HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/15/1970MINUTES
ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JOINT STUDY SESSION WITH THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
July 15, 1970 - 8:00 P.M.
City Hall
Roll Call
City Council
Present: Emmons Blake, Myron Graham, Arthur F. Spring,
Donald Q. Miller, Kenneth E. Schwartz
Human Relations Commission
Present: Chairman Garnett Hopkins, Mrs. Pat Barlow, James Duenow,
Dan Law, Hubert Page, Harry Woolpert
City, Staf f
Present: R. D. Miller, Administrative Officer, H. Johnson,
City Attorney
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A general discussion took place among the Council and members of the Human
Relations Commission on the Minority Grievance Appeals Board procedures a-
dopted by the Human Relations Commission on March 18, 1970.
Commissioner Duenow raised a question as to the Brown Act provisions which pro-
vide that all hearings be made public. He stated that other regulatory agencies
in the field were not doing the job and the people felt that they had no place
to go to place their complaints. However, he personally felt that private
meetings were best if legally possible.
The City Attorney, Harold Johnson, stated he thought that the appeals proce-
dure might offer false hope to persons with complaints. He stated he doubted
that the Human Relations Commission could legally make binding determinations.
It was brought out by the Commission that most complaints had been settled
informally, but there were several outstanding complaints that had not been
settled.
Mayor Schwartz asked Chairman Hopkins to brief the history of the Commission,
which Mr. Hopkins proceeded to do. Among other projects undertaken by the Com-
mission were surveys in the housing field, approaching the shcool district on
problems in the schools, and so on. The Commission was now getting quite a few
complaints and was trying to handle these,but publicity was needed in some cases.
Mayor Schwartz asked Mr. Hopkins what had made the community more aware of the
operation of the Commission.
Chairman Hopkins felt the most important factor was the national trend plus
quite a-bit of local publicity.
Commissioner Duenow felt that the complaint . form developed by the Commission
was proving to be an effective device in keeping track of complaints.
Mayor Schwartz brought up the matter of hearings by the Appeals Board and their
operation.
A letter from the City Attorney dated this date . was received and it was the com-
mon consent of the Council and Commission that a committee be appointed to study
the Appeals Board procedure. The committee was to consist of Councilmen Spring
and Miller, Commissioners Duenow and Woolpert and staff members Johnson and
Miller.
Commissioner Woolpert stated that primarily the Appeals Board procedure was an
attempt to formalize.proceedings a little bit to.shed light on problems which
should be brought to the public's attention, to provide some factual basis upon
which to advise the Council on what was going on in the community and to relieve
pressures which were building up'all the time.
There being no further discussion, the meeting adjourned.
APPROVED: August 24, 1970
. PATRICK; CITY CLERK