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HomeMy WebLinkAboutESJ 2017-04-06 MinutesEQUITY AND DIVERSITY MEETING MINUTES April 6, 2017 Present: Kathy Hougardy, Dat Tran, Joan Hernandez, Aaron Dragonov Absent: Dr. Nancy Coogan Staff: Rachel Bianchi, Mia Navarro Guests: None Meeting was called to order at 5:21 p.m. OLD BUSINESS One copy of Tears We Cannot Stop distributed at the March meeting was returned. The agenda was approved by consensus. Joan Hernandez made a motion to approve the March 2017 minutes with changes regarding a possible use of the Sister City and Civic Engagement subcommittee budget. Aaron seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. NEW BUSINESS a. Municipal Code Update. The group reviewed Ordinance 2530 that updates TMC Chapter 2.29 and changes the Equity and Diversity Commission, to that Equity and Social Justice Commission. The update to TMC Chapter 2.29 also changes the types of members the Commission shall have, and adds a high school student representative to the Commission. Joan asked if the student would be a voting member. The language in TMC 2.29.020.E adding the student is not clear. The group will discuss this question as part of the bylaws discussion at the next meeting. Joan also asked if there would be a separate budget for the Sister City and Civic Engagement Subcommittee. The answer is yes, it has been budgeted for 2017 and 2018. Each year, we have to use the budgeted amount, or we lose it. We can make a recommendation for how to budget for both the subcommittee and the commission during the 2019-20 budget process. Aaron raised a concern about whether or not Tukwila School District students that are Page 1 of 3 enrolled in a Tukwila school, but temporarily living outside of the City of Tukwila because they qualify for McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance, will be eligible to serve on the Commission. The group will develop language in the bylaws to allow for this circumstance. The group discussed the Vice Chair to Chair succession. Aaron is Vice Chair, so would have become Chair, but wants to remain Vice Chair so Kathy volunteered to be Interim Chair until we get new members and hold elections again. The group discussed the Bylaws in relation to TMC 2.29. Mia will reconcile the draft bylaws with TMC 2.29. The group discussed term limits, ethics training options, and the conflict of interest disclosure form. Members will read and mark-up the draft by-laws for discussion at the May meeting. b. Membership. TMC 2.29 now broadens the schools that can be represented on the Commission to include other schools in the City that are not part of the Tukwila School District. We need two City representatives. Broadening the Commission to cover Equity and Social Justice allows us to look for experts in other fields such as housing. The student that Nancy recommended has not responded to staff e-mails. The group decided to move on to recruit other students as well. Kathy will go to Teens for Tukwila to recruit. The group also discussed allowing students to have alternates, and the voting question was raised again. The group also considered a teleconference option for students. The group also considered recruiting former Sister City members, or former youth that participated in Sister City trips. Staff will develop recruiting materials. c. Equity Policy Update. The group did a brief walk through of the brainstorming that the internal Equity Policy Committee has done so far. The Commission will discuss in May. d. Next Steps. • The Equity Policy will go to Admin team, and the Commission will discuss in May. Then staff will reconvene the committee. • Bylaws in May. • Kathy will recruit at Teens for Tukwila. Page 2 of 3 • Cheryl is approaching Highline, Academy Schools, and an attorney recommended by Mayor Ekberg. • Staff will work on a Sister City invitation. COMMISSIONER REPORTS • Kathy and Rachel went to DC in March, and they got good information. • Dat will report next month on a City of Seattle Equity event. • Staff gave an update on the March 18 Public Safety Plan Open House and Community Connector Participation o Staff will report at a future meeting on our Community Connector program and how it differs from other similar programs. o Staff will also report out at meetings about Equity activities AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING • Bylaws • Equity Policy Meeting adjourned at 6:30. Page 3 of 3