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6:00 p.m. February 1, 2006
The following members were present:
Karen Nakandakare
Carlos Cuellar
Pete Roybal
Karen Kellen
Mark Skinner
Eveline Yang
Jaime diPaulo
Linda Bessinger
Cathleen Jones-Gooding
Mayor Steve Burkholder
Councilor Sue King
City Employees - Ex-officio members present:
Mike Becker
Bill Taylor
Therese Megargee
Absent:
Elzia Sekou
Vanita Bellen
Rick Lopez
Harry Cullis
Guadalupe Sisneros
Margaret Sawyer
Ken Milano
Olga Mikhailova
Councilor Doug Anderson
Guest:
Joe Beaver
Full and timely notice of this Commission meeting had been given.
The meeting of the Commission on Cultural Diversity and Human Relations was called to order at 6:01 p.m. by Chair Karen Nakandakare.
I. PUBLIC COMMENT
Lakewood citizen Joe Beaver was in attendance and Introductions were made at
this time. Mr. Beaver represents the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition and
has been a Lakewood resident for the past three years. Prior to living in Lakewood,
Mr. Beaver lived in Arvada. He advised that the City of Arvada is not very responsive
to the needs of people with disabilities and has a friend in Arvada that states
he would like stricter enforcement of parking lots. Mr. Beaver stated that an
area around Colfax and Carr was made wheelchair accessible by the City of Lakewood,
and he would like the City to examine the sidewalk on Colfax near Rockley's
Music to make that wheelchair accessible. Mayor Burkholder advised that he would
put in a service request to the City for Mr. Beaver.
Mike Becker stated that the Lakewood Police Department has volunteers that patrol major parking lots for handicap parking violations, and they have issued thousands of tickets to violators.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - November 2, 2005
A motion was made by Commissioner Yang to approve the November 2, 2005 minutes
and was seconded by Commissioner Kellen . With all present and voting in favor,
THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR NOVEMBER WAS ADOPTED.
III. COMMISSIONER REPORTS
Partnerships
Commissioner Yang stated that she would like the Commission members to offer
feedback and directives so that she can proceed with a partnership with the
Lakewood Public Library. Suggestions from members were to possibly have a local
minority author or poet at the library and a Japanese American to speak about
their experience during World War II.
Commissioner Cuellar will contact Jackie Powers, Director of Public Information, to see whether the library is open and willing to partner with the Commission.
Commissioner diPaulo advised that a study was completed by Corona Research about more diversity in the libraries that he would be willing to share with Commission members.
Events
Commissioner Roybal related that the Martin Luther King celebration at Red Rocks
was great and a fantastic program was provided.
Chair Nakandakare advised that participation in the media contest was very low. Margaret Sawyer has put together a questionnaire to school teachers asking why they did not participate.
Mayor Burkholder suggested contacting Dwayne Carrington to perform at next year's Martin Luther King celebration. He performs "I Have a Dream" and a number of Martin Luther King, Jr. speeches. Mayor Burkholder suggested when the Commission submits their budget request, that the $400.00 for this performance be included.
Awareness Through Media Tools
Commissioner Cullis was not present, so this item will be discussed at next
month's meeting.
IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Inclusive Communities for All
Mayor Burkholder distributed the 2005 Futures Report "Inclusive Communities
for All" from the National League of Cities, "101 Tools for Tolerance
Booklet" and "2006 - Partnership for Working Toward Inclusive Communities",
and asked how we work on this partnership?
Councilor King advised that presently she is talking with the principal at Alameda High School, the area superintendent and a school board member in an attempt to get support from local government and businesses for the high school.
Chair Nakandakare related that several years ago, the Police Executive Research Forum and the City of Lakewood developed a special project entitled "Collaborative Leadership: A Problem Solving Approach to Bias." The focus group that she sat on concentrated on Alameda High School and the problems that exist at the school and the neighborhood. Councilor King has contacted Ken Milano to discuss this project and has been in contact with Susan Lythgoe and George Valuck. This would be an opportunity for the Commission to assist Councilor King with her efforts and to continue with the PERF project.
Commissioner Kellen advised that the light rail issue along the Sheridan corridor could stimulate citizen participation and that non-English speaking citizens could get involved in that process. The next west corridor meeting will be held on Thursday, February 9.
Mayor Burkholder asked Commission members if he could relate to City Council that this Commission will continue to support City Council in moving forward to continue to make this City an inclusive community and to pass a resolution reaffirming Lakewood's commitment to promoting inclusion; and to proudly display a sign that serves as a daily reminder that Lakewood is working towards a better future for all its citizens. Members can download the tool kit from the NLC website at www.nlc.org. The kit includes information on how to join the partnership, a list of examples of city action steps, and examples of inclusive city programs, policies, and activities. Mayor Burkholder advised that the tool kit could be presented and reviewed at next month's meeting.
Commissioner diPaulo stated that this transformation begins within the person and that it is very important that the Commission support this resolution.
Joe Beaver stated that he appreciates the City's efforts to make the City an inclusive community and offered a quote "nothing about us is without us."
Commissioner Yang is impressed with the City's efforts as well and asked Mayor
Burkholder if the City government workforce represents the make up of the community.
Mayor Burkholder advised that the City is getting better. There are several
females that are department directors and a minority female serving on City
Council.
Commissioners Report
Commissioner Bessinger distributed the committee's project on information gathering,
entitled "Lakewood…A Community Portrait" which explains in detail
how the project will be implemented. The timetable is aggressive with the final
comprehensive report to be presented in April, 2006, and then focus group participants
would be invited to an August, 2006 meeting with the Commission at the Lakewood
Civic Center.
Members offered input on the four questions and suggested that the number two question be changed to say, "In what ways is the City of Lakewood meeting the needs of our community? Members are asked to review both pages and submit their input to Linda Bessinger by the end of next week, February 10.
Mayor Burkholder advised that this project and information should be provided to Joni Inman.
Members discussed their priorities for 2006 and 2007 and felt that in order to do them well, that the Commission should concentrate on the transit issue and Alameda High School.
Mission Statement/Vision Statement
Chair Nakandakare advised that this item would be discussed at next month's
meeting.
V. NEW BUSINESS
Colfax Marathon
Mike Becker stated that three cities would be participating in this event on
Sunday, May 21, 2006. An informational packet will be given to management team
by the first of March and then presented to City Council.
VI. ANNOUNCEMENTS
City Councilors Sue King and Doug Anderson have been appointed to the Commission
on Cultural Diversity and Human Relations and were welcomed as members
Mayor Burkholder stated that the Good News Celebration is scheduled for Tuesday, April 25, 2006 from 6:59 to 8:29 at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. Nomination forms were distributed to members. Nominations for an organization or individual building bridges to help individuals and/or families overcome obstacles can be submitted until February 24, 2006.
Mayor Burkholder distributed the Lakewood City Council Legislative Committee Meeting Schedule to Commission members and extended an open invitation to members to sit in on any of the meetings.
The Mayor will be attending an RTD meeting on Thursday, February 9, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. reference the west corridor light rail.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
With no further business to come before the Commission, a motion was made by
Commissioner Roybal to adjourn and seconded by Commissioner Cuellar. The meeting
was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Margaret Sawyer, Staff Liaison
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