City Council Study Session

GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. APOLOGIES FOR THE LATE START TO WANT TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO THE CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION. TONIGHT IS WEDNESDAY MAY 15th AND AND IS 5:40 P.M. CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL CALL? >> COUNCILMEMBER HOWARD IS OUT SICK SO HE WILL NOT BE IN ATTENDANCE TONIGHT. NEXT I HAVE COUNCILMEMBER ROSS . COUNCILMEMBER MALHI. VICE MAYOR McKILLOP . MAYOR ZORN? >> PRESENT. WE HAVE ONE STUDY SESSION ITEM . BECAUSE THIS IS A STUDY SESSION , WE WILL BE HOLDING THE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION. WE WILL BE ACCEPTING PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ONE ITEM. TONIGHT WE WILL BE DISCUSSING AND RECEIVING A REPORT, ALL DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION REGARDING THE FORMATION OF A NEW COMMISSION FOCUSING ON COMMUNITY INITIATIVES THAT PROMOTE DIVERSITY, EQUITY , INCLUSION, AND BELONGING. LORD, WILL YOU BE KICKING OFF THIS? MIKE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO START OFF? >> THIS IS A FULL CIRCLE FROM THE TASK FORCE WHICH, OF COURSE GOT UP OFF THE GROUND BACK IN 2020. TONIGHT WE WANT TO HAVE MORE FULL-FLEDGED CONVERSATION WITH YOU AFTER HAVING GONE THROUGH THE TASK FORCE AND ALL OF ITS GOOD WORK AND DEVELOPMENT OF A ROAD MAP AND SOME GUIDELINES . I'M GOING TO TRY TO HONE IN ON SOME SPECIFICS OF ACTUALLY CREATING A COMMISSION THAT WOULD BE DEDICATED TO IMPORTANT PURPOSES OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY INCLUSION, CULTURAL TYPE FOCUSES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE . ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER HAS PREPARED A PRESENTATION THAT WILL LEAD US IN AN INITIAL DISCUSSION TONIGHT. THERE WAS ALSO A STAFF REPORT THAT OUTLINED A LOT OF THE HISTORY OF WHERE WE ARE AND GOING FORWARD, SOME OF THAT FEEDBACK AND DIRECTION THE STAFF IS GOING TO NEED IN ORDER TO MOVE CLOSER TO ACTUALLY FORMING THIS COMMISSION. WE ALSO HAVE OUR CITY ATTORNEY TODAY AND ALSO TRACY WEBB . SHE IS OUR CONSULTANT ON THE DI SPACE AND ALSO HAS DONE A LOT OF GOOD WORK INTERNALLY WITH EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT . I WILL TURN IT OVER TO LAUREN AND SHE WILL BE ABLE TO START. SPOKE >> GOOD EARLY EVENING. WERE HERE TONIGHT TO ENGAGE THE COUNCIL REGARDING THE FORMATION OF A NEW COMMISSION. FOR EASE OF VINDICATION TONIGHT, YOU WILL HEAR ME SAY DEIB A LOT AND THAT STANDS FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND BELONGING. IS IN AGREEMENT -- ACRONYM. PLEASE KNOW I WILL BE MAKING THAT REFERENCE . AS MIKE MENTIONED, WE DID PRODUCE A STAFF REPORT THAT IS PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE . TONIGHT, I TRIED TO PREPARE THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY VERSION OF THAT, SO I WILL GO OVER WHAT I THINK ARE SUFFICIENT DETAILS, BUT OF COURSE, IF YOU WANT ME TO HIGHLIGHT MORE INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED IN THE STAFF REPORT, PLEASE , LET ME KNOW. I WANT TO TAKE NOTE THAT I DO HAVE TRACY WEBB RIGHT HERE JOINING ME ON THE DAIS. SHE HAS WORKED WITH THE CITY OF MARTINEZ FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS AS AN EXECUTIVE COACH AND ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT ADVISER. MOST OF HER WORK HAS BEEN INTERNAL, REALLY SUPPORTING PEOPLE IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION DOING A LOT OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC. BUT MOST RECENTLY, SHE SHIFTED HER ATTENTION TO HELPING US ON OUR DEIB ROAD MAP AND FUTURE TRAINING AND CONSULTATION. SHE ALSO HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH CITIES AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS ON DEIB I WANT TO PROVIDE YOU WITH MY OWN BACKGROUND AND EXPERTISE RELATED TO THIS MATTER. EARLY IN MY CAREER I STEPPED THE DISABILITY COMMISSION AT BART . DURING THIS TIME, I SUPPORTED NUMEROUS DEIB EFFORTS FOR THE COMMUNITY ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION. ALSO HAVE LED POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS FOR 2 AGENCIES PRIOR TO COMING TO MARTINEZ AND AGAIN HAVE LED NUMEROUS DIFFERENT INITIATIVES TO HELP BUILD TRUST BETWEEN POLICE, CITY AND COMMUNITY . AS YOU ARE AWARE WHEN I GOT HIRED HERE IN MARTINEZ, ONE OF MY FIRST TASKS WAS TO TAKE THE LEAD STAFF ROLE FOR THE ARDPIE TASK FORCE WHICH HAD BEEN IN EXISTENCE AT THAT TIME FOR 6 MONTHS. SO I TOOK THE HELM THERE AND ASSURED THAT TASK FORCE TO EVENTUALLY CRAFT ITS ROAD MAP AND BRING IT TO THE COUNCIL FOR ADOPTION IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR. IN MY PERSONAL LIFE, I SERVED AS AN APPOINTED COMMISSIONER ON THE ALAMEDA COUNTY COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN. I SERVED ON THE COMMISSION WITH 16 OTHER WOMEN FROM ACROSS THE COUNTY TO ENSURE THAT THE NEEDS OF WOMEN , ESPECIALLY THOSE IN OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS WERE BEING MET THROUGH CITY POLICY OR THROUGH COUNTY POLICIES AND PRACTICES. I GIVE YOU THAT BACKGROUND BECAUSE I DO WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT I COME WITH A CAREER OF EXPERIENCE IN DEIB EFFORTS . I FEEL VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THEM , AND I KNOW I SPEAK FOR BOTH MYSELF AND THE CITY MANAGER WHEN I SAY THAT WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO FINALLY BRING THIS CONVERSATION TO THE COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY TONIGHT. WE DO LOOK FORWARD, BOTH HIM AND I, ARE FULLY ENGAGED IN THIS EFFORT IN THE FUTURE. I ALSO JUST BEFORE I GET GOING WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR THEIR PATIENTS THIS LAST YEAR BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE TASK FORCE WANTED TO IMPLEMENT RIGHT AWAY AFTER THE DISSOLUTION OF THE ARDPIE TASK FORCE LAST JUNE. UNFORTUNATELY, YOU ARE AWARE WE WERE A FRACTION OF THE WORKFORCE AT THAT TIME LAST YEAR . SO, WE WERE SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERSTAFFED AND UNDER RESOURCED AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP --TO START UP A NEW COMMISSION AT THAT TIME. BUT WE HAVE COME A LONG WAIT. