City of Lawrence

Lawrence Human Relations Commission

March 7, 2013 – 11:00 AM

Minutes

 

Members Present:  include (via teleconference: Katrina McClure) Scott Criqui, Jason Barnhill, James Dunn

 

Members Excused:   Katherine Pryor, Kristen Krug

 

Staff Present:  Toni Wheeler, Scott Wagner, Elizabeth Hafoka, Susan Parson

 

Public Present:  None

______________________________________________________________________

 

Commission Meeting Called to Order.

The Lawrence Human Relations Commission (LHRC) Meeting was called to order by Chair Scott Criqui, at 11:03 a.m. in the Public Works Conference Room at City Hall, located at 6 East 6th Street, Lawrence, Kansas. Chairman Criqui began the meeting by discussing the role and duties of the Lawrence Human Relations Commission.  The Chair noted that there was not a quorum present for the meeting and that no binding action could be taken today by the Commission.

 

Acceptance of Agenda.

Chairman Criqui asked the commission if there were any additional agenda items for consideration.  Chairman Criqui said he wanted to discuss a new group that has formed under Commission Items.  It is called the World Café.

 

Approval of Minutes.

Chairman Scott Criqui asked for commission comments on the commission minutes from the August, 16, 2013 meeting.  The commission was not able to approve the August 16, 2013 minutes because there was not a quorum present at the meeting.  Chairman Criqui asked if there were any items to discuss or change.

 

Commissioner Dunn added that Nancy Dunn was also in attendance as a member of the public at the last meeting.

 

Chairman Criqui said that will be noted for the minutes for the next meeting.

 

Receive Staff Report.

Executive Director Toni Wheeler started the staff report noting that there had been a staffing change. Assistant City Attorney Chad Sublet was no longer with the City of Lawrence and had taken a position with the City of Topeka. But as that position is filled the Assistant City Attorney will continue to be a backup for the City’s Human Relations Investigator, Elizabeth Hafoka.

 

A. Case Report Update

Elizabeth Hafoka gave an update on current Human Relations cases:

There is an active housing case on the basis of sex.  The investigation is ongoing.

There is an active housing case on the basis of familial status.  The investigation is ongoing.

There is an active housing case on the basis of race.  The investigation has not been started yet.

There is an active housing case on the basis of disability received from Chad Sublet.  She has briefly reviewed it, but has not had a chance to determine what the next step is. The investigation is ongoing.

There is an employment discrimination case on the basis of disability received from Chad Sublet.  The investigation is on-going.

 

There is another case that is in the beginning stages and a complaint has not been filed at this point. It is a housing case, where a married couple rent a room in an apartment and are now pregnant. The landlord is requiring them to rent a second room. Ms. Hafoka stated that there is nothing in our ordinance that they would be required to do this. Commissioner Dunn asked if there are requirements of so many people in a certain amount of square footage. Commissioner Dunn asked how many cases can staff handle? He stated that many of these cases are quite complicated.

 

Toni Wheeler let the commissioners know that Ms. Hafoka handles each case with accuracy and within deadlines, and that Ms. Wheeler checks in with Ms. Hafoka’s supervisor to access the work load. The Assistant City Attorney will continue to be a backup and so far this has worked well.

 

B. Outreach Activities/Fair Housing Month:

Scott Wagner reported on outreach activities since the last commission meeting and events planned for Fair Housing Month as follows:

          1. 8/23/2013 training at Kansas University Office of Multi-Cultural Affairs, 10 people attended, Elizabeth Hafoka was the trainer. Ms. Hafoka added that she talked about the types of cases that we take, how they are investigated. She said the training was well received and there were was good interaction at the question and answer portion of the training.

          2. 9/16/2012 Lawrence Festival of Cultures.  The Commission staffed an information table at the event which was well attended.

          3. 12/14/2012 First Management training, Chad Sublet was the trainer for First Management Property Managers, 15 people. It was well received.

          4.  2/15-2/17/2013 Lawrence Home Show. CDBG staff had Human Relations information at the event.

          5.  The new Human Relations brochures continue to be distributed to area agencies by Susan Parson. Toni Wheeler added that last fall there was a Good Neighbor Program sponsored by the City Manager’s Office in which they did handouts in neighborhoods  near Kansas University, and that she was going to make sure that the Human Relations brochures are included this year in the packet of information handed out. Commissioner Dunn asked if the Fair Housing brochure “Are You a Victim of Housing Discrimination?” has our local code. Scott Wagner stated that our local code is not on that HUD brochure, but is on our most recent brochure created by staff.

          6.  1/26/2013 Commissioner Dunn added that Toni Wheeler had done training at the Lawrence Neighborhood Association Roundtable where Ms. Wheeler presented on the City Attorney’s Office and its functions, which includes the Human Relations Division.

