Present: Bernard Bidne

Via telephone: Jack Morlan, Robert L. Smith, Jr., Blanca Flores, Mohamad W. Khan, and Flora M. Lee

Staff: Diann Wilder-Tomlinson, Ron Pothast and Tim Cook

Public: None

Items:

1. CALL to ORDER

2. ROLL CALL

3. MINUTES of the October and November meetings were approved.

4. REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS

a. Mr. Bidne offered his thanks for the ICN meeting that was attempted on Friday, February 26, 1999. He reported on the African American Arts Festival that was held on January 30, 1999, and the Make Me a World presentation on Iowa Public Television.

b. Ms. Flores has nothing new to report.

C. Mr. Khan attended the Interface reception in January 1999. Polk County Diversity Coalition is seeking membership and will vary the meeting places.

d. Ms. Lee reported that the Human Rights Cultural Fair will be held on May 16, 1999, and the Iowa commission of African American Women's conference will be held on June 10, 11 and 12, 1999, in Sioux City, Iowa.

5. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT

a. FINANCIAL REOPORT

The report was given by Ron Pothast. The current report does not reflect increased funds from HUD and EEOC. The deficit should be okay. HUD has increased special programs and educational money (Teapots) for training. The EEOC increase is due to increase in production levels. He informed the commissioners that the HUD grant is an ongoing grant with additional funds for training this year.

Ms. Wilder-Tomlinson will attend a HUD training in Kansas City on March 17, 18, and 19, 1999. She will bring back training materials from that conference.

b. CASE COMPLIANCE

No new information was presented.

c. EDUCATION REPORT

Ms. Wilder-Tomlinson has added a section on Make Me A World - African American Culture.

d. RULES

Mr. Cook explained the three areas of the Administrative Rules as Rule Making, Declaratory Orders and contested Cases. Answers to questions posed by the Commissioners revealed that the changes to the Administrative Rules are mandated by the State for all Departments. If the rules are approved, they will be sent to the Iowa Legislature who will publish and approve the changes. A motion was made to adopt the changes to the rules and it passed

6. OLD BUSINESS

Ms. Wilder-Tomlinson asked for input on the Commission's current theme, Law Enforcement and Community Relations, for a particular focus or goal to be reached. A discussion was held concerning the merits of the current theme, ways to measure any improvement and the value of speakers from the community as well as from law enforcement. The commissioners asked that Frank come to the next meeting to clarify the goals for this year's theme. Mr. Smith and Ms. Lee will invite guest speakers

from various communities. Old business was approved and passed.

7. NEW BUSINESS

a. HUD Complaint

Ms. Wilder-Tomlinson asked for a clarification on the process for Commissioners and HUD Complaints. It was agreed that the Chair would sign them, as in the past, and have no involvement if the Complaint resulted in a Public Hearing. It was suggested that the Attorney General's office should be consulted for a clarification of the procedure.

8. NEXT COMMISSIONERS MEETING

The next meeting will be an ICN meeting held on March 26, 1999, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

9. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 10:545 a.m.