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Home My WebLink About03/00/1990, 1 - JOINT CITY COUNCIL / HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MEETING �I '��/ r J �IIn�IOIII�iI1IIIIII�AII�III r MATIN SATE: n�u�� c� o San lues OBI Spo 3�2�� COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT ITEM NUMBER: / FROM: Ren Hampian, Assistant City Administrative A officer. 7A Prepared by: Alison Lloyd, Administrative Analyst p..a SUBJECT: Joint City Council/ Human Relations Commission Meeting CAO RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council and Human Relations Commission review several issues of mutual interest. DISCUSSION: Outlined below are issues which the Human Relations Commission (HRC) would like to review with the City Council. l.Overall Policies and Role of Human Relations Commission The Commission would like to discuss general policy issues concerning its overall role and functions with Council to receive. clarification and feedback. Staff Comments Discussion, or clarification of this item is related to several of the topics listed below and may be addressed throughout the study session, instead of being handled as a separate discussion item. 2.Publicity For The Human Relations Commission. By ordinance, the purpose of the Human Relations Commission is to advise the Council and City Administrative Officer regarding human needs and social concerns in the community. The Commission has been disappointed at the lack of public turnout at recent meetings and is requesting that Council approve a proposal for promoting public awareness of the HRC and direct staff to implement a trial program. The Commission proposes to promote public awareness through the following actions: * Announce meeting dates by publishing notices in the "datebook" section of the newspaper and with Public Service Announcements on the radio and TV (see attached draft announcement) . * Distribute a press release for publication in the local newspaper and Cal Poly paper which describes the Commission and encourages people to attend meetings. * Publicize the Commission functions outlined in the HRC work plan, as approved by Council as a part of the annual budget process by having Commission or staff members as guests on local radio talk shows. I�� city Of sari lues ompo MOGe COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Council Agenda Report Page Two * Host a panel discussion as part of the HRC work objective approved by Council and invite social service agencies and the public to attend. Staff Comments There may be a moderate cost associated with the panel discussion but there are sufficient funds available in the HRC budget. If Council does not approve the Commission's request, attendance by the general public will probably remain low. while additional publicity may improve attendance, generally the number of people in attendance at public meetings is usually related to the specific issues being addressed (as is the case with City Council and other advisory body meetings) . Therefore, the development of the HRC's workplan, such as holding a panel discussion on a specific topic, may be more beneficial to generating attendance in the long term than general publicity. 3.Proposed Amendment To Ordinance 1150. Regarding The Purpose And Function Of The Human Relations Commission. The Commission would like to amend Section 2.56.020 of the ordinance to include "sexual orientation" as part of the "protected categories" outlined in the. purpose statement. Currently, the purpose statement reads: "It is the purpose of the Human Relations Commission to advise the Council in its actions to create an environment within the City in which all persons can enjoy equal rights and opportunities regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical, mental or economic status. The Human Relations Commission shall make recommendations to the Council or the City Administrative Officer on how these social concerns and human needs can best be addressed. " The Commission would like to discuss this possible change with Council before pursuing it further. Staff Comments Prior to this discussion the Commission requested that staff survey a number of other cities to determine whether their ordinances included such language and if so to obtain copies. Of the nine cities polled, only two cities, Irvine and Los Angeles had this language included in their ordinances. The City of Irvine has removed it from theirs by public vote. Staff discussed the proposed amendment with the City Attorney and found that although amending the ordinance in itself may not be problematic, implementation of it could be for the following reasons: �� ► I�ulllllll�l�' ►��III city of san tins osospo COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Council Agenda Report Page Three 1. It is unclear whether cities have the authority to protect against "sexual orientation" discrimination, since traditionally this has been considered more of a "lifestyle" issue and has not been included as part of "protected classes." Sexual discrimination (which differs from "sexual orientation") has been handled at the state level. 2. The burden imposed on cities to enforce criminal and civil violations resulting from sexual orientation discrimination. Traditionally civil violations have been enforced at the state level. 3. If the City's HRC Ordinance is amended, other City ordinances would also have to be amended. An example of this would be the City's Employment Ordinance. Amending that ordinance would in turn affect the City's overall benefit package as it relates to dependent coverage and entitlements. Since this issue is more complex than may first appear, staff believes that Council may want to refer it to the City Attorney's Office for review before determining whether it should be included as a Council agenda item. 4.Landlord/Tenant Mediation Services The City is not providing these services currently. The Commission would like to discuss this item with Council. Staff Comments Landlord/Tenant Mediation: The 1987-89 Financial Plan included as an objective provision to develop in-house capability for training HRC Commissioners and volunteers to provide mediation services. In September 1987, staff began the formal -process of program development. From September 1987 through February 1988, staff