HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-03-2018 HRC Minutes
Minutes
Human Relations Commission
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
Regular Meeting of the Human Relations Commission
CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Human Relations Commission was called to order on
Wednesday, October 3 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, located at 990 Palm Street, San Luis
Obispo, California, by Chair Welts.
ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioners Robert Clayton, Bill Crewe, Michael Hopkins, Emily
Rosten, Vice-Chair Carol Sexton (arrived at 5:12 p.m.), and Chair Nancy
Welts
Absent: Commissioner Barrie DuBois
Staff: Cara Vereschagin, Assistant Planner; Xzandrea Fowler, Deputy Director
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES
1. ACTION: MOTION BY CHAIR WELTS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HOPKINS
CARRIED 5-0-2 (COMMISSIONER DUBOIS AND SEXTON ABSENT) to approve the
minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Human Relations Commission of September 5, 2018.
----Chair Welts modified the meeting agenda to begin with Commissioner Updates----
COMMISSIONER UPDATES
Commissioner Clayton announced his resignation from the Human Relations Commission.
He expressed his gratitude for the Commission and acknowledged the extraordinary work
that the HRC has been doing in the past few years. He then excused himself from the rest
of the meeting and left the Council Chamber room.
Chair Welts announced that Election Day is November 6, 2018.
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Human Relations Commission Meeting of October 3, 2018
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PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. Community Needs Workshop
Assistant Planner Vereschagin presented an overview of the Community Development Block
Grant and Grants-in-Aid processes and timelines, which highlighted key dates for the
applicants. She also explained that the Workshop is intended to gather information from the
public, regarding health and human service needs in order to develop funding priorities for the
2019-20 grant cycle.
Chair Welts then opened the public hearing.
Public Comments:
Karen Borges, Stand Strong
Michael Kaplan, Transitions Mental Hea lth Association
Rigo Guzman, People’s Self Help Housing
Anne Wyatt, HomeShareSLO
Chair Welts closed the public hearing.
Chair Welts also acknowledged the two responses from the Open City Hall Forum from Leslie
Orradre representing Jack’s Helping Hand and Juliane McAdam representing Senior Nutrition
Program/Meals That Connect; as well as the written correspondence from Emma Wedell from
Queer Community Action, Research, Education, & Support (QCARES) regarding their online
research survey to better understand the specific mental health needs, experiences, and barriers
to accessing affirming care facing the LGBTQ+ community.
No action was taken on this item.
3. Establish 2019 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and 2019-2020
Grants-in-Aid (GIA) Funding Priorities
Chair Welts then opened the public hearing.
Public Comments:
None.
Chair Welts closed the public hearing.
After hearing the public testimony, the Commission agreed that they loved the creative spark
of the community and that their mission to address all the needs was far from completion. The
public testimony also solidified that their work has been heading in a positive direction. The
Commission also expressed a desire to provide input on City policies related to housing and
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Human Relations Commission Meeting of October 3, 2018
Page 3
provided direction to staff to include the HRC in those discussions. Assistant Planner
Vereschagin announced that the HRC’s input on policies would probably be best coupled with
the upcoming update of the City’s Housing Element of the General Plan.
ACTION: MOTION BY CHAIR WELTS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CREWE
CARRIED 6-0-1 (COMMISSIONER DUBOIS ABSENT) to approve the recommendation of
the funding priorities for the 2019 CDBG and 2019-20 GIA grant cycles to remain unchanged
from what was previously adopted, described as the following:
Grants in Aid (GIA) 2019-20 Funding Priorities
Main Priority:
• Homeless prevention including affordable and alternative housing, supportive
services, and transitional housing
Other Priorities:
• Hunger and malnutrition support
• Supportive physical and mental health services for those in need
• Services for seniors and/ or people with disabilities in need
• Supportive and developmental services for children and youth in need
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 2019 Funding Priorities
1. Provide emergency and transitional shelter, homelessness prevention and
services.
2. Develop and enhance affordable hous ing for low and very-low income
persons.
3. Promote accessibility and/or removal of architectural barriers for the disabled
and elderly.
4. Enhance economic development (including seismic retrofit, economic stability,
low and moderate income jobs).
STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
4. Agenda Forecast
a. 2017-19 Major City Goals
Assistant Planner Vereschagin explained that the HRC will discuss and set goals pursuant to
the new 2019-21 Financial Plan at the next meeting. She encouraged the Commission to
review the current 2017-19 Major City Goals and Objectives, provided in the Agenda Packet.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Welts adjourned the meeting at 5:45 p.m. The next Regular meeting of the Human Relations
Commission is scheduled for Wednesday, November 7, at 5:00 p.m., in the Council Hearing
Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California
APPROVED BY THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION: 11/07/2018