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THAT AND WE DO FEEL WE ARE IN A BETTER PLACE TO BE ABLE TO BRING THIS NEW EFFORT. NEXT SLIDE. OKAY, WHAT AND WHY? WE ARE LOOKING TO FORM A BRAND-NEW COMMISSION AIMED AT PROMOTING DIVERSITY, EQUITY , INCLUSION AND BELONGING AND A SENSE OF BELONGING WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, IT WAS A RECOMMENDATION OF THE TASK FORCE AND IT IS DOCUMENT IT IN OUR DEIB ROAD MAP. BUT ALSO, IT IS MOST IMPORTANTLY A WAY FOR US TO KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING ABOUT OUR DEI ROAD MAP AND IMPLEMENT NEW INITIATIVES FOR THE COMMUNITY. I'M GOING TO GO BACK JUST ONE MORE. I WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND. THIS IS MORE FOR THE PUBLIC'S BENEFIT. THIS WAS FOR THE STAFF REPORT AS WELL. A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON COMMISSIONS IN THE CITY. WE DO HAVE SEVERAL COMMISSIONS TODAY. WE HAVE THE PARKS RECREATION, MARINA AND CULTURAL COMMISSION. WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, CEMETERY COMMISSION AND THE VETERANS COMMISSION. THESE ARE ALL COMMISSIONS THAT ARE CODIFIED IN MUNICIPAL CODE. FOR THOSE WONDERING WHEN WE LOOK TO SET UP A BRAND-NEW COMMISSION, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US THAT WE CODIFY IT IN MUNICIPAL CODE. IT IS AN ORDINANCE. IT SIGNIFIES THAT IT IS SOMETHING PERMANENT BUT IT ALSO HELPS US TO CLEARLY LAY OUT THE SCOPE OF DUTIES FOR A COMMISSION. STAFF FROM MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS SUPPORT COMMISSIONS WITHIN THE CITY AND THEN , JUST NOTED IN THE STAFF REPORT THAT CITY COMMISSIONS MOST COMMONLY EXISTS FOR THREE MAIN REASONS AND THIS IS COMMON IN ALL CITIES. TO SERVE IN AN ADVISORY CAPACITY TO THE CITY COUNCIL. AGAIN, THE COMMISSION'S REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL , THEY DO NOT DIRECT THE STAFF . THE COUNCIL DIRECTS STAFF PREPARED BY THE COUNCIL ON WHAT DIFFERENT TYPES OF THINGS WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERING. THE COMMISSIONS HELP US ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY . I HAVE ALWAYS FELT IN MY CAREER OF ALL THE COMMISSIONS I HAVE STAFFED THAT I'M A BETTER PUBLIC SERVANT BECAUSE THEY HELP ME TO MAINTAIN A PULSE ON THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE MISSING OUT ON A WHOLE BUNCH OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE COULD BE EXPLORING , AND THEN I ADDED IN HERE, RECOMMEND GRANT FUNDING. THIS IS A COMMON RESPONSIBILITY YOU SEE OF MANY HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSIONS AND CITIES . WHAT THIS ESSENTIALLY MEANS IS, IF WE WERE TO GET A FEDERAL GRANT OR IF WE WERE TO HAVE A CITY GRANT OF ANY KIND , WE ABSOLUTELY WOULD WANT TO GO TO THE COMMISSION AND SEEK THEIR INPUT ON FUNDING. FUNDING LEVELS AND FUNDING TARGETS AS WELL. REGARDING LIMITATIONS , AND THIS IS WHY TERRY IS HERE TOO, BECAUSE SHE CAN HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS AROUND THIS. JUST TO NOTE THIS NEW COMMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE WORKING WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, IT REPORTS TO THE COUNCIL. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE COUNCIL MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT. FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO MIGHT NOT BE AWARE, THAT IS THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT THAT MARTINEZ AND MOST CITIES OPERATE BY. I WOULD SAY AN OUTLIER WOULD BE OAKLAND OR SAN FRANCISCO WHERE YOU HAVE A STRONG MAYOR MODEL BUT HERE IN COUNCIL MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT, ESSENTIALLY THE COUNCIL ELECTED BY THE VOTERS HIRES THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY MANAGER IS THE TOP OFFICER OF THE CITY WHO THEN HIRES ALL OF STAFF TO IMPLEMENT AND ADMINISTER POLICIES. THERE IS ALSO NO DIRECTION ON INTERNAL PERSONNEL AND TRAINING MATTERS. THAT'S JUST TO SAY, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE CIVIL SERVICE RULES AND M.O. USE THAT GOVERN EMPLOYEES POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND WE ALSO HAVE ALREADY CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION'S IN PLACE IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THAT. SO THIS COMMISSION WOULD NOT HAVE A ROLE IN THAT MATTER. AND ALSO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NO REDUNDANCY OR OVERLAP WITH OTHER COMMISSIONS. I DO WANT TO TAKE NOTE THAT I DID COME TO THE PRMCC IN APRIL AHEAD OF THIS MEETING BECAUSE THERE IS THE TERM CULTURAL IN THE TITLE OF PRMCC AND TO PREVENT ANY CONFUSION , I PRESENTED TO THE COMMISSION ABOUT REMOVING THE TERM CULTURAL FROM THE TITLE AND ALSO THROUGHOUT THE CODE . THERE WAS A LOT OF ACCEPTANCE AND OPENNESS TO IT, AND SO WHATEVER IS THE OUTCOME OF THIS TOPIC, I WILL OF COURSE COME BACK TO THAT PRMCC AND WE WILL HAVE TO REVISE THE PRMCC CODE AS WELL AS A PART OF THIS PROCESS. >> CAN I CLARIFY SOMETHING? I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THROUGH NO DIRECTION ON INTERNAL PERSONNEL AND TRAINING MATTERS. THE WAY IT IS WORDED HERE SORT OF SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS NO TRANSPARENCY , BUT THE INTENTION OF THIS IS NOT --THERE COULD BE REPORT OUTS. YOU COULD ASK QUESTIONS. YOU COULD BE HAVING THOUGHTS ABOUT IT AND THERE COULD BE THAT