Human Rights Commission Meeting   9/21/2023

I don't.

Who's getting it?

Do we have everybody?

Oh, good.

Okay, thanks.

Ernest.

Present.

Jeanette.

Present.

Mary.

Here.

Wolfgang has let us know that they will not be here.

Andy.

Here.

Here.

For members of the public participating virtually, if you experience technical difficulties, you may call 434-970-3115.

Again, that's 434-970-3115 and a staff member will assist you.

The commission welcomes comments and questions and commits to listening carefully, thoughtfully to what is presented.

A maximum of 16 public comment time slots are allowed per meeting.

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Any discussion on those?

They were impressive given the amount that happened during that meeting.

Yeah, it was really helpful to those of us who couldn't be here.

So good.

That was a big meeting, wasn't it?

Okay, shall I go ahead and do a roll call vote?

All right, Jessica.

Abstain.

And Ernest.

Yes.

Not present.

Andy.

Yes.

And now we have chair updates and the one update that I have is that I've decided with Todd that for the

Okay, and I'll pass it over to Lyndele.

So I want to preface this with the fact that I have enjoyed working with every single one of you very very much.

This has been an incredible experience for me.

But not too long ago I was having a conversation with a member of the community and it became clear to me that if I were to step down then there could be more representation from the community and so I'm choosing to do that.

But it's been great.

Thank you.

I'm going to miss you.

I'm going to miss you too.

We appreciate all that you've done.

And thank you.

That's just such allyship that even the reason why you're stepping down is your allyship.

And you can always be an attendee.

I could.

OK, good.

So I appreciate in terms of giving giving space for others I am also I was actually thinking about this earlier today in terms so I'm the last person who came on and I am wondering as we think I don't know what other applications look like or if there are other applications and if not what we might need to be thinking about in doing in terms of

Maybe there's somebody who already is ready to come on in your place, but I just want to be I am mindful that I come on as a white straight woman The last time and I want to be mindful if you are not going to be here how we ensure more diversity potentially or think about other voices at the table so and I'm looking at you, but I'm really looking at Todd in terms of

what that looks like and are there things that we need to be doing or thinking about to ensure, I know there are other commissions as well that need people but particularly as we think about this commission and what it looks like if there are things we can or should be doing.

We've had several changes actually to our ordinance about this specifically so yes we have thought about this.

and I just want to share a personal story like I'm here because Lyndele has like recommended me to be here and just sharing that to say like I would have never known about this had I not like I think a lot of people are here because of word of mouth or they'd be really interested in it and so that tends to be how people have come on so if you know someone in the community that would be of interest I think it I know for me when Lyndele asked me I was like oh like Lyndele asked me and so I think I wasn't as afraid to be a part of it because she was here and she was able to

I'll turn this just in case it needs to be.

If you move in a recruitment mode and you're thinking about people or you encounter people you think would be great and you want to do something as noble as what Lyndele is doing and offer your spot to somebody as a potential applicant, again, council makes those appointments, we don't get to, so it's a little bit of a chance that they may not.

I think the important thing to do is kind of to watch the appointment schedule because what we would maybe not want to do is like leave a big long hole so and we can talk about that but that's on it's on the boards and commissions page on the website but yeah it's it's it's good to think about I think you know I'm gonna channel my boss Ashley a little bit to say that there is also power in being an ally and sometimes when you know

Voices of privilege can sometimes get into rooms that others can't and so using that power is also valuable.

So food for thought.

Any other questions?

Your updates?

I feel a little scattered today.

We've done a lot today.

We did a big presentation today for the IRC about our services, which was, they were a great group.

43 of their staff came.

So in a similar vein, I just want to acknowledge Victoria, because I think she sent you all.

What's the last day?

So my last meeting will be October 13th.

We have a little bit of time.

I wanted to just give you guys the most advanced notice, and this will be my last Human Rights Commission meeting.

It's been really a pleasure to work with all of you.

I can say more afterwards, also.

I don't mean to hog the meeting with all my life, but it's been really a pleasure to work with all of you and learn so much about what kind of advocacy a board can do, even when it's composed of volunteers, such highly dedicated and committed volunteers.

We're going to miss Victoria.

She's done a ton to pull outreach

Yeah, I would say that in the last month or so, that's when all the festivals and things happen.

She's been in like three places at once, which is kind of working crazy hours.

So yeah, hats off to you for that effort because that's how people learn about us.

