Boulder Human Relations Commission moves to advance revised handbook, plans collaboration on fall ‘Difficult Dialogues’ events

Members of the Boulder Human Relations Commission on May 20 moved to approve a revised commissioners’ handbook and discussed next steps for partnering with the University of Colorado’s College for the Humanities and the Arts on a fall “Difficult Dialogues” event series and training to facilitate the interview game.

The motion to approve the revised handbook was made and seconded during the meeting; the transcript records the motion and a second but does not record a roll-call or final tally in the public record provided. The handbook had been revised by a subcommittee that reviewed the document section-by-section and returned it to the full commission for approval.

Commission staff and members said the fall Difficult Dialogues event — hosted in part by CU’s College for the Humanities and the Arts — is tentatively scheduled for late September with a theme focused on immigration. Dr. Ho informed the commission that the college would welcome HRC support on promotion and community outreach; the commission also discussed whether members should receive training to facilitate the interview game, a licensed facilitated-dialogue exercise led by an individual named Ami (Ami Danyan) and used in a recent pilot.

Commissioners and staff agreed to form a small subcommittee to continue conversations with Dr. Ho and with the license holder about licensing and facilitation. Christian (staff) said he would follow up and connect commissioners with Dr. Ho and Ami to schedule coordination; a number of commissioners expressed willingness to participate. The commission recorded no formal vote on licensing or purchase of any license during the meeting.

Staff provided several administrative updates: applications for HRC and other boards and commissions will open June 30, with interviews in July and appointments at a city council special meeting on Aug. 14. Staff also said a dinner-and-discussion with City Council to talk about the Human Rights Ordinance and related inquiry trends is likely to take place in the fall; the discussion would occur before a council meeting and is not a council meeting itself.

During the meeting a commissioner, Ficker, announced he will step down because he no longer lives in Boulder County; commissioners and staff offered thanks and said they will organize an in-person appreciation. Staff also reminded the commission that June will be an event-heavy month for community activities — Immigrant Heritage Month, Juneteenth and Pride — and said updates would be circulated so commissioners can participate and share information.

What was discussion versus action: the transcript records the formal motion and second to approve the revised handbook but does not include a recorded vote tally in the excerpt provided; the handbook approval motion is therefore recorded as having been moved and seconded but with the outcome not specified in the available transcript. Formation of a subcommittee and staff follow-up to connect with Dr. Ho and Ami were agreed as next steps (direction), not recorded as formal motions requiring votes. No licensing purchase or contract award was approved on the record.

Commissioners and staff asked that any upcoming briefing materials include ordinance context and trend data so commissioners can prepare for the planned dinner-and-discussion with City Council. Staff said they will present an outreach briefing at a future meeting to refresh commissioners on the ordinances and the commission’s role.

Two items recorded in the meeting for follow-up: (1) Christian (staff) will initiate contact with Dr. Ho and Ami to coordinate the fall event and interview-game licensing discussions; (2) staff will circulate details on HRC recruitment, June events, and plans for a council dinner-and-discussion in advance of fall scheduling.