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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-12-2019 Minutes CITY OF OCOEE Minutes of the Human Relations Diversity Board Rescheduled Regular Meeting Held September 12,2019 I:CALL TO ORDER HRDB meeting was called to order by Chair Dawkins at 6:20 p.m. in City of Ocoee Lakeshore Center located at 125 North Lakeshore Drive,Ocoee, Florida. A. Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Personal Reflection: Member Anderson-Robinson led the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S.flag; followed by Chair Dawkins asking for moment of personal reflection. B. Roll Call and Determination of Quorum: Clerk Mieras performed roll call and declared quorum (7) not met at 6:20 p.m. Quorum met at 6:28 p.m. In Attendance (9): Chair Dawkins& Members: Crown, Maxwell, Carr, &Anderson-Robinson. Member Foster arrived 6:24 p.m. Members: Daily, Hart, &Juste arrived at 6:28 p.m. Member Foster Left 7:46 p.m. Non-Voting Present: Clerk Mieras& Mayor Johnson. Absent(2): Member(s): Dorsey&Calloway. C. Review of Excused Absences: Member Calloway was an excused absence. D. Review Agenda for Tonight's Meeting: Chair Dawkins added the quest speakers to the agenda under comments from citizens/public. E. Review of Minutes: Minutes from the June 6'&August 1st, 2019 meeting were reviewed. Motion made by Chair Dawkins, seconded by Member Maxwell, and unanimously passed to approve the June 6th &August 1st, 2019 Minutes. II:BUSINESS FOR DISCUSSION A. Comments from Citizens/Public: Charlean Gatlin asked,on behalf of Senator Bracy who had a prior arrangement,for HRDB's partnership with their 2019 July in November Heritage Festival and expressed the intent of this festival is to celebrate the life of July Perry.She explained some of the activities planned for the festival, and how Senator Bracy's office received approval from Ocoee's City Commission to have the festival at Bill Breeze Park with the rental fees waived. Senator Bracy met with Members Dawkins, Maxwell,and Crown at the request of Member Maxwell,where they talked about concerns with the event. Member Crown stated the festival was a surprise to the HRDB. HRDB and the City should have been informed,or involved,with the event sooner; and further that a festival type event or celebration over July Perry being lynched is wrong. Member Carr expressed concerns about Founder's Day being held on the anniversary of the Ocoee Massacre. Member Maxwell expressed concerns about this event preempting HRDB's planned 2020 Dedication Ceremony. Member Foster asked if any event concerning July Perry, including ones not hosted by the City, required HRDB's approval. Discussion ensued about the City Commission's direction in this manner. Chair Dawkins explained the City had authorized HRDB to do an educational event,and plan the 2020 Dedication Ceremony. Mayor Johnson stated the event was a good idea but asked senator Bracy's office to remove Senator Bracy's picture from the flyer, remove the mention of the organization Bridge the Gap,and have the event as a joint venture with the Citizens of Ocoee. Discussion ensued about the concern with Bridge the Gap. Chair Dawkins asked that Senator Bracy's office inform the Board about future meetings for this event. Brian R. Owens, a guest speaker, presented a PowerPoint showing his prior sculpting work, and proposed that Ocoee pursues a memorial sculpture in memory of the events of 1920 and July Perry. PowerPoint was not provided upon request. Mayor Johnson and the Board asked for a proposal with multiple price ranges, materials, and sizes. B. Marker Dedication Ceremony: Member Maxwell gave the following updates: he has made a program outline, the application for the marker was submitted but he is not aware of its current status. C. MLK Speaker Nominee/Topic: Member Crown stated that Paul Ortiz, Director of the University of Florida Samuel Proctor Oral History Program, has confirmed to being the 2020 Martin Luther King Ceremony Keynote Speaker,and has asked if the Board had a topic recommendation for his speech. Chair Dawkins also asked to send an invitation to Representative Kamia Brown. Speech topic discussion tabled to next meeting. D. Cemetery Update: Chair Dawkins explained City Staff responded to her about the cemetery concerns and questions from the August meeting. She asked the Clerk to distribute the information after the meeting and gave an overview of the information the Board members would receive specifically mentioning the City is moving forward with obtaining the cemetery property. E. Street Name Designation: Member Carr explained he had reached out to Senator Geraldine Thompson's Office to rename a state road after July Perry and has a meeting with their office scheduled. He also notes the City may be able to change the name of a City owned road. F. Other Business: None. G. Set Next Agenda: Chair Dawkins, along with input from the Board, set the agenda for the next meeting,which will be held on October 3, 2019,said Agenda was established as listed below: I. CALL TO ORDER A. Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Personal Reflection B. Roll Call and Determination of Quorum C. Review of Excused Absence(s) D. Review Agenda for Tonight's Meeting E. Review of Minutes from September 12, 2019 II. BUSINESS FOR DISCUSSION a. Comments From Citizens/Public b. Marker Dedication Ceremony c. MLK Speaker Topic d. Other Business e. Set Next Agenda for November 7, 2019 III. QUESTIONS/COMMENTS IV. ADJOURNMENT III:QUESTIONS/COMMENTS: Mayor Johnson announced he will ask the commission to allow the book"Ocoee!:A Novel" written by Myra Kinnie & Gail Waxman to be sold at City Hall. Member Carr expressed concern about not being aware of the September 9t'subcommittee meeting, and how he was under the impression the Board no longer had subcommittees. Chair Dawkins and Mayor Johnson explained City Staff recommended that the Board does not form subcommittees, but the Bylaws have not been changed to prohibit having subcommittees. Chair Dawkins additionally declared she would notify new members of any active subcommittees. Member Carr asked for clarification on who represents City Staff in the HRDB meetings. He stated the Bylaws require a City Commission member and a City Staff member to be appointed to the Board, and that HRDB is missing a staff member.Chair Dawkins expressed she would look into this. IV:ADJOURNMENT: Meeting adjourned at 8:01 p.m. AUTHENTICATION: These are the official minutes of the Ocoee Human Relations Diversity Board, as accepted by the Board at a meeting held on the date shown below. Any amendments to the minutes as originally prepared by the Secretary are indicated above. 1/7 I r ///7/ (Presiding Officer Date