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Davis Human Relations Commission creates subcommittees to study ordinance, website and HRC effectiveness
Summary
The commission voted to appoint members to new subcommittees for a website review and to research the effectiveness and investigatory authority of human relations commissions while staff and council continue a formal review of the citycivil rights municipal code.
The Davis Human Relations Commission voted Thursday to form two new subcommittees and approved appointments as it continued work tied to a council-directed review of the city municipal code.
Commissioners unanimously approved putting Dima and Ali on a subcommittee charged with reviewing and recommending updates to the commission web page, including accessibility, calendar visibility and community outreach materials. The motion to appoint the two members carried by voice vote after a nomination and second.
Separately, the commission created a subcommittee to research the effectiveness of human relations commissions, including whether comparable agencies conduct investigations and what statutory or municipal authority they rely on. Commissioner Kevin, who has led research into models used by other California cities, will serve on the new effectiveness subcommittee alongside newly named member Hilda.
"There was an interest in trying to gather information for us to share with council about what other HRCs do and how they move the needle on the issues in their community," Kevin said during the meeting. He told colleagues he is willing to do legwork and consult the California Association of Human Relations Organizations for comparative practices.
Staff clarified the context: at a recent council meeting staff recommended pausing the commission action plan until the city attorney completes a review of Chapter 10 of the municipal code, which contains the city's civil rights language. The pause, staff said, was intended to ensure any commission recommendations align with the most current municipal code language and any attorney-recommended changes.
The meeting also recorded routine approvals — the agenda and prior meeting minutes were both approved by voice vote — and commissioners discussed how subcommittee findings will be brought forward to the full commission and, when ready, to city council.
Next steps: the web subcommittee will prepare recommendations focused on HRC content, accessibility and calendar usability; the effectiveness subcommittee will gather examples of HRC authority and practice in other jurisdictions and report back to the commission for potential recommendations to council.
