HomeMy WebLinkAboutESJ 2026-02-05 Agenda PacketTukwila Equity and Social Justice Commission
City of Tukwila — City Hall
6200 Southcenter Boulevard, Tukwila, WA 98188
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Equity and Social Justice Commission meeting will
be held on February 5, 2026, at 5:30Pm.
Join the meeting video on your computer or mobile app: Click here to join the meeting
Participate in the meeting by phone: 253-292-9750, Phone Conference ID: 125 348 618#
For in -person, please join us at 5:30Pm
Tukwila City Hall, 6200 Southcenter Blvd, Tukwila, WA 98188
For assistance during the meeting, please call Jo Anderson, Equity and
Social Justice Staff Liaison, at 206-658-7849
ET
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Thu s ay, February 5, 2 2
Call to Order
11 Introduction (2 minutes)
111 Approval of Agenda (2 minutes)
IV Approval of Minutes, January 8, 2026 (2 minutes)
V Written Public Comments
VI Business Items
• An Ice Breaker
5:3
COMMISSION ACTION ITEM: Commissioners will get to know one another.
• Review Revised Resolution 1970. Attached.
COMMISSION ACTION ITEM: Commissioners to review recommendations based on feedback from
the January 8 meeting. At the time this agenda was created, the draft was submitted to the City
Attorney and Clerk's Office for review.
• Review 2025 Council Report.
Tukwila Equity and Social Justice Commission
City of Tukwila — City Hall
6200 Southcenter Boulevard, Tukwila, WA 98188
COMMISSION ACTION ITEM: Commissioners to review.
• 2026 Work Plan
COMMISSION ACTION ITEM: Commissioners will discuss next steps.
Relationship building in the community:
• Supporting community -led programming and cultural celebrations.
Awareness, Forums, Trainings:
Equity Policy and Accountability:
• Reintroducing the ESJ Commission to the Council and develop a working relationship
consistent with the stated purpose in the Commission's bylaws.
VII Miscellaneous
VIII Adjournment
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, RESTATING
TUKWILA'S COMMITMENT TO BEING A SAFE,
WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE CITY, AND
REPEALING RESOLUTION NO. 1970.
WHEREAS, one of the City of Tukwila's greatest assets is being a beautifully diverse
community of neighborhoods, residents, businesses and visitors; and
WHEREAS, all of Tukwila's community members deserve to live in a safe,
welcoming, and inclusive environment free of hate, discrimination and fear; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 1921 adopting a city equity policy in 2017,
we believe in the public sector for the public good, and advancing equity and inclusion is
critical to the success of our communities and our nation; and
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 1614 in 2006 reaffirming its
commitment to being an inclusive community as a fundamental value; and
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 1900 in 2016 and Resolution
No. 1970 in 2019 reaffirming its commitment to being a diverse, tolerant and inclusive
community; and
WHEREAS, we, as elected representatives of the people, have a responsibility to not
stay silent in the face of violence and discrimination against any person; and
WHEREAS, the people of Tukwila recognize that people of all cultures, ethnicities,
abilities, and backgrounds all do better when we work together; and
WHEREAS, the City of Tukwila promotes civility and strives for a culture where
compassion and solidarity overcome fear and division; and
WHEREAS, the City of Tukwila does not tolerate bias, harassment, or discrimination
based on race, religion, ancestry, national origin, immigration status, gender, gender
identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, housing status or status with regard to public
assistance; and
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WHEREAS, we advance the principles of non -violence, understanding, religious
freedom, trust and safety, and recognize that these principles are valued by all
communities in our City; and
WHEREAS, because hate crimes and incidences of intimidation are on the rise
locally, regionally, and nationally, the City Council desires to reiterate our position that all
elected officials, whether local, state, or federal, should be leaders in opposing hate;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA,
WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Tukwila has historically been, and remains to this day, a welcoming
community to people from all over the world, and therefore the City Council reaffirms its
commitment to being safe, welcoming and inclusive for all residents and visitors to our
City. We reject the politics and language of division, bigotry, violence, hate and
discrimination. We will fight for the rights, freedoms and interests of all the members of
our community no matter what the color of our skin, our gender, the way we worship,
where we were born, our sexual orientation, our abilities, or any other identity.
