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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10281997 - C68 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IOC-06 5E L Contra FROM: INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE Costa 9 County DATE: c'st October 21 , 1997 SUBJECT: CHANGES IMPACTING THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. ASSIGN responsibility to staff the Human Relations Commission to the Social Service Department and DIRECT the Social Service Director to provide that level of support which, in his judgment, provides an appropriate level of support to the Commission. 2. AGREE to expand the size of the Human Relations Committee from its present size of nine members to some number between nine and 15, REQUEST the Human Relations Commission to recommend to the County Administrator's Office what that number should be, and DIRECT the County Administrator to place on the Board agenda for introduction and subsequent approval an ordinance to effect the change in the size of the Commission consistent with the request of the Commission. 3. AUTHORIZE the Commission to assist in the recruitment, screening and interviewing of applicants for the Human Relations Commission, with recommendations for appointments to be presented to the Internal Operations Committee by the County Administrator. 4. DIRECT the County Administrator to give priority to assigning the grant writer who is being hired by the County Administrator the task of seeking funding for the Human Relations Commission. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BA COMMITT APPROVE OTHER i n� SIGNATURE(S): DONNA BER ACTION OF BOARD ON October 28, 1997 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED x OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS _ I x HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. ATTESTED Ocrober 28, 1997 Contact: PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF cc: County Administrator SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Social Service Director County Counsel Human Relations Commission (Via CAO) BY (� , DEPUTY IOC-06 5. AGREE to designate an appropriate contact person to work with the Commission and its staff whenever the Board of Supervisors makes an assignment to the Commission so the Commission has professional staff to assist it with any assignment given to it by the Board of Supervisors. 6. APPROVE the attached Work Plan for the 1997-98 fiscal year for the Human Relations Commission and ask the Commission to make a report to the Board of Supervisors following the end of the fiscal year on its accomplishments and plans for the 1998-99 fiscal year. BACKGROUND: The Human Relations Commission wrote to the Board of Supervisors in May 1997 and again in August, asking for a number of things, including staff, funding and an expansion of the Commission from its current nine members. Our Committee met with two members of the Commission on October 21, 1997 and reviewed the following issues and requests from the Commission: 1. Review and determine whether to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve the Work Plan for the Commission for the 1997-98 fiscal year. 2. Expand the size of the Commission from 9 members to 15. 3. Provide staff to the Commission other than staff to the members of the Board of Supervisors (part-time on contract) under the total control of the Commission. 4. When the Board assigns a task to the Commission, provide an "action person" to implement the directives of the Commission in accomplishing the mandate. 5. Provide $10,000 to $12,000 annually for a maximum of two years while grant I oney isgought and acquired to provide a permanent source for these funds. We believe that one of the major problems which has faced the Human Relations Commission is that it has not been clearly assigned to a County department which is then responsible for providing the necessary staffing to the Commission. As a result, we are recommending that the Commission be assigned to the Social Service Department. The Commission has asked that it be enlarged again. The Commission was reduced to nine members earlier this year, in part because of the difficulty we had in keeping positions filled. Our Committee believes that it is important to have Commission members who are active and interested in the work of the Commission. We do not want to be in the position of recommending the appointment of members to the Commission who are not fully aware of the work of the Commission and the dedication that is necessary in order to be a productive member of the Commission. We are asking that the Commission tell us how many members they believe the Commission should have. As long as that number is within reason we are prepared to recommend that the Board approve the expansion. We are also asking that the Commission work with the County Administrator's Office in recruiting and screening for new members to fill these newly created vacancies. -2- oV IOC-06 We are asking that the County Administrator give priority to trying to seek funding for the Human Relations Commission so the Social Service Director does not have to subsidize the cost of staffing the Commission indefinitely. We are also agreeing with the Commission that when the Board of Supervisors assigns a subject to the Commission or asks the Commission to comment on a subject that the Board also designate a staff person to work with the Commission who knows the subject matter well and can assist the Commission in carrying out the referral from the Board. Finally, we are recommending that the Board of Supervisors approve the Commission's Work Plan for the current fiscal year and ask the Commission to report back at the end of the fiscal year on what it has accomplished and what its plans for the coming fiscal year. -3- CONTRA COSTA COUNTY HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION 2020 North Broadway, Suite 203A Walnut Creek, CA 94596 510-646-6160 September 12, 1997 Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors 651 Pine Street Martinez, CA 94553 Subject: 1997/98 Work Plan By majority vote of the Commission at its general meeting held Wednesday, September 10, 1997, the Human Relations Commission adopted the following work plan for 1997/98. A. To develop a Public Relations Campaign with a supporting budget to promote cultural diversity. Although the purpose of the project is to address all cultures, this effort supports our mandate from the Board of Supervisors to partially implement the recommendations of the Newcomers Task force. The accomplishment of this projectt will initiate grant writing efforts in the 1998/99 time frame to finance and implement the program. The coordinator for this project is Commissioner Dane Pascoe. B. To begin publishing a semi-annual bulletin to all known human rights groups and human relations organizations affecting Contra Costa County. The purpose of this bulletin is to create and sustain an information network dealing with issues affecting cultural diversity and the quality of life within the county. The first issue is scheduled for distribution in April 1998. The coordinator for this project is Commissioner Stan Norman. c. Conduct elections and develop a workplan for 1997/98 in May of 1998. The point of contact for this memoranWNorma ork=3137574 or home--4586354. commissioner Chairman Copy Furnished: Each Commissioner County Administrator I/ CONTRA COSTA COUNTY RECEIVED SEP 15 1997 OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR CONTRA COSTA COUNTY HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION 2020 North Broadway, Suite 203A CONTRA COSTA COUNTY Walnut Creek, CA 94596 RECEIVED August 1, 1997 AUG .6 " .1997 Contra Costa