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2021-04-07 Diversity Commission MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS DIVERSITY COMMISSION April 7, 2021 Meeting conducted via Zoom COMMISSIONERS PRESENT Ardeth Weed, Chair Dean Olson, Vice -Chair Donnie Griffin Nikki Okimoto Glaros Mindy Woods Alison Alfonzo Pence Sarah Mixson Sekou Kone Caitlin Chung, Student Rep Councilmember Luke Distelhorst, ex offfcio Laura Johnson - Council COMMISSIONERS ABSENT Alberto Orejel Malfav6n -excused GUESTS PRESENT: Vivian Olson — Council STAFF PRESENT Patrick Doherty, Director Megan Luttrell, Program Coordinator Economic Development & Community Services Arwen Marohn, Diversity Commission Coordinator 6:00 P.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: Ardeth called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Nikki read the land acknowledgement. 2. Approval of Agenda: Agenda approved by consensus. 3. Approval of March 3, 2021 Summary: Approved by consensus 4. Public Comment: Vivian Olson shared a recommendation for the Diversity Commission to purchase the book, Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, and distribute them throughout the city in free libraries. Vivian also shared she is available to the Commission at any time for conversation. 5. Update from the City: Patrick Doherty a) We have new Acting Police Chief, Michelle Bennett. She has 30+ years of experience in the King County Sheriff's Office. He suggested the Commission invite her to one of our upcoming meetings. b) A new City of Edmonds website is online c) Kelsey Foster is Edmonds new Communications Strategist, Public Information Officer Meeting Summary Diversity Commission April 7, 2021 Page 1 d) The City of Edmonds will be receiving money through America Rescue Plan Act. $9.278M Patrick requested the Commission share ideas on how funds could be used and that will be presented to Council in the expenditure plan. e) Equity, inclusion and injustice training is beginning for directors and there will be a three- hour initial discussion later this month. f) Diversity & Arts Commission Grants are due this month with the focus on equity and diversity. They would like to have a two -person review committee, including one from the Diversity Commission to make recommendations. g) Luke shared a few Council updates: Council approved hiring a contract social worker Housing recommendations were introduced to City Council Council approved $4/hour hazard pay for grocery store workers Alison Pence volunteered to represent for the Diversity & Arts Commission Grant review Patrick responded to Donnie's inquiry on the newly approved social worker and the criteria for the distribution of America Rescue Plan funds. The part time human services staff person was housed in his department, but with the added robust program services, the Mayor, Parks Director, and Patrick decided there was more support to have this under the Parks Director and at the Frances Anderson Center. This also makes the two human services positions and programs more readily accessible to community. In regard to the America Rescue Plan Act criteria, it is targeted toward grants assistance to households, businesses, non -profits, and to provide government services that were cut back such as infrastructure projects. The Diversity Commission can offer specific ideas as well provide suggestions on how a diversity and inclusion lens be considered in the use of the funds. Donnie referred to the discussion at our recent retreat about the notion of a Civil Rights Office or group that would provide a focus around laws and ordinances. 6. Budget Update: Megan gave an update on the budget. The Commission has approximately $2200 left with $1000 of that to go towards grants. 7. Old Business: a. Incident response by Chair and Vice -Chair — Ardeth gave a recommendation on creating a template, with second paragraph stating what the issue is, then have Dean, Patrick and herself refine and send out. She wants the ability to use this as a guide and to expand it to the situation. Dean likes the idea about customizing the response and mentioned how we've been silent on what's going on in Marysville. Donnie stated he wasn't sure how it differs from the policy we already have in place with allowing the Chair and Vice Chair to make a statement (with advising from staff). Patrick gave a recap on the template history Approved Ardeth's recommendation by consensus. b. Diversity Commission annual report presentation review — Dean is half -way through refining the document and he's reducing it to a ten-minute presentation. Waiting on final Meeting Summary Diversity Commission April 7, 2021 Page 2 version to determine when the presentation will be presented to Counsel. Patrick recommends that some of the Commissioners be present to show support. Subgroup assignment discussion