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Human Rights Commission Minutes September 17, 2014 Page 8 of 10 Commissioner Thao would like to review a time line for how and when this program would start and a list of criteria for choosing winners. She also expressed concerns with it occurring at the same time as the essay contest. Commissioner Bachhuber stated the considerations of nominee evaluation could be used to determine winners. Vice Chair Becker stated the Commission had initially suggested have the awards done at the same time as the essay contest winners awards due to budget concerns. The event does not need to be limited to this time. He suggested Rosefest as another time that could be considered. Commissioner Singleton provided information he had drafted to incorporate a Commissioner Initiated Recognition. He stated this could be something that could be done throughout the year and the recipients could be recognized at either a Commission meeting or City Council meeting, depending on the award they received. There would not be any restrictions on who could receive the award and the nominations come from Commissioners. The award currently being proposed would be an annual award and City Staff is not eligible for it. Commissioner Thao suggested focusing on one component at a time and being sure it is a success before expanding it. Ms. Collins expressed ethical concerns with this type of award system. Commissioners could be nominating people that they have some sort of relationship with and it could be misconstrued. Commissioner Singleton stated as long as a preexisting relationship is disclosed there would not be an ethical question. The Committee decides if there would be an award not the Commissioner making the nomination. He clarified the Committee had not reviewed this program proposal as he was looking for Commission feedback prior to taking it to the Committee. Commissioner Thao stated she did not view continually reviewing nominations and discussing who should be receiving awards as a good use of Commission time. She also expressed concerns with the Commission or Committee making a determination on who would get a higher or lesser award. Commissioner Singleton stated the level of the award would be determined by the achievement. Commissioner Bachhuber stated this type of program would put the Commission in the position to make judgments. The annual award recipients are nominated by residents. She stated she would not be comfortable not awarding someone who had been nominated by a fellow Commissioner. The Commissioners could discuss members of the community with other people and this would be a way of recognizing them. She stated it had been pointed out in the New Commissioners Training that perception is important.