2017-02-01 Diversity Commission MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS
DIVERSITY COMMISSION
February 1, 2017
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT
Ed Dorame — Chair
Maria Montalvo — Vice Chair
Diana White
Tung Bui
Donnie Griffin
Pat Valle
Adam Khan
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
Mario Brown
Councilmember Adrienne Fraley-Monillas,
ex officio
STAFF PRESENT
Patrick Doherty, ED/CS Director
Cindi Cruz, ED/CS Program Coordinator
Misha Carter, Diversity Commission
Coordinator
1. Roll Call: Call to order at 6:00 p.m. Ed read a blurb regarding meeting protocol.
2. Approval of Agenda: The agenda approved by consensus.
3. Approval of Meeting Summary of January 4, 2017: Summary minutes approved as
submitted by consensus.
4. Public Comment: Debbie Daniels spoke about her work as a leadership development coach
and she would like to offer pro bono services regarding refugee, women's, and LBGTQ
issues to work with the leadership team of a non-profit up to 20 hours per week. Amelia
Wood spoke about affordable housing discussion as a future topic for the Commission.
Ardeth Weed spoke about participating in the Women's March in Seattle on 1/22/17 and how
happy to see this group in Edmonds. Pat Johnson and Vivian Murray spoke on behalf the
Edmonds Neighborhood Action Coalition, a neighborhood group interested in issues on
racism and immigration and would like to help where they can and would welcome a
Diversity Commissioner at one of their meetings. Denise Miller and Laura Johnson, also from
Neighborhood Action Coalition, spoke about their interest in what the Diversity
Commission's plans for the year are. Julie Hertl spoke about her role in organizing the past
Sunday's (1/29/17) demonstration event in the Westgate area opposing the new immigration
rules. She stated there were over 400 people in attendance and there will be more events such
as this one. There will be another demonstration this Sunday and on Saturday, February 25
another organized march opportunity. Michael Glaros stated he is attending this meeting and
taking notes for another local group, Edmonds Indivisible. Jan Berlin stated that she had
attended the World Cafe and wanted to know what latitude the Commission has to become
involved in other community diversity events? Chris Emerson stated she was attending to
bring back more information to her daughter. Karen Butler spoke about her kids at Madrona
and the concern with negative graffiti written in bathroom and how she wants to get involved.
Carol Davies spoke about her involvement with the equity and inclusiveness group at
Meadowdale High School. Sarah Mixon stated that she has lived in Edmonds since 2004 and
Approved Meeting Summary
Diversity Commission
February 1, 2017
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works at the Edmonds Center for the Arts (ECA) and is involved with events for youth and
teens at the ECA.
5. Update from the City: Patrick provided an update: Mayor's state of the City address is next
Thursday, February 9, 2017 at Edmonds Movie Theater at 8:30 a.m. Speaking also will be
Janelle Milodragovich, Ten Gun Design and Greg Hoff, Windermere Real Estate/Edmonds.
This is the annual opportunity to hear about achievements over the last year and what is
planned for the next year. The Council passed a resolution establishing Edmonds a Safe City
designation approximately two weeks ago — not a sanctuary city with the ramifications that
are attached to that designation. The resolution was unanimously passed by Council.
Response has been predominately positive but some opposition was expressed. Some concern
that it could be construed that the state and/or city is not welcomingly but didn't need to pass
a resolution because city was already safe. The resolution will be sent to the Commission.
6. Youth Forum Update, Tentative Date March 4:
Diana gave update on planning process with Ed and Amelia Wood who has volunteered to
help with the event. The Plaza Room has been reserved for March 4 from 9-1 but will check
on starting later in the day. March 17 is a half day at school and that could potentially be a
better day for youth attendance. School age children from both middle -schools and high
schools are welcome. The hope is to have 75-80 participants. Similar to World Cafe format
but differently focused questions. Potentially have some entertainment/type presentation.
