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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 02 Notification of Initial Two-Year Term Ending and Vacancy for HRDB City of Ocoee ▪ 1 N. Bluford Avenue ▪ Ocoee, Florida 34761 Phone: (407) 905-3100 ▪ www.ocoee.org STAFF REPORT Meeting Date: April 15, 2025 Item #: 2 Contact Name: Victoria Parks Department Director: Melanie Sibbitt Contact Number: Ext. 1023 City Manager: Craig Shadrix Subject: Notification of Initial Two-Year Term Ending for Two (2) District Members, One (1) At- Large Member, and One (1) Vacancy on the Human Relations Diversity Board. (Deputy City Clerk Parks) Background Summary: The Human Relations Diversity Board (HRDB) was established by resolution on September 16, 2003. Subsequent amendments to the resolution followed, with the most recent amendment providing for changes to membership and clarifying requirements as adopted by Resolution 2023-01 on January 17, 2023. The HRDB's general mission is to promote understanding, respect, goodwill, and equality among all citizens and businesses of the City of Ocoee. The board consists of seven (7) voting members: five (5) members are appointed by the City Commissioners, with each Commissioner selecting one member from their respective district, and the Mayor appointing one member from any district. Additionally, two (2) at-large members are chosen by the City Commissioners from a pool of eligible applicants who have submitted an application to serve on City Boards. In accordance with the by-laws, effective January 1, 2023, the member appointed from District 1, the member appointed from District 3, and the first of the two (2) at-large members shall serve a two (2) year term. Those terms will expire in May 2025. Additionally, there is also a vacancy in District 4, as that member resigned. At the May 6, 2025, City Commission Meeting, the Commissioners for Districts 1 and 3 may either reappoint the current members or select new individuals who have expressed interest and submitted applications to the City Clerk's Office. These appointments will serve 3-year terms, expiring in May 2028. The City Commission will appoint one (1) at-large member from a list of eligible applicants to serve a 3-year term, also set to expire in May 2028. The District 4 Commissioner will fill the vacant seat for that district, with a new appointment to complete the current 3-year term, which will expire in May 2026. As of April 8, 2025, the City Clerk's Office has received two applications from current members seeking reappointment: Hemraj (Vinny) Singh, who is the current member for the District 1 seat and Kellie Beck, who is the current member for the first of the two at- large seats. Issue: Provide notification to the Honorable Mayor and City Commissioners of the initial two-year term ending for two (2) district members, one (1) at-large member, and the vacancy of the District 4 member on the HRDB. These appointments will be made at the May 6, 2025, Regular City Commission Meeting. Recommendations: Staff recommends the Honorable Mayor and City Commissioners appoint three (3) members to the HRDB to Page 11 of 821 City of Ocoee ▪ 1 N. Bluford Avenue ▪ Ocoee, Florida 34761 Phone: (407) 905-3100 ▪ www.ocoee.org complete a 3-year term and the District 4 Commissioner appoint one (1) member to fill a vacant seat and complete the current 3-year term, at the May 6, 2025, Regular City Commission Meeting. Attachments: 1. HRDB Board List 2. By-Laws - Membership Excerpt 3. HRDB Application - Hemraj (Vinny) Singh 4. HRDB Application - Kellie Beck Financial Impacts: None. Type of Item: Consent Page 12 of 821 HUMAN RELATIONS/DIVERSITY BOARD Created by Res. #2003-21 on September 16, 2003; and amended by Res. #2004-11; amended by Res. #2010-10; amended by Res. #2013-07; amended by Res. #2015-014; amended by Res. #2016-009; amended by Res. #2021-002; and amended by Res. #2023-01. No less than 5 members, no more than 7 members - (3 year terms) Member District Email Term Expires 1. William Maxwell M (2)wemaxcom@aol.com May 2026 2. Vinny Singh 1 hemrajvsingh@yahoo.com May 2025* 3. Michelle Cummings 2 Macummings0522@gmail.com May 2026 4. Josh Cease 3 josh@livingframes.tv May 2025* 5. Vacant 4 May 2026 6. Kellie Beck Member At-Large (1) kellieabeck@gmail.com May 2025* 7. Jason Mellen Member At-Large (4) Jasonmellen74@gmail.com May 2026 COMMISSION LIAISON Non-voting member Rusty Johnson Mayor 407-905-3112 rjohnson@ocoee.org STAFF LIAISON Doug Gaines Assistant Director Parks and Leisure Services 407-905-3100 ext. 9-1503 dgaines@ocoee.org RECORDING CLERK Angel Torres Administrative Assistant City Clerk Dept. 407-905-3100 ext. 9-1022 atorres@ocoee.org * First Term is a two-year term. After initial term it changes to a three-year term. Page 13 of 821 EXHIBIT "A" I. Mission: The general mission of the Human Relations Diversity Board ("HRDB") is to promote understanding, respect, goodwill, and equality among all citizens and businesses of the City of Ocoee. In no event shall the HRDB by itself possess any decision-making authority or be authorized to bind the City of Ocoee. II. Objectives: A. Foster mutual understanding and respect among all persons emphasizing the positive impact that diversity brings to the City of Ocoee; B. Facilitate communication between the City Commission and citizen groups, individuals, and businesses; C. Assist the City Commission in