Present:

Bernard Bidne, Flora Lee, Blanca Flores, and Jack Morlan

Staff: Tim Cook and Don Grove

Public: Julie Simon, Iowa Senate Democratic Caucus Staff

Pat Harvey, Chair, Iowa City Human Rights Commission

Kathryn Carrol, Investigator, Iowa City Commission

Heather Shank, Director, Iowa City Commission

Assistant Attorney General Rick Autry

Items:

1. Call to Order

2. Recognition of Public and News Media

3. Commissioners' Reports

Lee – no report

Flores – no report

Bidne - said he attended the ceremonies on July 7 in Des Moines celebrating the 50th anniversary of the July 7, 1948 civil rights victory involving Edna Griffin, Phyllis Griffin, John Bibbs, and Leonard Hudson, as well as attorneys Charles P. Howard and Henry T. McKnight; also attended, as a board member, last month’s meeting of the Friends of Iowa Civil Rights, Inc.; and he belongs to a "handicap and welfare club" of the Winnebago International Travelers Club that has been working on accessibility issues.

Morlan – said he also attended the July 7 Celebration.

4. Next Meeting Date/Time/Location

August 28, 1998/9-11:30 a.m./Des Moines

Following meeting: September 25, 1998, 9-11:30 a.m., Sioux City. Commissioner Lee will secure location.

5. Approval of Minutes of June 19, 1998 Meeting

Commissioners Lee and Flores suggested that the minutes be corrected to reflect that the report attributed to Commissioner Flores under item #3 page 1 be changed to Lee’s report. Bidne moved to approve the minutes with above correction; Flores seconded. Motion passed.

6. Presentation by the Iowa City Human Rights Commission, advocating the addition of sexual orientation as a protected personal characteristic under the "Iowa Civil Rights Act."

Pat Harvey, chair of the Iowa City Commission, made the presentation. Discussion among the Commissioners followed. Lee moved that the issue be discussed by the full Commission at the next meeting, on August 28. Morlan seconded. Motion passed.

7. ICRC’s "Focal Issue of the Year" for FY 1999

After discussion, the Commissioners decided to decide the Focal Issue at the next meeting so that more Commissioners could participate in the discussion and decision-making. Commissioners also decided to include presentations by ICRC staff on "police/community relations" and "covered multifamily dwelling accessibility" during the next meeting.

8. Legislative Update, Federal and State

ICRC’s Tim Cook presented an update on a number of bills related to civil rights.

9. Legal Update, recent decisions by the U. S. Supreme Court

Assistant Attorney General Rick Autry led discussion regarding the Supreme Court’s two recent, very important decisions on sexual harassment, Burlington Industries, Inc. v. Kimberly B. Ellerth and Beth Ann Faragher v. City of Boca Raton.

Adjourn