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| | 1. | | Call to Order
Minutes note: The meeting was called to order at 4:07 pm | | | |
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| | 2. | | Roll Call | | | |
Roll call
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| | 3. | | Approval of July Minutes
Minutes note: • July Minutes presented for review.
• Motion to approve: Commissioner Guequierre.
• Second: Commissioner Cook.
• No objections.
• Action: July Minutes approved unanimously.
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| | 4. | | Welcome from Chair
Minutes note: • Chair welcomed Commissioners, staffs: Omar Barberena (Equal Rights Specialist), & Ramona Ramos (Complaints Liaison), guests, and stakeholders.
• Emphasis on collective responsibility to represent community voices.
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| | 5. | | Communication from Office of Equity and Inclusion Staff
Omar Barberena - Equal Rights Specialist
• New Interim Chief Equity Officer: Mary Reed
• Commissioners Accounts & Usage
• International Human Rights Day Planning Committee Updates
Ramona Ramos - Equal Rights Complaints Liaison
• Ad Hoc Complaints Group Update
• Walk-ins Update
• Online Complaint System
• IT Data System Update
• Events & Volunteer SignUp
Minutes note: Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI) – Omar Barberena, Equal Rights Specialist
• Leadership Transition
o Chief Equity Officer Bernadette Karanja departed for a new opportunity.
o Mary Reed appointed Interim Chief Equity Officer (mareed@milwaukee.gov).
o Communication sent to Department of Administration leadership regarding collaboration during transition.
• Commissioners Email Protocol
o Commissioners reminded to use official City email accounts only (avoid personal emails for open records compliance).
o When emailing more than four Commissioners, use Bcc to prevent “walking quorum” violations.
o Training video on open records/communications distributed. Questions can be directed to Assistant City Attorney Peter Black.
• International Human Rights Day Planning
o Committee meets bi-weekly. Exploring partnerships with additional organizations.
o Potential new venue outside downtown for accessibility and logistics.
o Tentative dates: December 6 or December 14 (pending Mayor’s confirmation).
o Commissioners invited to join the Planning Committee.
Complaints & Walk-Ins Update – Ramona Ramos
• Walk-Ins:
o Lower than expected volume at City Hall.
o Outreach to rotate into community sites starting September.
o Notices via E-Notify and Facebook.
• Online Complaint System:
o Prototype app in development with ITMD.
o Features: case numbers, centralized notes, multilingual access, secure ERC staff login.
o Goal: streamline intake and improve referral process.
• Referrals:
o Connecting complaints to proper agencies and advocacy groups.
• Flood-Related Needs:
o Community requests on sump pumps, debris removal, dumpsters.
o ERC provided referrals to City services.
Ad Hoc Complaints Committee
• Meetings: May, June, August.
• Focus: Complaint form/signature, referral pathways, voucher housing discrimination, possible Housing Summit.
• Fair Housing Council Input (Megan Wanke):
o Voucher discrimination not covered in Chapter 109 (protected in Milwaukee County & Madison).
o Report forthcoming on voucher discrimination.
o Suggested ordinance updates:
? Replace “victimhood” with “status as a victim.”
? Add protections for stalking victims.
Events & Community Outreach
• Mexican Fiesta (Aug. 23–25, 2025): Successful ERC tent, high engagement.
• Silver City Festival (Sept. 6, 2025): Tent confirmed with VIA CDC; volunteer sign-up coordinated.
• Puerto Rican Festival (Sept. 21, 2025): ERC presence confirmed; staffing plan in progress.
• Native Heritage Celebration (Nov. 2025): ERC to participate; collaborations with Native organizations.
• Human Rights Day (Dec. 2025):
o Planning Committee meets bi-weekly.
o Exploring venues outside downtown.
o Tentative dates: Dec. 6 or 14 (pending Mayor’s Office).
o Commissioners encouraged to join planning.