educating the community through projects devoted to the elimination of prejudice, racial tension, intolerance, or discrimination; D. Provide suggestions and encouraging equality of treatment for, and preventing discrimination against, any persons or businesses by Ocoee City government; E. Serve as an informational conduit to the community at large; and F. Make recommendations to the City Commission and staff on HRDB related matters, as needed. III. Membership: A. The HRDB shall consist of no less than five (5) and no more than seven (7) voting members. The City Commission shall designate one member of the City Commission, and the City Manager shall designate one member of staff, both of whom will serve as liaisons (non- voting) members. The duties of the liaisons appointed by the Commission and City Manager are to assist the HRDB in attaining the HRDB objectives and report the HRDB's progress to the Commission and City Manager periodically - not to provide direction or directives to HRDB members or the HRDB in general unless the City Commission has authorized same. In addition, from time to time, the City Commission may designate one (1) member representing an organization with operations in the City (such as a church or other civic organization) to serve as a liaison(non-voting)member for a term determined by the City Commission. For the initial five 5) voting members, each City Commissioner shall appoint one (1) person from the Commissioner's district to be an HRDB member. The Mayor shall appoint one (1) person from any district to be an HRDB member. Two (2) additional at-large voting HRDB members will be appointed by the City Commission from a list of interested and eligible persons who have completed an Application for Serving on City Boards available from the City Clerk, and who are representative of the diversity of the community, including race, sex, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and ethnic group. The two (2) at-large members may be from any district, except that at no time shall both at-large members be from the same district. Members are expected to attend Board meetings and participate in a minimum of one Board-sponsored event per calendar year. Applicants for membership should anticipate that participation will require considerable devotion of personal time. Effective January 1, 2023, the member appointed from District 1, the member appointed from District 3, and the first of the two (2) at-large members shall serve a two Page 14 of 821 2) year term and the member appointed from District 2, the member appointed from District 4, the member appointed by the Mayor and the second of the two (2) at-large members shall serve a three(3)year term. Once the terms of an original appointed member expires,subsequent,members shall serve a three (3) year term and may be reappointed, irrespective of the number of terms previously served. In the event of a vacancy in a member appointed by a City Commissioner,the applicable City Commissioner shall appoint the new member from that Commissioner's district. In the event of a vacancy in a member appointed by the Mayor, the Mayor shall appoint the new member from any district. In the event of a vacancy in an at-large member, the City Commission shall appoint the new member from any district other than the district of any current at-large member. Subsequent at-large members shall meet the same requirements as the initial at-large members. Vacancies shall remain vacant until appointed as provided herein. B. Only those persons who reside in Ocoee shall be eligible for membership. Persons who were convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude are ineligible. C. Members of the HRDB shall meet as determined by, and in accordance with, the provisions of the Bylaws for the HRDB and/or at such other times as may be called by the Chair thereof Notice of each meeting shall be provided to all members of the HRDB within a reasonable time prior to the meeting. All meetings of the HRDB will be open to the public with notice of the place, day, and hour of the meeting posted at Ocoee City Hall at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of any such meeting. D. Members shall be subject to the Florida Sunshine Law and Robert's Rules or Order. E. The members of the HRDB may not vote upon a matter at a meeting unless 50% plus one of the members (a quorum) is present. Liaison members,because they are non-voting, are not to be included in a count of the members for the purpose of deteiiiiining whether a quorum is present. F. All members serve at the pleasure of the City Commission and may be removed for cause at any time. In no event will the HRDB have the authority to remove any member. Any member who misses three consecutive regular meetings or five regular-meetings in a 12-month period or does not participate in one board-sponsored event shall be deemed to have resigned by the HRDB.Any member submitting a voluntary resignation must do so in writing to the City Clerk. G. Each member shall attend and complete diversity training and ethics training within twelve(12)months of being appointed. Such training will be paid for by the City and directed by the City Clerk. IV.Bylaws: The Bylaws for the HRDB shall be as set forth below, which are attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. Page 15 of 821 Page 16 of 821 Page 17 of 821 Page 18 of 821 Page 19 of 821