Valparaiso’s fledgling Human Relations Council came under attack Monday by Councilman Jack Pupillo.
Pupillo, R-4th, said at Monday’s City Council meeting that he is concerned about the group’s political neutrality, citing Chairman Joseph Frankus’ anti-Trump comments on social media, including use of the term “treason.”
That was discussed at the HRC’s June meeting, member Ezra Burke said.
“And the result of that conversation was,” Pupillo asked.
“This is a presentation,” Hunt responded. Burke was offering the City Council an update on the HRC’s first six months of meetings and the strategic plan the group had developed. “I am a little bit concerned about what the goal is here,” Hunt told Pupillo.
“It’s not about me. It’s about the people of the city,” Pupillo said. “There has been chilled political speech.”
“You have participated in political speech,” Hunt told him.
“The reasonable concern is that a government body can chill political speech,” Pupillo said.
“We welcome public comment,” Burke said.
“Is this an advisory board or is this an advocacy organization?” Pupillo asked. “Is it appropriate for local government to be operating as a local advocacy organization?”
Pupillo’s comments came after a presentation by Burke about the organization’s first six months and the strategic plan its members prepared. That includes going out into the community to invite comments from residents about how they feel they are treated in the city. The HRC’s mission includes advising the council on issues like that.
“Are we seeing a little bit of mission creep here?” Pupillo asked.
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How can they advise the council if they aren’t doing community outreach, asked Councilwoman Emilie Hunt, D-At-large. Does trying to get a pulse on the community make them an advocacy group?
“It appears that it is more active” than the city’s previous HRC. Mayor Jon Costas said.
Not keeping educated on legislative matters seems problematic, Burke added.
As an individual, that’s fine, but not as a group, Pupillo responded.
Council President Ellen Kapitan, D-At-large, said the HRC members were appointed because they collectively have diverse backgrounds. “You bring a lot to the table that we should be very grateful for,” she told Burke and other members at the City Council meeting.
“You’re building a foundation. I’m very grateful for that,” she said.
“How can you know what’s going on in the community unless you’re out there?” Kapitan asked. She wants to know if any group feels underrepresented.
Councilman Barbara Domer, D-3rd, told Burke she likes the idea of the HRC having a table at each public event so all members of the community can approach and discuss their concerns.
“Everybody’s perspective matters,” Costas said.
He referred to the Declaration of Independence’s reference to certain inalienable rights, including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
“This free expression is what America is all about,” Costas said. “We probably agree about more things than we disagree about.”
In other business, the council approved a new ordinance restricting the use of e-bikes downtown by a 4-1 vote. Domer said she wished the use of e-bikes would be restricted in her neighborhood as well as downtown.
The ordinance was changed from the version introduced at the council’s last meeting. Councilman Peter Anderson, R-5th, explained them.
The age for use of Class 3 e-bikes, originally set at 16, was lowered to 15. “It’s more in line with the state laws for mopeds and things of that nature,” he said. That’s also the age at which more youths can work, so the use of e-bikes for transportation to and from work can help families.
At Kapitan’s suggestion, the language was changed to say downtown is a dismount zone rather than prohibiting e-bikes downtown. That allows the city to promote active transportation while protecting the safety of pedestrians and others downtown, she said.
For purposes of the ordinance, the western border of downtown was changed from Campbell Street to Napoleon Street.
The ordinance also includes some examples of unsafe behavior, including weaving around pedestrian traffic, intimidating pedestrians, being distracted by handheld electronic devices and others.
“We’re looking for behaviors that are respectful toward pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles” so they can all be safe together,” Kapitan said. “I love that more people are using bicycles or getting around town differently.”
Domer was concerned about e-bikes going 20 mph on a sidewalk.
There’s no speed limit mentioned in the ordinance, Anderson said. Pupillo said flying past at an unreasonable speed would be considered a violation.
“I just think 20 mph on a sidewalk is unreasonable,” Domer said.
“That’s very fast,” Costas agreed.
Doug Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.