HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 6-17Human Relations Commission
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Present: Commissioner Denise Habun, Commissioner Winfried Cooper, Vice Chair Rich
Jacobs, Commissioner Elisa Lara
Absent: Commissioner Aloun Khotisene, Chair Bill Williamson, Deputy Chief Bill Wolf
1. Call To Order – The meeting was called to order at 6:35 pm by Vice Chair Jacobs.
2. Person(s) Recognized – City Manager Rick Kozal and Senior Management
Analysts Laura Valdez-Wilson and Aaron Cosentino were recognized.
3. Approval of April 4, 2017 Minutes – Commissioner Habun made a motion to
approve the April minutes, seconded by Commissioner Cooper. Minutes
approved.
4. Monthly Reports – No reports this month. Commissioner Habun pointed out that
the contract reports are seen post-award and if sanctions should be placed on non-
compliant companies, there should be a discussion on what these sanctions would
be. City Manager Kozal stated that the HRC’s concerns with the “toothless
numbers” in the contract reports have not gone unnoticed. Commissioner Habun
expressed her appreciation.
5. Old Business
• Diversity Committee Update (standing item) – Staff Liaison Cohen
reviewed city actions over the past 2 months. Cohen distributed and
reviewed Denise Barreto’s proposal for 2017. Commissioner Habun
asked if the diversity and inclusion consultant Denise Barreto would
attend a Human Relations Commission meeting; City Manager Kozal
indicated that she would. Kozal also indicated that the July 15th council
retreat at which Barreto would lead a discussion on the diversity and
inclusion initiative is a meeting open to the public. Commissioner Habun
complimented Laura Valdez-Wilson on her with the diversity committee.
• Budget Update (as necessary) – no update.
6. New Business
• Student Representative on Human Relations Commission – Valdez-Wilson
reported on the new initiative. The city council wants non-voting
students on certain boards to learn about local government. The
students will be juniors or seniors and live in Elgin. They will be placed in
early fall and attend meetings and sit on an Exploratory Committee that
will help plan the program for the succeeding year. Students do not have
to attend a U-46 school to be eligible for the program.
• Election of Chair and Vice Chair
Vice Chair Jacobs entertained a motion for Elisa Lara to serve as chair of
the HRC. Commissioner Habun made a motion, seconded by Vice Chair
Jacobs. Elisa Lara was unanimously approved as the new chair of the
Human Relations Commission. Congratulations, Elisa!
Vice Chair Jacobs entertained a motion for a nominee for Vice Chair.
Commissioner Habun made a motion that Jacobs continue as vice chair,
seconded by Elisa Lara. Rich Jacobs was unanimously approved as the
vice chair of the Human Relations Commission. Congratulations, Rich!
• Commissioner Habun reported that the luncheon in honor of the Elgin
Police Department was a very good event.
Adjournment
Commissioner Habun made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Chair Lara. There
being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:59 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Gail Cohen
Gail Cohen
Staff Liaison