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| | 6. | | Communication from Committees
• Governance Committee
a. Recruitment Update
b. Commissioner Handbook Draft – Brief Review
• Communications Committee
a. Update
Minutes note: Governance Committee Update
• Recruitment:
o 9 applications received, 1 new submitted recently.
o 3 candidates selected for interviews (to be scheduled after Labor Day).
o Goal: Fill 11 vacancies by end of year, pending mayoral appointments.
o Committee is optimistic; strong candidate pool noted.
• Commissioner Handbook:
o Current version (last updated 2021) is outdated.
o Review of Table of Contents to identify missing/irrelevant content.
o Suggestions:
? Add Commission accomplishments (e.g., inclusive bathrooms, bikes).
? Clarify Commission’s city-level role.
? Include funding sources (Community Block Grant).
? Update laws section to include Racism as a Public Health issue.
? Strengthen sections on Commissioner duties, communications, and public representation.
? Consider creating video/interactive versions in addition to written handbook.
• Social Gathering:
o Tuesday, Chill on the Hill – Informal Commissioner social, open to friends & families.
Communications Committee Update (Chair Rae Johnson)
• Still reviewing materials from Commissioner Nathan Boutiere.
• Plans to prioritize committee work in September.
• Suggestion raised: create a video version of the Commissioner Handbook.
• Dog “Oro” made a guest appearance at the meeting.
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| | 7. | | Budget Proposal Discussion
Minutes note: Budget Discussion
Overview
• Shared draft budget ($45,000 allocation, includes carryover) presented on screen and in shared document.
• Goal: adopt a formalized budget that ensures effective and efficient use of funds.
• Intention: professionalize ERC budget management, expand intentional spending, and align with mission.
Committee Feedback & Key Points
• Chair Nathan Guequierre: Commended staff (Ramona & Omar) for preparing draft; emphasized this marks an important step in thoughtful, intentional ERC budgeting.
• Outreach & Inclusion Costs:
o Concern raised about limited funds allocated for interpretation and translation (ASL, Hmong, others).
o Acknowledged high costs: ASL $600 for 2 hours).
o Suggestion to create a dedicated line item for interpretation/translation services.
o Idea to reallocate ~$2,000 from reserve funds, though noted this amount may be insufficient.
• Language Access Needs:
o Website already includes auto-translate option for many languages.
o For Hmong community, oral/visual interpretation may be more effective than written translation.
o Recommendation: create videos in-language (e.g., complaint process walkthroughs).
• City Resources:
o City has interpreter services available; Omar will confirm access and departmental cost responsibilities.
o Question raised whether ERC will be charged per use.
Budget Line Item Adjustments Discussed
• Possible renaming/restructuring: “Outreach, Education & Events” (remove “participation”).
• Reallocate funds from “Commissioner Training/Conferences” to interpretation/accessibility.
• Advertising & campaigns line could also support interpreter/translation costs.
• Explore event-related costs (tickets, access fees, promotional materials).
Next Steps
• Omar to review current budget balances with Administration (spending-to-date and potential carryover).
• Governance Committee to meet before September ERC meeting to refine budget.
• Explore costs/resources for ASL, Hmong, and oral language interpretation services.
• Draft budget to be presented for adoption at September ERC meeting.
• Informal discussions with DOA and OEI leadership to begin in advance of formal adoption.
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| | 8. | | Other Discussions
Minutes note: Additional Notes
• DPW scheduled to report in September on gender-neutral restroom updates.
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| | 9. | | Community Announcements
Minutes note: • Community Announcement
Forward Latino issued statement clarifying that visible National Guard presence downtown (same weekend as Mexican Fiesta) is due to a planned national convention, not activation. Commissioners asked to share with networks to prevent confusion or alarm. | | | |
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| | 10. | | Adjournment
Minutes note: Adjournment
• Motion to Adjourn by Commissioner Guequierre
• Second by Commissioner Cook
• Meeting adjourned at 5:05pm.
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