DIALOGUE. IT'S JUST THAT THIS PARTICULAR COMMISSION WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS IN PLACE OF THE CITY MANAGER OR SOMETHING. >> YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT. 41, AND THE CITY MANAGER WE WELCOME ANY OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE COMMISSION OR TO THE PUBLIC AND SAY, HERE IS WHAT WE ARE DOING INTERNALLY TO SUPPORT DEIB EFFORTS. I LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO PRESENT ON DEMOGRAPHICS AND HIRING AND THOSE ARE ALL THINGS WE WOULD DO. WE CAN'T TAKE DIRECTION FROM THE COMMISSION. SO, OUR DIRECTION COMES FROM THE CITY MANAGER. I HOPE THAT CLARIFIES. WOULD ABSOLUTELY SHARE A LOT OF THE INTERNAL WE ARE DOING. A COUPLE MORE SLIDES HERE RELATED TO FISCAL IMPACT. THERE WAS $50,000 ALLOCATED BY THE CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE DEIB ROAD MAP. 30,000 OF THAT IS RESERVED FOR INTERNAL EFFORTS, SO, TRAINING AND OF LIMITATION. A LOT OF THE INTERNAL MEASURES IN CONSULTATION , THAT IS. THE REMAINING AMOUNT IS RESERVED FOR EVENTS , AND THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE TALK ABOUT WITH THE NEW COMMISSION AS WELL. ONGOING BUDGET NEEDS WILL NEED TO BE EVALUATED IN THE NEXT BIENNIAL BUDGET . WE ARE COMING UP ON THE SECOND YEAR OF OUR TWO YEAR BUDGET. BY NEXT JANUARY WE WILL BE PRODUCING THE NEXT TWO-YEAR BUDGET . WE ARE HOPING BY THEN WE HAVE A LITTLE MORE EXPERIENCE UNDER OUR BELT WITH THE NEW COMMISSION AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO RECOMMEND A MEANINGFUL BUDGET THROUGH THAT PROCESS. NEXT STEPS , SO WE ARE HERE AT THE STUDY SESSION TO SOLICIT DIRECTION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL, HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND ALL OF THIS WILL FUNNEL INTO THE CRAFTING OF A NEW ORDINANCE . WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU IN JUNE AT A REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING TO REITERATE WHAT WE HEARD SO THAT WE HAVE -- WE CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE INTENT OF YOUR FEEDBACK WAS. JULY, WE WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPT THE NEW ORDINANCE . THAT WILL HAPPEN AT THE LAST MEETING OF JULY. THERE IS A 30 DAY WAITING PERIOD BEFORE THE ORDINANCE GOES INTO EFFECT. BY THE END OF AUGUST, THE ORDINANCE WILL HAVE GONE INTO EFFECT . SEPTEMBER TO OCTOBER WILL FOCUS ON THE APPLICATION AND SELECTION PERIOD FOR THE NEW COMMISSION AND OUR TOP GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A MEETING OR POSSIBLY TWO BEFORE THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR. I WILL STOP THERE. I DID PUT UP HERE DISCUSSION POINTS. THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE FEEL WE NEED CLEAR DIRECTION ON TONIGHT FROM THE COUNCIL. I WILL LEAVE THOSE UP ON THE SCREEN. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO, I THINK THIS IS A PRETTY GOOD TURNOUT FOR A 5:30 WORKSHOP. THANK YOU GUYS. AND I WANT TO REITERATE WHAT I THINK YOU SAID AT THE VERY BEGINNING. THIS SLIDE DECK WAS PUT TOGETHER TO PRESENT TO EVERYONE TO GET EVERYONE'S FEEDBACK. YOU SAID REACTION? THAT IS THE INTENT OF TONIGHT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS REALLY CLEAR TO EVERYBODY AND FOR ALL OF THE COUNCIL , THIS IS A WORKSHOP. NO DECISIONS ARE GOING TO BE MADE TONIGHT. WE WILL BE PROVIDING GUIDANCE, AND WE REALLY HAVEN'T HAD THIS CONVERSATION AS A WHOLE COUNSEL AT ALL. AND SO, THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT. IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT YOU FEEL TOTALLY MISSED THE MARK OR YOU ARE THINKING, I'M NOT SEEING ANY REFERENCE TO SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT. TONIGHT IS THE NIKE SITE. PLEASE, HELP EACH ONE OF YOU TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE DURING PUBLIC COMMENT AND PROVIDE YOUR INPUT BECAUSE I AM VERY INTERESTED IN MOVING THIS FORWARD. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS SINCE ARDPIE DISSOLVED A WHILE AGO AND HAS BEEN THE QUESTION I HAVE BEEN ASKING EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET THIS FINALIZED? AND WE MAKE THIS COMMISSION FORMAL EXIT? I KNOW IT HAS BEEN A WHILE BUT WE ARE HERE NOW AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE MOVING FORWARD. SO, I THINK I DON'T HAVE ANY IMMEDIATE QUESTIONS I'M MORE INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY. WE WILL HAVE THAT COUNSEL ASK QUESTIONS AND THEN WE WILL OPEN THIS UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN WE WILL BRING IT BACK TO COUNSEL TO HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. SO , I KNOW ALL OF TIMES THE COUNSEL SO THEY WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC, BUT BY ALL MEANS, ASK ANY QUESTIONS FOR VACATION BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ANYONE LIKE TO STOP -- START? >> I WOULD RATHER HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC FIRST. IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE WILL ASK FOR THE PUBLIC SPEAKS. >> DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL? >> NOT RIGHT NOW. >> DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU FOR THE OVERVIEW AND THAT CLEAR VISIONS SO WE ARE CLEAR ON WHAT WE ARE DOING. THERE IS NO FALSE EXPECTATIONS. I LIKE THE CLARITY OF YOUR PRESENTATION. I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION. WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE MAKEUP IT WAS FIVE MEMBERS AND THEN IN ADDITION, THERE WOULD BE ONE MEMBER FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND ONE MEMBER FROM THE PRMCC. THAT WOULD BE SEVEN MEMBERS OR ARE WE SEEING TWO OF THE FIVE ARE FROM THE OTHER COMMISSIONS? >> SEVEN TOTAL. I THINK I MENTIONED ALTERNATE . >> SO, POTENTIALLY A PEOPLE. AND TO HAVE A QUORUM THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE FIVE? AND IT COULD BE FIVE OF ANY OF THE SEVEN? I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THAT. >> AND ALTERNATE DOES IT VOTE, SO EVEN IF THEY COME IN THE ROOM. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT JUST SEVEN. ALTHOUGH I'M NOT SURE WHAT TERRY IS SAYING. >> I'M SORRY, I'M CONFUSED BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THERE RIGHT INFORMATION TO THE RECORD. IF THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS IS SEVEN, THEN THE FORUM WOULD BE FOUR, NOT FIVE. IT'S SIMPLE MAJORITY IS THE QUORUM. >> I THINK ALSO , ONE THING WE HAVE TO CONSIDER IS WHETHER OR NOT THE LIAISON REPS IN THE PRMCC AND PLANNING COMMISSION ARE VOTING MEMBERS. OR IF THEY ARE JUST THERE TO INFORM BASED ON THEIR EXPERIENCE ON THOSE OTHER COMMISSIONS AND NOT ACTUALLY BE --NOT ACTUALLY BE VOTING AND APPOINTED MEMBERS AS WOULD BE THE FIVE AT-LARGE PLUS THE ONE ALTERNATE. >> THIS SOUNDS LIKE A DETAIL WE CAN HASH OUT LATER. I THINK THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES ARE MORE IMPORTANT FOR THE WORKSHOP TONIGHT, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU MAKING THAT COMMENT. IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, DEBBIE? >> ANOTHER ONE ABOUT BUDGET. IS THE ESTABLISHED BUDGET FOR THE OTHER FIVE COMMISSIONS ? WHAT DO THEY RANGE? >> ONE MORE TIME? >> THE OTHER COMMISSIONS. WE WERE ABOUT BUDGET TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ADEQUATE BUDGET FOR THE NEW COMMISSION. I WAS ASKING, WHAT IS THE BUDGET FOR THE OTHER FIVE COMMISSIONS? LIKE ROUGHLY, IS THERE A SET BUDGET? I KNOW THEY VARY. >> YEAH, THEY DO VERY BECAUSE FOR INSTANCE, WHAT WE DO KNOW , THE COST TO PUT ON MEETINGS. EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO THIS, THERE IS THE STAFF COST. SOMEONE -- I THINK I PUT THIS IN THE STAFF REPORT BUT, THERE IS OVERTIME COST BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS TO STAY LATE AT NIGHT STAFFING THE MEETING . THERE IS THOSE COSTS RELATED TO STAFFING IT. ALSO, THERE IS COST RELATED TO THE VIDEOGRAPHY AND CLOSED CAPTIONING . I DON'T HAVE THOSE --. >> I THINK SHE'S JUST REFERRING TO THE ARPA SLIDE OF THE 50,000. >> OF THE WITH THE OTHER COMMISSIONS. I'M SORRY. >> WHAT I WANT TO UNDERSTAND IS, IN COMPARISON TO THE OTHER ONES, HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD WE NEED TO ALLOT TO ENSURE THAT IT IS ADEQUATELY STAFFED? ADEQUATELY FUNDED. ARE WE TALKING ABOUT MORE THAN THE 50,000? OR SOMETHING LESS? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ADEQUATE FUNDS. I'M SURE WE HAVE ADEQUATE FUNDS BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO HAVE ADEQUATE FUNDS. >> WE DO FOR THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR , AND AS I MENTIONED , OF COURSE GOING INTO THE NEXT TWO-YEAR BUDGET, WE WILL HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT BUDGET LOOKS LIKE FOR THIS COMMISSION. BUT, CERTAINLY, WE DO HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS FOR RIGHT NOW. >> THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR NOW. >> I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION. >> IT'S OKAY, THANKS. >> I DEFINITELY HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ON THIS, BUT I REALLY DO WANT TO GET INPUT FROM THOSE THAT TOOK THE TIME TO BE HERE WITH US TONIGHT. I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. IN THE STAFF REPORT WHERE WE TALK ABOUT HOW MEMBERS ACTUALLY GET APPOINTED , WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AN APPLICATION PROCESS FOLLOWED BY AN INTERVIEW PROCESS , INCLUDING THE MAYOR AND DESIGNATED COUNCILMEMBERS WITH INVOLVEMENT OF CITY STUFF. SO, WE WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE PUTTING THIS COMMISSION AS A PERMANENT COMMISSION ON PAR WITH THE OTHER CITY COMMISSIONS, CORRECT? MY UNDERSTANDING IS, WITH THOSE OTHER COMMISSIONS , THE MAYOR MAKES THE APPOINTMENT WITH THE CONSENT OF THE COUNCIL, CORRECT? IS THIS THE PROCESS WE ARE LAYING OUT HERE, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE DO FOR THE OTHER COMMISSIONS, AND IF SO , DOES THAT SET A NEW PRECEDENT THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF? >> YOU LOOK LIKE YOU WERE ABOUT TO SAY SOMETHING PICK >> I WAS GOING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT --I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH CAT FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF SINCE I HAVE BEEN THE MAYOR AND I'M NOT SURE WE HAVE EVER WRITTEN DOWN THE PROCESS . I THINK YOU AND I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE THE PROCESS MORE REPEATABLE AND MORE TRANSPARENT. WHEN WE ARE APPOINTING FOLKS . RIGHT NOW I INFORMALLY REACH OUT TO STEPH TO GET INPUT AND WE DO APPROVE ALL THE APPOINTMENTS. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'M INTERESTED IN GETTING FEEDBACK ON BECAUSE THIS IS COMMENTS I HAVE RECEIVED FROM MORE THAN ONE PERSON IN THE PUBLIC, THAT THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL MAKEUP OF THIS COMMISSION. WHICH I THINK IS TOTALLY FAIR. NORMALLY WHEN WE -- WHEN I HAVE INTERVIEWED FOLKS OVER THE PAST YEAR FOR OTHER COMMISSIONS, I ASKED THEM ABOUT THEIR BACKGROUND . THEY FILL OUT THE APPLICATION. I PLUGGED THEM IN WHERE I THINK THEY'RE THE MOST APPROPRIATE. SO, I RECOGNIZE THAT SAYING, JUST TRUST ME, I WILL FIND THE BEST PERSON, IT PROBABLY IS AND WHAT PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO HEAR. BUT I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT TREATING THIS COMMISSION SEPARATELY. SETTING A DIFFERENT PRECEDENT FOR JUST THIS ONE COMMISSION. I'M VERY OPEN TO HOW WE THINK WE MIGHT WANT TO TREAT THIS COMMISSION AND IF WE DO WANT TO TREAT IT SEPARATE, WE CAN PICK >> I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROCESS THAT YOU HAVE LAID OUT HERE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I WAS UNDERSTANDING HOW THIS STACKS WITH THE PROCESS THAT WE HAVE TRADITIONALLY HAD FOR THE OTHER COMMISSIONS. I DO FEEL LIKE THERE COULD BE SOME MORE TRANSPARENCY OR AROUND THAT AND MAYBE FIND TUNING THAT PROCESS. I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE TO MAKE SURE I WAS UNDERSTANDING THAT CORRECTLY. >> TECHNICALLY, BECAUSE IT IS A BROWN ACT COMMITTEE , COMMISSION, IT'S A LEGISLATIVE BODY, TECHNICALLY IT IS -- THE MAYOR APPOINTS ITS --IT IS ALMOST RATIFIED BY THE BODY OF THE COUNCIL SO THAT WE CAN SAY IT IS A COUNCIL APPROVED BODY. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? TECHNICALLY, THE WHOLE COUNSEL IS APPROVING THE CREATION OF THE COMMISSION AND THE APPOINTMENT TO IT. >> I THINK WHAT HE'S GETTING AT IS, THE WAY WE STAFF THE ARDPIE TASK FORCE, WE HAD A SELECTION COMMITTEE AND THEN A SEPARATE INTERVIEW PROCESS AND IT WAS A PITCH IS MUCH BIGGER THING. WAS DESCRIBED HERE IS A LOT LESS INTENSE IN THE ARDPIE TASK FORCE BUT STILL MORE INVOLVED WITH MORE PEOPLE THAN I THINK OTHER COMMISSIONS. YES, THAT'S NOT A CONCERN ABOUT HAVING IT BE RATIFIED BY THE COUNCIL. MORE INVOLVING NON-COUNCILMEMBERS. IS THAT MORE YOUR QUESTION? >> EPIC >> I WOULD ADD, WE WOULD NEED DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL ON WHAT THEY WISH TO SEE. WHETHER YOU WISH TO KEEP IT CONSISTENT WITH HOW THE PROCESS WORKS NOW OR DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, THAT WOULD BE A DECISION POINT THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR US PICK >> WHAT YOU ARE PROPOSING IS DIFFERENT? THEN WHAT WE DO? >> WHAT IS WRITTEN IN THE STAFF REPORT, I BELIEVE IT SAYS, THE MAYOR AND DESIGNATED COUNCILMEMBERS. SO, YES, IT DOES SAY THAT IN THE STAFF REPORT. >> OKAY. AND THEN, AS FAR AS INCLUDING PLANNING AND ARE McC, I THINK THAT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE DEIB IS PRESENT AND TOP OF MIND, NOT ONLY AT THE STAFF LEVEL BUT I FEEL LIKE ABSOLUTELY WHEN THESE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEFORE THE PLANNING AND PRMCC COME TO MIND. THEY SHOULD BE. I FEEL LIKE THAT IS A PRUDENT MOVE , BUT I THINK MY QUESTION WAS WHAT COUNCILWOMAN McKILLOP ASKED, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE MAKEUP . IT'S FIVE STANDING AND TWO LIAISONS FROM THE COMMITTEES, CORRECT? SO, SEVEN TOTAL. >> YES, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT YOUR INITIAL THOUGHTS ARE AND IF THEY SHOULD BE VOTING MEMBERS OR JUST LIAISONS THAT ATTEND FROM THOSE RESPECTIVE BODIES AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THOSE BODIES. AND WE HAVE SOME PRECEDENTS ON THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES FOR MEASURE H . IF TREEVIEW WOULD RECALL. THERE IS AN ANNUAL OR WHENEVER THE SEA COMES UP THAT THE PRMCC DOESN'T REPRESENTATIVE TO THE MEASURE H WHICH IS PARKS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE IS UP THERE IS A NOMINATION PROCESS AND IT IS VOTED ON BY THE PRMCC TO SELECT THAT PARTICULAR MEMBER FOR THAT TICKLER WINDOW TWO YEARS, FOUR YEARS, HOWEVER LONG IT'S GOING TO BE IS GOING TO REPRESENT THE PRMCC ON THE BODY. THAT IS NOT --IT IS A BROWN ACT BODY. IT IS -- THEY DO TAKE ABOUT TO RECEIVE AND FILE AN ADVANCE TO THE CITY COUNCIL THE REPORTS. BUT THAT IS A SIMILAR BODY AND THAT INDIVIDUAL THAT HAVE A VOTE ON THAT PARTICULAR OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. SO, AS TERRY MENTIONED, IT DOES AFFECT WHAT WE CONSTITUTE THAT FORUM. IF THEY ARE LIAISON REPS, YOU HAVE TO LOOK TOWARDS THE FIVE MEMBERS. AND DECIDE WHAT MAKES A QUORUM OF THAT FIVE , WHICH TECHNICALLY WOULD BE THREE . I THINK WE CAN DESIGNATE MORE THAN THAT IF WE WANTED. CORRECT? OR IS IT STILL --? >> YOU COULD SAY WE WANT A SUPER QUORUM FOR A COMMISSION BUT HAVING A QUORUM IS THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO ADVANCE BUSINESS . IF THE BODY THAT MEETS THAT EVENING FEELS LIKE, WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HAVE EVERYBODY HERE TONIGHT, YES WE HAVE A QUORUM BUT IT'S A BEAR QUORUM, THEY COULD ALSO --THEY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO CONTINUE THE MEETING ONCE EVERYBODY IS THERE. I SEE THAT HAPPEN A LOT. BE CAREFUL BEFORE YOU DESIGNATE A SUPER QUORUM. IT WILL IMPACT OF THE ABILITY TO GET TOGETHER AND ACTUALLY DO BUSINESS. >> CERTAINLY, AS SOMEBODY WHO HAD THE HONOR OF CHAIRING THIS PROCESS FOR THE BULK OF ITS EXISTENCE, I CAN TELL YOU, FROM WHERE WE BEGAN AND WHERE WE FINISHED, WE DEFINITELY SAW A DROP OFF IN MEMBERSHIP. I'M JUST BEING HONEST. AND SO, I THINK THE QUESTION IS, EXCUSE ME -- . WHAT IS THE RIGHT NUMBER TO --. IF YOU MAKE IT TOO LARGE IT BECOMES TOO UNWIELDY. IF YOU MAKE IT TOO SMALL IT'S NOT INCLUSIVE ENOUGH. SO, WE ARE TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT BALANCE AND THAT'S WERE I WOULD REALLY WELCOME INPUT FROM THOSE WHO TOOK THE TIME TO BE HERE TONIGHT BEFORE COMMENTING FURTHER . I DO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS, MADAME MAYOR, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO RESERVE THEM AFTER WE HAD A CHANCE TO HEAR FROM THOSE THAT CAME HERE TONIGHT. THANK YOU. >> I DO HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL QUESTION BEFORE PEOPLE PROVIDE COMMENTS. THE RECOMMENDING GRANT FUNDING ITEM . YOU DID CLARIFY BUT I WANTED TO CLARIFY ONE MORE TIME. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THE GRANT FUNDING CAN BE BOTH RECEIVING GRANT FUNDING AS WELL AS DISPERSING GRANT FUNDING . I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO. THIS COMMISSION COULD BE GIVEN THE TASK OF DECIDING WHICH CULTURAL EVENTS THE CITY WANTED TO INVEST IN THAT YEAR AND THEY CAN PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO COUNSEL AND THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT WHICH EVENTS THEY WOULD RECOMMEND. OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED INCREASING AMOUNTS OF MONEY FOR CULTURAL EVENTS, AND I THINK THIS WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE GROUP TO THEN TAKE THAT BUDGET LINE ITEM AND SAY THIS IS HOW I THINK YOU SHOULD SPLIT IT UP CAN YOU CONFIRM THIS IS WHAT THAT ITEM MEANT? >> WELL, THAT IS UP TO THE COUNCIL . ON THE CULTURAL EVENT GRANT, THE ONLY CONCERN I HAVE --BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT IS ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVED . AS FAST AS SOMEONE IS ASKING FOR, THE MONEY IS GOING OUT THE DOOR. IF YOU BUILT IN APPROVAL OF A COMMISSION , WE HAVE GOT TO SCHEDULE A MEETING. WE HAVE TO PUT AN AGENDA TOGETHER. WE HAD TO PUT A STAFF REPORT TOGETHER. WE HAVE TO NOTIFY THE PUBLIC OF THE MEETING. IF I CAN'T GET A QUORUM OF COMMISSIONERS , WHAT HAPPENS TO PEOPLE WHO NEED THE GRANT MONEY? BY THE WAY, THIS HAPPENS A LOT WITH OUR CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION WHEN WE HAVE HEARINGS. WHEN PEOPLE CAN'T MAKE IT, WE LITERALLY GET PROCESSES GET HELD UP IN THE CITY BECAUSE OF THIS. SO, I WOULD JUST BE CAREFUL . WE HAVE A WORKING PROCESS RIGHT NOW . THE MINUTE AN APPLICATION IS RECEIVED , WE ARE IN DIRECT COMMUNICATION. WE ARE GETTING MONEY OUT QUICKLY. I DON'T MIND IF THERE IS A FEEDBACK LOOP ON THE CULTURAL EVENT GRANT PROCESS TO WHERE WE ARE EXAMINING IT AND FINDING WAYS TO MAKE IT BETTER, BRING NEW PEOPLE INTO THE FOLD, BUT I REALLY WOULD WANT TO ADD A BURDEN TO PREVENT FUNDS FROM GETTING QUICKLY INTO PEOPLE'S HANDS. BUT I THINK THE BIGGER PICTURE HERE, THE WAY I HAVE SEEN THIS IN MY PRIOR CITY , THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION THAT I STAFF, WE HAD A COMMUNITY GROUP GRANT FUNDS SIMILAR TO THE WITH THE CITY HAS HERE. IT WAS A MUCH BIGGER PART BUT WE WOULD DISPERSE 300 GRANT ANNUALLY TO NONPROFITS IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE USED TO PUT TOGETHER A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION AND THEY WOULD HELP STAFF EVALUATED THE APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING. THEY WOULD SCORE THEM. IT WAS A VERY INTENSIVE PROCESS , SO IT WASN'T FOR THE FAINT OF HEART. YOU HAD TO BE COMMISSIONERS THAT WERE WILLING TO DEDICATE THE TIME. BUT ULTIMATELY, THEY WOULD PRODUCE THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW THAT MONEY WAS --WHERE THAT MONEY WAS TO BE DISPERSED . THAT WOULD GO TO THE COUNCIL. THE COUNCIL WOULD APPROVE OR REVISE. SO, THAT'S AN EXAMPLE. A LOT OF CITIES FOLLOW THAT MODEL THE CITY WHERE I LIVE FOLLOW THAT MODEL. IT'S A VERY COMMON MODEL. WE DON'T HAVE A BIG CITY GRANT FUND , AS YOU KNOW. BUT I THINK THE INTENT OF THAT WAS TO SAY THAT IF WE WERE TO RECEIVE GRANT FUND , GRANT FUNDING IN THE FUTURE, WE DO WANT AN AVENUE TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THIS COMMISSION AND SAY, HEY, WE HAVE THIS GRANT FUNDING. WE NEED TO GET IT OUT TO TARGETED POPULATIONS AND TO SEEK THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHO THAT WOULD BE, WHETHER IT IS NONPROFITS OR COMMUNITY IN NEED. AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE THAT POT OF MONEY RIGHT NOW, BUT CERTAINLY IN THE FUTURE, WE COULD AND THIS WOULD BE A GREAT GROUP TO BE ABLE TO SEEK SUPPORT ON THAT. >> OKAY. YOU HAVE A FOLLOW-UP? >> NOT SO MUCH A FOLLOW-UP ON THAT SPECIFIC POINT, BUT WHILE WE HAVE THIS LIGHT UP, IT JUST OCCURRED TO ME. LET'S TALK ABOUT MAKEUP OF MEMBERS. I'M TRYING TO RECALL IN ARDPIE WHEN WE OPENED IT UP, DID YOU HAVE TO BE WITHIN CITY LIMITS IN ORDER TO SERVE OR DID WE EXTEND THAT TO THE SPHERE OF INFLUENCE , THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS, FOR INSTANCE. I CAN'T RECALL. TO HAPPEN TO KNOW? >> I WASN'T HERE AT THE TIME. BUT , MIKE, DO YOU RECALL THAT BY ANY CHANCE? >> I THOUGHT YOU HAD TO BE A RESIDENT. >> YOU HAD TO BE A RESIDENT? OKAY. ONE OF THE THINGS --BECAUSE DURING THE COURSE OF OUR WORK , WHEN I WAS CHAIR, ONE OF THE THINGS AS YOU MIGHT RECALL THAT WE DID WHEN WE DID THE LISTENING SESSIONS, IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE WE WENT OUT TO DIFFERENT POCKETS OF THE CITY INCLUDING THE AREA THAT WAS NEAR LESOTHO'S ELEMENTARY. WE TEND TO HAVE A LOT OF HISPANIC COMMUNITY. AND SO AS WE ARE KIND OF THINKING THROUGH THIS, I'M WONDERING LIKE TO HAVE THE OPTION IS MAYBE THIS IS THE CITY FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO STIPULATE THAT WE CAN INCLUDE PEOPLE FROM THE SPHERE OF INFLUENCE AND UNINCORPORATED PART? WHAT I'M KIND OF KEEN ON IS , WHERE IS THE DIVERSITY IN OUR AREA? INCREASINGLY, I WILL BE BLUNT --A LOT OF THE BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS ARE IN THOSE UNINCORPORATED FOR PARTS. AND SO, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS, THEY ARE REPRESENTED. AND, I DON'T WANT TO SET OUT -- NOT INTENTIONAL -- BUT CAN SEE IN SOME PARTS AS EXCLUSIONARY. THOSE FOLKS , YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE 94553 ATTACHED TO THEIR ADDRESSES. BUT THEY DON'T GET TO VOTE FOR ANY OF US. >> THEY ALSO DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY OF OUR COVID MICROGRAMS OR ANY OF OUR PERK MONEY OR ANYTHING. IT'S A MUCH BIGGER QUESTION THAN JUST THIS COMMISSION. >> IT IS. BUT AM A I'M JUST SPEAKING FROM THE HEART. