HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - February 27, 2025, AHRC MinutesMinutes
AMES HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
Conference Room 235
City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue
Thursday, February 27, 2025
Call to Order: Vice Chair Annabella Marquez called the meeting to order at 5:36 p.m.
Commissioners Pablo Suarez Beltran, Shawn Kenny, and Marty Martinez and Engagement
Coordinator Casandra Eames were also present.
Public Forum: Vice Chair Marquez opened and closed the Public Forum when no one came
forward to speak.
Approval of Minutes: Moved by Marquez, seconded by Suarez Beltran, to approve the minutes
of the January 23, 2025, meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
Feedback from February Meet & Greet: Suarez Beltran and Marquez shared that the cold
weather kept the attendance down, but they were able to speak with a few individuals.
A Home for Everyone Award Advertising: Staff reviewed that the award is being advertised
on City social media, but no nominations had yet been received. Marquez volunteered to contact
past recipients to encourage them to submit nominations. There was discussion about the factors
that contributed to the lack of an awardee the previous year, and it was noted that improvements
to the nomination form were intended to address some of those factors.
Review of Municipal Code Chapter 14 – Human Relations: Coordinator Eames contextualized
the discussion by noting that, while general revisions to Chapter 14 had been under discussion by
the commission for some time, recent action by the Iowa legislature raised a further topic for
consideration. Specifically, the Iowa legislature just passed a bill removing gender identity
protections from the Iowa Civil Rights Act (ICRA). Staff presented a comprehensive report
comparing Chapter 14 to the relevant code chapters of cities across the state. Notably, Ames was
the only city among those surveyed that did not include an explicit statement of
nondiscrimination and was in the minority in not enumerating protected classes. Staff reviewed
that Ames’s municipal protections for gender identity were dependent on the ICRA, meaning
that their removal from the ICRA would result in loss of protections at the municipal level as
well. Cities that conduct their own investigations are not similarly dependent on the ICRA, so
municipal protections will remain in some Iowa cities. The commissioners discussed the
possibility of adding gender identity protections to Chapter 14 and establishing a 28E agreement
with one of these cities to investigate any cases of discrimination on the basis of gender identity.
Martinez emphasized that discrimination should never be allowed, and Kenny spoke to the
importance of having a plan to implement enforcement mechanisms if the change was made. The
commissioners also discussed possible revisions to the description of the commission’s powers
and duties, with Coordinator Eames highlighting Ottumwa’s code as an example of accessible
language.
There was consensus regarding moving forward with correcting the omission of a word, adding
gender identity protections and a list of protected classes to Sec. 14.1, and revising 14.5 for
readability. The commissioners requested further information on enforcement mechanisms for
protected classes not recognized by the ICRA and thus not investigated by the Iowa Office of
Civil Rights. Coordinator Eames planned to meet with the City Attorney to get more information
on implementation and enforcement of the commissioners’ desired changes.
FACES – “Families of Ames Celebrate EthnicitieS”: The commissioners shared their ideas of
potential partners for reviving the event. Suarez Beltran emphasized the need for an event
summary or vision to use for reaching out to gauge interest. The commissioners discussed what
elements would be important to include in the event, focusing on food, music, performing arts,
and space to gather and hang out. Suarez Beltran identified five groups to reach out to initially
and volunteered to draft an email that could be sent. The topic was then tabled for the next
meeting.
Upcoming Events
• Quarterly Meet & Greet – May: Kenny volunteered to serve as the point person.
60th Anniversary of the Iowa Civil Rights Act: Coordinator Eames reviewed the invitation
from West Des Moines organize a celebration. Kenny volunteered to join the Zoom call.
Commissioner Announcements: Coordinator Eames shared a request from Communications
and Outreach Manager Susan Gwiasda for a representative of the commission to share updates
and highlights from the past year at the annual boards and commissions appreciation luncheon.
Commissioner Suarez Beltran volunteered to speak on behalf of the commission.
Next Meeting: Thursday, March 27, 2025
Adjournment: Vice Chair Marquez adjourned the meeting at 8:25 p.m.