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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-24-2017 HRC Minutes Minutes Human Relations Commission Tuesday, January 24, 2017 Special Meeting of the Human Relations Commission CALL TO ORDER A Special Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Human Relations Commission was called to order on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, located at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, by Vice Chair Clayton. ROLL CALL Present: Vice Chair Robert Clayton, Commissioners Paul Orton, Julia Jones, Carol Sexton, Nancy Welts Absent: Chair Michelle Tasseff, Commissioner Gene Strohl Staff Present: Katie Lichtig, City Manager; Michael Codron, Community Development Director; Christine Dietrick, City Attorney; Jenny Wiseman , Acting Housing Programs Manager; Steven Orozco, Planning Technician. PUBLIC HEARING 1. FREE EXPRESSION WORKSHOP Community Development Director Michael Codron gave a brief introduction about the purpose of the free expression workshop. He provided Cal Poly`s role at the workshop and how they would like to reach out to students and members of the community about issues that may come up and affect the community regarding the guest speaker at Cal Poly. Kathleen McMahon Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Dawn Theodora Office of General Counsel for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo both gave a presentation on the topic of free expression and the first amendment. PUBLIC COMMENT Vice Chair Clayton opened the public comment for the public hearing. Linda Manson, is a resident of San Luis Obispo and professor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Miss Manson is concerned about the speaker coming to Cal Poly. City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle Human Relations Commission Minutes of January 24, 2017 Page 2 Haley Pin, is a resident of Atascadero and is concerned about hate speech being welcomed at Cal Poly. Miss Pin believes Cal Poly is not operating in the best interest of the students. Carol Como, is a resident of Los Osos and is a retired teacher with S an Luis Coastal Unified School District. Miss Como is horrified that the Cal Poly is allowing students to be subjected to Milo Yiannopoulos. Christine Miery, is a resident of Morro Bay and is concerned about the event and the protestors. Miss Miery is concerned about the City`s role in this event and does not agree that the City should provide assistance for this event. Ellen Sturts, is a resident of Los Osos and is a member of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance of the Central Coast. Miss Sturts believes Milo Yiannopoulos should not be invited to Cal Poly because his speech would be causing harm to students. There being no others desiring to speak on this item, the public comment was closed. COMMISSIONER AND STAFF COMMUNICATIONS Commissioner Carol Sexton does recommend Cal Poly`s approach to wait and see what Milo Yiannopoulos does and then they’ll intervene. Commissioner Julia Jones is concerned about harassment occurring during this event and agrees with Commissioner Sexton`s statement. Commissioner Welts is not advocating for this event but does agree that the Cal Poly has taken the steps necessary to set up this event. Commissioner Welts is concer ned on how the City of San Luis Obispo will handle a crowd spilling into the nearby neighborhoods. Police Chief Deanna Cantrell mentions that the Police Department has been preparing for the speaker event for over a month. They are prepared for a riot or crowd spilling over into the nearby neighborhoods near Cal poly. City Manager Katie Lichtig states that the City has been working with Cal Poly on this event to provide support for the community and members of Cal Poly. City Manager Lichtig also thanks Cal Poly for providing the City and the community with valuable information regarding the event. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Vice Chair Clayton adjourned the meeting at 6:20 pm. to the next regular meeting scheduled for Wednesday February 1, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.