2024-03-30 DEIA Commission MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSSION & ACCESSIBILTY
COMMISSION
RETREAT
MARCH 30, 2024
Meeting conducted via Zoom and in -person at the Plaza Room
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT
Elaine Helm, Co -Chair
Jessie Owen, Co -Chair
Pam Iverson via Zoom
Kim Gunning
Umrah Thomas
Rowan Soiset
Patty Narvaez-Wheeler
Councilmember Chris Eck, ex-officio
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
Dipti Chrastka - excused
Rebecca Perrault - unexcused
STAFF PRESENT
Todd Tatum, Director
Megan Luttrell, Program Coordinator
10:05 A.M. — Call to Order and Land Acknowledgement: "We acknowledge the original
inhabitants of this place, the Sdohobsh (Snohomish) people and their successors the Tulalip
Tribes, who since time immemorial have hunted, fished, gathered, and taken care of these lands.
We respect their sovereignty, their right to self-determination, and we honor their sacred
spiritual connection with the land and water." - City Council Land Acknowledgment
1. Roll Call and Absences
Patty read land acknowledgment. Rebecca is an unexcused absence and Dipti is an excused
absence due to a work conflict.
2. Approval of Agenda
Elaine moved to approve the agenda, Jessie second; approved by consensus.
3. Public Comment (3 minutes per speaker) None.
DIVERSITY COMMISSION RETREAT AGENDA
Welcome — Elaine, Jessie & Michelle
AH HA moments from the prereading about DEIA Code:
• Our audience include politicians and elected officials
• Public partnerships
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Diversity Commission
March 30, 2024
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• The City is currently in a hiring chill, staffing is at the mayor's
discretion.
• The documents referred to supporting/challenging.
o Statewide changes in legislation are opportunities.
o Words racism and racial equity are not in the code/mission.
• Action, education, and guidance are in the code. KEY
DIRECTIVES
• The Commission website should host our code and the language needs to
be severely updated.
• We're required to submit an oral and written annual report to Council.
• Language could be more nuanced.
• Some wins
o Accessibility has been added to our name.
o Staff has added pronouns to signature.
o Section on language
Ice Breaker Exercise
Lay the Foundation
Review definitions
The Commission spent a few minutes reviewing the provided definitions in
an effort to be alignment during discussion.
Commissioner Capacity and Expectations
2 hours a month is Minimum ---4 15 hours a month max
• Expectation in Code says you must attend the monthly meeting
• 5 seems to be a realistic minimum.
• Sometimes these hours get conflated with other civic responsibilities.
• Make sure our time is used strategically, efficiently (meaning that you
are matched up to the proper task and note that identities might make
your volunteer hours more exhausting), use your gifts/talent.
** Note we cannot replace the DEIA Commission Coordinator's paid labor with volunteer work.
That would not be sustainable. Some things may have to go. Lean into being open to change.
Staff Roles
Director: focus on policy
Program Coordinator:
• Leadership team
• Work with Commission leadership to set agenda each month
• Onboard new Commissioners
• Grants/PR/Admin for grants program
• Work with theater for the film series.
• Coordinating announcements
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Diversity Commission
March 30, 2024
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• Vet applications for this commission.
DEIA Commission Coordinator:
• 10 hrs/week on DEIA projects.
• Film series.
• Newletter
• Social media
• Commission meeting minutes.
Mission — Commission Purpose
Vision — Define Aspirations
Lunch Break
Strategic 3-Year Plan
2024; 2025; 2026
Where do we want to be as a commission in 2026 and how to we use our
priorities to build the road map:
• Relationship building and engagement so that the commission has a
voice /impact in the city's long-term plans.
• Visibility in the community/and engagement
• Data to identify and support the communities who are most marginalized
and most impacted by changes (especially with upcoming budget
changes).
*Note: It would be great to have an activated and engaged community. Consistent, intentional
engagement. They constantly hear from people who don't necessarily center DEIA values.
We have a solid understanding of who the city is so that we can amplify the gaps.
Accessibility to information.
We have clarity on our 3 priorities that impact our most marginalized
communities.
Engaging the City
• Improved accessibility to information from the city and from the DEIA
Commission so that our community knows how to engage with both the
commission and the city.
• Our commission has a seat at the budget conversations, economic
development commissions, police dept., and other important decision -
making groups so that we can amplify our priorities.
• We are sought out as a thought partner by the counsel and other
commissioners.
Engaging Community/Visibility
• Build capacity in our community for understanding and apply
foundational DEIA principles so that we can influence elected officials.
o Going back to this activated community — consistent, intentional
engagement.
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Diversity Commission
March 30, 2024
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o Community -lead equity work
• We have relationships with (how many?) champions in marginalized
communities so that we can support each other.
Data: What are our three priorities?
• Can we point to what isn't equitable in our community/city?
• What can we pull them in to do?
• Measure our 2023 work to establish our baseline.
• Look at other DEIA commissions.
• USE the research already available to us. There is a lot of data that we
can pull from.
** Note, there is some administrative work that needs to be taken care should fit into the priorities
above and might need a time -limited ad hoc committee to lead them.
THESE ITEMS WILL BE DISCUSSED AT A FUTURE COMMISSION
MEETING
Commission Structure and Action Plan —
Committees — Assign Responsibilities
Calendar; Grant program; Film series; Book distribution plan;
Onboarding
Relationship Building
Wrap-up/closing
The group ended by sharing one word about how they felt about our year ahead.
Adjourn — 2:OOPM
Next meeting: Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at 6:OOPM
Retreat Summary
Diversity Commission
March 30, 2024
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