Chapter 2.125
COMMISSION ON THE SOCIAL STATUS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MALES

Sections:

2.125.010    Social status of African American males – Establishment of commission.

2.125.010 Social status of African American males – Establishment of commission.

(A) Legislative Findings. The City Council of the City of Evansville, Indiana, now finds:

(1) That if a segment of our residents and community are not doing well, this affects the overall well-being of our entire community.

(2) Statistical studies detailing the status of African American males reveal startling and disturbing conditions and trends which are impeding progress toward full participation in the mainstream of our society.

(3) Poverty, violence, drug abuse, debilitating health problems and the undereducation, underemployment and unemployment of African American males promote self-destructive behaviors and create a myriad of community problems.

(4) There is a need in the City of Evansville, Indiana to create practical proposals and workable remedies in the areas of employment, education, health and criminal justice to reduce the problems which African American males face.

(B) Establishment and Membership of the City of Evansville Commission on the Social Status of African American Males.

(1) The Commission on the Social Status of African American Males is hereby established.

(2) The Commission on the Social Status of African American Males shall consist of 15 members. The commission will originally consist of those members currently serving on the commission established by Mayor Frank McDonald II and who desire to remain on the newly established commission. The remaining members will be selected by the City Council for the City of Evansville, Indiana. These commission members will serve for a term which will expire on December 31, 2000. At the first meeting of the newly formed commission, the members of the commission shall elect one member to be the commission’s chairperson, one member to be the commission’s vice-chairperson, and one member to be the commission’s recording secretary.

(3) A newly appointed commission shall begin its term each two years commencing on January 1, 2001, and its members shall be selected as follows:

(a) Ten members shall be appointed by the City Council for the City of Evansville.

(b) Five members shall be appointed by the Mayor of the City of Evansville.

(c) All members shall be residents of the City of Evansville who are concerned with the advancement of the status of African American males.

(d) The appointing authorities above shall strive to make their respective appointments in hopes that the commission may be made up of many of the following persons:

(i) A member of the City Council.

(ii) A member of the City Administration.

(iii) A representative from a college, university or trade school located in Vanderburgh County.

(iv) A representative from a local hospital.

(v) A representative from a labor organization, union or trade organization.

(vi) A representative from local neighborhood associations, grass roots representatives or persons who have shown that they are community based and oriented.

(C) Governing Regulations of the Commission.

(1) All individuals appointed shall have an active interest in addressing the overall purposes and goals of the commission.

(2) All members shall serve without compensation.

(3) All members shall serve for a term of two years after January 1, 2001.

(4) A member of the commission serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority.

(5) The appointing authority shall fill a vacancy on the commission by appointing a new member for the unexpired term.

(6) At the first meeting in January of each year, the members of the commission shall elect one member to be the commission’s chairperson, one member to be the commission’s vice-chairperson, and one member to be the commission’s recording secretary.

(7) The commission shall meet at least on a quarterly basis and is subject to notice of such meetings pursuant to the Open Door Law of the State of Indiana.

(8) Minutes of all meetings shall be sent to the City Clerk and the Mayor’s office of the City of Evansville, Indiana, within 30 days following said meeting.

(9) Five members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

(D) Duties and Responsibilities of the Commission. The City of Evansville Commission on the Social Status of African American Males shall:

(1) Develop annual and long-range goals.

(2) Develop action committees addressing:

(a) Neighborhoods.

(b) Criminal justice.

(c) Education.

(d) Employment.

(e) Health.

(f) Social factors.

(g) Youth.

(h) Awareness and conference planning.

Such committees shall be subject to the Open Door Law.

(3) Use resource individuals who are not members of the commission.

(4) Develop and coordinate information and programs of public institutions, the private sector, associations and individuals which address poverty, violence, drug abuse, racism, debilitating health problems, undereducation, the unemployment and underemployment of African American males, all of which promote self-destructive behaviors which exacerbate a myriad of community problems.

(5) Serve as a catalyst and broker to facilitate a common foundation upon which viable courses of action can be initiated, monitored, evaluated, and fine-tuned in order to promote positive public and private remedies to the multifaceted problems confronting African American males in our community and the resulting effects on the entire community.

(6) Network with the African American Male National Council, the Indiana Commission on the Social Status of Black Males and all local commissions operating throughout the State by sharing ideas, information, statistical data, and action plans.

(7) Issue an annual written report summarizing the results of each of the above-described duties and responsibilities, and provide recommendations for improvement. The commission shall submit such report to the Evansville City Council at its first regular meeting in March of each year. The City of Evansville, Indiana, shall, at its expense, provide copies of such reports to each commission member, all appointing authorities, and make copies of the same available to members of the public through the Human Relations Commission. [Ord. G-2019-17 § 1, passed 12-18-19; Ord. G-99-21, passed 7-26-99. 1983 Code § 3.30.910.]