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY TRUE. IT'S A QUESTION OF EQUITY FROM MY STANDPOINT. AND SO, I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS WORTH DISCUSSING. I'M JUST PUTTING THAT OUT THERE. THANK YOU. >> WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO --. SO, THE COUNCIL CAN REALLY CREATE THE CRITERIA FOR --AND THE IDEA IS TO CODIFY THIS. YOU CAN HAVE DIFFERENT CRITERIA FOR YOUR VARIOUS COMMISSIONS. IT IS NORMAL JUST BECAUSE THAT IS THE REQUIREMENT FOR AN ELECTED POSITION THAT A MEMBER BE AN ELECT OR OF THE CITY. BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE LEGALLY STAYING WITH THAT. BUT WHAT YOU DO WANT TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT REGARDLESS OF WHO MAKES UP THE MEMBERSHIP OF THAT DEIB, THEIR JURISDICTION CAN BE NO GREATER THAN THE CITY COUNCILS SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION. QUERY WHETHER THERE IS ANY RECOMMENDATION THAT THEY CAN MAKE TO THE CITY COUNCIL REGARDING EXTRATERRITORIAL ERRORS -- AREAS, THANK YOU. EXTRATERRITORIAL AREAS FOR TRY TO SAY THAT FAST THREE TIMES. AND SO, I THINK THAT IS AN ISSUE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER. BUT THAT DOESN'T LIMIT YOUR CHOICE OF MEMBERS. >> THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING. I'M GOING TO OPEN THIS UP TO COMMENT. NO ONE GAVE ME CARDS SO BY A SHOW OF HANDS, WHO PLANS TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT, WE WILL JUST GO FROM MY RIGHT TO LEFT AND START WITH MEGAN AND GO LIKE THAT. DOES THAT WORK? >> HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY. SO, BEFORE I GET INTO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT CAME UP TO ME, AS FAR AS THE STRUCTURE AND COMMITMENTS THAT I FEEL LIKE THE CITY COULD PUT IN, I DO WANT TO GO BACK TO 2020 . THE REASONS WHY THEY ARDPIE COMMITTEE WAS PUT IN PLACE , I DID NOT FEEL THE RESULTS, THE RECOMMENDATIONS MATCHED WHAT THE ISSUES WERE. TO BRING OUT IN THE FIRST PLACE. I THINK THAT THIS IS ALSO FOLLOWING THAT PATTERN . I KNOW THAT THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DECLARED RACISM A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS BECAUSE PEOPLE DIE . I DON'T SEE ANYTHING IN THIS COMMITTEE MAKEUP THAT ADDRESSES ANY OF OUR ACTUAL ISSUES. SO, I WANT TO QUICKLY GO OVER SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I FELT WAS MISSING OUT OF THE ARDPIE COMMITTEES MAKEUP WHEN IT CAME TO THE CITY'S LEADERSHIP BECAUSE DEALING WITH RACISM IS --IT IS AN EVERYBODY PROBLEM. WE NOT -- WE CANNOT JUST HAVE SOME COMMITTEE. I DON'T THINK THAT MIXING EVENTS IS GOING TO WORK WITH THE LACK OF POLICIES THAT WE HAVE. WE HAVE NO WAY RIGHT NOW TO DEAL WITH ISSUES OF POLICY AND POLICING AND THINGS THAT ACTUALLY AFFECT COMMUNITIES. SO, I FELT LIKE WHAT HAS BEEN LACKING AND FOR BIDDING PROCESS IN THE CITY , ITS LEADERSHIPS PARTICIPATION TO ACCOMMODATE THE CHANGES NEEDED IN ORDER TO PRODUCE A MORE DIVERSE CITY. WE WILL NEED YOUR VISION. HOW DO YOU SEE THE CITY ? WE NEED TO WORK AS A PARTNER IN ORDER FOR US TO CREATE SOMETHING. I FEEL LIKE THAT IS AUTOMATICALLY AN INHIBITOR TO ANY KIND OF DIGRESS. IT JUST THROWS DEALING WITH ISSUES OUT THE WINDOW BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE AN AVENUE OF DEALING WITH EACH OTHER ON SPECIFIC THINGS THAT AFFECT OUR LIVES. I ALSO FELT THE RESISTANCE TO ALLOW POLICY CHANGES , WHICH I FELT WAS ANOTHER OBSTACLE. EVALUATION FROM LEADERSHIP OF WHAT DIVERSITY LOOKS LIKE AND MARTINEZ. I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT MYSELF THAT THAT WAS SUPER IMPORTANT. ALSO, TO STOP RELYING ON A FEW COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO DO ALL OF THE WORK TO CONSTRUCT THE CITY. SORRY. YES, I'M WRAPPING UP. BUT, FROM WHAT I WAS ABLE TO SEE IN THIS MAKEUP, IT NEEDS TO BE DONE OVER. IT'S NOT GOING TO ADDRESS ANYTHING THAT WE ACTUALLY DEAL WITH IN THE COMMUNITY. THERE ARE SOME BLANKETED ISSUES THAT MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES HAVE THAT WE HAVE NO AVENUE TO DEAL WITH HERE. AND AS MUCH EXPERIENCE AS YOU COME WITH, IT'S NOT YOUR LIFE, RIGHT? I LIVE HERE AND SO DOES SOME OF THE OTHER PEOPLE. WE ARE STILL NOT SAYING AN EFFORT TO GROW . THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. MEGAN, DO YOU WANT TO GO NEXT? >> HELLO. I'VE COMPLETELY LOST MY VOICE BUT I'M GOING TO TRY ANYWAY. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF DEI AND OUR BELOVED CITY. OVER THE PAST YEAR I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH FELLOW PARENTS AND TEACHERS TO ESTABLISH A DEI COMMITTEE AT JOHN'S ELEMENTARY PICK WHILE WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS WE HAVE FACED REALLY SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES . SOME PARENTS OF EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT INTRODUCING SENSITIVE TOPICS TO YOUNG CHILDREN , WHICH IS HIGHLIGHTING THE NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION ESPECIALLY AROUND LGBTQ PLUS ISSUES. WE NEED TO PROVIDE CLARITY THE SUPPORTING STUDENTS TO EQUATE TO TEACHING THEM ADULT CONCEPTS OF SEXUALITY. OTHERS HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT DEI AT THE METRO SCHOOL LEVEL AND INDICATES ABOUT HER NEED FOR COMMUNITYWIDE UNDERSTANDING, LIKE OF THESE ISSUES. AND IN YOUR SLIDE YOU MENTIONED WE DO HAVE THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THE HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH IS AWESOME. BUT WE NEED TO ALSO LOOK AT THE ELEMENTARIES AND OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS THE DISTRICT HAS FORMED A COMMITTEE AND THEY HAVE INVITED TEACHERS THEY REALLY LEANED ON ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS AND PARENTS TO COME IN AND HELP WITH THE EFFORTS . BUT WITH THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IT HAS FALLEN AMONG THE PTAS AT EACH SITE TO DO THIS WORK. AND SOME SITES HAVE BEEN JUST MORE RECEPTIVE THAN OTHERS. SO, TO HAVE THE LEADERSHIP FROM A COMMISSION AND THE CITY WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A BRIDGE FOR THOSE