CITY OF BEVERLY HILLS HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order at 9:21 a.m. Present: Absent: Meshkaty, Ginsburg, Sherman, Linder, Nazarian, Yousem None CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES 1. Minutes of December 17, 2009 MOVED by Meshkaty, SECONDED by Sherman to approve as presented. (6/0) AYES: Meshkaty, Ginsburg, Sherman, Linder, Nazarian, Yousem ABSENT: None ORAL COMMUNICATION FROM THE AUDIENCE CONTINUED AND NEW BUSINESS Thomas Pease was sworn in by City Clerk Executive Assistant Mary Howell, as Commissioner of the. 2. ADMINISTRATOR S REPORT Report from Administrator: James R. Latta, L.C.S.W. Human Services Administrator Latta gave his report which included: Commission and staff welcomed new er Tom Pease Human Services Division moved to newly remodeled office in City Hall, second floor, suite # 250. Save-the-Date: Upward Bound House Family shelter ribbon-cutting, Friday, January 29, 2010, 1:00 2:30 p.m. The Human services website at www.beverlyhills.org/humansvcs has been updated. Westside Winter Shelter program to explore donation opportunities will be discussed Tab #5. Youth educational programs provided by the Los Angeles County Human
relations Commission. Public Relations: Human Services page of the next Community services Catalog, Webpage, and Donation Calendar program will be discussed Tab #4. Beverly Hills Homeless Collaboration meeting January 12, 2010: discussion of goals and objectives for the year. Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700) must be filed in the City Clerk s Office by April 1, 2010. New City Manager Jeff C. Kolin starts on Jan 25, 2010. New Interim Director of Community Services is Steve Miller. HRC LIAISON REPORTS Report from Beverly Hills Unified School District: Dr. Brian Goldberg Dr. Goldberg s report included updates on: Beverly Hills School District Permits and Basic Aid Report from Beverly Hills Police Department: Lt. Lee No hate crimes to report Detective Bob Rothman and Officer Gary Crump, from the Los Angeles Police Department Counter Terrorism and Criminal Intelligence Bureau Liaison sections spoke on their work with the Beverly Hills Police Department and other neighboring cities. Mayor s Cabinet Meeting: Chairperson Yousem Chairperson Yousem gave a summary of the Mayor s Cabinet Meeting. BREAK Commissioners took a five-minute break. Tab. 3 CULTURAL DIVERSITY TRAINING FOR THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION: The approved a motion during the November 17, 2009 Commission meeting to lead by example by participating in a diversity training, evaluating the encounter and considering extending the experience to others. The Commission agreed with staff recommendations to invite three qualified trainers to come to the Commission and present their strategy to provide the Commission with a Cultural Diversity Training. The Commission adopted the Community Outreach ad hoc committee s recommendation to proceed with the following actions: invite identified consultants to come before the commission provide each candidate with a similar outline of the commission s training 2
expectations allocate 20 minutes for each candidate to present their plan for addressing the diversity training needs of the commission select one organization to provide training if training is helpful, the commission can then encourage the City and interested members of the community to participate if training does not meet commission s expectations, continue search Each consultant presented their proposal to provide diversity training to the Commission and explained their plan to extend the experience to the community. Each presentation was scheduled for 20 minutes and approximately 10 minutes for Commission questions. Background information on each consultant was provided in the Commission s packet. Consultants presented in the following order: 1. Center for the Celebration of Diversity Through Education Jerome Rahbow, PhD. 2. Dispute Resolution Services Karenjot Ghangoo, Director of Mediation, Training & Education 3. Kaleidoscope Institute Lucy Altman Lynch, Associate Commissioners ranked the three presentations noting possible follow-up inquires to be made prior to a decision to select from the three presentations or continue the search. MOVED by Ginsburg, SECONDED by Nazarian to return the issue to the ad hoc committee to form follow-up questions to top ranked groups and bring back their responses for review at the February Commission meeting. (7/0) AYES: Pease, Meshkaty, Ginsburg, Sherman, Linder, Nazarian, Yousem ABSENT: None Tab. 4 DONATION CALENDAR PROJECT Human Services Outreach Manager Kahn gave a detailed report on the status and progress of the 2010 Donation Calendar project. 3
A presentation packet designed for Commissioners use in the outreach and engagement of potential donors in support of the Donation calendar project was provided to each Commissioner for final review. The packet included the following items: Attachment I: Cover letter Attachment II: Cover and back page of pamphlet Attachment III: Donation Calendar 2010 (interior page of pamphlet) Attachment IV: Homeless Outreach Program Attachment V: Ordinance No. 07-0-2538 Attachment VI: Community Assistance Grant Funding Recipients Staff noted Commission s suggested modifications. Commission will be kept apprised of next steps in disseminations. Tab 5. HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION SPONSORSHIP OF WINTER SHELTER PROGRAM Information was provided in response to the Commission s request for details on logistics and liability regarding the idea of supporting the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) 2009 2010 Winter shelter Program. The Commission was asked to consider a range of options such as: No recommendation for Commission action Provide a breakfast brown bag meal with fresh fruit and muffins Deliver a quality protein to supplement dinner menu (e.g., roast turkey) Provide pies and/or homemade cookies Commission was in agreement for the option to provide a breakfast brown bag meal with fresh fruit and muffins. Commissioners shared what item they would be bringing to include in the meal bag. There would be a total of 100 bags. Commissioner Linder left at 12:55 p.m. Tab 6. CALENDAR 2010 COMMISSION MEETING DATES: Commission was provided with upcoming meeting dates. Staff recorded Commissioners planned absences on the calendar. COMMENTS BY COMMISSIONERS INCLUDING TOPICS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS GOOD AND WELFARE 4
ADJOURNMENT at 1:20 p.m. MOVED by Sherman, SECONDED by Pease to adjourn (6/0) AYES: Pease, Meshkaty, Ginsburg, Sherman, Nazarian, Yousem ABSENT: Linder PASSED, Approved and Adopted This day of, 2010 Yousem, Chairperson 5