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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05131986 - IO.2 To BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM: INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE Contra Costa DATE: May 12, 1986 tour ty SUBJECT: Human Relations Commission SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: 1 . Agree in principle to reestablish a countywide Human Relations Commission. 2 . Appoint the following individuals to draft an ordinance laying out the role, responsibilities, authority, size, membership, and budget for a Human Relations Commission, and return their recommendations to our Committee on June 23 , 1986 : Art Miner, Executive Director, Private Industry Council Perfecto Villarreal, Executive Director, Contra Costa Housing Authority Warren Rupf, Assistant County Sheriff Bernie R. Bautista, 1303 Center Ave. , Martinez, CA 94553 George S. Fujioka, 1874 Meadow Lane, Walnut Creek, CA 94595 Nina Aragon, 1915 Risdon Road, Concord, CA 94518 Rev. H. Eugene Farlough, Sojourner Truth Presbyterian Church, 2621 Shane Dr. , Richmond, CA 49806 Sandy Tomlin, 2411 Glenlock, San Pablo, CA 94803 3 . In preparing a proposed ordinance, utilize the attached report from the County Administrator' s Office and the other responses identified in that report as the basis for formulating the proposed role, responsibilities, authority, and membership for a Human Relations Commission. 4 . Refer to the Finance Committee consideration of the need for funds to staff and adequately meet the needs of a Human Relations Commission as a part of the 1986-87 County Budget. 5 . Leave this item on referral to our Committee. BACKGROUND: On February 25, 1986, the Board referred to our Committee the issue of whether the Board should reestablish a countywide Human Relations Commission. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT; X YES SIGNATURE: _ RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR _ RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE X APPROVE OTHER i//�� vV __ SIGNATURE s : Nan C. Fanden unne 6d. McPeak U ACTION OF BOARD D May 13, 198npS6 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT III ) 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. County Administrator cc: PIC Director ATTESTED Housing Authority Director PHIL BAT�LORCLERK OF THE BOARD OF Asst. County Sheriff Rupf SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Bernie Bautista; George Fujioka; Rev. Farlough, Nina Aragon , Sandy Tomlin , M382/7-83 (� BY Ncvt DEPUTY Page 2 Our Committee met on April 14 with representatives from a number of concerned organizations. As a result of*' that meeting, we reported to the Board on April 15 recommending that the County Administrator' s Office prepare a report outlining proposed roles, responsibilities, authority, and membership for such a Commission. The County Administrator' s Office solicited comments from all of the organizations who had expressed an interest in this subject, obtained copies of San Francisco' s and Los Angeles ' s ordinances establishing their Human Relations Commissions, and presented our Committee with a report summarizing those responses. The Executive Director of the Private Industry Council indicated his interest in staffing such a Commission. A copy of the County Administrator' s Office report is attached to our Committee report. Based on our discussion with those present, we have made the above recommendations. OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR CONTRA COSTA COUNTY Administration Building Supervisor Nancy Fanden Martinez, California Supervisor Sunne McPeak To: INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE Date: May 8, 1986 From: Claude L. Van MarterSabject: Human Relations Commission Asssistant Administrat INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND: On February 25, 1986 , the Board of Supervisors referred to your Committee the issue of whether the Board should reestablish a countywide Human Relations Commission. Your Committee reported to the Board April 15, 1986 asking that our office be directed to return to your Committee on May 12, 1986 with the proposed role, authority, responsibilities and membership for such a Commission. The Board approved' your report. Since April 15, our office has done the following: 1. Written to all organizations and individuals who attended your April 14 meeting, or who had provided written comments, inviting their suggestions on the proposed role, authority, responsibilities and membership for a County Human Relations Commission and advising them of your meeting May 12. 2. Obtained a copy of San Francisco' s ordinance establishing their Human Rights Commission. A copy of Los Angeles County' s Human Relations Commission ordinance has been requested, but not yet received. 3 . Reviewed the Clerk of the Board' s files on the former Contra Costa County Human Relations Commission, including ordinance 69-62 which established that Commission. 4. Summarized the comments received from a number of organizations on the role, authority, responsibilities and membership of any proposed Human Relations Commission. Comments have been received from the following and are attached for your Committee' s information: Internal Operations May 8, 1986 Page 2 4. (continued) o Letter from Florence Stagner, Assistant to the Mayor, City and County of San Francisco, enclosing San Francisco' s ordinance establishing their Human Rights Commission. o Letter from Pete Schabarum, Chairman, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, referring our letter to the Director of their Human Relations Commission. o Letter from Sara Martin, Chair, Community Services Commission, City of Concord. o Memorandum from Assistant Sheriff Warren Rupf. o Memorandum from Perfecto Villarreal, Executive Director, Housing Authority of the County of Contra Costa. o Memorandum from Emma Kuevor, Affirmative Action Officer, County of Contra Costa. o Memorandum from Art Miner, Executive Director, Contra Costa County Private Industry Council. o Letter from Consuelo Bennett, Administrative Director, Council of Churches of Contra Costa County. o Memorandum from Richard Lujan, Chairman, Contra Costa Chapter, Mexican-American Political Association. o Letter from Zoe Borkowski, Executive Director, International Institute of the East Bay. o Letter from George S. Fujioka, Diablo Valley Chapter, Japanese-American Citizens League. o Memorandum from George Roemer, Criminal Justice staff, Contra Costa County Administrator' s Office, enclosing ordinance from the City of Richmond establishing Richmond' s Commission on Human Relations and Housing. Internal Operations May 8, 1986 Page 3 o Letter from Samuel S. Yoshioka, Chairperson, Racial Ethnic Ministries Committee, Presbytery of San Francisco, Presbyterian Church (USA) , with enclosures. o Copy of Contra Costa County ordinance 69-62. HISTORY OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY'S HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION: From reviewing the Clerk of the Board' s files, we have concluded the following: o The Board of Supervisors created a Human Relations Commission by Ordinance 69-62 .on August 12, 1969. The Commission consisted of ten members, two nominated from each Supervisorial district. The members