Human Relations Commission - November 14, 2024

Commission adopts amended resolution condemning hate incidents

The Human Relations Commission adopted an amended resolution condemning local hate incidents, removing the word “bias” from the draft before passage. Vice Chair Michelle Kraus introduced and moved the measure. The transcript confirms that it passed but does not establish a numerical vote.

Kraus said the draft followed a public-safety security meeting focused on hate crimes that drew more than 80 community participants. Commissioners discussed the measure’s scope, including whether it should define hate crimes or address criticism of Israel, and said the resolution was not defining hate crimes.

Public commenters broadly supported a condemnation of hate incidents and described concerns about antisemitism and community safety. Several requested antisemitism training for city leaders, police and other city personnel. One also supported training addressing Islamophobia and other forms of hate, while another urged adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism.

Overnight warming location remains limited to county weather activations

Palo Alto’s overnight warming location was expected to continue opening only on nights the county designates as inclement weather, with funding available for additional activation nights if needed. The commission did not vote to change the weather trigger or the location’s capacity of 10 people per night.

During the previous pilot year, the location opened for 15 nights and provided 112 indoor overnight stays to 33 unique clients. Eighty percent of participants said they considered Palo Alto home, and approximately one-third were seniors or had a chronic illness or disability. The low-barrier service generally operated from about 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. and provided sleeping materials, basic food and drinks, security and referrals.

Council liaison Julie Lythcott-Haims encouraged consideration of greater capacity, another future site and local activation criteria beyond the county standard. She also asked about outreach following community concerns over notice and safety when the location previously opened. Kraus sought clarification about the separate women’s shelter; staff said that shelter is an ongoing, screened program, while the warming location provides one-night emergency service.

City staff and Heart and Home Collaborative planned a community open house, though no date or time had been set, along with neighborhood outreach about operations. Participants also said the planned 88-unit Project Homekey, which had not yet opened, could affect future assessments of emergency-shelter needs.

HISP grant solicitation expected in early December

Staff said it expected to issue the HISP request for proposals in the first week of December. The solicitation was to use an approximate funding amount based on the previous year, subject to possible future City Council investment. Participants described HISP funding as 1% of the General Fund, but no dollar amount was provided.

Staff also reported that an audit examining city processes and accountability for nonprofit contracts was expected to proceed to the Policy and Services Committee and later to the full council. Discussion of how to calculate the fund’s size could continue through the Finance Committee, the council or the next budget process.

The commission reached consensus, without a formal motion or recorded vote, to cancel its Dec. 12 meeting and reconvene in January. Subcommittees could continue working in the interim and bring substantive items forward after the break.

Subcommittee expected to discuss possible immigration impacts

Commissioners identified the Economic Justice Subcommittee as the venue for initial discussion of a possible response to mass deportations. During related workplan discussion, a member also raised potential immigration-related community impacts beginning in January. No motion, policy or formal commission direction was recorded, and any full-commission consideration would come later.

Primary sources

Watch the meeting on YouTube · Read the official meeting packet