Human Rights Commission seeks code and outreach updates; reviews business card and poster designs

Members of the Ann Arbor Human Rights Commission said the commission is seeking several administrative and outreach updates, including adding the Fair Chance Access to Housing ordinance to the list of the commission’s duties in the municipal code and updating contractor compliance materials and public posters.

Commissioners said they met with city attorney office staff — named in the meeting as Margie Radabaugh and Margaret Bridal — to review documents that need revision. The materials cited for update include the municipal code entry that lists the commission’s duties, the contractor compliance form contractors sign to confirm they will follow nondiscrimination requirements, and an informational poster titled "Right to Sit." Commissioners said the contractor materials currently sent to firms use an outdated synopsis of the nondiscrimination ordinance and omit several newer protected categories and provisions.

The commission discussed how the code change would be implemented. Commissioners said the correction is a simple amendment that will need action by city council to add the Fair Chance Access to Housing ordinance to the HRC’s enumerated duties in the municipal code. The group also asked that the contractor compliance form and the nondiscrimination poster be updated so that the materials sent with city contract packages match current ordinance language.

Commissioners reviewed draft business-card layouts provided by city staff and discussed where to place the commission name, the web address and whether to include phone or physical office information. The commission agreed that the web address should be prominent under the “Ann Arbor Human Rights Commission” label so residents are directed to online forms instead of coming to the office in person. Staff member Kennedy was identified as the person who provided sample cards; Leslie and Brandon were named as staff who would coordinate edits and distribution. Commissioners asked that any requested edits be emailed to staff so the city template can be revised.

Commissioners also discussed the back of the card, which uses the city template and includes the city’s nondiscrimination statement and a QR code. One commissioner asked for a short descriptive mission statement on the back so the card communicates what the HRC does. Keaton (a commissioner referenced in the meeting) had suggested a mission or short descriptive line; the group agreed to draft a short statement collaboratively and circulate it by email.

The commission asked staff to bring corrected poster and contractor materials to a future meeting for final review and to collect commissioner edits for the business card via email. They also noted a typographical error in an example card shown at the meeting ("Commission" misspelled) and instructed staff to correct it before printing.