RESOLUTION No. 36636

Appoint a Human Rights Commission and Honorary Board of Advisors to serve the residents of Portland by advocating for the rights of all people (Resolution)

WHEREAS, City Code 23.01.010 states that the City of Portland is committed to improving the lives of all its residents and strives to eliminate all forms of discrimination because such discrimination poses a threat to the health, safety and general welfare of the residents of Portland and foundation of our community; and

WHEREAS,  to demonstrate this commitment Portland City Council declared its support for the creation of a Human Relations Commission by its passage of Resolution No. 36446 on October 18, 2006 and Resolution No. 36571; and

WHEREAS, on January 16, 2008 Portland City Council accepted the report "A Framework for Action:  Findings and Recommendations, Creation of Human Relations Entity for the City of Portland" by Resolution No. 36571 and adopted an ordinance creating the Office of Human Relations and Human Rights Commission on March 11, 2008; and

WHEREAS, the Human Rights Commission is charged with working to eliminate discrimination and bigotry, to strengthen intergroup relationships and to foster greater understanding, inclusion and justice for those who live, work, study, worship, travel and play in the City of Portland; and

WHEREAS, in doing so, the Human Rights Commission shall be guided by the principles embodied in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and

WHEREAS, the Commissioners of the Human Rights Commission were selected in accordance with the guidelines set forth in "A Framework for Action:  Findings and Recommendations, Creation of Human Relations Entity for the City of Portland" accepted by the Council by Resolution No. 36571; and

WHEREAS, the Council acknowledges the staff of the Office of Human Relations and charges Maria Lisa Johnson, Bureau Director; Koffi Dessou, Administrative Assistant;  Polo Catalani, Program Coordinator with carrying out the work of the Commission;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Portland City Council hereby appoints Multnomah County Commissioner Jeff Cogen as the Interim Chair of the Commission, and appoints the following as members of the Human Rights Commission:

In addition, the following have been asked to serve on an Honorary Board of Advisors to offer expertise and guidance to the full commission:

Council further acknowledges the staff of the Office of Human Rights charged with carrying out the work of the Commission: 

Maria Lisa Johnson, Bureau Director

Koffi Dessou, Executive Assistant

Polo Catalani, Immigrant & Refugee Program Coordinator

Muna A. Mohamud, Community Outreach & Education Coordinator

Adopted by the Council:                                                           GARY BLACKMER

Mayor Tom Potter                                                                    Auditor of the City of Portland

Commissioner Sam Adams                                                       By /S/

Commissioner Nick Fish

Commissioner Randy Leonard                                                                          Deputy

Commissioner Dan Saltzman

Prepared by                                                                                                                

Carmen Rubio                                                                                     

September 9, 2008