Officials present roadmap for Human Rights Commission restructuring; public concerns aired

Palm Springs city officials presented a tentative timeline Tuesday for revising the Human Rights Commission’s (HRC) ordinance, with potential changes to be discussed at upcoming City Council meetings. The process is expected to extend into early 2025, raising concerns among some members of the HRC.

During a meeting of the HRC Wednesday evening, Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein and Councilmember Grace Garner, serving as a subcommittee, outlined plans to potentially transform the commission into a human services commission. The proposed shift aims to focus on connecting residents with available services and supporting local nonprofits.

“I believe that we have the basis here based upon this input now,” Bernstein said, referring to feedback received during recent listening sessions with commissioners.

The timeline presented involves several steps:

• The City Council will discuss requesting a staff report on proposed changes at their Nov. 14 meeting. HRC commissioners would review this report at a special meeting, tentatively scheduled for Nov. 12.
  
  
• Following Council discussion, the city attorney’s office would draft a new ordinance. HRC members would have an opportunity to review and comment on the draft in December.
  
  
• The City Council would then vote on the ordinance in January, with a second reading potentially occurring later that month.

Some members of the HRC expressed frustration with the prolonged process and lack of clarity regarding the commission’s future role.

“I’m skeptical that you’re going to adhere to this,” said Vice Chair David Vignolo. “I’m skeptical that so it sounds to me like tonight we have to put on the agenda a review of a staff report which hasn’t even been written, which staff may or may not actually be directed to produce.”

Vignolo pressed Bernstein and Garner to specify which current duties they believe should be retained in the revised ordinance. However, both deferred, citing the need for legal review and full council discussion.

The restructuring process follows a council decision earlier this year to pause the commission’s work and delay appointments to fill two vacancies. This action came in response to suggestions of possible Brown Act violations by commissioners, reported by The Post on Feb. 13.

Public commenters at Wednesday’s meeting criticized the council’s handling of the commission, with some alleging personal vendettas and retaliation as potential motives.

“It’s time to end this charade,” said Rich Weissman during public testimony. “We’re deeply concerned about the direction the city has taken relative to this pausing of the HRC under the guise of a planning effort. When organizations plan and brand themselves, rebrand themselves, they don’t shut themselves down. They do this concurrently, not in lieu of.”

Commissioner Bobby Rimas expressed optimism about the proposed changes, suggesting a shift to human services could better align with the city’s current needs.

“The fabric of the city has changed tremendously and the charter of this commission, which was established 32 years ago, has not,” Rimas said. “I believe that as we are able to move the charter of the commission and not do this upbringing exercise because this is not about marketing, it really is about the charter of the working group of people that come to be and should be in line with human services.”

The commission voted to cancel its planned Oct. 14 meeting and schedule a special meeting in November, pending confirmation of the staff report’s availability.

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