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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-09-26 - AGENDA REPORTS - HUMAN RELATIONS FORUM RESPONSE (2)AGENDA REPORT % " CityanagerApproval�i— Item to be Presented by: Jeff Kolin CONSENT CALENDAR DATE: September 26, 1995 SUBJECT: SANTA CLARITA VALLEY HUMAN RELATIONS FORUM RESPONSE PLAN AND MUTUAL ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT DEPARTMENT: Special Projects / Management Services BACKGROUND Human relations is defined as how human beings relate to one another. It is an attempt to eliminate discrimination and prejudice based on race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other factor. Human relations works to promote full acceptance of all persons in all aspects of community life and building cultural understanding. The goals of human relations are equity, inclusion of all and by all, and peace. The Santa Clarita Valley Human Relations Forum (HRF) was born as a result of citizens requesting the Santa Clarita City Council in May 1994, to take action to counter an increasing number of racist incidents in our community. The mission of the HRF is to encourage, assist, and empower the people of the Santa Clarita Valley to reduce racism, and to promote the benefit of human differences in our community. The HRF has developed a response plan to deal with hate related incidents in a coordinated, consistent, comprehensive man=. The Santa Clarita Valley Human Relations Forum Response Plan (herein referred to as Response Plan) will ensure that the City of Santa Clarita is taking a proactive role in promoting peace and harmony within the community. Related to the Response Plan is the Human Relations Mutual Assistance Agreement between the City of Santa Clarita and the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations. This agreement will enable the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations permission to provide support and assistance in managing and resolving tension and conflict between contending intergroup interests when requested by the City of Santa Clarita. This will enable the parties involved to exchange services, resources, and information for intergroup conflict resolution or prevention. The Response Plan will identify key members who will be notified by law enforcement of a hate crime. It is the responsibility of these members to prepare an initial assessment of the problem, report to City Council following a hate crime, provide recommendations for how to prevent the recurrence of hate crimes, and work with the victim(s) to determine what service and support is needed. The Response Plan will help identify the key members who should be contacted when a hate crime occurs and to regulate a plan of action in dealing with such crises. In cases in which a hate crime occurs in Santa Clarita, the Human Relations Mutual Assistance Agreement enables the City of Santa Clarita the opportunity to enlist the assistance of the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations in resolving the tension Consequently, the City of Santa Clarita will be ensured of sufficient resources and expertise to be able to handle human relations and intergroup conflict issues. ANOdED Agenda Item: 6- Services provided by the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations to the City of Santa Clarita free of charge upon completion of the mutual assistance agreement include crisis intervention, assessment and recommendations, training, and planning. According to the agreement, the City of Santa Clarita will provide an initial assessment of the human relations problem. If necessary, the City of Santa Clarita will have the option of requesting the mutual assistance of the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations. Representatives from the City of Santa Clarita and the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations will work together to establish coordination, ground rules, initial work plan ideas and time lines. They will identify the authority leadership and contact persons, as well as any special concerns related to media coverage. The representatives will also discuss and mutually develop a management plan to include goals, strategy, reporting, communication and resources. The Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations agrees to provide necessary personnel and technical assistance to assist the City of Santa Clarita in implementing the work plan. There will be no cost for these services, however the City of Santa Clarita does agree to cover all costs related to the actual implementation of the work plan, should these services be needed in the case of intergroup conflict. Therefore, the Human Relations Mutual Assistance Agreement will provide the City of Santa Clarita with a commitment from the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations to assist in reducing intergroup conflict tension upon request. RECOMMENDATION Direct the City Manager to approve the Santa Clarita Valley Human Relations Forum Response Plan and sign the Human Relations Mutual Assistance Agreement with the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations. ATTACHMENTS Santa Clarita Valley Human Relations Foram Response Plan and the Human Relations Mutual Assistance Agreement. 