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Meeting Minutes Human Relations Commission Regular Meeting August 18, 2023 | 6:00 p.m. Chandler Museum 300 S. Chandler Village Dr., Chandler Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Chair Maxwell at 6:02 p.m. Roll Call Commission Attendance Staff Attendance Chair Erica Maxwell Niki Tapia, DEI Officer Vice Chair Kriti Argwal CC Cantabrana, Management Assistant Commissioner Betty Ramirez Commander Jason Sieczkowski Commissioner Tyler Conaway Commissioners Absent Commissioner Joseph Curbelo Commissioner Shannon Begay Commissioner Jacob Bello Commissioner John Anguiano Commissioner Gary Ong Commissioner Pamela Morris Scheduled and Unscheduled Public Appearances None Consent Agenda Motion and Vote Commissioner Bello moved to approve the August 16, 2023, Human Relations Commission meeting minutes; Seconded by Commissioner Anguiano. Motion carried unanimously (9-0). Page 2 of 3 Discussion Police Update Commander Sieczkowski provided a police update in response to the Hamas-Israel conflict. Intelligence detectives are undergoing ADL training for hate crime intelligence. Local incidents haven't been observed, and patrols at the East Valley Jewish Community Center and mosques have increased. Chair Maxwell asked if a recent incident in Downtown Chandler was a hate crime. Commander Sieczkowski shared it was a crime of opportunity, not a hate crime. Officer recruitment concerns related to marijuana were mentioned, with Commander Sieczkowski noting Arizona state thresholds govern usage. Regional Human Relations Commission Meeting, Phoenix The Regional Human Relations Commission meeting will be hosted in Phoenix, with the participation of cities including Tucson, Mesa, Scottsdale, and Tempe. Ms. Tapia will provide details on the specific date and location soon. Chair Maxwell, Vice Chair Agrwal, Commissioner Curbelo, and Commissioner Ong have confirmed their attendance at the event. DEI Event Pilot Sponsorship Program Applications and Process The DEI Event Pilot Sponsorship Program, backed by one-time funding for new events in the City, is underway. The HRC subcommittee discussed the application process, which includes two review periods on October 1 and April 1. Three applications have been received as of October 1 from South Chandler Self Help Teenage, the Korean Association, and the University of Philippines Alumni Association. Ms. Tapia will share the judging rubric, and Chair Maxwell, Commissioner Conaway, Commissioner Anguiano, and Commissioner Ramirez have committed to reviewing applications. Approved applicants will undergo training with the aim of sustaining their initiatives beyond City funding. Building Better Mental Health Series Ms. Tapia shared information about the DEI Building Better Mental Health series, a comprehensive three-part program aimed at increasing mental health understanding and reducing stigma. This free series is open to all Chandler residents, offering valuable resources and covering various mental health and well-being topics. Additionally, the city is hosting "Embracing Wellness: A Mental Health Event," bringing together over 35 mental and physical health organizations to share information and support the community's wellness journey. This free public event is currently accepting applications for informational vendors and food trucks until December 1, 2023. The Human Relations Commission is invited to join us in fostering mental wellness through awareness, education, and advocacy. Page 3 of 3 Fall Programs and Events This fall is packed with activities and Ms. Cantabrana will be sending out calendar notices for the events. Commissioners are requested to respond, and for those not attending, no response is needed. Post-event reports, tying into the DEI strategic plan, are now required, capturing new data, observations, contacts, and notes via a shared link for all events. Notably, the upcoming Phoenix Pride Parade will feature a fire truck, and November 1st is the deadline for the Creative Expression Competition. In January, the MLK Awards will take place, and November 4 will highlight the Diwali Festival of Lights. The Sister Cities Tea is scheduled for November 18, and the HRC end- of-year meeting is on December 6. The application to be a vendor at the 29th Annual Chandler Multicultural Festival is open and commissioners are encouraged to share it. Commissioner Survey Results Chair Maxwell presented a commissioner survey which will be used to collect feedback to better represent the community. The focus is on identifying where the community is currently active and pinpointing events that may be overlooked. Commissioner Ong emphasized the critical role of communication, suggesting the establishment of different chat groups, including one specifically for the HRC. Ms. Tapia expressed concerns about opening up additional communication channels, as it could lead to open meeting law complications. Chair Maxwell proposed the effective use of calendar invites, which received support from Ms. Tapia. Commissioner Curbelo raised the question of wearing HRC shirts to events the committee hasn't been scheduled to attend which Ms. Tapia said is appropriate. Commissioner Bello suggested creating a main business card directing people to the Chandler website's contact page. Commissioners will receive the survey via email by November 6. Member Comments/Announcements Chair Maxwell reported that the Chandler Contigo Kickoff was successful, drawing over 2,200 attendees. Maxwell also shared her upcoming literacy mission to South Africa, where she will be presenting her book. Additionally, Commissioner Ramirez shared that the Fortis Femina movie received another nomination for an award in Barcelona, Spain. Calendar The next regular meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at 6 p.m., in the Chandler City Council Chambers, 88 E. Chicago St., Chandler, AZ Adjourn The meeting was adjourned at 6:59 p.m. ______________________________ ______________________________ Niki Tapia, Secretary Erica Maxwell, Chair