2022-04-06 Diversity Commission AgendaAGENDA
of ED4o� Edmonds Diversity Commission
Zoom Virtual Meeting (access info below) OP
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
6:OOPM-8:OOPM
Isgo
https:Hzoom.us/j/98071999699?pwd=YS9GTVdWM2VPTUtj RO VXVm56NGlaUTO
Meeting ID: 980 7199 9699 1 Passcode: 963195 1 One tap mobile: 12532158782
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 and Absences
2. Approval of Agenda
3. Approval of March 2, 2022, Summary (5 minutes)
4. Public Comment via Zoom (3 minutes per speaker)
5. Media Training — Kelsey Foster (20 minutes)
6. Update from the City: Megan & Councilmember Chen (5 minutes)
7. New Business:
a. Grants Call for 2nd half of 2022 — (5 minutes)
b. Film Series 2022-2023 Planning (5 minutes)
c. Holocaust Remembrance Day Event (1 minute)
8. Committee Reports:
a. Policy — Dean (15 minutes)
b. Partnerships & Outreach — Alison (20 minutes)
c. Events — (20 minutes)
9. Old Business:
a. Council Annual Report Update (5 minutes)
b. Elected City Official DEI Training Follow -Up (10 minutes)
10. Commissioner's Corner (10 minutes)
Adjourn — 8:OOPM
Next meeting: Wednesday, May 4, 2022 at 6:OOPM
Guiding Principles
To ensure we meet our responsibilities as a Commission, we agree to:
• start and end our meetings on time
• demonstrate our respect for our fellow Commissioners, the City of Edmonds, and the citizens we represent by: being present, being prepared,
actively listening, participating in meetings, completing our individual assignments, and holding ourselves accountable
• "step up and step back"
• establish goals and action plans that are results oriented
• establish subcommittees as needed
• engage in courageous, honest, and open dialogue when faced with difficult issues or questions
• utilize the "Ouch Rule' (assume positive intent; resist the temptation to be offended)
• embrace the education opportunities presented through the Commission meetings
• strive to make decisions by consensus. In a case where consensus cannot be reached after a reasonable attempt has been made, the Chairperson
may call for a majority vote.
CITY OF EDMONDS
DIVERSITY COMMISSION I
March 2, 2022
Meeting conducted via Zoom
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
Dean Olson, Chair
Nikki Okimoto Glaros, Vice -Chair GUESTS PRESENT
Ardeth Weed
Alison Alfonzo Pence
Alberto Orejel Malfav6n
Sekou Kone
Elaine Helm
Gracelynn Shibayama
Robert White
Councilmember Will Chen, ex officio
Caitlin Chung, Student Rep
Owen Lee, Youth Commission
STAFF PRESENT
Megan Luttrell, Program Coordinator
Economic Development & Community
Services
Molly Jay, Diversity Commission
Coordinator
6:00 P.M. — Call to Order and Land Acknowledeement: "We acknowledee the oritzinal
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
Acknowled
1. Roll Call: Dean called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. and Gracelynn read the land
acknowledgement.
2. Approval of Agenda: Ardeth moved to approve, Alison seconded; the agenda was
approved by consensus.
3. Approval of February 2, 2022 Retreat Summary: Alison moved to approve, Nikki
seconded; the summary was approved by consensus.
4. Public Comment via Zoom: Owen Lee, Youth Comission introduced himself. No
other public comments tonight.
5. Update from the City: Megan & Councilmember Chen
Will Chen provided city council updates. Dean asked Will for any specific DEI-related
updates from City Council going forward. Robert asked Will how the Diversity Commission
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March 2, 2022
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can better work with City Council to address and make proclamations around
holidays/observances such as Black History Month. Will said that as the Council/Commission
liaison, he will take our recommendations to Council going forward.
6. Budget Update: Megan
Megan reported that the Commission has a base budget of $5,500. Rick Steves is donating
$1,000. We generally budget $1,000 for the film series and we've spent approximately
$600 so far. We typically spend $2,000 on grants. Current available budget is about $2,800.
7. New Business:
a) Council Annual Report Input
It's time to draft the annual report to the Council; Dean asked for ideas to include in the report.
Ideas included our Lunar New Year event; the Fourth of July Parade; Diversity Film Series; ECA's
MLK event; grant awards including: The Healing Water Paddle event, Sherwood Elementary DEI,
ECA's Kid Stock; ADA recommendations; a rank choice voting recommendation; district based
Council recommendation; and our diversity toolkit. Ardeth mentioned the need to increase the
proclamations and events such as Lunar New Year and Fourth of July parade; it's important to
mention and remind council of our events in our report.
Robert said that we should also outline usual events that were cancelled due to COVID such as
World Caf6.
We'll continue to look through past meeting notes to capture everything we want in the report. By
May, Dean will have a PowerPoint presentation of the annual report to share with Council.
b) Committee Missions & Goals
Each committee chair gave a brief update on their overall objectives. Robert said that the goals and
objectives all sounded a bit vague. Molly volunteered to draft a document outlining the goals and
objectives for each subcommittee and share it with Robert in an effort to bring more clarity to the
work each committee does.
c) Grant opportunities
Megan mentioned that a press release needs to be sent out for the grant call for the second half of
2022. We will need volunteers to review the applications and recommend award.
d) DEI Training Materials Review
We briefly reviewed two possible DEI training options: one a recommendation from the Edmonds
Police and another a recommendation from Dean. The Commission would like more details around
the police training materials: are they focused more on police issues like racial bias? Can we ask
them for more detailed materials around inclusive language, implicit bias confirmation, etc. for
training city leaders? They offer a wide variety of training —are they able to tailor it specifically to
those of us who aren't police? Robert mentioned importance of recommending City Council
receive this kind of DEI training but we're not yet ready to make the recommendation. The
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recommendation should also include how often officials should receive training. Dean shared
another possible DEI training seminar with prosecutor Adam Cornell. The two documents were
sent out for review to all commissioners for review and will be discussion topic at the April
meeting.
Elaine and Nikki agreed that a recommendation should be made that City Council receive DEI
training around inclusive language. As an example, Elaine shared: "I was disappointed when I saw
screenshots of Council Member Tibbott's email using the term "sissies." I was more disappointed
when I saw his replies to people who pointed out the harmful nature of the word he used. We all
make mistakes. But it's important that we learn to listen and respond appropriately when people tell
us that something we say or do is hurtful to people in our community. Our leaders should be able to
model this behavior. DEI training is one way to help our elected officials learn and do better."
8. Committee Reports
a) Policy: Dean
Dean emphasized the point of sending Molly further ideas for the annual report to City Council.
b) Partnerships & Outreach
Alison gave status updates on the regional DEI council that has yet to meet this year; Elaine is
talking with the Edmonds School District about getting more Native American History into the
schools; Alison is working with the League of Women Voters in Snohomish County to partner
with us on a program to help new citizens vote; Elaine is working on an overall distribution list to
share the Diversity Commission work and DEI information with the community.
Dean asked and Elaine showed interest in representing the Commission at the Holocaust Survivor
Art Exhibit.
c) Events
i. Film series volunteers
ii. Brainstorming
Nikki gave updates on several events the Commission should consider joining and hosting now
that COVID mandates are lifting. Ardeth hosted February's film; Gracelynn will host March's and
April will wrap up the 2022 series.
9. Commissioner's Corner
Caitlin most likely won't be able to join us routinely due to health and school scheduling issues.
Adj oum 8:01 PM
Next meeting: Wednesday, April 6, 2022 at 6:OOPM
DRAFT Meeting Summary
Diversity Commission
March 2, 2022
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