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HRC Monthly Meeting

Orange County · Human Relations Commission
Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Regular meeting Civil rights and nondiscriminationAppointments and personnelEnvironment and sustainabilityEthics and transparencyGrants and outside fundingHistoric preservationHousing and affordabilityParks and recreation

Agenda document Minutes Watch Meeting recap

What's on this agenda

The commission's monthly meeting, 6:00 to 7:30 PM on Revere Road and on Teams, with every item timed to the minute. It advises the county commissioners on human relations and social justice, and its job as the agenda describes it is promoting goodwill across communities, identifying concerns about discrimination and civil inequality, and supporting education and outreach.

The business: a climate action grant presentation, a county update from the Office of Civil Rights and Civic Life, a decision on a commemorative marker at Blackwood Farms, and a review and vote on applications to fill membership vacancies. Subcommittees report on outreach, a housing series and the Blackwood Farms dedication.

Summarized from the published agenda. Read the agenda itself before acting on it.

Meeting recap

What happened, drawn from the records published after the meeting. Minutes

Orange County's Human Relations Commission voted 7-0 on 25 August to send three applicants for its open seats to the Board of Commissioners, and elected Brandon Loor-Intriago as its secretary, also 7-0. Staff from the county's climate program showed members how to score applications for the Community Climate Action Grant, and every member was asked to vote in the online portal by 11 September.

The chair took on drafting a proclamation on recent lynchings in North Carolina, due by 3 September, and Commissioner Wendy Calvin a Hispanic Heritage proclamation. A housing discussion panel was set for 7 or 14 November, and the Blackwood Farms monument dedication for the fall. One resident spoke during public comment. Seven of eight members attended, with Cassie Rice absent, and the minutes are marked approved.

How the votes went

June 23 minutes approved 7-0 (Hogans, seconded by Lukas). Brandon Loor-Intriago elected secretary 7-0 (Lukas, seconded by Calvin). Three applications for open seats forwarded to the Board of Commissioners 7-0 (Hogans, seconded by Calvin). Adjournment unanimous.

From the published minutes.

Who spoke

1 member of the public spoke.

  1. Dr. Nadeesha Perera raised concerns about how promptly the Office of Civil Rights and Civic Life handled a discrimination inquiry she filed in July 2026.

Read from the records the government published after the meeting. Members of the public are private residents and are not named or indexed.

Speaking at this meeting

Orange County's own rules for public comment — check them before you rely on anything here.

Jump to an item (13 on this agenda)
  1. 1Call to Order, Roll Call & Establishment of Quorum
  2. 2Opening
  3. 3Approval of Agenda
  4. 4Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes
  5. 5Public Comment (Non-Agenda Items)
  6. 6Climate Control Action Grant
  7. 7County Update — Office of Civil Rights and Civic Life
  8. 8Action Item: Blackwood Farms Marker Update
  9. 9Executive Committee Report
  10. 10Sub-Committee Reports
  11. 11Board Member Comments
  12. 12Announcements & Future Agenda Items
  13. 13Adjournment

Agenda items (13)

Procedural · 5Staff or committee report · 3Discussion item · 2Minutes approval · 1Presentation · 1Appointment · 1
  1. 1 Call to Order, Roll Call & Establishment of Quorum
    Procedural
  2. 2 Opening
    Procedural Civil rights and nondiscrimination
    The commission's advisory role: promoting goodwill and harmony across communities, identifying concerns about discrimination and civil inequality, supporting education and outreach, and making recommendations to the county commissioners on human relations and social justice.
  3. 3 Approval of Agenda
    Procedural
  4. 4 Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes
    Minutes approval
  5. 5 Public Comment (Non-Agenda Items)
    Procedural Civil rights and nondiscriminationEthics and transparency
    Ten minutes. Speakers are asked not to share personal identifying information or details of an active complaint, investigation or case; the chair may pause or redirect anyone who does and refer them to the complaint process, to protect the rights of all parties and the integrity of any review.
  6. 6 Climate Control Action Grant
    Presentation Environment and sustainabilityGrants and outside funding
    Amy Eckberg presents on the climate action grant program, the longest item on the agenda.
  7. 7 County Update — Office of Civil Rights and Civic Life
    Staff or committee report Civil rights and nondiscrimination
    An update from Paul Slack, director of the county's Office of Civil Rights and Civic Life.
  8. 8 Action Item: Blackwood Farms Marker Update
    Discussion item Civil rights and nondiscriminationHistoric preservationParks and recreation
    A commemorative marker at Blackwood Farms. The same marker goes to the Parks and Recreation Council as new business on 2 September.
  9. 9 Executive Committee Report
    Appointment Appointments and personnel
    Membership vacancies, with a review of applications and a vote, plus a recap of the August retreat. The applications themselves make up two thirds of the published packet.
  10. 10 Sub-Committee Reports
    Staff or committee report Civil rights and nondiscriminationHousing and affordability
    Outreach and engagement on tabling and contact with Orange County organisations; community events on a housing series and the Blackwood Farms dedication.
  11. 11 Board Member Comments
    Discussion item Civil rights and nondiscrimination
    Members raise issues they are hearing in the community and identify potential areas for future work or commission response.
  12. 12 Announcements & Future Agenda Items
    Staff or committee report
    Events from September to November.
  13. 13 Adjournment
    Procedural

Agenda changes

What moved between published versions of this agenda. Item numbers shift constantly as things are inserted, so only genuine additions and removals are listed.

Other recent meetings of this board