11rc .rpt Santa Clarita Valley Human Relations Forum Response Plan Purpose: To develop a coordinated, consistent, comprehensive response to hate crimes and hate related incidents. To ensure that the City of Santa Clarita is taking a proactive role in promoting peace and harmony within the community. To ensure that rights guaranteed by state laws and the United States Constitution are protected for all citizens regardless of their race, religions, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender, or any other area that makes an individual special. I. Response Team Members: A. City Manager B. City Staff to Human Relations Forum C. Law Enforcement Official D. Human Relations Forum Members support as needed. It is the responsibility of the Response Team to determine who is best suited to handle each particular situation and to establish the rules of procedure. H. Duties of Response Team: A. Prepare and present an initial assessment of the problem. B. Prepare and present reports for City Council following each hate crime incident regarding the Response Team's response and recommendations for how to prevent: its recurrence. C. Meet as deemed appropriate to monitor data and incidents defined as hate crimes. D. Work with the Human Relations Forum to provide recommendations to the City to avoid and prevent hate related incidents. Page 1 III. Procedure: A, Determination by Law Enforcement: Law enforcement officials shall determine whether or not the crime in question is a hate crime. By definition, a hate crime is any criminal or attempted act which is motivated by the victim's race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender or disability status. Definition of a hate crime: Hate crimes are defined as acts directed at an individual, institution, or business expressly because of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender or disability status. B. Notification: In the event of a hate incident, local law enforcement shall notify a designated response team member. If the incident involves severe bodily injury (murder) or large numbers of people, the response team will be notified immediately: In all other instances, and after business hours, the response team will be notified on the next business day. A response team contact name and phone number, with alternative, will be submitted to law enforcement. The response team will be responsible for establishing a telephone tree to notify other team members. C. Reporting to the Scene: Response Team representatives shall report to the scene, if necessary, as determined by the City Manager or Designee. D. Initial Assessment: The Response Team will be responsible for preparing an initial assessment of the problem. This assessment will include: 1) Identification and description of the problem / incident 2) Assessment of the extent and possible future movement of the problem 3) Chronology of recent related incidents 4) Identification of key organizations, individuals and institutions significant to the conflict 5) Identification of the resources available to handle the problem (Government, community, etc.) 6) Determine if the problem can be handled locally, or some assistance is needed, such as: * Technical assistance * Identification of further resources * Providing direct resources (materials, persons) * Setting in motion the local intergroup conflict response mechanism (Media relations, involvement of Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations per a Mutual Assistance Agreement, etc.) * Identifying staff responsible to coordinate and initiate the agreement and work plan Page 2 E. Preliminary Work Plan Procedure: The Response Team shall meet immediately following the incident to take action to convey the message that a hate act against one is a hate act against all. The Response Team message may be in the way of a press conference, press release, and/or other appropriate community action. F, Other Response Team Responsibilities: 1) Members are also responsible for contacting the victim or victims and determining the services and support needed. 2) Response Team members are responsible for working with the Human Relations Forum members in disseminating information to stop rumors and report results of the Response Team's efforts. 3) The Response Team is also responsible for working with the Human Relations Forum to determine what further action is necessary to avoid a similar incident. G. Overriding Guideline; The Response Team shall not interfere with law enforcement investigations, but rather should work jointly with them to convey to the community that hate related incidents will not be tolerated. Page 3 HUMAN RELATIONS MUTUAL ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT Between the City of Santa Clarita and the County of Los Angeles This agreement is made and entered into this day of October 2, 1995 by and between the City of Santa Clarita (hereafter referred to as "City") and the County of Los Angeles (hereafter referred to as "County"). WHEREAS, the County of Los Angeles has a Human Relations Commission which was established to promote improved human relations, civic peace, intergroup understanding, and the full acceptance of all persons in all aspects of community life; to actively promote a just and equitable intercultural society that fosters positive human relations; and to reduce and eventually eliminate intergroup violence, conflict, and tension, as well as discrimination, prejudice and stereotyping based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any arbitrary factor. WHEREAS, this agreement is designed to specifically address critical and emergent human relations issues which occur within the City of Santa Clarita; WHEREAS, the County's Human Relations Commission and the City of Santa Clarita recognize the importance of collaborating in resolving human relations issues; WHEREAS, the County's Human Relations Commission will provide local jurisdiction support and assistance in managing and resolving situations and conditions which are manifested in tensions and conflicts between groups with opposing interests; WHEREAS, the City of Santa Clarita desires sufficient resources and expertise to be able to effectively handle its human relations and intergroup conflict issues. WHEREAS, the County's Human Relations Commission desires to help the City increase its capacity in identifying and resolving