HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/6/2023 - Meeting Minutes Human Rights Commission
Salt Lake City, Utah
Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday,June 6, 2023
5:30 p.m.
The Human Rights Commission met in an electronic meeting pursuant to the Salt Lake City
Emergency Proclamation and determination of the Chair. Minutes are provided in conjunction
with the video/audio file.
You may also watch a recording of the meeting on the SLC HRC Meeting YouTube Channel.
CONDUCTED BY: Chair Jason Wessel
Members of the Human Rights Commission:
Commissioner Jason Wessel, District 1, Chair
Commissioner Esther Stowell, District 2, Vice Chair
Commissioner Olivia Jaramillo, District 3
Commissioner Will Terry, District 4
Vacant, District 5
Commissioner David Leta, District 6
Vacant, District 7
Commissioner Everette Bacon,At-Large
Commissioner Pamela Silberman,At-Large
Commission Members in Attendance:
Commissioner Jason Wessel, District 1,
Chair Commissioner Will Terry, District 4
Commissioner David Leta, District 6
Commissioner Everette Bacon,At-Large
Commissioner Olivia Jaramillo, District 3
Commission Members Absent:
Commissioner Esther Stowell, District 2, Vice Chair
Commissioner Pamela Silberman, At-Large
Mayor's Office Staff in Attendance:
Michelle Mooney, Equity Manager
Maria Romero, Executive Assistant
Meeting called to order by Chair Commissioner Jason Wessel at 5:36 PM
Agenda Items
1. Welcome
• Roll Call
2. Approve and Adopt Minutes
• May 2023
i. Commissioner David Leta made a motion to approve and adopt the May
2023 minutes. Commissioner Everette Bacon seconded. The motion
passed with a unanimous vote from the Commission.
3. Public Comment(5 minutes)
• No members of the public were in attendance at this meeting, therefore, no public
comment was held.
4. Community Presentation (— 30-40 minutes)
• Moe Hickey, Executive Director of Voices for Utah Children will provide a
presentation to the commission.
i. Moe Hickey gave a background on the organization's initiatives including
child development/early care, healthcare,juvenile justice, economic
stability, as well as immigrant and refugee family policies. Moe
emphasized to make a strong influence immediately, the organization
focuses on local policies that drive change at the state level.
ii. The background provided included possible solutions for limited and high
costs of childcare within the city and state level. Moe brought forth the
efforts of Voices for Utah Children on healthcare insurance initiatives to
assist Utah families to enroll in available federal programs like CHIP and
Medicare. Possible solutions for higher enrollment numbers were also
mentioned.
iii. Moe Hickey also brought forth current initiatives around Utah school
districts on mental health awareness for children and resources in schools
as well as other possible investments for children in Utah related to mental
health. Juvenile justice policy priorities and updates of the organization's
work in this area were also brought forth to the commission.
iv. Commissioner David Leta asked what representative can advance in
accomplishing the mission. Moe Hickey also brought forth possible
solutions for the commission to take part individually.
5. Strategy/Planning Session (— 10-15 minutes)
0 This will be a brief discussion on the vision for the HRC.
i. Chair Commissioner Jason Wessel brought forth the conversation to the
commission on what the HRC would like to accomplish as a commission.
Commissioner Wessel mentioned what has been done in the past such as
taking a position and writing letters of support for local or state policy and
ordinance changes to support the views of the commission. Commissioner
Everette Bacon has asked what the commission can advocate on.
ii. Commissioner David Leta commented that the commission can lead
efforts in information gathering and dissemination. The Commission can
also gather information and create reports for Mayor and City Council.
6. Review Subcommittee Goals &Priorities (— 10-15 minutes)
• Racial Equity in Policing Commission—Commissioner Jason Wessel shared
updates on the Commission as he is the HRC representative.
• Human Rights Day- Michelle Mooney, Equity Manager has shared updates on
the Human Rights Day Celebration in December 2023.
• CEDAW
• Homelessness
• Gentrification - Commissioner Will Terry connected with former subcommittee
lead and has scheduled a meeting to get more insight.
• Refugees &New Americans
• Children/Youth Advocacy
7. Discussion/Dialogue about Human Rights Around the World(5-10 minutes)
• During this portion of the meeting, Commissioners may raise topics and discuss
current events that may impact or influence the Commission's overall work,
discussions, and deliberations to provide recommendations to the Mayor and City
Council. No action will be taken during this section of the meeting. Matters discussed
during this section of the meeting may be scheduled on a subsequent agenda for
follow-up.
No comments were discussed during this segment of the meeting.
8. Review Human Rights Commission Meetings for 2023:
• Tuesday, januar-y 03 2023
• Tuesday, February 07 2023
• Tuesday, Mar-eh0, 2023
• Tuesday, April 04 2023
• Tuesday, May 02
, 2023
• Tuesday, june 06 2023
• Tuesday, July 04, 2023—Recess
• Tuesday, August 01, 2023
• Tuesday, September 05, 2023
• Tuesday, October 03, 2023
• Tuesday,November 14, 2023 —Final Regular Meeting of 2023
• Sunday, December 10, 2023 —Human Rights Day Celebration
• https://www.un.org/en/observances/human-rights htg s=day
Commissioner Everett Bacon made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner David Leta
seconded the motion. The motion passed. The meeting was adjourned at 7:32 PM.
The meeting adjourned at 7:32 PM
Minutes Approved through consensus: 0810112023
MICHELLE MOONEY
SALT LAKE CITY MAYOR'S OFFICE
This document is not intended to serve as a full transcript as additional discussion may have
been held; please refer to the audio or video for entire content pursuant to Utah Code 52-4-
203(2)(b). This document along with the digital recording constitute the official minutes of the
Human Rights Commission Regular Meeting on June 6, 2023.