i. Civil Rights Office — Alison recommended this be incorporated into the policy subcommittee since this will included discussions with the city & partnerships outreach with community and organizations. The thought is maybe a new commission or human rights commission will take over in the future. Mindy agrees, Dean says policy first and then outreach, Donnie wants research should be done first and look at the difference of the Diversity Commission and Civil Rights Office. ii. Equity Toolkit & Highway 99 business education series — Patrick said the equity toolkit was the brainchild of downtown business leaders. As we did not spread the resource around the rest of the city this should probably still reside in Partnership and Outreach. iii. Highway 99 Community Building — Donnie suggested items ii and iii remain in Partnership, convene others to discuss possibilities for this. All agreed. iv. District based Council positions —Policy subcommittee. Donnie says there is a long process that starts with a member of Council and in terms of equity, this is a great idea. The public can petition to start the process. The Commission's role would be to discuss, look at what is required, and then send a message to the Mayor and Council. Nikki asked if there is a charter on that- Yakima is a good representation of this change. Vivian shared that she and Susan Paine are looking into this and there will be a conversation coming forward and will presented to the public. Laura Johnson showed interest in attending. v. Accessibility — ADA — Mindy recommended Policy. Donnie said we need to propose action items on this instead of researching and feels we've studied some of these so much we have paralyzed ourselves in action. Suggested promoting this as an activity to increase awareness... Events subcommittee and to not put everything in Policy. Patrick thinks some of the issues are closer to become a recommendation. The Commission needs to write a memo or paper and suggested one or two meetings to get this done with two commissioners to finalize the work. Luke said the city is close to making a recommendation on language accessibility. Dean likes Patrick's idea of making this a short committee for language accessibility. Dean says disability policy and action needs to remain in Policy and continue to be a long-term focus. A short term committee will be created and includes Caitlin and Mindy. vi. Listening sessions with community leaders and engagement with Mountlake Terrace, Shoreline & Lynnwood Diversity Commissions, Youth Commission & C3 — Partnership & Outreach. Mindy has already connected with Suni, Mountlake Terrace and Lynnwood Diversity Commissions. They all want a group meeting as a regional community effort. Talked about that in partnership meeting and report is coming. Donnie mentioned including the Mountlake Terrace Anti -Racist Coalition. Dean said if we have speakers come, this is a potential for events subcommittee and proposed working on a speakers list to speak at meetings. Maybe five times a year. Meeting Summary Diversity Commission April 7, 2021 Page 3 Donnie said we can add Council members and give them space to share. Patrick said will need to extend an invitation to the president of the Council. Donnie mentioned the previous policy recommendation of having a Diversity Commission on the Council retreat to bring up Equity, diversity, inclusion items. Since that didn't happen, perhaps we have a Council person included in our meetings. Luke agreed that Council does joint meetings with other boards. Maybe the Commission has an annual joint meeting with Council. Donnie feels this should be an executive meeting with Chair and Vice Chair with Patrick advising. vii. Future staffing support needs Dean recommended this for policy and or partnership. The Commission has needs to get our stuff done and push to get things done. Need an ADA coordinator and wants to have a civil rights group to be able to collect anonymous reports for incidents. Donnie wanted to add we are in a position to defend hours of our current staff after previous Council member recommending cutting hours or eliminating this position. Originally the Commission requested a half-time position and they received approval for some additional hours instead of half-time staff. He said need to be vigilant that when budget meetings come around that they know the need, defend the position, and that it may require more hours for the position. Patrick summarized the budget process — budget retreat is for Council to share they priorities to the Mayor. First step to send to the Mayor through Patrick, then Council, to study, have comment, and public input. Ardeth wants to make sure we have our list of what we want to accomplish to Council when Dean presents. Donnie said that we need to connect all we are doing and want we want to do. Nikki mentioned that there are lots of tactile things that have been done by Arwen and how important she's been. Mindy and Donnie feel it should be a half time position. If we bring on Civil Rights the workload will increase. Dean mentioned Arwen included in each side show of the report, the accomplishments and objectives for the Commission. 