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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Ames Human Relations Commission - AHRC Minutes 7-07-2016 M I N U T E S HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION July 7, 2016 The special meeting of the Ames Human Relations Commission was called to order by Acting Chair John Klaus at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Ames City Hall. Members present were Amy Harris-Tehan and Heidi Thompson. Raghul Ethiraj and Amy Juhnke were absent. Staff member Brian Phillips was also present. DISCUSSION OF CONFEDERATE FLAG INCIDENT ON MAIN STREET: John provided an overview of the Main Street Bike Night. He indicated that one of the vendors was flying the Confederate flag and was selling items with Nazi emblems and Confederate flags. Amy Harris-Tehan provided an overview of how the item was brought to the Commission’s attention. Two action items were raised: 1) meeting with MSCD, CAA, ACVB, and the Chamber of Commerce to discuss policies they might explore with regard to this issue, and 2) hosting a series of community conversations relating to freedom of speech, racism, etc. It was clarified that the Commission would be facilitating the discussion between other organizations. Amy Harris-Tehan will coordinate dates and times to set up a meeting. Amy asked what the goals of the Commission are in having this meeting. Is it for the purpose of reporting back to the City Council about where the policy is going? John indicated he felt it fell under the Commission’s charge to educate and provide a forum for people to discuss and learn. Moved by Harris-Tehan, seconded by Thompson, to convene a meeting with the MSCD, CAA, ACVB, and Ames Chamber of Commerce to discuss the charge provided by the City Council. Motion carried unanimously. Amy Harris-Tehan raised the second component of the Council’s direction, and offered that t he Commission ought to meet with various groups in Ames. She suggested the events be marketed at places where there might be populations who have an interest in the topic. COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS SERIES: Amy indicated she had reached out to Dr. Reg Stewart at ISU, and had also learned about a professor at Drake who might present about how to speak with those who disagree. Lynne Carey, Ames Public Library Director, indicated the Library would be interested in providing space to hold public discussions. Amy also indicated she reached out to the chair of the ISU Political Science Department to see if a faculty member could hold a talk about First Amendment issues. Moved by Thompson, seconded by Tehan-Harris, to host a bi-monthly educational session where a speaker would come in to discuss a civil rights topic, and bi-monthly meetings with community groups to obtain concerns related to various topics. Motion carried unanimously. TIME AND DATE OF NEXT REGULAR MEETING: July 28, 2016 at 5:30. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS: Amy Harris-Tehan indicated she was interested in asking the City Council to add more Commissioners to the Commission to get accomplished the activities the Commission would like to do. John indicated the Commission had been seven members and was reduced to five. John expressed interest in having the Commission become exciting. Moved by Harris-Tehan, seconded by Klaus to add discussion of the Commission size to the next meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Amy Harris-Tehan expressed interest in meeting twice per month rather than once per month. Moved by Klaus, seconded by Harris-Tehan, to add the frequency of meetings to the next Commission agenda. Motion carried unanimously. Amy Harris-Tehan asked whether the Commission had a Facebook page. Mov ed by Klaus, seconded by Harris-Tehan, to authorize Amy Harris-Tehan to establish a Facebook page, and to review the content at each meeting of the Commission. Motion carried unanimously. ADJOURN: Commissioner Thompson moved to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 6:48 p.m.