May 20, 2008

6:00 P.M.

In Attendance:                              Absent:

Dave Freese                                    Ray Lester       

Patrick Burch                                  Terry Bryant                

Art Manse                                      

John Hoffmann                                                

Sue Williams

Walter Smith

Paul Ward                

Council Liaison: Iggy Yuan                   

Staff Liaison: Georgia Ragland                         

Call to Order

Dave Freese called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.

Approval of Minutes

John Hoffmann made a motion to approve the minutes of April 15, 2008. Art Manse seconded the motion. All were in favor.

Citizen Comments

Guests present introduced themselves. They included Ann Christmas, Nancy Price, Charles Howard, William Thayer. Mr. Thayer commented that he was present to learn more about how the HRAAC works. His children had experienced a religious based threat at school but he was satisfied with how the school and Detective Morrison had handled the matter.

Old Business

Dave Freese stated that he had attended the April 28, 2008 meeting conducted by the Department of Justice. Paul Ward and Art Manse indicated that they had also been present. Dave Freese explained that the first half of the meeting had involved written comments that people had submitted anonymously. The second half involved people standing up at the meeting and speaking their comments. Dave took notes on the topics that were raised and shared those notes with the commission. The topics generally fell into one of the following broad categories:

• Code enforcement
• Policing
• Eminent domain
• Recreation opportunities
• HRAAC
• Education
• City accountability
• Citizen involvement

Dave Freese expressed his hope that the Department of Justice would work out a process whereby the issues raised would be followed up and explanations/responses made.

New Business

Paul Ward commented that he was aware that certain individuals had expressed a desire to see him removed from the HRAAC.

Staff advised the commission that the city was in receipt of an Initiative Affidavit concerning the HRAAC. According to the city charter any ten registered voters may file an affidavit with the city clerk along with the ordinance the petitioners’ committee desires to be adopted. The city clerk then furnishes the group with appropriate petition blanks and the minimum number of signatures of registered voters they must obtain in order for their proposed ordinance to proceed to the council, and if not adopted, to the voters.

Dave Freese stated that he and Ray Lester were scheduled to come off the commission and a new chair needed to be elected. Paul Ward nominated Walter Smith. Patrick Burch seconded the motion. All were in favor.

Dave Freese expressed his appreciation for the members he has served with on the commission these last few years and wished the commission well going forward with their efforts to continue to participate in the dialogue with residents who are expressing their concerns.  He also encouraged members to communicate their thoughts to Mayor McDonnell on the qualities and characteristics the commission could use in new members.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.  

The next meeting date was set for July 15, 2008.