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6:30 p.m. May 4, 2005
The following members were present:
Rick Lopez
Elzia Sekou
Bruce Smith
Pete Roybal
Harry Cullis
Mark Skinner
Karen Kellen
Mayor Steve Burkholder
Councilor Barbara Green-Martin
City Employees - Ex-officio members present:
Ken Milano
Mike Becker
Olga Mikhailova
Bill Taylor
Therese Megargee
Absent:
Karen Nakandakare
Carlos Cuellar
Margaret Sawyer
Vanita Bellen
Guadalupe Sisneros
Felix Cook
Calvin Hardwick
Councilor Debbie Koop
Willard Hardesty
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 6:34 p.m. by Chair Rick Lopez.
I. PUBLIC COMMENT
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - April 6, 2005
A motion was made by Commissioner Cullis to approve the April 6, 2005 minutes
and was seconded by Commissioner Smith. With all present and voting in favor,
THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR APRIL WAS ADOPTED.
III. COMMISSIONER REPORTS
Partnerships: Commissioner Karen Kellen
Commissioner Kellen had no report at this time. However, she stated that she
had a few questions and thoughts for the group to think about. She advised that
a list of organizations and potential partnerships have been selected. The members
need to put some thought into prioritizing and figuring out what it is the Commission
wants to get from these partnerships and what are we trying to achieve. That
will help the Commission to figure out which of these partnerships will be productive.
What does this group want to accomplish in the community, how do we proceed,
and which of the potential partnerships could best support the Commission's
efforts.
One issue that the Commission has been having is how do we know what the community needs or what the community wants. Are we looking at just the minority community because it's a diversity commission and how the majority community views the minority community? What can the commission do to be proactive?
Commissioner Kellen offered a suggestion. Since the members come from different backgrounds and all have different expertise, there are ways that we can start looking at generalized information to get a feel for what's going on in our community and use some of that information to help us focus on where we think the problems are. The members have their individual backgrounds, can tap into information that is easily and readily available to them, and can bring a broad and general understanding of what the community needs are to help this Commission focus on what it wants to do. For those who feel that they don't have the community background, talk to your neighbors, talk to the people you meet in groups and find out their concerns, what's on their minds, what's bothering them, and then use that information or statistical data to figure out where our community sits and maybe get an idea on what we might want to focus in relationship to the goals of this project. Determine what's going on in the community and what we can do to impact it.
Commissioner Skinner suggested that the first step the Commission may want to consider is a questionnaire among the Commission to find out what each commissioner knows in the way of contacts individually, look at ourselves as a group and what we can all offer in the way of strengths and who can we open doors for or to. That would help us build on our strengths and reach out to different partners.
Chair Lopez advised that he is willing to put this together and we can e-mail it to everybody and then create a way to respond to that so we can begin building a database.
Commissioner Kellen asked how much time and energy does the Commission want
or have the ability to put into this endeavor. The Commission can convene a
process, bring parties together to develop a process to put in place, bring
the right people to the table and look for funding opportunities. Karen would
like the Commission to think about what substantive activities the Commission
can accomplish in the community to make a difference, have an impact, and make
the City a better place to live.
Karen stated that her plan is to do a summary of what her questions and thoughts
are and send it to the entire group in order to stimulate responses and discussion
at the next monthly meeting.
Events: Commissioner Elzia Sekou
Elzia gave an update on Lakewood on Parade and said that he and Margaret attended
the Lakewood on Parade meeting on Tuesday, April 19. Letters were sent out in
April to artists who participated in the 2004 Art Experience. The following
artists have confirmed their interest:
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (Cartooning and Computer Animation)
Denver Indian Family Resource Center (Crafts)
Rita Wallace (Mexican Masks)
Marne Productions (Sock Hop, Kid Mystery, African Drum and Dance Instruction,
Storyteller, Town Crier)
Sumi Von Dassow (Pottery)
Museo de las Americas (Crafts)
Rockley Music (Musical Instruments)
The parade route has been changed and will take place in the new downtown Belmar Center. Volunteers are needed on Saturday, August 27 to assist with the Art Experience. The hours will be from 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. The Art Experience begins at 11:00 a.m. and concludes at 6:00 p.m. Volunteers are needed for early set up and a minimum of four volunteers is needed after the Art Experience to clean up the area. A sign up sheet will be made available at next month's meeting.
