Rockford Sun

City of Rockford Community Relations Commission met April 11.

Here are the minutes provided by the commission:

I. CALL TO ORDER

Commissioner Todd Burton called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.

Attendee Name	Organization	Title	Status	Arrived
Todd Burton	City of Rockford		Present
Eric Brown	City of Rockford		Present
Jurea Crudup	City of Rockford		Present
Nikki Lynch	City of Rockford		Absent
William Martin	City of Rockford		Absent
Norma Borrero	City of Rockford		Present
Mary Kaull	City of Rockford		Present
James McDowell	City of Rockford		Present
Joan Velazquez	City of Rockford		Absent

II. EEOP QUESTIONS

Julie Smith from City of Rockford Human Resources Generalist answered questions the commissioners had regarding the EEOP.

Commissioner Jurea Crudup asked if there was an overview of the plan?

Michaela Harris, Contract and Grant Compliance Officer, clarified there is a City grant policy that she would share with all commissioners.

Commissioner Norma Borrero asked if there had been an increase in the African American, Hispanic, and Asian applicants?

HR Generalist Smith confirmed there had been increases in several categories between the years 2021-2023. Shared the statistics in the different categories as well as the overall.

Commissioner Burton pointed out the report distributed information in terms of gender and race. Asked if they look into other categories such as gender identity or sexual orientation and how data is collected? If it is allowed to be tracked?

Officer Harris informed the Federal Statue outlines what to be included in the plan and the required tracking. Mentioned it was a good question whether it allowed to track it or not. She did point out State and Federal each have their own regulations, the guidelines for Federal are being used for the EEOP.

Commissioner Eric Brown asked how they outreach to the communities?

HR Generalist Smith commented through job fairs, notifications to different agencies in the community (churches, colleges, etc.), geofencing (technology/web advertising), and word of mouth through employee resource groups (to cover minority group), and more.

Commissioner Mary Kaull asked what is most effective outreach and how it gets tracked? If there was anything new or innovative to try?

HR Generalist Smith said they do ask in the application how they heard of the job and shared Indeed is the number one response. Second being Facebook advertising. Geofencing being one of the new techniques adopted. She also explained geofencing targets communities at big events through web advertising.

Commissioner Brown asked if there was another way they track since the Federal guidelines did not?

HR Generalist Smith mentioned they do have a report that has more than what the Federal guidelines have and getting data from the application.

Commissioner Burton asked if there was some type of annual employee satisfaction survey?

HR Generalist Smith mentioned it gets done every couple years.

Officer Harris commented the City did recently did a diversity survey which is another type of mechanism used to track satisfaction, and how people feel their diversity is treated.

A. EEOP Paper Plan

III. ACCEPTANCE OF JOURNAL

A. Journal of Proceedings for the Community Relations Committee meeting held on September 14, 2023

Commissioner Crudup moved to accept the Journal of Proceedings for the Community Relations Committee meeting held on September 14, 2023, seconded by Commissioner Kaull.

B. Journal of Proceedings for the Community Relations Committee meeting held on November 9, 2023

Commissioner McDowell moved to accept the Journal of Proceedings for the Community Relations Committee meeting held on November 9, 2023, seconded by Commissioner Borrero.

IV. COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION: HOMELESS PROGRAMS

Commissioner Burton recounted briefly meetings and topics talked from panelists from the beginning of the year. Specifically, from the community leaders and city staff about the homeless population and the programs each organization offers. Spoke about what the problems they encounter and finding any potential solutions to their problems. Started off by saying he was impressed on all the great programs and how they all work together. Commissioner Burton mentioned two opportunities he saw:

• Gaps on the organizations - they each serve different types of population and it is when the marginalized groups that don't quite fit in the niche that it falls through the crack.

• Lack of housing - most of the organizations voiced their concern on the housing issue.

Commissioner Brown also referenced the gap, and that a couple of the organizations are not fully accessible which creates a gap for people with disabilities.

Commissioner McDowell asked what affiliation is the Region 1 Planning Council given that they have many properties up for auction and house inventory is an issue for the organizations?

City Assistant Attorney John Wuich explained Region 1 Planning is a collaborative entity that has participation of local counties and municipalities, a program through the Winnebago County referred to the land bank, a program that takes all

residential/commercial homes that have sat as tax delinquent or other delinquencies for years. Mentioned the purpose of the land bank is to identify those vacant houses. Region 1 Planning Council group manages the land bank and the legal work to be able to put them up for auction, and recapturing some of the lost tax revenue through the sale and a plan to dictate how that money gets disbursed. Many of the buyers are people who already own other properties, who take those houses and rehab to put back into the house inventory.

Commissioner Kaull recalls panelists mentioning the rent in the area being relatively high compared to the size of the community. Would like for the commission to explore solutions to that problem.

Commissioner Crudup mentioned she would like to know how the Jubilee plan is set up as it sounds they have a great turnover plan. She recalls they are acquiring homes and keeping it within the Center making it easier for them to house individuals. Suggested taking their wheel and maybe just adjusting a few things since what they did is working. Commissioner Burton responded he is part of the Board of Shelter Care Ministries and explained Jubilee is not acquiring houses. Shelter Care put in a proposal with the, Continuum of Care Program, that many of the people coming to Jubilee have housing issues and received grant money to do housing for a limited amount of people with mental illness. He also commented that was something new they came up with recently.

Commissioner Borrero reiterated their collaboration and how is not all about getting them housing, but giving them the help, they need.

Commissioner Burton also added when it comes to the grant there is competition on how it will get distributed/who needs it as well as collaboration on trying to help those in need.

V. COMMISSIONERS REPORTS

Commissioner Brown - mentioned RAMP and other organizations were able to secure State funding for home modifications for people with disabilities. Went over some of the guidelines needed to qualify to get grant money.

Commissioner Burton - commented June 1st is Rockford's first pride parade.

VI. ADJOURNMENT

1. Motion to Adjourn

Commissioner Crudup made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by

Commissioner Kaull. The meeting was adjourned at 6:21 p.m.

RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Burton, Brown, Crudup, Borrero, Kaull, McDowell ABSENT: Nikki Lynch, William Martin, Joan Velazquez

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