HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-03-2025 HRC Agenda Packet
Human Relations Commission
AGENDA
Wednesday, December 3, 2025, 5:00 p.m.
Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo
The Human Relations Commission holds in-person meetings. Zoom participation will not be
supported. Attendees of City Council or Advisory Body meetings are eligible to receive one hour of
complimentary parking; restrictions apply, visit Parking for Public Meetings for more details.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT:
Public Comment prior to the meeting (must be received 3 hours in advance of the meeting):
Mail - Delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. Address letters to the City Clerk's Office at 990
Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, 93401.
Email - Submit Public Comments via email to advisorybodies@slocity.org. In the body of your
email, please include the date of the meeting and the item number (if applicable). Emails will not
be read aloud during the meeting.
Voicemail - Call (805) 781-7164 and leave a voicemail. Please state and spell your name, the
agenda item number you are calling about, and leave your comment. Verbal comments must be
limited to 3 minutes. Voicemails will not be played during the meeting.
*All correspondence will be archived and distributed to members, however, submissions received
after the deadline may not be processed until the following day.
Public Comment during the meeting:
Meetings are held in-person. To provide public comment during the meeting, you must be
present at the meeting location.
Electronic Visual Aid Presentation. To conform with the City's Network Access and Use Policy,
Chapter 1.3.8 of the Council Policies & Procedures Manual, members of the public who desire
to utilize electronic visual aids to supplement their oral presentation must provide display-ready
material to the City Clerk by 12:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Contact the City Clerk's
Office at cityclerk@slocity.org or (805) 781-7114.
Pages
1.CALL TO ORDER
Chair Kasprzak will call the Regular Meeting of the Human Relations
Commission to order.
2.PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
The public is encouraged to submit comments on any subject within the
jurisdiction of the Human Relations Commission that does not appear on this
agenda. Although the Commission will not take action on items presented during
the Public Comment Period, the Chair may direct staff to place an item on a
future agenda for discussion.
3.CONSENT
Matters appearing on the Consent Calendar are expected to be non-
controversial and will be acted upon at one time. A member of the public may
request the Human Relations Commission to pull an item for discussion. The
public may comment on any and all items on the Consent Agenda within the
three-minute time limit.
3.a CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES - NOVEMBER 5, 2025 HUMAN
RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES
5
Recommendation:
To approve the Human Relations Commission Minutes of November 5,
2025.
4.BUSINESS ITEMS
4.a CITYWIDE SINGLE VOTE OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT PLAN
OVERVIEW
9
Recommendation:
Receive an overview of the preliminary outreach and engagement plan
on the new Citywide Single Vote System and provide feedback as
necessary.
4.b 2025-26 MID-YEAR HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION WORKPLAN
DISCUSSION AND REVIEW
11
Recommendation:
Review and provide feedback to staff on the remainder of the 2025-26
Human Relations Commission Workplan document.
4.c SELECTION OF THE 2026-27 HUMAN SERVICES GRANT REVIEW
SUBCOMMITTEE
15
Recommendation:
Select up to three (3) Commissioners to participate in a Review
Subcommittee to review the 2026-27 Human Services Grant
applications and provide preliminary funding recommendations to the
full Human Relations Commission.
5.COMMENT AND DISCUSSION
5.a STAFF & COMMISSIONER UPDATES AND AGENDA FORECAST
Receive a brief update from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager
Matt Pennon and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Admin Specialist Sam
Vethavanam.
6.ADJOURNMENT
The next Regular Meeting of the Human Relations Commission is scheduled for
January 7, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990
Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.
LISTENING ASSISTIVE DEVICES are available -- see the Clerk
The City of San Luis Obispo wishes to make all of its public meetings accessible
to the public. Upon request, this agenda will be made available in appropriate
alternative formats to persons with disabilities. Any person with a disability who
requires a modification or accommodation in order to participate in a meeting
should direct such request to the City Clerk’s Office at (805) 781-7114 at least
48 hours before the meeting, if possible. Telecommunications Device for the
Deaf (805) 781-7410.
Agenda related writings or documents provided to the Human Relations
Commission are available for public inspection on the City’s website, under the
Public Meeting Agendas web page: https://www.slocity.org/government/mayor-
and-city-council/agendas-and-minutes. Meeting audio recordings can be found
on the City’s website:
http://opengov.slocity.org/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=60981&dbid=0&repo=CityCl
erk
1
Human Relations Commission Minutes
November 5, 2025, 5:00 p.m.
Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo
Human Relations
Commissioners Present
Commissioner Stephanie Carlotti, Commissioner Esmeralda
Parker, Commissioner Jenn Fields, Vice Chair Catuih Campos,
Chair Angie Kasprzak
Human Relations
Commissioners Absent:
Commissioner Vincent DeTurris
City Staff Present: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager Matt Pennon,
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Admin Specialist Samantha
Vethavanam, Assistant Planner Ethan Estrada
____________________________________________________________________
1. CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Human Relations Commission was
called to order on November 5, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room at
City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, by Chair Kasprzak.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Public Comment:
None.
