2023-01-04 DEIA Commission MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS
DIVERSITY COMMISSION
January 4, 2023
Meeting conducted via Zoom and in -person at the Brackett Meeting Room
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT
Elaine Helm, Chair
Jeannett Quintalla, Vice -Chair
Ardeth Weed GUESTS PRESENT
Alison Alfonzo Pence Donnie Giffin
Jessie Owen
Anil DeCosta
Pam Iverson (via Zoom)
Robert White
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
Councilmember Will Chen, ex-officio
Dipti Chrastka
STAFF PRESENT
Todd Tatum, Director
Megan Luttrell, Program Coordinator
Molly Jay, Diversity Commission
Coordinator (via Zoom)
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
Alison read land acknowledgment.
2. Approval of Agenda
Ardeth moved to approve agenda, Alison second; approved by consensus.
3. Approval of December 7, 2022, Summary (5 minutes)
Elaine asked that we indicate consistently who is on Zoom, December minutes will be
updated to reflect this. Ardeth moved to approve minutes, Jessie seconded; approved by
consensus.
4. Public Comment (3 minutes per speaker)
Donnie joined us to promote an upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. Day event at the
Edmonds Center for the Arts (ECA). Secondly, he has concerns that the Highway 99
Neighborhood Office will be closed if the community doesn't embrace it. Invite Tabitha
Shoemake to come visit from Edmonds Police Department and ask what we can do to help
Meeting Summary
Diversity Commission
January 4, 2023
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make that office successful and visible. Third, the regional committee should be
reconvened; other communities look to us to lead on diversity issues. "When you're not
visible, you're not effective." Publicity, publicity, and publicity, matter.
Robert asked what the Commission has done in the past year to make Donnie's life better.
Donnie answered with 1.) the World Cafe and 2.) make recommendations to improve the
city. He also recommended connecting as a team; he recommended doing some team
building.
Jessie asked what activities will be available for kids at the ECA event. She also asked
about the difficulty of parking at the ECA.
5. Icebreaker introductions (10 minutes)
Elaine led this item and asked if you had to eat one genre of food for the rest of your life,
what would you select?
6. Update from the City: Todd, Megan, Molly & Councilmember Chen (5 minutes)
Todd gave an update on the city budget and new grants available in 2023. The governor's
budget came out: large investments in mental health along with affordable housing will be
major issues. Lunar New Year Edmonds is scheduled for January 21". Molly will post all
new events to Facebook. A new "storefront officer" will be hired by EPD in 2023.
Elaine said that a new City Council Ex Officio will be assigned in early 2023, as is
customary.
7. New Business:
a. Retreat format, date, topics, etc. (30 minutes)
Several commissioners shared their ideas on location. Elaine recommended getting a small
group together to set an agenda for retreat and have group approve in Feb. Ardeth, Anil,
Jeanett, and Jessie to be on ad -hoc planning committee. Robert suggested making it an open
meeting to the public for transparency.
b. City of Mukilteo DEI Partnership Opportunity (5 minutes)
Jan 8 10-2 at Mukilteo City Hall. Alison and Jeanett will go on behalf of the commission.
8. Old Business:
a. Name Change Proposal Update (15 minutes)
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion goes to DEI and Accessibility. Goal is to get it in front of
Council Committee in February. Molly to send 2022 year-end report to Elaine to update for
presentation to Council.
b. ADA Task Force Recommendation Update (5 minutes)
Todd explained that the Mayor does not want to create a new group to work on this at this
time. He recommends the Commission continue their work on this at this time.
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Diversity Commission
January 4, 2023
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9. Committees — format and assignments:
a. Events
b. Partnerships & Outreach
C. Policy
Commission agreed to add this as retreat agenda item and adjust for 2023.
10. Commissioner's Corner (10 minutes)
Adjourn — 8:01 PM
Next meeting: Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at 6:OOPM
Meeting Summary
Diversity Commission
January 4, 2023
Page 3