Furthermore, we resolve to:
1. Prioritize the City's Equity Policy goals and promote a welcoming
environment for all in our community and recognize the rights of individuals to live their
lives with dignity and free of discrimination.
2. Commit to pursuing a policy agenda informed by those targeted on the basis
of culture, religion or immigration status that affirms civil and human rights [can turn to
government without fear of recrimination.?]
3. Engage with individuals and community groups to promote education and
dialogue among all community members.
4. Publicly denounce the use of language expressing hate with the intent to
strike fear in the hearts of people because of their racial, cultural, gender, religion, sexual
orientation, or national origin differences and be especially careful to never use such
language in spoken, written, or social media
Section 2. Resolution No. 1970 is hereby repealed in its entirety.
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PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, at
a Regular Meeting thereof this day of , 2026.
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED:
Christy O'Flaherty, MMC, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM BY:
Rachel B. Turpin, City Attorney
Council
Filed with the City Clerk:
Passed by the City Council:
Armen Papyan, Council President
Verna Seal, Tukwila City Council
Hannah Hedrick, Tukwila City Council
Dennis Martinez, Tukwila City Council
Kate Kruller, Tukwila City Council
Joe Torres Camacho, Tukwila City
Resolution Number: Jane Ho, Tukwila City Council
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TTENDEES:
Maryan Abdow
Jo Anderson
Hamdi Diriye
Aaron Draganov
Joe Duffle
Kathy Hougardy
Tukwila Equity and Social Justice Commission
City of Tukwila — City Hall
6200 Southcenter Boulevard, Tukwila, WA 98188
EETIii I TES
Thursay, January , 22 5:3
Fane Katoa
Trish Kinlow
Kristen Schwabe -Frye
CaII to Order
II Introduction (2 minutes)
III Approval of Agenda (2 minutes)
IV Approval of Minutes, December 4, 2025 (2 minutes)
V Business Items
• An Ice Breaker
Commissioners learned more about each other.
• Review Group Norms
Group norms were approved.
• Review Resolution 1970
The consensus among Commissioners is that a resolution such as this ought to be
revisited every few years to factor in changes in the community and socio-political
climate, as well as to reflect the values of the current Council and renew their
commitment. To this end, Commissioners provided recommendations to be
incorporated into a revised resolution:
Tukwila Equity and Social Justice Commission
City of Tukwila — City Hall
6200 Southcenter Boulevard, Tukwila, WA 98188
o Replace the terms "tolerant/tolerance" as describing the relationship among the City
and community members. As one commissioner stated that the term "... comes
across as we will tolerate you, but we will never accept you."
o Commissioners discussed the importance of continuing to support increasing
workforce and leadership diversity as a means to better welcome, reflect, and
increase access to City services among Tukwila's community members, noting
increases in the community's diversity over the past 25 years and acknowledging the
work that has been done by the City to increase workforce diversity. Language and
cultural knowledge are valued skills and attributes in creating a welcoming
environment. The City should not tolerate bias among employees and continue to
break barriers for women and people of color.
o A commissioner offered verbiage from "...another city's similar resolution -
WHEREAS, City employees serve all residents and make city services accessible to all,
regardless of immigration status, and City agencies and law enforcement cannot
withhold services based on ancestry, race, ethnicity, national origin, color, age, sex,
sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, physical or mental disability,
immigration status or religion;"
o Also, a commissioner suggested support for "classes that help them know where
they come from and where they are going"
o Commissioners value this document as a statement of values and want to know
more about actionable steps supporting these statements.
• 2026 Work Plan
Commissioners identified two main focus areas in 2026.
1. Supporting community -led programming and cultural celebrations.
2. Reintroducing the ESJ Commission to the Council and develop a working
relationship consistent with the stated purpose in the Commission's bylaws.
VI Miscellaneous