Board of Supervisors OFFICE OF 651 Pine Street COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Martinez, CA 94553 Subject: Viability of the Contra Costa County Human Relations Commission Dear Board Members: The purpose of this letter is to determine the level of support for the Contra Costa County Human Relations Commission and to request that the county provide at least the support required to allow the commission to conduct sustainment activities. Additionally, the lack of response by the Board of Supervisors to the Commission's letter of May 14, 1997 (attached) would indicate that the need for the commission has declined to the point of ignoring the organization until it is politically expedient to acknowledge its existence. When compared to the support provided by other bay area counties to their Human Relations Commissions, our situation is nothing to be boastful about. The need for an active and effective Human Relations commission can be supported. The Commission continues to receive calls from citizens requesting assistance and information. Per the 1990 census, almost 12% of the majority population in this county had a household income below $12000 and are subject to the same issues of discrimination as the non-majority. Additionally per the 1990 census, 26% of the county's population was non-majority. While only 3% of the majority population was unemployed, over 50% of non-majority could not find work. The average per capita income of the non-majority was 65% that of the majority. This is the latest information available from the county Demographer as July 31, 1997. (I was very surprised at the lack of more up to date information at the Community Development Department.) Per an article in the Contra Costa Times on June 7, 1997, national statistics indicate that non-majority per capita income had dropped to 60% of majority per capita income in 1995. Although everyone opposes discrimination it has been proven that when people have the power to discriminate, they will. There are several recent studies and national commission reports that indicate discrimination of all kinds still exists at all levels of our society. As long as any group feels the need to exercise privilege and power over another, there is a need to provide an independent corrective mechanism. The complaints received by the HRC are a testament to the cold reality.that our county is not perfect yet. 1 of 2 To summarize the recommendations of the Commission letter dated May 14, 1997 (attached). a. Return the number of Commission seats to fifteen. b. Install call forwarding on the telephone of the Human Relations Commission to a phone that is normally answered during business hours. c. Allow the Commission to hire a coordinator who would be on contract, part time, without benefits to perform minimal administrative duties. This position could be within Community Services Department or the County Administrator but the individual must be totally controlled by the Commission. This individual would have budget. management responsibility. d. When the Board of Supervisors assigns a task to the Commission, provide an action person to implement the directives of the Commission in accomplishing the mandate. The estimated cost of this project is $10,000 to $12,000 annually. It is envisioned that these funds would be through grants acquired by county grant writers or directly from the county general funds. This investment would be for the monthly stipend to the part time coordinator ($500 to $600 without benefits?, the $10 per meeting for each Commissioner ($1800 per year) as mandated by County Ordinance 86-84. The remainder of the funds would be for postage, office supplies, and community outreach/relations. The point of contact is Commissioner Stan Norman at home, 458-6354 or at work, 313-7574. As usual, we look forward to your prompt response. Sincer tan N ma/0 Commissioner Interim Chair Attachment: Letter dtd May 14, 1997. Subject: Crisis Status of the Contra Costa. County Human Relations Commission Distribution: Each Supervisor County Administrator HRC File Copy Furnished Each Commissioner CONTRA COSTA COUNTY HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION 2020 North Broadway, Suite 203A Walnut Creek, CA 94596 May 14, 1997 The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors 651 Pine Street Martinez, CA 94553 Re: Crisis Status of the Contra Costa County Human Relations Commission Dear Board. Members: The present status of the Contra Costa County Human Relations Commission has reached a point where its ability to function pursuant to its mandate is drastically degraded. It has operated for the last several years with no staff and no funding. Over the last half year the Commission has suffered the loss of three key members and the elimination of six seats. The loss of the seats was most damaging because it crippled the ability of this "working" Commission to do more than achieve a quorum at monthly meetings. During most recent meetings we have discussed the viability of the Commission and have identified several issues that must be addressed in order to support the functions and efforts of the organization and the County. It must be understood that this is a working Commission whose members are full time workers and/or citizens who are not familiar with the functions and organization of county government, the Brown Act, the Better Government ordinance, or how to conduct public meetings. There is no staff to perform the administrative functions of setting up meetings/hearings, to conduct inquiries, represent the Commission at official functions and meetings, maintaining records, and assisting citizens with complaints or referrals to appropriate agencies, or to competently develop and prepare correspondence and official reports. The following recommendations are forwarded: Return the number of Commission seats to fifteen. This would allow multiple commissioner assignments to the same project and enhance the continuation of the work plan. Have the calls made to the Commission office in Walnut Creek forwarded to a phone that is answered during normal business hours. This would allow inquiries to be acted upon in a timely manner. Identify an individual responsible for assisting the Commission in complying with the Brown Act and the Better Government Ordinance by attending all meetings and organizing/maintaining records. When the Board of Supervisors assigns a task to the Commission and when the Commission publishes its annual work plan, assign an individual responsible for implementing the guidance of the Commission during business hours and providing competent administrative 1 of 2 support. This individual should not be a staff member of a county supervisor because of possible conflicts of interests. Task the Community Services Department to acquire grants to fund the requirements of the Commission. It is the collective opinion of the Commission, however, that we cannot carry out the requests of the Board of Supervisors or the requirements of the Commission charter unless these issues are addressed. The consensus of the current Commissioners is that unless changes are made it is pointless to continue to meet and to attempt to function on the issues that the HRC was created to handle. We are cognizant of the fact that there are a majority of new members on the Board of Supervisors who may be unfamiliar with the fact that no current Commission member has ever received the ten dollar per meeting compensation for travel expenses as by the ordinance that established the commission. We look forward to hearing from you. S* an or U Commissioner Interim Chairman Distribution; Each Supervisor County Administrator HRC file Copy Furnished Each Commissioner