--End of Public Comment--
3. CONSENT
3.a CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES - OCTOBER 1, 2025 HUMAN
RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES
To approve the Human Relations Commission Minutes of October 1, 2025.
Motion By Vice Chair Campos
Second By Commissioner Carlotti
Ayes (4): Commissioner Carlotti, Commissioner Parker, Commissioner
Fields, and Chair Kasprzak
Absent (1): Commissioner DeTurris
Page 5 of 16
2
CARRIED (4 to 0)
4. BUSINESS ITEMS
4.a OVERVIEW OF THE RESPONDING TO HATE AND BIAS COMMUNITY
TOOLKIT
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager Matt Pennon presented the report
and responded to staff inquiries.
Action: The Commissioners provided feedback to staff on the Responding
to Hate and Bias Community Toolkit. No formal action taken on this item.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
5.a CONSIDERATION OF THE 2026-27 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
BLOCK GRANT FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS
Assistant Planner Ethan Estrada presented the report and responded to
Commissioner inquiries.
Public Comment:
Michelle Pedigo
Nathan Rubinoff
--End of Public Comment--
Motion By Commissioner Parker
Second By Commissioner Fields
Action: To provide the following funding to City Council for the 2026-27
Community Development Block Grant Program:
• Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo (CAPSLO) –
Prado Homeless Services Center: $67,172
• People’s Self-Help Housing – Supportive Housing Services: $11,853
• San Luis Obispo Nonprofit Housing Corporation – Monterey Family
Apartments: $173,943
• Access Support Network – Adriance Court Rooting: $70,000
• CAPSLO Energy Services – Minor Home Repair: $98,500
• City of SLO – CDBG Administration: $18,349.50
• City of SLO – Capacity Building: $18,349.50
Ayes (3): Commissioner Parker, Commissioner Fields, and Vice Chair
Campos
Noes (2): Commissioner Carlotti, and Chair Kasprzak
Page 6 of 16
3
Absent (1): Commissioner DeTurris
CARRIED (3 to 2)
5.b REVISION OF THE 2025-26 DEI HIGH IMPACT GRANT
RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROVIDE A NEW RECOMMENDATION TO
COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager Matt Pennon presented the report
and responded to staff inquiries.
Public Comment:
Greg Ellis
Katie Lichtig
Vance Rodgers
Mary Parker
--End of Public Comment--
Motion By Vice Chair Campos
Second By Commissioner Parker
Action: The Commissioners reviewed their initial funding
recommendations and redistributed the $4,475 originally allocated to SLO
Disabled American Veterans Memorial Chapter 45 to SLO for Home &
Church World Services for their SLO for Home program. The following
funding recommendations for the 2025-26 DEI High Impact Grants will be
provided to City Council:
• Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of SLO County – SLO
CASA DEI Project: $10,000
• Diversity Coalition - SLO Equity Podcast: $10,000
• GALA Pride & Diversity Center - Queer Leadership and Civic
Engagement Initiative: $15,000
• Literacy for Life - Literacy Program: $7,925
• Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) –
Housing/Wellness Navigator Program: $20,000
• One Cool Earth - Salud y Conocimiento en el Jardin/One Cool Earth
School Garden Program at Pacheco Elementary School: $10,000
• RACE Matters SLO County - Advancing Community Belonging and
Cultural Representation Through Signature Events: $6,600
• SLO for Home & Church World Services – SLO for Home: $4,475
• SLO Hillel - Central Coast Jewish Heritage Festival: $6,000
• SLO Noor Foundation - Accessible Healthcare for All - City of SLO
Project: $20,000
• UndocuSupport, Corazon Latino, San Luis Coastal Unified
School District, & Womenade SLO - Connected Resources:
Schools and Nonprofits in Partnership for Families: $40,000
Page 7 of 16
4
Ayes (5): Commissioner Carlotti, Commissioner Parker, Commissioner
Fields, Vice Chair Campos, and Chair Kasprzak
Absent (1): Commissioner DeTurris
CARRIED (5 to 0)
6. COMMENT AND DISCUSSION
6.a STAFF & COMMISSIONER UPDATES AND AGENDA FORECAST
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Manager, Matt Pennon and Diversity, Equity,
& Inclusion Admin Specialist Sam Vethavanam provided the following
updates:
• Staff tabled at the Dia de los Muertos event on November 1st
• Two separate events on November 13th: Candidate Education
Forum and Understanding Government Commissions/Civic and
Nonprofit Leadership Mixer
• Staff will be on Central Coast Voice on November 20th
• Update on how to provide public comment as an Advisory Body
member
Commissioner Fields provided the following updates:
• SLO Tenants Union Letter Writing on November 9th
• Trans Day of Remembrance on November 20th
• Chosen Family Potluck on November 22nd
• Social justice/climate letter writing on November 23rd
• SLO Grassroots Thanksgiving Dinner November 26th (volunteers
needed from November 24th to 26th)
Vice Mayor Shoresman provided an update regarding interviews for a new
Human Relations Commissioner.
7. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:13 p.m. The next Regular Meeting of the Human
Relations Commission is scheduled for December 3, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. in the
Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.
_________________________
APPROVED BY HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION: XX/XX/2025
Page 8 of 16
Item 4a
Human Relations Commission
Agenda Report
For Agenda of: 12/3/2025
Item Number: 4a
FROM: Samantha Vethavanam, DEI Administrative Specialist
Phone Number: (805) 781-7064
E-mail: svethava@slocity.org
SUBJECT: CITYWIDE SINGLE VOTE OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT PLAN
OVERVIEW
RECOMMENDATION
Receive an overview of the preliminary outreach and engagement plan on the new
Citywide Single Vote System and provide feedback as necessary.
BACKGROUND
The San Luis Obispo City Council recently agreed to a limited change to the City’s method
of electing City Councilmembers as part of a settlement agreement related to the
California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). The new election method is called Citywide Single
Vote and is meant to advance fair and diverse representation in local elections.
The CVRA is a law enacted by the California State Legislature to provide minority groups
in California with a legal tool to address claims that their votes are being diluted by “at -
large” elections. “At-large” elections are those in which all members of a community vote
for all candidates for local offices and is the voting system that the City of San Luis Obispo
(City) has used for elections prior to November of 2026.
In early 2020, the City received a demand letter that asserted that the City of San Luis
Obispo’s method of conducting elections with at-large voting may violate the CVRA and
demanded that the City Council transition from at-large to district elections. In response
to that demand, the City consulted with Council in closed session, updated the City’s
previous elections data analysis (including independent demographics, vote dilution, and
racially polarized voting analyses) and began a constructive series of negotiations leading
to a settlement agreement.
The settlement agreement was to move towards a Citywide Single Vote rather than at-
large or district voting. The change in the election system was subsequently approved by
City Council to be effective for the November 2026 midterm elections. Under the Citywide
Single Vote methodology, City voters would have one fewer vote than the number of
Council seats available and the City will continue with staggered Council elections,
wherein two Council seats with four-year terms would be up for election every two years.
Under the new system, City voters will vote for only one candidate and the top two
Page 9 of 16
Item 4a
candidates receiving the most single votes would be elected to serve.
The purpose of single voting is to prevent the same majority from controlling all of the
available seats and to create opportunities for non-majority groups to build coalitions of
support to elect at least one of their preferred candidates, or at a minimum to prevent the
election of a non-preferred candidate.
With this change, the City is implementing a robust outreach and engagement plan to
ensure that voters are well-informed and fill out their ballots correctly for City Council in
the 2026 election. This item will provide an overview of the preliminary plan and receive
feedback from Human Relations Commission to ensure the City is reaching all community
members and especially our Latine population and others that are hard-to-reach.
Page 10 of 16
Item 4b
Human Relations Commission
Agenda Report
For Agenda of: 12/3/2025
Item Number: 4b
FROM: Samantha Vethavanam, DEI Administrative Specialist
Phone Number: (805) 781-7064
E-mail: svethava@slocity.org
SUBJECT: 2025-26 MID-YEAR HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION WORKPLAN
DISCUSSION AND REVIEW
RECOMMENDATION
Review and provide feedback to staff on the remainder of the 2025 -26 Human Relations
Commission Workplan document.
BACKGROUND
The development and approval of a workplan is a required task for the Human Relations
Commission (HRC) on an annual basis. The workplan allows for the organization of
agenda items and to forecast anticipated items such as the various grant programs that
reside within the HRC’s purview, as well as items related to the Diversity, Equity, and
Inclusion Major City Goal in the City of San Luis Obispo.
The workplan allows for learning opportunities by bringing important projects and
initiatives forward for discussion, as well as presentations from subject matter experts in
the community to the HRC. The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will use the
approved workplan to develop agenda packets each month.
The HRC is now in the middle of Fiscal Year 2025-26 and therefore in the middle of their
current 2025-26 workplan. The HRC shall review the remainder of the workplan to ensure
it aligns with their vision for the next six months.
Commissioners will provide feedback to staff on the remainder of the 2025-26 workplan
and staff will update it accordingly. Staff may bring the item back for subsequent approval
if necessary.
