviewed the history and purpose of the present ordinance with the Board. She stated that the Board was composed of 13 members drawn from a number of occupational fields in order to comply with various requirements pertaining to the processing of federal housing and employment discrimination cases. The City no longer participates in these programs; these functions are now carried out by the Pinellas County Office of Human Rights. Chairman Reece suggested that staff obtain a copy of the draft ordinance with proposed revisions that was under consideration in the spring and summer of 1999. He thought that this might be helpful in considering revisions in the current situation. Responsibilities of Board. Board Chair Reece asked Ms. Breland what function the Board might perform which is not a duplication of functions carried out by other boards. He further asked if the Board is really needed. Board Member Gulley asked Ms. Breland if she felt that there is a need for the Board. Board Member Fry asked Ms. Breland what the City Commission’s opinion about the role and necessity of the board is. Ms. Breland responded by discussing the past role of the Board. Beginning in the late 1960’s, prior to the inception of the contracts with federal agencies to investigate discrimination charges, the Community Relations Board worked to reduce friction and increase communication and understanding amongst Clearwater citizens. She gave the example of the Board working to reduce the risk of a violent confrontation between the Ku Klux Klan and citizens in the Black community by getting the agreement of the citizens that the Klan would not continue to attempt to create disturbances in their community if they were not given attention. Board Member Long stated that he thought the discussion should be centered around Board member input because he feels that staff often has too much influence on citizen boards and that the resultant lack of citizen input causes problems. He stated that the riots in St. Petersburg of a few years ago did not come out of nowhere. Citizens knew there were problems, but had no avenue for addressing them with City officials. Board Chair Reece stated that it seems like it would be a good idea to have a board in place in case situations similar to those referenced above were to arise in Clearwater. Member Long related a story about a recent situation he was involved in in which he felt that the police were too slow in responding to his call. Both the situation and the police response made him feel that he was encountering these problems because of his race and because he is a disabled individual. He stated that it seems that people need an outlet for these types of concerns. (Member Hartigan suggested that Mr. Long contact the Pinellas County Office of Human Rights about the incident.) Member Meissner asked the Board to consider what it might do in response to citizen concerns if it were constituted to listen to them. In response to this Member Gulley asked Ms. Breland what the current powers of the Board are. Ms. Breland referred the Board to the introductory language in Section 2.124. Members Gulley and Fry put forth the idea that the Board might serve to listen to citizen complaints so that they would be in a position to identify issues which are of broad concern. Ms. Breland asked the board if they would like to work in the ways which had been discussed during the evening, such as holding seminars and forums, facilitating communication between the Black and Hispanic communities and City Hall, etc. Member Robinson stated that he had been employed with the City back when the first Community Relations Board was empanelled and that it seemed to him like the boards had more authority in those days. He said that he thought that there should be a link between citizens and City Hall, but there is no point operating in a vacuum. Member Meissner asked what community relations boards do in other localities. Ms. Breland stated that staff would gather information regarding the roles of boards in other communities for the next meeting. Member Gulley moved to table the discussion for the time being so that Board members could give thought to the matters discussed and to convene another meeting within 90 days so that members could discuss their thoughts and consider the information which staff was asked to gather. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Composition of Board. Chairman Reece suggested that a follow-up meeting is needed to re-review the ordinance and proposed amendments and to decide on matters related to the composition of the Board. ITEM 4 – New Business No new business was discussed. ITEM 5 – Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.