Present: Bernard Bidne, Flora Lee, Robert Smith, Jr., Liz Nichols, Mohamad Khan, and Jack Morlan

Staff: Kathy Corbin, Tim Cook, Frank Tribble, Alison Radl, and Don Grove

Public: Margaret Hough, Governor’s Office

Items:

1. Call to Order

2. Recognition of Public and News Media

3. Commissioners' Reports

Khan – no report

Nichols – said the City of Indianola has approved the Indianola Human Rights Commission’s recommendations on how best to make city parking and sidewalks more accessible to persons with disabilities.

Lee - said she was appointed to the Sioux City Human Rights Commission and one of the big issues facing the Commission is the City’s tentative decision to downsize Commission staff by one investigator position; the Sioux City Local Commission is seeking advice/assistance on what action should be taken in an effort to maintain the position; and the Local Commission is also waiting for ICRC’s decision regarding FY 99 Focal Issue because they may want to coordinate efforts.

Bidne – said he attended ICRC’s Fair Housing Conference in August: Friends of Iowa Civil Rights, Inc. is having their Annual Banquet and Awards Ceremony on October 22, 1998; and he encouraged everyone to attend the Banquet (only $25; contact person is ICRC’s Dawn Peterson).

Smith – said he has heard very favorable comments regarding study circles in the Waterloo area and hopes that the ICRC continues to aggressively promote the use of study circles on racism and race relations.

4. Next Meeting Date/Time/Location

September 25, 1998/9:30-Noon/Sioux City

Lee will secure location and help Grove with speakers and publicity.

5. Approval of Minutes of July 24, 1998 Meeting

Lee moved to approve the minutes; Bidne seconded. Motion passed.

6. Presentation by Frank Tribble, ICRC Educator, on "Police/Community Relations"

Tribble presented information on the state of relations between police departments and minority residents in the State and across the country. Tribble also presented information and led discussion on several police department "best practices," designed to build trust and improve relations, that he discovered in ICRC’s ongoing research.

7. Presentation by Alison Radl, ICRC Program Manager, on "Covered Multifamily Dwelling Accessibility"

Radl presented information on ICRC’s ongoing study of covered multifamily dwellings. Radl reported that the study is designed to determine what, if any, percentage of covered dwellings are being built not accessible.

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

After discussion, the Commissioners decided to make "Police/Community Relations" their Focal Issue of the Year; which means that at every meeting, someone knowledgeable in the area will be invited to speak on what needs to be done to improve relations between police departments and minority residents of our communities.

9. Gender Orientation as a protected personal characteristic under the "Iowa Civil Rights Act"

After discussion, Lee moved to propose legislation which would add sexual/gender orientation to the list of protected personal characteristics in Iowa Code Chapter 216; Nichols seconded. Motion failed. Smith-No; Lee-Yes; Nichols- Yes; Khan-No; Bidne-No; Morlan-No.

Adjourn