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Record of Proceedings

Human Relations Commission Monthly Meeting - May 27, 2026

City Council — Wednesday, May 27, 2026
BodyEvansville, Indiana
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, May 27, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 30:52

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:20

This meeting is being transcribed and summarized.

0:34

She's ready.

0:37

Good morning and welcome to the Human Relations Commission's monthly meeting.

0:45

Today is May 27th, Wednesday 2026.

0:51

We're calling our meeting to order.

0:54

Are there any agenda requests at this time?

1:00

There being none.

1:02

We do roll call.

1:05

Regina Robinson Ungar.

1:08

Marjorie Cabell.

1:11

Ruby McGlell.

1:17

Ellie.

1:20

I was waiting to see if there was somebody else over there.

1:22

Um Elisina Martin.

1:24

You guys look tiny on my screen.

1:31

Donovan.

1:40

Samantha?

1:44

Sorry.

1:45

I spoke.

1:48

Okay.

1:51

She can see this there.

1:55

Donovan.

2:03

Can you put it in the chat?

2:05

But oh, you put in the chat.

2:08

He did put it in the chat earlier.

2:11

He might be in a place that's too much of it.

2:14

Okay.

2:15

Thanks.

2:22

They should take their cameras.

2:26

Okay.

2:28

Well, it appears that we do have a quorum at this time.

2:34

So we'll have uh approval of the minutes for April.

2:42

Motion to approve the minutes.

2:45

I'd like to just add a correction to the minutes of the one page.

2:51

As far as um the chairperson calling the meeting to order.

2:58

So I'm not sure who that person was.

3:03

Okay, which was Dan Crowwell.

3:11

Are there any other corrections to the minutes?

3:18

We have a motion on the floor by Regina.

3:21

Accept the minutes.

3:22

Can we get a second?

3:23

Second.

3:24

Second by uh Commissioner Cabell.

3:27

All in favor?

3:29

Aye.

3:30

Aye.

3:31

Any opposed?

3:34

There being none.

3:35

Motion carried.

3:42

Okay, under new business.

3:48

Director will bring us up to date.

3:52

Okay.

3:52

Um, I think I did report on the annual dinner and our speaker.

3:58

Uh and um it the contract is currently with the BPW.

4:07

And uh, I don't know when it will actually get uh get be voted on.

4:19

Uh we did have uh just a firm offer that went before BPW.

4:26

We had to start there, but then once the firm offer was approved, then we got the contract.

4:33

So uh then the contract had to be approved by BPW.

4:36

So it's it's a process.

4:38

We first have to get like a form that we call a CAF, that has to be completed, it's sent to finance, then finance sends it to purchasing, and then purchasing sends it to legal.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Engagement█████████████████████████████████████████████57%
Procedural█████████████17%
Public Safety███████9%
Strategic Planning██████7%
Public Health████5%
Personnel Matters████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Human Relations Commission Monthly Meeting - May 27, 2026

The Human Relations Commission held its monthly meeting on May 27, 2026, at 5:45 PM UTC. The meeting covered approval of minutes, updates on the annual dinner, police community relations, the strategic plan, the director's report, and a discussion on Senate Bill 76 regarding immigration enforcement.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: The minutes from April were approved with a correction regarding the chairperson calling the meeting to order (identified as Dan Crowwell). Motion by Regina Robinson Ungar, seconded by Commissioner Cabell, carried unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made during the meeting.

Discussion Items

  • Annual Dinner Update: Reverend Barber accepted the invitation for October 2, 2026. The venue changed from the ballroom to the exhibit hall due to a scheduling conflict. The contract is currently with the Board of Public Works (BPW) for approval. Logistics with the speaker's bureau are ongoing.
  • Police Community Relations: Director reported that the RAN Corporation convening is stalled because the police department lacks funds to cover its share, leaving the commission to pay the full cost, which is considerable. Alternative options include requesting funds from the city council. The commission is at an impasse.
  • Strategic Plan Contract: The contract with Tad Dickle is in the BPW pipeline. Potential meeting dates for the strategic planning sessions are June 24 (the next regular meeting date) or July 22. Tad prefers in-person sessions, but virtual options may be explored. A survey will be sent to commissioners to determine dates.
  • Director's Report:
    • Haitian Flag Day: The commission participated, providing outreach materials translated into Haitian Creole and EEOC information.
    • Barbershop Health Initiative: The program was transferred to the Community Action Program of Evansville, which will hold an event on June 13. The commission is providing materials and equipment.
    • IORA Conference: Director will serve as interim chairperson; the conference is in New Orleans from August 16–20. Commissioners were invited to attend.
    • Caseload: In April, 9 cases were filed, 3 were transferred, leaving 6 new cases. Only 1 case was closed (no probable cause). The commission was busy with the Fair Housing Summit on April 16.
    • New Employee: A USI graduate with a double major in political science and philosophy (4.0 GPA) will start June 8 to assist with education and outreach.
    • Pride Parade: The commission will walk in the parade on June 6 at noon. Lineup is at 11:00 AM downtown. Commissioners were asked to participate.
  • Commissioner Remarks on Senate Bill 76: Commissioner Samantha highlighted concerns about Senate Bill 76, which strengthens collaboration between public entities and immigration enforcement, effective July 1, 2026. She noted community fear, detentions, and the need to protect constitutional rights. She will share resources from the ACLU of Indiana and explore opportunities to discuss with local law enforcement.

Key Outcomes

  • The April minutes were approved as corrected.
  • The annual dinner date and venue are confirmed; contract approval is pending.
  • The police community relations initiative is stalled due to funding issues; no decision made.
  • The strategic planning contract is awaiting BPW approval; a survey for dates will be distributed.
  • The barbershop health initiative was successfully transferred to the Community Action Program.
  • The commission will participate in the Pride parade on June 6.
  • Commissioner Samantha will provide updates on Senate Bill 76 implementation and community resources.

Meeting Transcript

This meeting is being transcribed and summarized. She's ready. Good morning and welcome to the Human Relations Commission's monthly meeting. Today is May 27th, Wednesday 2026. We're calling our meeting to order. Are there any agenda requests at this time? There being none. We do roll call. Regina Robinson Ungar. Marjorie Cabell. Ruby McGlell. Ellie. I was waiting to see if there was somebody else over there. Um Elisina Martin. You guys look tiny on my screen. Donovan. Samantha? Sorry. I spoke. Okay. She can see this there. Donovan. Can you put it in the chat? But oh, you put in the chat. He did put it in the chat earlier. He might be in a place that's too much of it. Okay. Thanks. They should take their cameras. Okay. Well, it appears that we do have a quorum at this time. So we'll have uh approval of the minutes for April. Motion to approve the minutes. I'd like to just add a correction to the minutes of the one page. As far as um the chairperson calling the meeting to order. So I'm not sure who that person was. Okay, which was Dan Crowwell. Are there any other corrections to the minutes? We have a motion on the floor by Regina. Accept the minutes. Can we get a second? Second. Second by uh Commissioner Cabell. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? There being none. Motion carried. Okay, under new business.

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