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| | 1. | | Call to Order
Minutes note: The meeting was called to order at 3:15pm | | | |
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| | 3. | | Election of Chair and Vice Chair
Minutes note: City Clerk Jim Owczarski called for Election of Chair and Vice Chair to be opened; Tony Snell-Rodriguez was placed for nomination of Chair. No further nominations were called by present Commissioners and nominations were closed. No objections were suggested and City Clerk Jim Owczarski declared appointment of Chair to Tony Snell-Rodriguez.
City Clerk Jim Owczarski called for Election of Vice Chair to be opened; Jacqueline Cook was placed for nomination of Vice-Chair. No further nominations were called by present Commissioners and nominations were closed. No objections were suggested and City Clerk Jim Owczarski declared appointment of Vice Chair to Jacqueline Cook.
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| | 4. | | Introductions (Commissioners and Staff)
Minutes note: Chair Tony Snell-Rodriguez proceeded to call for introductions of Commissioner, new staffs and those present in the room | | | |
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| | 5. | | Approval of Previous Minutes
Minutes note: Commissioner Chair Tony informed that due to technology glitches for the recording of the minutes from last August 2023 were not available. However, they staff will do the best to reconstruct the minutes from the meeting agenda to be provided in the near future. | | | |
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| | 6. | | Communication from the Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI)
Minutes note: Communication from the Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI) by Chief Office Bernadette Karanja:
Bernadette informed that there is a better structure to advance the efforts of the ERC and good news to share:
•Equal Rights Specialist (Omar Barberena) and ADA Coordinator (Jason Ostrowski) position has been filled
•Discussions have already started to the handling and modifying the complaint process
•Position of authority has been obtained to fill a FT position for Liaison Complaint
•Funding up to $45K per year has been approved to assist for events, training and conferences
•OEI supportive effort to fill up 3 Commissioner’s vacancy positions
•Once Commissioner’s positions are filled OEI will also will be available for the reestablishment of working committees in accordance with August 2nd 2023 meeting: Governance Committee, Compliance Committee and Outreach Committee to become operational.
•ERC will be working to update landing page and public meeting calendar
•Finalize drafting of the complain process in terms of modifying Chapter 109
•Update processes and policies of the complaint process
•Once that’s is finalized approval and recommendation will be seek from the Community and Economic Development Committee
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| | 7. | | Communication on Status of the Equal Rights Commission's (ERC) Next Steps
Minutes note: A discussion took place in regards to the Communication Committee that it was not mentioned and it was determined that it might have been an oversight on the August 2nd meeting. However, the Communication Committee will be added subject to approval.
Another discussion was brought up how Committees are set up with the numbers of Commissioner and how it can be facilitated. For instance, the skills set needed and ensured how Governance should be driving the recruitment process. Insurance the open spaces mirrors those who they represent for equity with stake holders. It was noted that it needs to staff driven with the help of the support of the Commissioners. In addition, how to be more strategic to communicate the community and be more involved in different events.
Omar Barberena, as the Equal Right Specialist will be the point of contact informing the Commissioner for different events in the community and we can participate, as well as coordinating the filling of the current Commissioner’s vacancies. Omar will be also working with Tina Klose to create a flyer. It was graciously known that Vice Chair Jaqueline has been working with Tina diligently with the process of recruitment for the commissioner’s vacancies.
It was brought up that a time line needs to be established to fill out the commissioner’s vacancies and also to ensure that representation be established. Vice Chair Jaquelin and Commissioner Martha Collins and Omar Barberena will be working for the filling of the vacancies.
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| | | | •Discuss Re-creation of Standing Committees: Governance, Compliance and Outreach | | | |
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| | | | •Complaint Process
Minutes note: Update on the complaint process: Attorney Kristen created a draft and more discussions needs to be done in order to finalize it. More jurisdiction responsibility meetings need to be taken place to have an additional piece to the proposed amendment and have Attorney Carson present.
Moving along a discussion that we have a Crown Act on the books noting that Milwaukee is the only city in the state of WI that recognizes it and how we talk to people in the community.
It was brought up again the complaint process will be structured and it has been submitted and it is hoping that in the next 4 weeks the Liaison Complaint Position will be announced and shared with the public. Chapter 109-5-12 requires that the DOA to track and record all complaints from the public. Currently there are over 100+ complaints and Omar has agreed to begin the process of looking at them.
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| | | | •City Department Reports
Minutes note: Another discussion was brought up about training to take place and commissioners to participate as they are important for learning to function properly as commissioners. In addition, that’s the law and it should be taken place and documented in a yearly basis. | | | |
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| | 8. | | Discussion of dates/times of future Equal Rights Commission (ERC) meetings
Minutes note: Future ERC meetings being mindful of the time and staff. Full commissioner’s meeting happens every other months and committee meetings every other month until having full committees. However, it was determined that no meeting should be held on May but rather until June due the newly joined member to be acclimatized to the process. A meeting time was compromised from 3:30pm to 5:00pm scheduled for next Wednesday May 22nd, June 26, July 24, August 28, Sept. 25, October 23, November 20, and December 18 and will be sent a calendar invite to all members. | | | |
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| | 9. | | Announcements
Minutes note: Announcements for possible tables
•Juneteenth Day Celebration and other Silver City celebrations coming up
•Chill on the Hill
•Grandville music festival
•Brownsville week
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| | 10. | | Adjournment
Minutes note: Commissioner Nathan motioned to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Martha seconded. Meeting adjourned at 5:05pm | | | |
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