recruited and trained commissioners and local residents to provide staffing for a landlord/tenant mediation program. .During 1988-89 the City Council reviewed and redefined the scope and activities of the Commission in an effort to create consistency among advisory bodies in the City. As a result of this process, and because the fundamental purpose of City - advisory bodies is to advise, - not to provide direct services, the Landlord/Tenant Mediation Program was never formally implemented. Tenant/Landlord mediation services was not included as an objective in the 1989-91 Financial Plan. l-3 iIINNINIIi�IIIII�IIIhIu�� II Clty O� SM LUIS OBISPO ALWAZN COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Council Agenda Report Page Four Landlord/Tenant Information: The Administrative staff assigned to the HRC, however, continued to provide informational services with respect to landlord/tenant questions until December 1989. During the month of October 1989, staff surveyed the number and geographical location of telephone calls received requesting landlord/tenant information. Based on the number of calls received from areas outside the City it was evident that there was a county-wide need for these services. (Attachment No. 2) As such, it was determined that a county-based agency would be a more appropriate resource. At the direction of the City Administrator, and with consensus approval by the HRC, staff began referring these calls to the Small Claims Court Advisory Program in December 1989. The California Rural Legal Assistance and the Small Claims Court Advisory Program were two agencies that had expressed a willingness to assume this responsibility. Since the Small Claims Court Advisory Program is based locally, it was determined to be the best referral service. To our knowledge, the program is working effectively and has relieved staff of numerous telephone calls relating to what is obviously a county-wide issue. 5.Human Needs Assessment The Commission would like clarification as to its role in the Community Human Needs Assessment study. Staff Comments The most recent Human Needs Assessment conducted was during 1977- 78. The purpose of the study was to assess unmet human needs within the City, resources to meet the needs, and organizations which might have a responsibility for meeting those needs. In January 1989, the Commission was given direction by Council to explore and make recommendations on the possible scope and parameters of a human needs assessment. In March 1989, the HRC was informed that United Way was proposing to do a human needs study and was invited to appoint a member to serve on the task force. A member was appointed in April 1989. Since that time United Way has not been able to make progress on its assessment. The HRC would like direction from Council on how to proceed. $10, 000 was appropriated in the HRC budget for FY 1989-90 for a Human Needs Assessment. AL\study �-y � ��IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII�� plllllllllllll cityO sAn tuis OBISI)O 990 Palm Street/Post Office Box 8100 • San Luis Obispo, CA 93403-8100 November 22, 1989 TO: John Dunn FROM: Candace Havens SUBJECT: Landlord-tenant phone calls Over the last month, city staff has been monitoring calls received for landlord-tenant matters. Our intent was to determine the number of calls, city of origin and referral agency. The results showed that we received about 100 calls a month from the following: San Luis Obispo 52% Los Osos 10% Santa Margarita 7% Atascadero 7% Arroyo Grande 7% Grover City 6% Morro Bay 4% Paso Robles 3$ Nipomo 1% Santa Barbara 1% The callers found the HRC office in the following ways: Housing Authority 63% Information Booklet or Directory . 20% Social Worker/Welfare 5% Friends 5% Other City Department 5% Media 2% From this data, it is evident that there is a need for such a service and that it is countywide. Because of the geographical spread of callers, a county-based agency such as Small Claims Court may be a more appropriate resource. The local Small Claims Court has an advisory program to help people in all stages of the small claims procedures; this includes landlord-tenant disputes. This office has indicated a willingness to receive the kinds of calls we get. The Department of Fair Employement and Housing, based in Ventura, also said they could assume these tasks. Because Small Claims is SLO County-based, it may be the preferred option. Transfer of these reponsibilities could be arranged with a couple of phone calls to the Housing Authority (our main source of referral) and to Hotline (to change the Human Services Directory and inform its staff) . I would also recommend the Human Relations Commission have an opportunity to consider this matter prior to making any changes. CH/land-ten l I DRAFT ANNOUNCEMENT OF HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MEETINGS C The Human Relations Commission of the City of San Luis Obispo makes recommendations to the City Council or to the City Administrator regarding how social concerns and human needs can best be addressed. Each resident of San Luis Obispo is entitled to the right to enjoy equal rights and opportunities regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental capabilities or economic status. The Human Relations Commission meets the first Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room of City Hall. Community participation is vital to the Commission is effectiveness. PLEASE ATTEND ATTACHMENT 1 C1 / �7 ►Ill 111 llll llll��llll�lllllllllll I�� at O YoBispo qMMENHIM 990 Palm Street/Post Office Box 8100 • San Luis Obispo, CA 93403.8100 AGENDA February 6, 1990 TO: Coun FROM: oges SUBJECT: LOW-UP WORKSHOP Based on your schedules Sherry has made the following arrangements for two follow- up workshops with Dave and Anne Jones: Thursday; March 8th - Anne Jones will conduct one hour meetings in the Hearing Room as follows: 8:00 a.m. Entire Council 9:00 a.m. Peg Pinard 10:15 am. Jerry Reiss 11:30 a m. Penny Rappa (lunch) 1:00 p.m Bill Roah,an 2:00 p.m. Ron Dunin 3:00 p.m John Dunn Monday. March 19th - 8:30 - 5:00 p.m (Please be on time.) Dave and Anne Jones will conduct a one day session for the entire Council at The Cliffs (the Sico Room) in Shell Beach. Continental hreakfnst will he served ns well :oz lhnch. /ss c: Dave & Anne Jones Ann McPike