Absolutely.

I also sent in an email, a potential request, and I'm going to give an addendum to that request.

Victoria, another effort that she's been engaged in is working with our ADA coordinator, Paul Rudisel.

Do you remember talking about that?

And I actually dug up those old recommendations and pasted them in email.

But in any case, it's happening.

They're revising the ADA transition plan.

They've hired a consultant.

They've gone and looked at every sidewalk and marked every bad spot on the sidewalk.

And they're doing all this really cool stuff.

It was funny, he put up a map on the screen and it was just like the outline of Charlottesville and like one of those like circles with an line through it on every spot and it was like the whole city was just circles with lines.

It was crazy.

We have a lot of work to do.

But anyway, it's exciting that it's going to happen.

They did a bit of a town hall last night.

Were we here last night?

Last night, got some good feedback, but they're just getting into the process really.

And the platform of our work sessions might be a really valuable one for the ADA committee to use because we have REMI here, we have the broadcasting and the hybrid participation.

So my request would be

Can we reserve either December 7th or the January 4th, assuming we're going to do something, I think we would be around then, to let them use the work session for another town hall for the ADA transition plan.

Would you guys be open to that?

because we're a good, I think we're a good platform for them to get, and it fits well with our, with our mission anyway.

Is this part that I just saw a position listed today for the ADA coordinator?

Okay, I don't know.

That's surprising.

Potentially, potentially.

That's really inspiring because it's been nice to have an ADA coordinator one, but I'm sure you could use some help.

So, wonderful.

Thank you for that.

Another scheduling question for you.

December 21st is the regular meeting in December.

How are folks feeling about that proximity to holidays and things?

Are we intending to hold that meeting?

Sorry?

21st is your regular meeting date of December.

Do you want to keep that?

We might have to look back.

I'm trying to think of the shortest way.

I'll just go through this answer with the information that I have.

The city is working with a consultant who is the person who will be facilitating the meeting.

Okay.

No.

He's not asterisked.

I'm not sure where that stayed, but as of yesterday his comment was he probably would not be available.

I don't know if that would change as things shore up or anything.

I haven't seen that in writing.

But he also said a January date might mean that they have more data points to share.

Because right now they've done the sidewalk analysis and they're working on

Maybe they'll start facilities in October and that should be done by accessibility of public facilities.

And then I think they'll be starting programs and services including the website in December.

Let's do this then.

It sounds like maybe December isn't ideal anyway, so why don't I push strongly for them to consider the January 4th work session, and we'll use December 7th as a replacement time for the regular meeting.

Okay.

Does that work with everyone?

The 7th I believe is the first Thursday.

Thanks.

Just wanted to get that logistic thing kind of ironed out now.

And then another date thing.

Sorry, lots of dates happening.

And I guess keep in mind that on the 7th that's when we would be doing nominations for officers for the January meeting for elections.

Can you believe that's happening again?

The other date thing I was thinking about, too, was your legislative recommendations.

We're going to talk about that tonight.

What's that?

Oh, bless you.

Very kind.

If we approve those tonight, we get that submitted probably tomorrow.

Jessica, are you considering doing public comment at council on the 2nd of October, which is the next council meeting?

October 2nd.

You could also go out and, that might be the, you probably want to do it as close to after the submission, that's the first council meeting that happens after the submission, so.

That's a good shot.

Thank you for that, the logistics.

And the report is in the thing, is in the usual colorful charts in the agenda packet, so if you have questions about that let me know.

I'm wondering, I'm going back a little bit, but my last name isn't December, right?

But this year's, I don't know if that actually went down.

Oh dear, I'll have to look it up.

I'm gonna look that up now.

Good, thank you for remembering that.

Sorry, my computer disconnected from the internet.

It's here.

Oh, you found it, thank you so much.

February, because that's also mine.

February.

I thought that was the shorter.

So I think we'll be transitioning off.

One, two, three.

We really should.

Susan, Andy, Will and Del will be there.

So this will change.

Yep.

Alright, mine's one year, right?

Yeah, we staggered, we re-staggered the terms.

I was just making sure, is that the updated terms?

But it is the updated terms from when we had that whole kind of discussion about it.

So, it'll be fine.

Yeah, but good thinking.

And recall that all terms will now end at the end of February on some year because that was how they staggered it to match.

And the idea was to match that with council's appointment date and then

Get that person into our annual meeting in March.

