2019-04-10 Diversity Commission MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS
DIVERSITY COMMISSION RETREAT
April 10, 2019
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT
Pat Valle, Chair
Anabel Hovig, Vice -Chair
Ed Dorame
Maria Montalvo
Dean Olson
Sarah Mixson
Donnie Griffin
Mindy Woods (arrived at 4:42 p.m.)
Brian Potter
Councilmember Adrienne Fraley-Monillas, ex
officio
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
ELECTED OFFICIALS AND STAFF PRESENT
Patrick Doherty, ED/CS Director
Cindi Cruz, ED/CS Program Coordinator
Giovanne Schachere, Div. Comm. Coordinator
Carolyn Douglas, Public Information
Tom Brubaker from Lighthouse Law
1. Roll Call: Pat Valle called the meeting to order at 4:07 p.m.
2. Approval of Agenda: The agenda was approved by consensus
3. Approval of Meeting Summary of March 6, 2019: Summary minutes approved as
submitted by consensus after making one change by Cindi Cruz of item g. under public
comment.
4. Icebreaker•
The question asked of all Commissioners and staff was: If you could meet any living person
for a chat over a shared dinner, who would you pick and why? There was sharing and
discussion of the responses.
5. Why was the Commission created: What is the purpose and mission? Definition of
inclusivity:
Adrienne gave background as to why the Commission was started resulting from incident on
Sunset Avenue in 2014. Patrick read codified mission and code section (Edmonds City Code
10.65.010). Discussion on the implementation of the Commission in 2015 and how the goals
were established. Definition of "Inclusivity" was discussed. There was discussion regarding
the mission and if the Commission is meeting the original goals as requested by the Council.
Giovanne will meet and reach out to other organizations on behalf of the Commissioners.
There was discussion about recruitment and appointments of future Commissioners when
vacancies occur.
6. "Commission 101" (Law Department): Tom Brubaker from Lighthouse Law discussed the
logistics of being on a government appointed board or commission. Being on a commission
can be frustrating in that they may work on ideas, present to Council and then must
understand that Council does not have to take their advice. This Commission is an advisory
board and that is the limit of the authority. Commissioners cannot represent the Commission
as a whole unless there has been consensus from the Commission to give that authority to an
individual Commissioner or if they are simply relating an established fact, decision or action
APPROVED Meeting Summary
Diversity Commission Retreat
April 10, 2019
Page 1
already made by the Commission. Notes taken by Commissioners and staff are a public
record. There was a lengthy discussion regarding use of city e-mails, public information
related, etc., pursuant to the OPMA.
7. Role of Commission in messaging to the public. Why & how?: Carolyn Douglas
discussed her role at the City in communicating with the public. She reviews press
releases and helps craft responses to specific events. There was originally a standard
response for the Commission to use related to incidents, but the Commission
approved allowing the chair and vice -chair to craft more of a specific message to the
public depending on the situation. Carolyn explained how a message has to be
objective but cannot be an opinion or encourage an emotion. It was agreed to have
Carolyn included in messaging role with the Commission. Establish a protocol for
sending out messages and responding to incidents.
8. Youth Forum update: Ed provided an update. The forum will be held on April 26
from 11 a.m. — 1 p.m. at EWHS. How many can attend: Adrienne, Patrick, Pat, Dean,
Mayor will make an introductory statement on behalf of the City. Pat will make the
introductory statement on behalf of the Commission. Please arrive by 10:30 a.m.
9. Break for dinner
10. Story -telling project discussion: Patrick discussed timing and details that need to be
determined. Need to have work -group to meet and flesh out details of project
including timing, how to proceed, who to reach out too, scope of project, budget
proposal, rules/parameters. See Attachment 1. Encourage Commissioners and other
participants create their own stories. Will need to contact City IT Department to
determine how to submittals can be presented. Sub -committee members: Pat, Dean,
and Sarah will work on this project. Patrick will send out doodle -poll. At May
meeting bring draft of proposed event for discussion and budget determination.
Could consider capstone event be held in 2020 instead of Fall 2019.
11. Community dialogue event (Donnie Griffin): Donnie discussed the 3-Practices
sessions that have occurred in the community sponsored in part by
MyEdmondsNews. Encouraging communication without confrontation. Listening to
other opinions/conversations. Incorporate this into the `storytelling' project. Make it a
listening component. Could consider an event discussion about immigration.
12. Miscellaneous items:
Student Representative: Patrick had response from interested student. Need
application form. Patrick will follow up with the interested student. Anabel & Mindy
will meet with student.
Research on other diversity commissions: Giovanne has been conducting research on
other commissions in the area. What is the goal? To work on joint/common project
with Lynnwood, Edmonds, Shoreline? Education on what other commissions are
doing? Report back to full Commission at June meeting.
APPROVED Meeting Summary
Diversity Commission Retreat
April 10, 2019
Page 2
Captioning project: Dean and Patrick have met with DEMA, BID, Chamber, and
Mayor to discuss project. Majority of audience is positive. Decide to recommend
proposal to Council and bring recommendation to Commission within next meeting
or two.
Surplus funds: Pat asked the Commission to consider what their recommendations
would be for use of surplus funds at the end of the year.
Mindy mentioned the C3 conference on 4/20 at Everett Community College. Need
two others to help by 8 a.m. and Giovanne can help. Step Up event sponsored by
Leadership Snohomish County will be held at the Lynnwood Convention Center on
4/26. Event held at Edmonds Library "Issues That Matter — Where Will We All Live?
A Conversation About Housing and Homelessness" on Monday, June 3, 6:30 p.m.
Final film series movie "Paper Tigers" on 4/20; Pat and Brian will attend.
May 1 meeting will be in the Senior Center.
Adjourn: Pat adjourned the meeting at 8:05 PM — Next meeting: May 1, 2019, 6 PM at
Edmonds Senior Center.
APPROVED Meeting Summary
Diversity Commission Retreat
April 10, 2019
Page 3
Attachment 1
"EDMONDS, TELL YOUR STORY"
PROJECT
1. Plan during our April 10 retreat
2. Begin in May
3. Before June 1, announce this at the schools
4. Work on this for a minimum of two months
5. Work on this for a maximum of three months
6. Aggressively market this at:
a. Facebook
b. My Edmonds News
c. Edmonds Beacon
d. Chamber of Commerce via a special news item
e. Handouts for all Edmonds businesses - bowl
f. Translate into Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Spanish?
g. Hand out on Highway 99
h. Drop off at Edmonds houses of worship
i. How to get these to trailer parks, apartments and homes? Mass mailing or drop-off?
7. What platform to receive stories?
a. FB?
b. Web?
c. Email ID?
d. Snail Mail?
e. How?
8. Do we diagram?
a. With stories?
b. Pick certain stories?
c. No diagram?
9. Video stories?
10. Recorded stories?
11. Text only?
APPROVED Meeting Summary
Diversity Commission Retreat
April 10, 2019
Page 4