2016-09-07 Diversity Commission MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS
DIVERSITY COMMISSION
September 7, 2016
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT
Mario Brown — Chair
Ed Dorame — Vice Chair
Maria Montalvo
George Basioli
Diana White
Pat Valle
Tung Bui arrived at 6:07
Councilmember Adrienne Fraley-Monillas,
ex officio (arrived at 6:21
1. Roll Call: Call to order at 6:00 p.m.
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
Adam Khan
STAFF PRESENT
Patrick Doherty, ED/CS Director
Cindi Cruz, ED/CS Program Coordinator
Misha Carter, Diversity Commission
Coordinator
2. Approval of Agenda: The agenda was approved as submitted by consensus.
3. Approval of Meeting Summary of August 3, 2016: Summary minutes were approved as
submitted by consensus.
4. Public Comment: No comment
5. Report from City:
a. Survey results — Patrick reported on the National Citizens survey which was completed
this past summer. Randomized survey sent to 2200 households around City. Opened up
the survey on line for participation in addition to the mailed version. Received 586
responses from mail -ins and response to online option was 320. The two sets of responses
were more similar than any other survey done in US. Very positive responses, above
national standards and representative of a feel -good community, enjoy ease of walking,
traffic flow, air quality, etc. only responses on affordable housing ranked lower than
national average. Positive responses on emergency responsiveness, walking & biking,
recycling, high rate of participation in local elections, 29% only work in Edmonds, have
lower than normal rate in religious/spiritual participation. High rates of support for
transportationinfrastructure, parks & recreation, police services. Overall the percentages
of those experiencing discrimination were in the single digits, but when taken as a
fraction of the percentage of people who belong to the various demographic cohorts
represented, the figures are more significant. For example, if 8 to 10% of the Edmonds
community is of a race other than "white," when 4% of the population states they
experience discrimination due to race, that equates to 50% of that cohort. Interestingly,
the highest single percentage of discrimination was related to age, with the highest
component of the population experiencing age -related discrimation to be those people
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Diversity Commission
September 7, 2016
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under 35. As for how people receive information, the break -down was:word of mouth
36%, posters 32%, online media 46%, printed media 43%, city website 26%.
b. Commission vacancy - Gayle Ketzel has resigned from commission. Commission
interviews and reappoints commissioners with Council confirmation. The notice
and advertisement will be posted within the next month, prior applicants will be
asked if they want to be considered and all applications will be sent to
Commissioners. Commissioners discussed the selection process and concluded
that interviews of all candidates by the full Commission could be unwieldy. They
concluded that the Chair and Vice -Chair would bring recommendations back to
the full Commission after reviewing applications with staff. Interviews will be
scheduled at November meeting for 2 to 3 candidates. At November meeting,
review and vote on top three applicants.
c. Diversity in City advertising — Tourism & marketing advertising the City creates could be
more diverse. Will have photo shoot and would like some models that represent more
diversity than in the past. If commissioners could send names to Patrick and he will
contact.
6. Update on old business
a. Immigration forum — Michele still working on trying to find a date with Van Kuno from
Everett Community College. Do we want to pursue this? Could have forum without
someone specific. Consensus was to try one more time with Van Kuno and if a date
cannot be confirmed proceed with another option.
b. City Council presentation — Pat has volunteered to present to City Council, update on
progress. Date: 9/27 is work meeting and would be good for presentation and 9/20 is also
available. Patrick will confirm.
c. Postcards — This would provide informational piece on Diversity Commission. Could be
located at counters in City offices, businesses, etc. Have budget this year. Maria and
Patrick will work on.
d. Professional development training at October meeting — Diana has contact for someone to
attend October 5 meeting. Small group discussions, facilitating, ice breakers. Purpose is
as a commission to become more educated about diversity issues and what the impacts
are. Diana will get the homework piece to Patrick for distribution to the commission. Will
be the whole meeting except for 10-15 minutes for regular business. Budget for speaker
up to $300 including supplies as approved by consensus.
e. Public outreach newspaper, etc. — Maria has written column for Beacon, they have asked
for quarterly updates. Maria will also ask if it can be shared with MyEdmondsNews.
Written on behalf of the commission. Diana will be writing an article about Columbus
Day/Indigenous Peoples Day as a FaceBook post. There needs to be an arrangement for
George to be able to read/hear documents in future meetings.
f. Future meeting length — Mario's topic for discussion do we want two hour meeting?
Conversation is stifled in 1.5 hour meetings, needs two hours, can run over and extend
meetings, agreed by consensus to publish meetings as 6:00 to 8:00pm. They can adjourn
early if business is concluded earlier.
7. Work Plan Implementation:
a. Youth forum. - George, Diana, Ed, Patrick — Event could be held in late February,
include high school, middle school, format is not decided. Diana will contact district &
instructor at UW Bothell. How to get word out, involving youth/students in planning,
nothing needed from full commission, having students write their stories, have other
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Diversity Commission
September 7, 2016
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students read, skits by drama departments, develop ideas before involving the students,
involve the youth in on the planning, is it too complicated to provide extra credit for
students, could they use for community service hour requirements. Need budget to
approve by November meeting at latest but maybe at October meeting, subcommittee
will meet again to discuss.
b. World Cafe — Mario and Patrick met and picked a date 11/12 — Saturday 10 — 1. What is
group you are trying to attract? Five sections with each one with different topic, open to
public but will also invite prior forum participants, sit at table and discuss for 10 minutes,
rotate thru each table, discuss at end and have facilitator to mediate. Zero in on five
topics, commissioners to man tables. Adrienne volunteered to facilitate, need volunteer
for each table that is stationary. Expectations: who are general responders, everyone,
utilize survey responses for communication of event, goal is to generate discussion,
controversial issues in safe environment, leave with better understanding of someone
else. Tables are random. Speaker for motivational purposes, pay Michele to come and
speak, Plaza Room, 10 — 1. Spend on refreshments $300 and speaker fees up to $250. The
Commission decided on Saturday, November 5t'. They discussed examples of 5
topics/situations: national anthem, same sex marriage, power of words, participation in
parades, cultural appropriation, white privilege. Mario discussed topics: question do we
build a wall or statue of liberty; acceptance, are Muslims bad (wide open), micro
aggressions, could you work with disabled, age related how old is too old, how young is
too young, disability, gender neutral bathrooms, intellectual disabilities, immigration,
gender identification, sexuality, race. Specific situations can be easier to talk about.
Committee will work on situations based on topics that have been brought up. Send out
notices and ask for RSVP. Ground rules for table facilitators. Facilitators could be scribes
etc. Sub -committee will work on questions and finalize.
8. Community Outreach/Commissioner Comments:
Snohomish County at Everett Station on 9/15/16 update on ADA survey at SnoCo.com.
Rusty Pelican hanging baskets, will be advised that they cannot be placed to impact
pedestrians on the sidewalk. Tung discussed mission statement and observes that commission
is a bit random and must stay true to path that was originally planned for mission statement.
Mario agreed and plan events for 2017. Diana confirmed that Volunteer dinner is Friday,
September 16, 2016.
9. Adjourn: 8:15 PM — Next regular meeting: October 5, 2016, 6 PM
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Diversity Commission
September 7, 2016
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