HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7259 '
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7259
.TC„ February 9, 1988
"44f *;" To the Mayor and Mambas of the City Council
'xxA Subject: RECOMMENDATION FEN THE HW>NAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
The Chair of the Human Relations Commission appointed an Ad Hoc
committee to look at the role and structure of the Commission and
its relationship with the City Council and the City Manager's Office.
The committee worked with the staff support from the City Manager's
Office and the Department of Law. The committee's recommendations
were approved by the Commission at its January 26, 1988, meeting.
City staff has reviewed the recommendations from the Commission, which
are listed in the attached report, and agrees with the proposed changes.
If the City Council agrees with these recommendations, staff will
proceed to prepare the necessary documents for the Council to consider.
The Department of Law will parepare the appropriate ordinance and
M&C to address the concerns of Section 17-20 of the City Code. The
budget office, during the budget process, will include the proposed
name change.
Should the City Council desire additional information on this matter,
staff will provide it upon request.
zole�Douglas Harman
City Manager
'-ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS ---
CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
1000 TINIOCKMORTON STREET
PORT WORM, TEXAS 76102
917-670-7325
TO: Honorable Mayor Bob Bolen and
City Council Members
ti
FROM: Jeffrey R. Bland, Chair "^
SUBJECT: COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS
DATE: February 3, 1988
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In an effort to eliminate any confusion regarding the intended
role of the Human Relations Commission and create a solid working
relationship with Council, the City Manager, and the staff of the
Commission, we ask that you consider the following
recommendations:
1. Revise and/or replace, and/or eliminate Section 17-20 of the
Fort Worth City Code. In its current language, it
contradicts the City Charter with respect to the responsi-
bility for the selection and termination of an Executive
Director and other staff employees. It is clearly understood
that this responsibility and authority belongs to the Office
of City Manager, and that the Commission will have input to
those decisions on an advisory basis only.
2. It is our recommendation that the 21 appointees to the Com-
mission retain the identification of the *Human Relations
Commission, * and, in order to eliminate much confusion, that
the staff be re-identified as the *Department of Human Rela-
tions. * It is our understanding that such nomenclature is
consistent with other Boards and Commissions of the City as
compared to operating staffs.
3. We recommend that Council accept the role of the Commission
as a body whose purpose is to advise and make recommendations
to the Council, the Mayor and the City Manager on matters
involving racial, religious, ethnic or sexual discrimination
including budgetary and contractual matters and the selection
and evaluation of Executive Directors.
Commission Recommendations
Page 2
4. The Commission recommends that Council establish a liaison
member or members to work with the Commission.
The foregoing recommendations were formulated by an Ad-Hoc
Committee of the Commission which included an Assistant City
Manager and a City Attorney, and which has been approved by
the Commission Executive Committee and the Full Commission.
In addition to the foregoing recommendations, the Ad-Hoc
Committee studied the structure and procedures of the Commission
and made recommendations . One of these recommendations was to
continue with a Commission of 21 members, but to eliminate
participation of non-Commission members on the Standing
Committees. At this date, there are 14 Commissioners, or seven
vacancies . We request that you consider appointments to fill
these seven vacancies as quickly as possible in order that we may
functions as a complete body.
in keeping with the City Code, the membership should be
representative of the economic, religious, cultural , ethnic and
racial groups which comprise the population of the City. The
current racial breakdown of the Commission is as follows:
Caucasian 6
Black 4
Hispanic 3
Asian/American 1
We are suggesting that the non-Commissioners who wish to continue
participation, make immediate application through the City
Secretary.
Thank you for your consideration in these matters.
JRB/dmhh
cc: Marcia Hall-Craig
Ramon Guajardo
Hugh Davis
Commissioners