Lower Level, City Council Chambers

57 E. First Street

Board Members:	Terry Benelli, Chair	Denise Heap
	James May, Vice Chair	Lisa Hudson
	Ana Cadillo	John Matthews
	Renee Coelho	Mark Tompert
	Craig Cuillard	Everette Woods, Sr.
	Rory Gilbert

1. Welcome and Introductions.

Chair welcomed board members, staff, and guests.

2. Approval of minutes from the March 25, 2009 board meeting.

Minutes were approved unanimously.

3. Items from Citizens Present. *

Ms. Barbara McCullough-Jones, Executive Director of Equality Arizona offered their support and services regarding the proposed domestic partner registry.

Ms. Jane Falkenstein, Mesa resident spoke on behalf of the senior community. Ms. Falkenstein thanked the board for their discussion and consideration of a domestic partner registry that would benefit hospital visitations that are limited to immediate family members.

4. Discussion Items/Action Items:

• Hear an update, discuss, and take action on items presented by the:

• Ad Hoc Community of Education Project Team

o Give an update on educating Mesa residents about the emerging communities within the city.

No report was given.

o Give an update on the Domestic Partner Registry proposal.

A report was given; the team will continue to researching this item.

• Ad Hoc Marketing Strategies Project Team

o Give an update on marketing strategies for the HRAB.

A report was given; the team will meet to discuss updating or creating a new Web page.

• Ad Hoc Committee on Disabilities

o Give an update on presentations by the Veteran’s Administration.

A report was given; the team will continue to assist the Diversity Office in locating a presenter.

• Hear an update on the Regional Human Relations Committee meeting.

• Discuss and take action on the Regional Human Relations Exchange Statement on Tolerance.

A motion was made to accept the Regional Human Relations Exchange Statement on Tolerance as written. The motion carried unanimously.

• Discuss and take action on establishing a summer HRAB schedule.

A motion was made to cancel the June and July 2009 Human Relations Advisory Board meetings. The motion carried unanimously.

5. Mesa Police Department Report – Community Partnership Coordinator, Denise Traves.

• Hear an update on hate and bias crimes in Mesa.

There was no hate or bias crimes to report.

• Hear an update from the Chief’s Community Forums.

The board was updated on the Chief’s roundtable meeting.

• Hear an update on presentations and conferences:

The board was updated on upcoming presentations and conferences being lead by Mesa Police.

• Domestic Violence presentation, March 24, 2009.

The board was updated on the domestic violence presentation.

6. Diversity Officer’s Report:

• Hear an update on the Fair Housing / disABILITY Awareness Conference held in May.

The board was updated on the Fair Housing /disABILITY Awareness Conference.

• Hear an update on next year’s Fair Housing / disABILITY Awareness Conference scheduled for February 10 & 11, 2010.

The board was updated on the upcoming conference.

• Hear an update on the Diversity Office and Neighborhood Outreach Office activities.

The board was updated on the Diversity Office and Neighborhood Outreach Office activities.

• Discuss the 2009-10 Chair and Vice Chair positions for the Human Relations Advisory Board.

The board was updated on the upcoming election of the Chair and Vice Chair positions.

7. Report on conferences and/or meeting attended.

Reports were given from the various conferences and meetings attended by the board.

8. Scheduling of meetings, future agenda items, and general information.

• Hear an update on the amendments to the American with Disabilities Act.

• Set a tentative date for a board retreat.

• Acknowledge and thank board member Mark Tompert on his eight years of serving on the Human Relations Advisory Board.

9. Adjourn

The next regular meeting is on August 26, 2009, at 6:00 p.m.

City Council Chambers, Lower Level

*Members of the audience may address the Board on any item.

State Statute prohibits the

Human Relations Advisory Board from discussing an item that is not on the agenda.