Commissioner Sekou will contact George Valuck at Alameda Gateway to coordinate the decorating of the float and riding on the float if Commission members are interested in participating. Commission members are interested in helping decorate and riding on the float.
Awareness Through Media Tools: Commissioner Harry Cullis
The survey was given to the 9th grade Spanish students at Graland to translate.
They are 99.9% completed. Chair Lopez stated he would definitely have some data
for the members and put it in some form so that the Commission can try to draw
some conclusions.
Red Rocks Community College Liaison: Commissioners Cuellar and Roybal
Commissioner Roybal attended the Red Rocks Diversity Council on Wednesday, April
27. Cliff Richards, interim Chief Administrative Officer, discussed the importance
of the diversity council in the future especially in regards to the college's
new strategic plan, mission, vision and value statements.
A new logo has been chosen for the Diversity Council.
Asian Heritage Month was discussed by the members. There will be a quiz available at the Student Life desk. Posters will be displayed at both campuses. A display cabinet will hold Philippine costumes.
Red Rocks will be celebrating Cinco de Mayo Thursday, May 5 from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the Student Center, and Commission members are welcome to attend.
IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Ward Locations for Monthly Meetings in July, September and November
Therese offered to coordinate the locations for the future Ward meetings. They
are Ward 1 at the Lakewood Library in July, Ward 4 at the Green Mountain Recreation
Center in September and Ward 5 at Horan-McConaty in November.
Hispanic Heritage Celebration - Update by Commissioner Sisneros
Ken Milano advised that Commissioner Sisneros contacted him to advise that he
would be unable to attend tonight's meeting. Commissioner Sisneros provided
Ken with an update on the celebration. The date that has been determined will
be Saturday and Sunday, September 10 and 11, 2005. Two locations that are being
considered are the Heritage Center and Belmar Center. At this time, Commissioner
Sisneros is working on a non-profit status for the celebration.
Commissioner Roybal stated that he is also working with several Hispanic realtors
and the American G.I. Forum who have offered to provide an honor guard at this
event. Pete advised that the Diversity Council at Red Rocks Community College
would like to help support the commission in their efforts at this event.
Commissioner Skinner offered his assistance in applying for grants should the
group become a non-profit organization.
V. NEW BUSINESS
Missing Members
Commission members are encouraged to contact Margaret or Therese each month
if they will not be attending a monthly meeting.
Budget Discussion - May 11th
A budget presentation by City Manager Mike Rock will be given to the City's
Boards and Commissions on Wednesday, May 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
Commissioner Sekou would like to extend an invitation to a friend from the
Mile High Church to attend one of the Commission's monthly meetings. He would
present what their diversity committee is trying to do. Chair Lopez advised
that he is more than welcome to come anytime.
VI. ANNOUNCEMENTS
The next meeting of the Commission on Cultural Diversity and Human Relations
will be held on Wednesday, June 1, 2005, at the Lakewood Civic Center South
Building, Cabinet Room, Floor 2 beginning with a potluck at 5:30 p.m.
A Cinco de Mayo celebration will be on Thursday, May 5, at Red Rocks Community College in the Student Center from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
There is a Cinco de Mayo celebration at Alameda High School tomorrow, and the consulate general will be there at noon.
Mayor Burkholder commented that he is very proud of what the City of Lakewood has done despite all the negative articles in the newspapers. The biggest problem we have at the new Wal-Mart is parking. The City is guaranteed one million dollars annually in sales tax revenue from Wal-Mart--that's the base. Additionally anything over 15%, the City splits 50-50 with Wal-Mart. There is no City debt.
Across the street, a City owned property, would generate $850,000 in one-time profit on the sale of the land. Subsequently the sales tax receipts are estimated to be about a half million dollars a year. At the May 2nd City Council meeting it was announced that Wal-Mart is planning a prototype mini super center in their former location at 1st and Wadsworth. They will be adding 20,000 to 30,000 square feet with an opening scheduled for January 2006. Also, Home Depot has plans to build a store in the area of Colfax and Wadsworth.
Mayor Burkholder and Governor Owens will be speaking at the Belmar Center tomorrow to approximately 25 Coloradoans who are over 100 years old.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
With no further business to come before the Commission, a motion was made by
Commissioner Cullis to adjourn and seconded by Commissioner Roybal. The meeting
was adjourned at 7:24 p.m.
Margaret Sawyer, Staff Liaison
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