8. Subgroup Reports: a) Policy — No report to share. b) Partnerships & Outreach — Alison is concerned that there are lots of ideas and not enough time to invest in them. She mentioned the International business group organization and inquired on how we can partner with those people. She said we need to identify leaders in BIPOC community and establish relationships. As far as leaders in Asian Community... Alison is gathering some names, but it is slow coming. She doesn't understand why there is an Edmonds Chamber of Commerce but doesn't include the HWY 99 businesses. A discussion needs to be had. She proposed the City of Edmonds do something about this. Patrick agrees that it has been minimal, and more outreach needs to be conducted. It was suggested we create a memo from the Diversity Commission to do this work and give examples. Donnie shared it is important to establish relations with the BIPOC community and he has not seen that happen with Council. Also, our Economic Development Department needs to be more aggressive in this. Downtown businesses don't generate as much in taxes a year as these outer businesses, but their representation is very Meeting Summary Diversity Commission April 7, 2021 Page 4 sparse, and the community is not being invested in. Donnie recommends we sit down with partnership committee and figure out how we create this partnership. We need to address the isolation and economics these people face every day. Donnie wants to see us doing more activist work and not just more recommendations. Sekou shared he feels sad that there are businesses not treated the same as the ones in downtown Edmonds- "We have failed these people. There has to be a way to take care of this now, today and not going through several people." Caitlin, thinks writing a letter is important but wants to see some follow through. We need to make sure someone follows up instead of it falling through the cracks. Partnership Committee will draft a resolution, DC, then send to Council and recommend taking action. Alison referred to the Mayor's statement on how he wants to work with the Asian Community, and she suggested the Mayor go out with an Asian director, but there are none in Edmonds and she doesn't know how he plans on doing the work. c) Events — skipped d) Place -making Highway 99 — Donnie shared a statement on how beautiful the community is on Ballinger Lake and discussed how large the BIPOC communities in cities around this are in Edmonds is. He acknowledged that transit changes will affect and displace the community. He's recommending we complete our work on this and disband the committee. He recommends having a commissioner who lives in that area on the task force committee. Donnie will move his focus to help with Partnership & Outreach. 9. New Business: a) Support the Rotary's effort in securing funds for accessible playground equipment in the new Civic — Alison says there is not much to be done right now. Donnie feels it is appropriate for us to support that effort, but Patrick shared the implications of the Diversity Commission directly lobbying Legislature regarding this item that is not officially part of the City's adopted Legislative Agenda. The Diversity Commission members, as private citizens, can on their own show support and write letters. 10. Commissioner's Corner: Nikki thanked everyone who helped for the rally Caitlin and her youth leadership and Arwen on the flyers. Mindy shared that Step UP Moving Racial Equity Forward is April 30t1i. Recommended that the Diversity Commission could have a presence. She also shared the article that both Everett and Bellevue have signs on being an anti -hate city and recommended we do the same. Meeting Summary Diversity Commission April 7, 2021 Page 5 Donnie gave a shout out to Caitlin. He also mentioned that we are entering political season and that Patrick should remind us how to endorse a candidate as a Commissioner. He also shared the work that LEVL, C3, NAACP, Black Snohomish History are doing to create a Juneteenth event at city park. He would like to see the Diversity Commission take part in this. Sekou thanked everyone for the good work while he was gone Luke appreciates everyone's discussion, input and work that's going on. Alison shared that she and Caitlin participated in an online meeting with district and hopes there will be more meetings. Adjourn — 8:11PM Next meeting: Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at 6:00 PM, Zoom Meeting Summary Diversity Commission April 7, 2021 Page 6