So many things to coordinate.

Good question.

Thanks, Jeanette.

I think about if you want to continue.

Alright, so we're going to go over the legislative recommendation letter that has been drafted and going through the Martha rules of order for this.

It's our first official time doing this, this way.

I had a broader question in terms of

We haven't had a meeting since that meeting, is that right?

So we haven't, like, we are not going through, this is just a clarification for me, we're not going through and prioritizing these pieces, we are essentially taking what we heard and presenting that, right?

Does that answer your question?

I was quibbling about the provision to prohibit mid-lease increases because although it is

explicitly prohibited by the Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act is clearly prohibited by contract law.

So there is a defense to that, but I think the language is absolutely fine and it should be explicitly there.

But the language that says like allow tenants to do these things, do we want to be explicit that we're asking for an amendment to a law versus just saying allow, right?

So allow tenants to raise safe and unsanitary, like it would be amend the Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act to allow them, right?

I don't know that City Council is all going to know what just allowing people to do something means.

I'm sorry and I know I wasn't here, I wasn't involved earlier in crafting it, so if people feel like this is fine, I'll live with it, but I just think that the more clear and explicit we can be with City Council, you know, folks there may not

I mean, most people don't know anything about the Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act, right?

Like, unless you work with me later, you're a landlord lawyer.

So I guess that would be my only suggestion.

It's really not a substantive change.

It's just to make that a tiny bit more explicit about what we're asking them to amend.

How would you word it?

I mean, for example, this says, allow tenants to raise unsafe or unsanitary conditions as an affirmative defense to non-payment of rent.

I would just add, amend the Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act to allow, right?

Because that's what we're asking, right?

That's what Emily Dreyfus from LAJC said.

It's an amendment to that law.

I mean, as I said, I don't feel,

It's not to introduce a whole new statute.

It's really just to amend a statute that exists with this provision.

We did spend a significant amount of our time talking about that, like doing what we need to reference as far as law.

Well I just want to say I'm a late arrival so if people feel very strongly it should remain this way like I live with it but I think it would be more clear for the, particularly for the city councilors who aren't lawyers and you know.

Yeah I mean it's really not substantive it's just a little more information for them.

I mean, I think the list is really excellent.

I'm really happy to read it and to read the minutes of last meeting that I had in this.

I just want to note that we've been back to number one of the Martha Rules Award to add in a change.

Oh, we did a friendly amendment.

Okay.

We're number two.

So we will do a friendly amendment for 1C to say, amend the Virginia Residential Landlord and Attendant Act to allow what's stated in C. All right.

No, just in general, the whole proposal.

Oh.

I would like to say that I appreciate all the hard work that went into it, and I think it's excellent.

Anything else?

Is there anyone that wants to speak in opposition to the proposal that has been presented?

So there is really no general discussion.

Yeah, I think that's the word is because you have

The kind of straw poll vote has kind of already happened because nobody's supposed to vote in opposition, so let's just do the roll call vote.

Yep.

All right.

We're getting good at this.

That's how I like it.

That's awkward.

There you go.

Okay.

Is that on the bottom one too?

Maybe.

No, this is just the majority vote.

Jessica.

In favor.

Awesome.

and, ruling, Ernest.

In favor.

Awesome, thanks for the clarifying.

I think I need to abstain because I just stepped out for Page and I missed the discussion.

I'm going to tell you what the amendment is.

Extra in favor.

Suzanne?

Andy?

In favor.

Unanimous.

Yeah, we'll definitely make that change.

And just can I give quick kudos?

Yeah, of course.

Because I have to say that it was quite a team effort.

You all gave us your time to help us prioritize what you wanted to put into it.

We spent a lot of time writing it and drafting with the first draft.

Victoria did a bunch of just reaching out to delegates and senators to see if anybody had anything to share about upcoming legislation, which they didn't by the way because nothing's really on the legislative table because everybody seats up for grabs so there's nothing new proposed.

Sally did respond which was very helpful and offered to

I don't have the minutes with me, but at the City Council meeting, CRIJ presented on the new development model and saw that, but it was very interesting to make a dim and larger analysis of their properties and the expansions that they had done.

So I'd be happy to send that to folks afterwards.

There was a lot of

It sounded very positive in terms of the future sustainability of CRHA, that the way that they're building it will provide not only increased affordable housing units, but increased income to sustain the properties that they need.

That's awesome.

Thank you.

You want to ask a question?