Opening speaker, ice breaker, two topics, entertainment, two more topics, summary. Still
working on structure, questions, and format of event. Could we have students involved in the
planning process so they would have ownership and investment in event? Potential topics:
social media bullying, immigration, black lives matter, homeless students, Diversity and
Inclusiveness should be part of the focus to link the forum back to Diversity Commission
mission. Safe place concerns is another topic. Budget: $150 Food, $350 in advertising up to
$750 total budget. Total budget for year's events is $3,000. Hold off on voting for budget
until after work plan discussion. Change date to March 17 from 1-4 p.m. and need good
outreach/advertising to attract diverse group of students.
7. 2017 Work Plan: Maria led discussion on work plan for 2017. See draft attached. Comments
from Commissioners on work plan: Tung — should encourage working with other groups,
support from other groups, events to create more visibility in community. Donnie — creation
of places to feel safe in community, opportunity to learn about what other groups are doing
creating partnerships. Ed — partner with other groups, foster outreach, learning events, invite
other group in City government and departments such as the Edmonds Police to learn what
needs to be addressed. Tung — feeling safe means different things to different people, more
education to get people familiar with different clothing and cultures will make people feel
safer. Diana — learning events and partnership is important. Maria — makes sense of having
smaller meeting groups concern that events in town have so many attendees that we need to
reach out. Patrick — the Commission meetings could have representatives from different
agencies/organizations throughout the year to educate and update the Commissioners on what
these other groups are working on. The Commission should focus on city policies, inclusion
issues, etc. that other groups do not address. The Commission cannot be everything to all
needs. Diana — action groups pick certain issues and delve deeper into the topics they are
assigned to and provide more information and education about the topics. Could all events be
on one central calendar? Create a central location for all events. Adam — a central location for
events would be helpful. Student liaison would be good addition to Commission.
Budget for youth event: $750 is the budget agreed by consensus.
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Diversity Commission
January 4, 2017
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Sub -groups are assigned: Events - Mario, Tung, and Patrick; Outreach/Policy — Donnie, Ed,
and Pat; Partnerships — Diana, Adam, and Maria. Sub -groups should report back by next
meeting and have at least one meeting before next Commission meeting. Keep notes and
report back.
There was discussion about Governance Guidelines on work plan, (i) code of behavior: how
to treat each other in a meeting setting, caution to not be too clubby among each other and not
ignore opposing opinions, work on listening not just talking this could be subject for a retreat.
Report to City Council is not needed until later in the year unless there is an issue that either
the Council or Commission would like feedback.
8. Discussion on holding special meeting to interview applicants for open position or hold
interviews at March meeting: A special meeting of the Commission will be held on
February 22 at 6 p.m. location to be determined. Commissioners to send back the names of
their top three applicants to Ed & Maria by Monday, February 6. A quorum agreed to attend
the special meeting on February 22, 2017.
9. Commissioner's Corner:. Diana will miss the next meeting. Donnie — invited to Diversity
Dinner community group meeting and ECA had 10t' anniversary on January 19. Pat spent day
in Olympia talking to various legislators about education funding. Diana spoke about
repercussions of federal immigration policy among even younger students in Edmonds
School District. Adam spoke about fellow students being too uncomfortable to leave Seattle
for vacation out of the country. Diana stated the ESD superintendent has put out statement
regarding the primary focus is to provide a safe environment for education of children in
district. How can this Commission create some helpful solutions to encourage feeling safe?
Audience member stated she had asked her grandson about bullying in school but his bigger
concern was his father being deported to Italy because he has a green card. Comment about
education system referring to concern about saying "not seeing color" or being "color blind"
is negative.
Tung discussed Lunar New Year celebrated the past weekend — Wing Luke Museum blocked
off street for celebration but nothing happens locally to celebrate Lunar New Year. The
Peking Acrobats were at the ECA and ESD bused in kids to attend performances. Edmonds
International District does not have a celebration.
Julie Hertl stated safety comment is appreciated and would like to see more dialogue and
discussion about creating feelings of safety and a safe place to live. Pat Johnson state she has
a friend who is Iranian and is concerned about having to leave the US.
Adjourn: 8:00 PM — Next regular meeting: March 1, 2017, 6 PM
Approved Meeting Summary
Diversity Commission
January 4, 2017
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