served three-year staggered terms. The Commission had the following responsibilities: -- To foster mutual respect and understanding among all racial, religious and nationality groups in the community. -- To make such studies in fields of human relationships in the community as in the judgment of the Commission will aid in effectuating its purposes. -- To inquire into incidents of tension and conflict among or between various racial, religious, and nationality groups, and to take action by means of conciliation, conference, and persuasion to alleviate such tensions and conflict. -- To conduct and recommend such educational programs as, in the judgment of the Commission, will increase goodwill among inhabitants of the community and open new opportunities into all phases of community life for all inhabitants. The Commission was apparently abolished sometime late in 1974 after a troubled history filled with controversy. From a review of the file, two problems emerge very clearly: ( 1) the lack of a clear role and responsibility for the Commission, and ( 2) a lack of sufficient funds to provide for a professional staff. The Internal Operations May 8, 1986 Page 4 clearest lesson which can be learned from the history of the prior Human Relations Commission is that without sufficient staff resources the Commission cannot perform its role properly. ROLE OF A HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION: There appears to be a general consensus that a Human Relations Commission should perform the following role: o Advise the Board of Supervisors on all issues relating to or affected by the religious, ethnic, economic, social and sexual composition of the County. o To review complaints which involve racial, religious, and sexual prejudice. o. To hold public hearings on human relations topics. o To foster better understanding of ethnic groups throughout the County. o To help increase the respect for every human being regardless of his/her ethnic background, sex, age, or religion. o To sponsor educational and cultural activities which promote better understanding of racial and religious groups and which increase the social harmony of all residents of the County. u o Make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors based on their findings. RESPONSIBILITIES OF A HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION: There appears to be a general consensus that a Human Relations F Commission should generally have the following responsibilities: k, o Taking a proactive role in addressing policy questions, programs and issues relating to human relations in the County. f. o Work closely with city committees and/or commissions. l i I' f� I. I i C Internal Operations May 8, 1986 Page 5 o Gather, receive and review all issues, policies, procedures, and incidents which unfairly or un- necessarily impact on a person or group because of their religious persuasion, ethnic background, economic condition, social position, or sexual orientation. o Advise the Board of Supervisors on matters related to human relations problems and issues. o Review racial and religious discrimination complaints and recommend actions to resolve complaints. o Work with the private and public sectors to eliminate discrimination and prejudice throughout the County. o Foster better understanding and acceptance of minority individuals and groups. o Study the issue of racial discrimination in Contra Costa County and prepare recommendations to the Board of Supervisors which would aid in the elimination of racial discrimination in the County. o Operating under applicable federal and state laws, work to prohibit discrimination in employment, housing, public services accommodations, and education. o Sponsor and encourage educational activities which tend to promote inter-racial and inter-ethnic harmony, progress, and integration. AUTHORITY OF A HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION: There appears to be a general consensus that a Human Relations Commission should have the following types of authority: ' o Hold public hearings on issues involving racial discrimination and prejudice. o Take public testimony from individuals affected by racial discrimination or prejudice. Internal Operations May 8, 1986 Page 6 o Submit recommendations to the Board of Supervisors to correct racial discrimination problems. o Recommend possible legislation which would address and aid in the elimination of racial discrimination and prejudice. o Be an advisory body to groups, organizations, cities, and individuals in the County involved in issues brought before the Commission. o Make and issue reports respecting its studies, research, investigations, and other activities, and make information available to other commissions and staff, as required. MEMBERSHIP• There appears to be a general consensus that a Human Relations Commission should have the following types of membership: o Representative of all ethnic groups in the County. o Broadly based without being so large that it cannot function effectively. o Include members from the public and private sectors. o Should have a well-balanced sexual mix, geographic mix, include representatives of various religious faiths, members of diverse economic status, and otherwise represent a good cross section of the County' s population. ! o Members should be objective, have integrity, be well respected, and have a good record of community service. t o Law enforcement, service groups, schools, and community action groups should be represented. o Members should not represent specific organizations. o Approximately 15 members seems to be a frequently-used figure for the size of such a commission. Internal Operations May 8, 1986 Page 7 STAFF AND BUDGET: o There is a general consensus that adequate staff and an adequate budget are critical to the success of a Human Relations Commission. o The Executive Director of the Private Industry Council has suggested that his office staff such a Commission in conjunction with the Advisory Committee on the Employment and Economic Status of Women. o The prior history of the Human Relations Commission makes it clear that the failure to provide an adequate budget and adequate staff will almost surely doom the commission to inaction, frustration, and eventually failure. RECOMMENDATIONS: If your Committee wishes to have the Board of Supervisors establish a Human Relations Commission, you may wish to consider proceeding as follows: 1. Request the Executive Director of the Private Industry Council, -in conjunction with the Executive Director of the Housing Authority, the Assistant Sheriff, and perhaps three representatives of other organizations, to develop a detailed ordinance laying out the role, responsibilities, authority, size, membership, budget, and other details for a Human Relations Commission and return a proposal to your Committee in four weeks. 2. Recommend to the Board of Supervisors that the Board ask the Finance Committee to consider inclusion of sufficient funds in the 1986-1987 budget to provide for staffing and other expenses of the Commission. CLVM:clg cc: Executive Director, PIC Executive Director, Housing Authority Assistant Sheriff Rupf Affirmative Action Officer Chair, Concord Community Services Commission Organizations on Mailing List for this Issue I C f