1976-02-05 Special CC MinutesSPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALAMEDA AND THE COMMUNITY
RELATIONS COMMISSION HELD THURSDAY - - FEBRUARY 5, 1976
The meeting convened at 7:30 o'clock p.m. in the Council Chamber of the City Hall with
President Corica presiding.
ROLL CALL:
The roll of the Council was called and Councilmen Beckam, Hurwitz, Sherratt and President
Corica (4), were noted present. Absent: Councilman Diament, (1).
The roll of the Community Relations Commission was called and Commissioners Allen, Cabral,
Totorica and Chairman Bolton, (4), were noted present. Commisstner Happ arrived a few minutes
later. Absent: Commissioners Akagi, and Hodgkin (2). Chairman Bolton introduced ex-officio
members Commander Earl Rivard, Naval Air Station, and Mrs. Kate Quick, Alameda County Human
Relations Commission.
President Corica announced preliminary discussion would be limited to members of the Council and
the Commission.
1. Receipt of the Notice and Agenda of this Special Meeting had been acknowledged by the Councilmen
and Commissioners and was on file. The purpose of this session was to consider clarification of
Ordinance No. 1733, New Series; the Commission's calendar of priorities; specific tasks or projects
for the Commission; its relationship to the Social Service Board and Alameda Service Agencies
Cooperative (ASAC); and action thereof, if desired.
2. Chairman Bolton began the discussion by requesting clarification of Article III, Section
3(a)(2) of Ordinance No. 1733, New Series, "Discourage and prevent discriminatory practices among
or against racial, religious and nationality groups." She stated there was some concern about the
interpretation of the word, "prevent".
President Corica stated the concept of the Commission had evolved over the past 15 years and this
concept, since that time, had been addressed by state and federal agencies who had the authority to
investigate, make recommendations and enforce applicable laws.
On request, the City Attorney stated the Commission was not endowed, under this ordinance, with the
power to take direct action. He stated the terminology was irrluded in most of the community or
human relations formed, and appropriate action would include aiding someone to file a complaint
with the appropriate agency and informing the community about the agencies available.
After a lengthy discussion of both literal and implied meanings of the phrase as each member
interpreted it, it was the consensus of the Council and the Commission that Article III, Section
3 (a)(2) be amended to read: "Discourage and recommend actions in the prevention of discriminatory
actions among or against racial, religious and nationality groups."
3. Chairman Bolton requested Council's response to including the phrase, "sex and age groups,
and the handicapped," to that same section of Ordinance No. 1733, New Series.
Councilman Beckam moved the phrase be included in Article III, Section 3 (a)(2). The motion was
seconded by Councilman Sherratt and carried unanimously on voice vote. The City Attorney was directed
to prepare an appropriate ordinance to effect these changes.
4. Chairman Bolton requested Council's reactions to the Commission's Rules and Procedures.
It was the consensus of the Council the rules and procedures were acceptable.
5. With regard to the Commission's calendar of priorities, Chairman Bolton reviewed the two aspects
of the community action program. She stated the Commission was specifically concerned with the
Affirmative Action program of the City of Alameda.
On request, the City Manager reviewed the city's position with regard to an affirmative action policy
and employment practices. He stated staff had been working with various employment groups and the
guidelines were issued during the latter part of 1975, and the next step would be to develop goal
and timetables by completing the EEO-4 reports on composition of the city's work force by ethnic
background and size, the analysis of the city's work force by occupational level, and then prepare
the analysis of the city's written goals and timetables which would be reviewed by the Civil Service
Board and submitted to the City Council. He said community groups would have an opportunity to offer
input at both the Civil Service Board and Council levels of review.
After a detailed discussion of the procedure involved in developing a written plan, it was the
direction of the Council that all information and progress reports be made available to the Commission.
6. Chairman Bolton explained the community focus of the calendar of priorities as an atempt to
develop a basis for identifying Alameda as a community. She stated they would like to include income,
economic, ethnic, housing governmental and non-governmental agencies to provide the commission with
some background knowledge to aid them in responding to the concerns of the community. She acknowledged
the Housing Element contained a great deal of this information and they would like to have it made
available for their meeting.
7. Chairman Bolton stated the Commission would like to update and expand its Community Services
Directory and advise groups in the community of resources available to them; acknowledging
duplication of efforts and/or funds in various agencies and uniting in an effort to acquire funds
for human services in the City of Alameda.
8. In regard to the Commission's plans for pursuing community educational programs, Chairman
Bolton stated this program would be an effort to present the community profile and affirmative
action plan information to the community. She cited an example of this type of program would be
the Commission's plan to co-sponsor a seminar on human services in the spring with the Alameda
Council for Mental Health; and the plans to cooperate with Xanthos House in their efforts.
Councilman Beckam informed the Commission that the Alameda County Training and Employment Board
has some programs available for training and/or retraining people for employment. He suggested
the Commission might be able to aid ACTEB in getting the information to as many people as possible.
9. Chairman Bolton asked for the Council's opinion of the Commission's relationship to the Social
Service Board and ASAC.
On request, the City Manager reported the Social Service Board was beginning to evaluate its
functions in order to develop a list of questions and concerns to re-evaluate the Board's fifteen
year old directives.
Councilman Sherratt suggested the Social Service Board, ASAC and the Community Relations Commission
could function in conjunction with each other and the three agencies would be able to accomplish
a great deal in the community. He suggested each agency be represented at each other's meetings in
order to keep everyone informed.
Commissioner Allen stated the Commission had been invited to attend ASAC meetings and were listed
as an associate member.
10. President Corica commended the Commissioners for their efforts and particularly for the
Community Services Directory which had proved to be a very beneficial tool.
Chairman Bolton expressed the Commission's appreciation to the Council for the joint meeting and to
staff for their support.
President Corica opened the meeting for comments from the audience.
11. Miss Jane Vartanian, 2130 San Jose Avenue, related her experiences in attempting to obtain a
copy of the Affirmative Action Policy.
City Manager Goss again briefly reviewed the procedures and status of the policy.
Councilman Beckam suggested the next City of Alameda Report carry a brief article reporting the
progress being made.
12. Reverend Russell E. Palmer, President of ASAC, apologized for his late arrival and explained
he was unable to attend the meeting earlier because of another commitment.
13. Mr. Dave Moyer, Director of the Head Start program, 1826 Clemenet Avenue, expressed his
appreciation for the Directory which he had supplied to his Head Start families. He said he could
use about 60 copies every September.
Councilman Sherratt noted the County had formed a Human Services Commission which will be preparing
a directory on a county-wide basis. He suggested the updated Alameda directory be coordinated with
the county directory. He said his brother, Mr. Don Sherratt, was the representative from Super-
visor Cooper's district.
14. Mrs. Darlene Banda, a member of the Social Service Board, informed the Council of the Board's
intention to review their purpose and commented the Board needed the cooperation of staff in order
to complete the task.
15. Mr. Chris Corpus, 509 Santa Clara Avenue, suggested Alameda follow other cities and districts
and establish an affirmative action committee composed of representatives of community organizations
in order to disseminate the policy established.
16. Councilman Sherratt moved the Council adjour to executive session to discuss pending litiga-
tion. The motion was seconded by Councilman Beckam and carried unanimously on voice vote.
After a five-minute recess, the Council reconvened in the Conference Room of the City Hall for its
deliberations. At the conclusion of discussion, it was determined no action would be taken at this
time
ADJOURNMENT:
17. There being no further business to come before the meeting, the Council adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,