9/5/2023 - Meeting Minutes Human Rights Commission
Salt Lake City, Utah
Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, September 5, 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
Commission Members in Attendance:
Commissioner Jason Wessel, District 1, Chair
Commissioner Esther Stowell, District 2, Vice Chair
Commissioner Olivia Jaramillo, District 3
Commissioner Will Terry, District 4
Commissioner Jennifer Mayer-Glenn, District 5
Commissioner Pamela Silberman,At-Large
Commission Members Absent:
Commissioner David Leta, District 6
Commissioner Everette Bacon, At-Large
Mayor's Office Staff in Attendance:
Michelle Mooney, Equity Manager
Maria Romero, Executive Assistant
The meeting was called to order at 5:31 PM.
Agenda Items
1. Welcome
• Roll Call
2. Approve and Adopt Minutes
• August 2023 —Commissioner Esther Stowell moved to approve and adopt
minutes from August 2023 meeting. Commissioner Will Terry seconded. All
commissioners present in favor. The motion passed.
3. Public Comment(5 minutes)
• Attendees may be provided one or two minutes of time, determined by the number of
attendees and the time available determined by the Commission. Please observe the
time limit stated at the beginning of the public comment period so everyone may have
a chance to speak.
• Per the public meeting guidelines, keep comments free of discriminatory language
referring to a person or group based on their religion, ethnicity, nationality, race,
color, descent, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age or other gender identity
factor. Items or comments that disrupt the meeting, intimidate other participants or
that may cause safety concerns are not allowed.
o No public comment occurred during this segment of the meeting.
4. Community Presentation(— 15-20 minutes)
• Kamal Omer and members of his community will share updates about the
ongoing genocide in West Darfur, Sudan.
o Kamal Omer member of the Sudanese Community brought forth to the
Commission an update regarding the ongoing war in West Darfur, Sudan.
Kamal Omer provided details of the humanitarian crisis occurring at the time.
He explained residents are fleeing from Sudan to the bordering country to
seek shelter. Kamal Omer and members of the community have expressed the
need for awareness of this event in Sudan.
o Commissioner Chair Jason Wessel, Commissioner Pamela Silberman, and
Commissioner Jennifer Mayer-Glenn have committed as a commission to
complete a letter of recommendation to Juan Becerra from the Public
Relations department for the LDS Church. The commission will provide the
community members with a detailed list of Utah organizations that can
provide further assistance with the community continued advocacy and
awareness for the people of Sudan.
5. StrategyManning Session (— 30-40 minutes)
• This will be an in-depth discussion on the vision and future goals of the
Commission.
o Commissioner Jennifer Mayer-Glenn commented for the commission to
focus on moving the human rights meeting to be conducted on a bi-
monthly basis adding that off months will be for the Commissioners to
work on priorities and begin the efforts being in the community.
o Commissioner Will Terry has provided comments in support of the
grassroots community listening sessions.
o Commissioner Jennifer Mayer-Glenn commented the need for the
Commission to review older ordinances and policy.
o Commissioner Olivia Jaramillo has raised she would be in favor of
moving the meetings to a bi-monthly basis until the new year of
2024.
o Commissioner Jason Wessel has begun formal voting procedure for a
hybrid format voting portion accordance with Roberts Rules for
Commissioners to vote for next year calendar schedule for the Human
Rights Commission Meeting Schedule. Commissioner Jason Wessel has
obtained for voting as his term will end prior to 2024. Commissioner
Pamela Silberman has made a motion to approve, Commissioner Jennifer
Mayer-Glenn has seconded. The schedule changes the 2024 meeting
schedule to bi-monthly basis for Human Rights Meetings has passed
anonymously.
6. Human Rights Day Update (— 5 minutes)
• Michelle Mooney, Equity Manager will provide an update on Human Rights Day
Celebration planning.
o Michelle Mooney, Equity Manager will release the form for community to
nominate individuals for the Human Rights award. Michelle Mooney has
brought forth the Salt Lake City Grant Analyst has completed and
submitted grant applications for Eccles and Zions Bank.
7. Review Subcommittee Goals &Priorities (— 5 minutes)
• Racial Equity in Policing Commission
• CEDAW
• Homelessness
• Gentrification
• Refugees &New Americans
• Children/Youth Advocacy
No new updates are available for subcommittees currently as we are working to
restructure what this looks like for the Commission.
8. 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.
o Commissioner Chair Jason Wessel has provided an update on the razor
wire buoy water barrier in the Southern Border of the United States.
9. Review Human Rights Commission Meetings for 2023:
• T„esrlay, january 03 2023
• Tuesday,Tebfu 7, 2023
• Tuesday, March 07, 2023
• Tuesday, April 04 2023
• T„esday, May 02
, 2023
• Tuesday, june 06 2023
•mod6t 4, 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
The meeting adjourned at 6:59 PM
Minutes Approved through consensus: 1010312023
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 September 5, 2023.