ATTACHMENTS
A - 2025-26 Updated Human Relations Commission Workplan
Page 11 of 16
Page 12 of 16
Human Relations Commission
2025-26 Workplan
Meeting Date Core Focus Workplan
August 6, 2025 Human Services
Grant Workshop &
Finalize HRC 2025-26
Workplan
1. DEI High Impact Grant Review Subcommittee
Selection
2. 25-26 Human Services Grant Liaison Selection
3. CA Civil Rights Department Update
4. Initial discussion of Annual Community Needs &
Grant Workshop for the 26-27 Human Services
Grant.
September 3,
2025
Grant Community
Workshops
1. 24-25 Human Services Grant Year-End Report
Review
2. Annual Community Needs and Grant workshop
for the Community Development Block Grant
3. Annual Community Needs and Grant workshop
for the Human Services Grant
October 1, 2025 Report Review 1. 24-25 DEI High Impact Grant Mid-Year Report
Review
2. DEI High Impact Grant public hearing and
preliminary funding recommendations to Council
November 5,
2025
Public Hearing on
Grant Funding
Recommendations
1. CDBG public hearing and preliminary funding
recommendations to Council
2. Revision of DEI High Impact Grant
recommendations
3. Responding to Hate Toolkit Update
4. HRC Council Liaison Visit
December 3,
2025
Citywide Single Vote
Outreach and HRC
Planning
1. CVRA Outreach and Engagement Plan
2. 2025-26 HRC Workplan Review and Update
3. 26-27 Human Services Grant Review
Subcommittee Selection
January 7, 2026 Public Hearing on
Grant Funding
Recommendations
1. Revision of DEI High Impact Grant
recommendations
February 4, 2026 Report Review 1. 25-26 Human Services Grant Mid-Year Report
Review
2. 24-25 DEI High Impact Grant Year-End Report
Review
3. 2025-26 DEI High Impact Grant Liaison
Selection
March 4, 2026 Strategic Planning 1. HRC Strategic Planning
2. Homelessness Strategic Plan Update
3. Youth-related programming/grant discussion
April 1, 2026 Public Hearing on
Grant Funding
Recommendations
1. Human Services Grant 26-27 public hearing and
preliminary funding recommendations to Council
2. Initiate discussion on new DEI High Impact
Grant funding priorities for 2026-27 (tentative)
May 6, 2026 Training 1. De-escalation training from CCRU (2 hours)
Page 13 of 16
June 3, 2026 Public Hearing 1. Public Hearing on the DEI High Impact Grant
funding priorities for 2026-27
July 1, 2026 HRC Workplan 1. Create the 2026-27 Workplan
2. DEI Strategic Plan Implementation Update
Bike Rack:
1. Climate Action Plan Update
2. EDSP Update
3. Discussion on the use of social media and impact reports from grantees (liaison
responsibility)
Page 14 of 16
Item 4c
Human Relations Commission
Agenda Report
For Agenda of: 12/3/2025
Item Number: 4c
FROM: Samantha Vethavanam, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Admin Specialist
Phone Number: (805) 781-7064
E-mail: svethava@slocity.org
SUBJECT: SELECTION OF THE 2026-27 HUMAN SERVICES GRANT REVIEW
SUBCOMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION
Select up to three (3) Commissioners to participate in a Review Subcommittee to review
the 2026-27 Human Services Grant applications and provide preliminary funding
recommendations to the full Human Relations Commission.
BACKGROUND
The Human Relations Commission (HRC) is tasked with reviewing the applications for
the Human Services Grant program and providing funding recommendations to City
Council. To ensure a comprehensive and equitable recommendation process, a
subcommittee of the full HRC is formed to review and discuss each application in depth.
This Review Subcommittee then makes initial recommendations for funding to the full
HRC who deliberate during a public hearing before sending their final funding
recommendations to City Council for review and approval.
For the 2026-27 cycle, the main funding priority for the Human Services Grant will be
preventing and addressing homelessness. More specifically, the City will prioritize funding
services that do the following (not listed in order of importance):
Provide permanent housing solutions that can prevent homelessness or serve
those experiencing homelessness
Provide homelessness prevention activities that can prevent homelessness or
serve those experiencing homelessness
Provide interim housing solutions that can prevent homelessness or serve those
experiencing homelessness
Provide non-housing solutions that can prevent homelessness or serve those
experiencing homelessness
There are also secondary funding priorities, which are also not listed in order of
importance and may not receive funding as the HRC will first fund all qualified
applicants who meet the main funding priority:
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Item 4c
Hunger and malnutrition prevention
Supportive physical and mental health services for those in need
Services for seniors, veterans, and/or people with disabilities in need
Supportive, developmental, and care services for children and youth in need
Services encouraging diversity, equity, and inclusivity in marginalized communities,
including access to language services
The Human Services Grant will open sometime in late January/early February and will be
open for a total of six (6) weeks.
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