2018-06-06 Diversity Commission MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS
DIVERSITY COMMISSION
June 6, 2018
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT
Diana White, Chair
Ed Dorame
Pat Valle
Dean Olson
Anabel Hovig
Donnie Griffin, Vice -Chair
Sarah Mixson (excused)
Brian Potter
Councilmember Adrienne Fraley-Monillas, ex
officio
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
Maria Montalvo (excused)
ELECTED OFFICIALS AND STAFF PRESENT
Dave Teitzel, Councilmember
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. Maria's absence is excused.
2. Approval of Agenda: The agenda approved by consensus.
3. Approval of Meeting Summary of May 2, 2018: Summary minutes approved as submitted
by consensus.
Discuss next meeting date — Since the next meeting date is a holiday (July 4) it was decided
that July meeting would be canceled. It is the desire of the Commission to find a new meeting
location outside of the Bowl. Send suggestions for alternate meeting locations and we will have
August meeting at the Senior Center.
4. Public Comment: No comment by guests: David Ortiz, Vanessa Stedman, Dave Teitzel, Lori
Kunze, Lael Fournier
5. Proposal for Community Based Project - David Ortiz, Communities of Color Coalition:
David Ortiz handed out some information on Communities of Color Coalition's Grand Alliance
project which they have chosen Edmonds to participate in. One example is "Big Week" a focus
on one issue for an entire week. This is an opportunity to create a catalyst project for the
Commission working with Communities of Color Coalition. Financial impact would need to
be determined. Could be a year -long project. Some ideas: 1) Business community project and
working with them to encourage diversity, inclusiveness and business friendly environment for
people of color and/or ethnically diverse people. Project could bring businesses together.
Training and engagement of businesses to create robust diversity -friendly downtown area. The
BID and DEMA has mentioned interest in this also. Smaller businesses such as many in
Edmonds probably do not have access to diversity training and perhaps they could utilize this
Approved Meeting Summary
Diversity Commission
June 6, 2018
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as a project. 2) Reaching out to neighborhoods along Hwy 99. Majority of POC live in this
region. Increase visibility in this area. Difficult to reach out to the Asian community. Meet with
groups around Hwy 99 and ask how they want to be engaged. Create events and involvement
in churches along Hwy 99. 3) Working with National Night Out.
What are next steps? Review Commission goals and priority list. Create sub -group to review
and discuss. Utilize the partnership sub -group review and potentially meet with David. Dean,
Diana and Maria make up the partnership sub -group and Donnie will join. David also said they
are attempting to recruit an Edmonds resident to be on C3 to attend and represent at Diversity
Commission meetings.
6. Update on Edmonds United Methodist Church meeting: EUMC meeting met with Patrick
and Diana about event at Church with grant of $5,000. The event will have connection with
diversity, equity and inclusion. Brainstorming level right now. Will be communicating re: event
and promotion.
7. Update from the City: Patrick updated on Lynnwood's employee diversity group. It is an
employee based group that works on issues related to diversity and employees. They have lunch
meetings once a month to discuss diversity employee issues. This is not a paid, staff function;
it's on the employees' own time. The City Arts Commission is interested in how to increase
involvement with the Commission — film series, art exhibit, partnership between two
commissions. Adrienne discussed kids that have come to Council with a request to form a
Youth Commission. They are from Edmonds Woodway HS. Issues they brought up include:
sexual harassment, employment, etc. school district could help with a Youth Commission.
Getting young people involved in government is a focus. Patrick brought up having a Diversity
Commission student representative. Staff will issue a press release advertising in August for
student representative appointment at October meeting.
8. 2018 Sub -Groups:
Policy: Finalize recommendations: Changes were discussed. Signs and banners is this a way
to involve the Arts Commission to create a message of an inclusive community. Using channel
21 to get message out on diversity and inclusion. Went through document and after
considerable discussion recommended revisions, next step is to make discussed revisions, send
to Patrick, and present to Mayor and Council for their action. Approve final draft by consensus.
Events: Film Series has convened and discussed next series and is researching topics. Will
review films in August. World Cafe date: October 13 or 20, 2018. Fourth of July parade
approve by consensus budget of $100.
Partnerships/Communications/Grants: Edmonds Pride Picnic this Saturday, June 9. Will work
on project with Communities of Color Coalition.
There will be June 19 presentation to City Council on Diversity Commission accomplishments.
9. Incident Response Language — postpone to August
10. Incidents in Community and Commission Role — postpone to August
11. New Business, Commissioner's Corner:.
Adiourn: 8:01 PM — Next regular meeting: August 1, 2018, 6 PM at Edmonds Senior
Center.
Approved Meeting Summary
Diversity Commission
June 6, 2018
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