human relations issues; and subsequently be able to assist the County or another local jurisdiction in times of crisis, I. NOW THEREFORE THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AND THE COUNTY AGREE THAT THE COUNTY'S HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION WILL PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING SERVICES: A. Crisis Intervention: Technical assistance and resources to stabilize a critical incident or situation related to intergroup conflict. Page 1 B. Assessment and Recommendations: Technical assistance to assess structure and volatility of intergroup tensions and to assist development of work plan proposal and recommendations to manage and resolve conflict. C. Trainine: Intergroup conflict management and resolution training. D. Plannine: Technical assistance in developing contingency plans to address situations or conditions of intergroup conflict. E. Response; The County's Human Relations Commission will respond to incidents / problems in the Santa Clarita Valley upon: 1) Request from the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles 2) Request from the City of Santa Clarita, following the establishment of this signed Mutual Assistance Agreement. II. TERM: The City and County agree that this agreement shall be in affect from October 1, 1995 through September 30, 1996. II. ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT PROTOCOL: A. Definitions: For purposes of this Mutual Assistance Agreement, the following terms have been defined and mutually agreed upon by the County and the City: HUMAN RELATIONS: How human beings relate to one another; an attempt to eliminate discrimination and prejudice based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other arbitrary factor. The City works to promote full acceptance of all persons in all aspects of community life and to build cultural understanding. The goals of human relations are equity, inclusion of all and by all, and peace. INTERGROUP CONFLICT: In human relations terms, it refers to tensions or disputes between people who group together on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, language, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, with others not of their group, or because of any other group characteristic such as socioeconomic status, marital status, personal disability, and not just on the basis of some common experience. Intergroup conflict also includes any harmful act - be it a verbal, written, or physical action causing emotional or physical injury, or property damage - which is directed against an individual, group, or institution and motivated by bigotry based on protected group characteristics. Page 2 B. Initiation: The City agrees to provide an initial assessment of the problem. This assessment will include: 1) Identification and description of the problem / incident 2) Assessment of the extent and possible future evolution of the problem 3) Chronology of recent related incidents 4) Identification of key organizations, populations, individuals and institutions affected by the conflict 5) Identification of the resources available to handle the problem (government, community, etc.) 6) Explanation of what assistance is needed, such as: * Technical Assistance * Identification of further resources * Providing direct resources (materials, persons) * Setting in motion the local intergroup conflict response mechanism * Identifying staff responsible to coordinate and initiate the agreement C. Formal Request of Mutual Assistance: If the assessment identifies local needs which cannot be met, or are only partially met, the City shall make reasonable efforts to contact other jurisdictions or organizations which may have the resources available. The City, by signing this Mutual Assistance Agreement will have the authority to formally request the assistance of the County, D. Entrance Interview: Representatives of the Human Relations Forum of the City of Santa Clarita will work with consultants from the County's Human Relations Commission to establish coordination, ground rules, initial Work Plan ideas and timelines and will review the initial assessment. The City representatives will be determined according to the Santa Clarita Valley Human Relations Forum Response Plan as designated by the City Manager. This process will identify the authority, leadership and contact persons, and will identify any special concerns related to media coverage, E. Work Plan Agreement: Representatives from the City and the County will discuss and mutually develop a Work Plan agreement that shall include goals, strategy, reporting, communication and resources. Assignments and agreement on specific responsibilities, such as confirmation and agreement of coordination (authority, leadership, contact persons), ground rules (e.g. media confidentiality and other concerns), initial Work Plan, and time lines will be outlined in the Work Plan. F. Work Plan Implementation: The County agrees to provide necessary personnel and technical assistance, at no cost, to assist the City in implementing the Work Plan. The City agrees to cover all costs related to actual implementating the Work Plan related to any Commission services requested and approved by the City. Page 3 G. Exit Interview: Closure, final report and recommendations along with recommendations for the prevention of future intergroup conflict will be completed by representatives from the City and the County. IV. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT Not withstanding any provision of this agreement, either party may terminate this agreement with or without cause by providing written notice of such termination, specifying the effective date, thereof, at least thirty (30) days prior to such date. City of Santa Clarita Signed by: Title: Hrhrmac.agr Los Angeles County Signed by: Page 4