Human Rights Commission Meeting Minutes Legislative Agenda Committee Meeting September 9, 2021 Virtual/Electronic Meeting 7:30 pm Public link to meeting rebroadcasts on Boxcast: https://boxcast.tv/channel/vabajtzezuyv3iclkx1a Public link to HRC documents on Box: https://app.box.com/s/xty3wnn2s1tj8h7trkknvd79bipyxezy 1. WELCOME a. CALL TO ORDER i. No Chair. Meeting called to order at 7:36 pm b. ROLL CALL i. Mary Bauer c. MISSION (recited by all): Act as a strong advocate to justice and equal opportunity by providing citywide leadership and guidance in the area of civil rights. 2. MATTERS BY THE PUBLIC a. PUBLIC COMMENT i. None b. COMMISSION RESPONSE TO MATTERS BY THE PUBLIC i. None 3. MINUTES a. None 4. BUSINESS MATTERS a. None 5. WORK SESSION a. Support for right to counsel in evictions ordinance i. OHR staff says he requested extra information from Council, but has received no updates yet ii. Commissioner asks what HRC’s role would be, whether that would be recommending any changes based in racial equity, or if recommendations should be more specific to Charlottesville 1. There are some states that have adopted statewide right to counsel in evictions proceedings laws, though the City may not be very interested in this kind of law seeing as it has not been pushing forward these proceedings iii. OHR staff does not think Council remembers that it is one of the Commission’s duties in the ordinance to provide recommendations, so it does not ask iv. HRC can review things Council is considering to propose 1. They approve a slate of recommendations then hand it to TJPDC, which combines that with other regional recommendations and presents them to the General Assembly a. TJPDC’s website has recommendations Council has brought forward b. Last year, the Commission made one or two recommendations because they didn’t know what Council was proposing at that point v. Mary believes there will be cases coming up at the General Assembly regarding racial justice and equity 1. Ex. Voting Rights Bill that will restore voting rights to those with felonies—is this something having to do with HRC? 2. Last year, Catherine suggested one about expungement of criminal record 3. Or proposing legislation to allow municipalities to create rental registries so that municipality was not held back by Dylan’s Rules 4. OHR staff says landlords could be required to register all rental properties with the City to inspect them and keep better track of them vi. OHR staff recommends if there are things related to equity rights municipalities are not currently authorized to do, this could be a good thing to pursue for HRC recommendations 1. Mary says it would be useful to get the view of the City Attorney about whether a locality can enact a right to counsel ordinance 2. If it cannot, then HRC could suggest it be changed 3. Similarly, there are issues with providing counsel in the complainant system vii. City Attorney was not at the last HRC meeting, so HRC did not ask for her view then, but it would be very useful 1. OHR staff says he could also ask to get a meeting with Allyson and whoever else is relevant to ask these kinds of questions a. Todd can ask for the meeting; may occur next week b. Allison and Mary should be available Monday around 11:30-12:30pm to meet 2. Lisa is advising Council on their part around the legislative agenda, so Allyson can check with her b. Mary talked to Ashley about having a closed session to discuss Director hiring i. She said this is happening and was going to run it by Allyson ii. Mary will follow up with her 6. MATTERS BY THE PUBLIC a. PUBLIC COMMENT i. None b. COMMISSION RESPONSE TO MATTERS BY THE PUBLIC i. None 7. COMMISSIONER UPDATES a. None 8. NEXT STEPS a. Mary i. Will follow up with Ashley about closed HRC session to discuss hiring b. Todd i. Will ask Allyson to meet with Mary and him 11:30am-12:30pm on Monday 9/13 9. ADJOURN a. Meeting adjourned at 7:41 pm