          7.  Fair Housing month: Scott Wagner reported on events and activities planned for Fair Housing Month in April as follows.

Fair Housing Month – April 2013

 

Event

Date

Housing Authority, Landlords of Lawrence luncheon meeting on Fair Housing – sponsored by Lawrence Human Relations and the Lawrence Douglas County Housing Authority

Monday, April 1

Time:  Noon-2p.m. at the Housing Authority

Fair Housing Month Proclamation before the Lawrence City Commission

Tuesday, April 2

6:30 p.m.

 

News release regarding Fair Housing Month

Wednesday, April 3 via the City Manager’s Communication Coordinator

Flame insert with Human Relations/Fair Housing information

April utility billing insert delivered to over 35,000 households

Cable Ch. 25 information on Fair Housing

Slides that will run throughout the month of April

 

Scott Wagner also added that the Housing & Consumer Credit Counseling, Inc. wanted to partner with LHRC in a training luncheon or information fair.

 

Mr. Wagner asked if there are any changes or new Fair Housing Month ideas?

 

Chairman Scott Criqui offered discussion on the Lawrence Douglas County Housing Authority/Landlords of Lawrence meeting on Fair Housing. Commissioner Dunn thought the commission should sponsor the event.  Chairman Criqui was also in favor of this outreach.

 

Ms. Wheeler added that in summer to late spring there is information distributed to Kansas University students at orientation week. Ms. Wheeler offered staff could create a brochure with a focus on renters and their rights. Commissioner Barnhill added that he had received great benefit from a renters guide he received when he was a college student. He said he would be more than happy to provide that brochure to help us create the new brochure.

 

Regarding the April 20, 2013 Earth Day event, Chairman Criqui asked if this was an event the LHRC wanted to attend again this year. It was noted that there were not a large number of visitors to the information table and that often it was the same people who manned the table. Chairman Criqui offered that he is available for the event. Ms. Wheeler added that it would not be a bad idea to perhaps let the event go this year, since it is one that had been done many times in the past, and to review attending the event next year. Commissioner Barnhill added he believed this would give us more time to focus more on college students. Chairman Criqui concurred it would be good to revisit next year. Ms. Wheeler offered that she was proud of the commission for being willing to look at new outreach avenues.

 

Chairman Criqui also added he could receive the proclamation given by the Mayor and asked if there are talking points he could be given so he would have beneficial comments about LHRC at the City Commission Meeting. Ms. Wheeler said that staff can get some Fair Housing Act facts together for him.

 

C. Legislative Updates

Toni Wheeler said there are some bills in the Kansas legislature that staff are keeping an eye on. One was before the house last year that the City Commissioners opposed in a letter sent against the bill.  Scott Wagner added that HB 2203 is about preservation of religious freedom. We are monitoring this bill if it moves forward. Chairman Criqui said he is following HB 2203 also, and it doesn’t do much once they took out the municipalities’ language.  Scott Wagner also noted HB 2193 regarding accessibility standards for public buildings.  It applies the 2008 ADA changes to publicly owned buildings in Kansas.

 

D. Staff Training

Executive Director Toni Wheeler said the department sent Elizabeth Hafoka to the National Fair Housing Training in Washington DC last summer, and plan on continuing to send her for this training.

Ms. Hafoka said the training was very beneficial, and that it is a five week training and last year she attended the week one session. This year she will attend the week two session. She said it really helps to talk to other investigators.

 

E. Commission Membership Update

Toni Wheeler said there are three vacancies and she does not know if the mayor plans on appointing people to the commission before his term is up in April. We want to see the LHRC at full capacity.

 

Chairman Criqui said he referred three people, but the mayor did not appoint them, and that he would continue to refer people.

 

Toni Wheeler said she would like to do a training at the next meeting, 10 – 15 minutes on The Kansas Open Meetings Act which is required training for all advisory boards.

 

Commission Items.

Chairman Criqui said he would like to bring up a new outreach called World Café which is centered around bullying. The target group would be ages fifteen to college age, including Haskell and disability groups. He wasn’t sure if it was outside of the LHRC functions. Commissioner Dunn said he doesn’t really know what bullying is in relation to the scope of the LHRC work. Ms. Wheeler asked, how would Chairman Criqui like LHRC to be involved. Chairman Criqui said it could be an avenue of support. Commissioner Barnhill said I would be concerned about the age factor. Chairman Criqui added that this group is still very new and in the forming stages. Ms. Wheeler asked who the contact is for World Cafe.  Chairman Criqui said he was along with Kathy Pryor. He said perhaps we can present at a meeting down the road once we are more established. Mr. Barnhill said just not sure what LHRC can do. Ms. Wheeler said the language in the LHRC purpose statement could support the goals of this group and advised the commission to look at and review that language.

 

 

Public Comment.

None.

 

Adjournment.

No quorum, meeting ended 11:50 AM.