Mm-hmm.

Jeanette, just because I know it's kind of in your wheelhouse, are they still discussing like food and like food cooperatives within their development plan?

Yes, so they have, we're expanding the urban agriculture collective

And then they have property here on the mall apparently that they will be developing that they've set aside a corner of it for a food co-op and that's really kind of outside of the cultivate Charlotte Spills

capacity, we don't do markets or, you know, like for sale, but we would plan to work with them to develop that.

So that was pretty exciting that they're doing that.

And a clinic will be there as well.

Excellent.

Anyone else?

Yeah, I sent an email, I'm not sure my email went through last week to the commission before the commission meeting.

But it's still relevant.

I didn't see it when I looked so I must have messed up the email address.

But the zoning code is still up for discussion.

There was a work session of Planning Commission.

but there's still more that's going to happen at Planning Commission and City Council so it's all still relevant.

And CLIC has some specific asks about supporting the zoning code but asking that City Council beef it up to prevent further displacement in historically black neighborhoods, allow more density in historically exclusionary neighborhoods.

This is the thing that is riling up the nimmies.

and expanding affordability, including tax abatements for affordable units and some specifics there.

So I can read forward this.

NIMBYs are out in force arguing against this using the language of our neighborhood character, et cetera, language that is directly from

The middle of the last century.

I didn't get it.

Well, there is, and the thing I will send, there is

And this was set out by CLIC, so it's not just livable Seville.

There's a letter that was signed onto by a coalition letter.

There's the livable Seville sort of statement.

And then there's an FAQ that on the zoning code, but also on like the specific things that you can say to support it.

I would, well I think it would be great if the commission itself took action to amplify clicks ask.

I don't think we have to do it at this meeting, there's still a little time.

Personally I would love to see the commission

I think it really aligns with our priority for this year and the way that it's laid out that the documents we can, if you're able to forward that to everyone and we read it and we can prepare the parts that feel most in align with what we're doing.

And then I had a question too, in addition to the recommendations by Lillipol Seville, I had a conversation about, and I'm wondering if anyone knows about the special use permit that's being added to the zoning zone that would limit small food equity entrepreneurs.

It would provide like an overhead where you'd have to get over this intensive special use permit process.

Does anyone know about that?

Yeah, I think so.

I'd be happy to help you draft that.

October 5th date work session.

So we're agreeing to the October 5th date work session?

Any other things to report?

Okay.

I was at the Sbarroso Festival and we talked about the fact that how great it is the Human Rights Commission is out there and it's so much work and it's so great that you're out there.

I'm wondering if the Human Rights Commission has in its budget to buy a tent that says Human Rights Commission on it.

And the reason I say that is because you were under the civilian review board police tent and I just felt a little, I was actually with a student.

who was, she told me she was horrified, like she saw me make a beeline for this police tent and she was like, what is Kathryn doing?

This doesn't seem like that.

And then of course it was lovely and wonderful and she totally understood.

But I just wonder if just sort of a, I don't know, if other people feel the same way.

Either the commissioner or the office.

So we have

We have a couple of things.

We have two pop-up tents.

We have an orange one and a black one that don't have any logos or anything on them.

And then we have a big stand-up banner that says Office of Human Rights.

And I guess we do also have a grommeted thing that we could potentially hang from the tent above us in addition to our tablecloth that hangs over the front.

So we could use those things that we already have.

Any other actions or reports?

So we've already confirmed the next work session will be October 5th and I don't think there's any new business.

I have an update.

Also on Monday at the City Council meeting, Cultivate Charlottesville presented on

their food equity initiative report to council we have a partnership with the council specifically about the power to grow campaign which is an effort to bring an urban garden and urban farm site to Washington Park.

The history of the park, I don't know if you all are familiar, but Overton Washington Park was once the blacks only park, it was also a city dump before that, prior to that it was a plantation, prior to that it was Monacan land, so just the deep rich history and we did a really robust community engagement process, getting feedback from the community, we got some amazing and beautiful stories about how powerful

So many in the Black Charlottesville community feel about Booker T. Washington Park.

So if anyone's interested to learn more about that, we can share that information with you.

There was no vote.

It was just kind of like our report.

Any other commission updates?

Please no one else drop off.

So next steps are for just the edit to the letter to city council with the changes that we discussed and have to sign it and then sending that to city council and then speaking to them during public comment on October 2nd.

That was all the action items.