GROUPS THAT ARE STRUGGLING TO GET THIS SORT OF MESSAGE OUT BECAUSE THERE IS VERY STAUNCH RESISTANCE, ESPECIALLY TO THE TERM DEI LIKE THAT TERM HAS BEEN WHIP AND ICED POLITICALLY. SO, WE NEED ALL THE SUPPORT WE CAN GET. ALSO, I AGREE WITH KENYA THAT IT REQUIRES MORE THAN JUST EVENTS OR GESTURES. WE NEED BOTH. WE NEED PRIDE AND ALL OF IT WE ALSO NEED TO WEAVE THIS INTO THE FABRIC OF OUR CITY . REALLY EXAMINE ALL OF THE ASPECTS OF OUR COMMUNITY FROM POLICING TO THE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES WE HAVE AND TO INCOME INEQUALITY IN OUR CITY. IT'S NOT EASY. IT IS COMPLETE WE CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO THAT DISRUPTS AN ENTRENCHED SYSTEM OF POWER. I'M NEW TO THIS WORK BUT I REALIZE THAT IT REQUIRES DEEP SELF REFLECTION AND NAVIGATING THE SENSITIVE TERRAIN OF IDENTITY POLITICS , WHICH IS LIKE, HOW YOU CREATE A SPACE WHERE ALL VOICES ARE WELCOMED AND VALUED WITHOUT INADVERTENTLY SINGLING OUT OR STIGMATIZING INDIVIDUALS BASED ON THEIR IDENTITY? YOU CAN'T SAY, OH, YOU ARE BLACK, BROWN, YOU HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT DEI? IT'S LIKE THEY ARE JUST PEOPLE . WE NEED TO CREATE UP PEOPLE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND JUST HONOR THEM. I'M REALLY FOCUSED ON YOUTH. I WOULD LOVE TO BE INVOLVED IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. >> YOU DID GREAT WITH YOUR VOICE. STEVE, ARE YOU THE NEXT ONE? ANYONE ELSE IN BETWEEN WANTED TO SPEAK? GO AHEAD, STEVE. >> THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY. THIS IS REALLY GREAT AND EXCITING. I'M GOING TO GO REALLY QUICK. I THINK THE MAIN CONCERN FOR ME, THE MAIN POINT FOR ME IS THE MAKEUP OF THE GROUP. I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE AS DIVERSE AS POSSIBLE, REPRESENTING OUR NATIVE AMERICANS. WE HAVE NATIVE AMERICANS, BLACKS, WHITES, LATINOS, A IPI LGBTQ . IF WE COULD HAVE AT LEAST ONE MEMBER OF EACH OF THESE COMMUNITIES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, THAT WOULD BE IDEAL. SO, BEFORE WE EVEN THINK ABOUT HOW MANY MEMBERS SHOULD BE IN THE GROUP, THAT'S MY MAIN FOCUS. HOW DIVERSE WE WANT THAT GROUP TO BE. ANOTHER THING I DID NOT SEE THE NOTE THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT IS , QUALITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS. WE ARE NOT JUST GOING TO PICK PEOPLE PICK WHAT IS THEIR EXPERIENCE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ? DO THEY HAVE EXPERIENCE IN SOCIAL JUSTICE? HAVE THEY EVER BELONGED TO A COMMISSION OR TASK FORCE , COMMITTEE? THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS VALUABLE IN JOINING THE GROUP. SOCIAL JUSTICE DEFINITELY. LEADERSHIP SKILLS . IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE SAY YOU HAVE TO BE A LEADER, BUT AT LEAST IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK I PERSONALLY VALUE. COMMUNITY OUTREACH ABILITIES OR SKILLS, YOU KNOW? WITH THIS TYPE OF WORK, SOMEONE EXTROVERTED PROBABLY WORKS BETTER THAN SOMEONE WHO IS INTROVERT IN TERMS OF REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. THESE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE ARE -- WE SHOULD BE THINKING OF WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE MAKEUP OF THE GROUP. DISCUSSING THE RULES OF THE GROUP , I SEE THIS GROUP AS A STRONG COMMUNITY LIAISON BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY. SO, WHAT I SEE IS THIS GROUP GOING OUT TO IDENTIFY LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY . FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE A PROVIDENTIALLY BLACK CHURCH IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, A KOREAN CHURCH UPHILL . WE HAVE LATINO, HISPANIC CHURCH. THESE ARE CHURCHES THAT ARE REALLY STRONG AND REACHING UP TO IDENTIFY THE LEADERS THERE AND HOW WE CAN WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY. ONE THING THAT I SEE IN THIS GROUP IS ALSO DATA COLLECTION, DOING SURVEYS. KIND OF WHAT ARDPIE TASK FORCE DOES. WE CAN REALLY HAVE POLICY , WE CAN'T HAVE POLICIES IF WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THE ISSUES ARE. AND WE DON'T KNOW THE ISSUES IF YOU DON'T HAVE DATA. SO GOING INTO THE COMMUNITY , GETTING FEEDBACK ON WHAT ARE THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES AND THEN COMING BACK AND GIVING ADVICE AND ORIENTATION ON THAT. THEN YOU HAVE THE COMMUNITY AND ALL THAT WILL COME ALONG. >> THANK YOU. GREG? >> THANKS FOR CONTINUING THIS WORK AND THIS PROCESS. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT . I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THIS MEETING LAST WEEKEND IT WAS REALLY POWERFUL MEETING. HEARING THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES , PRESENTING THEIR OWN FINDINGS AND WHAT -- WHAT THEY DISCOVERED BY TALKING TO STUDENTS, BY SERVING STUDENTS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES, AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING --AS YOU MOVE FORWARD IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT , TRYING TO COLLABORATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE , ON THESE DIFFICULT ISSUES . I THINK THAT THE ARDPIE PROCESS FROM WHAT I SAW , I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF BUMPS IN THE ROAD AND I ATTENDED ONE OF THE LISTENING SESSIONS AND I THINK THERE IS , GENERALLY SPEAKING, I THINK THERE WAS A HYPERSENSITIVITY THAT TIPTOEING AROUND SOME MORE OF THE DIFFICULT ISSUES WITHOUT ADDRESSING THEM HEAD-ON. THIS IS A TOPIC AREA WHERE WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IT HAD ON. WE CAN'T PRETEND THESE THINGS AREN'T REAL. WE CAN'T TRY TO SAY AND DO THINGS THAT WILL MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY. IF WE DO THAT, WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET TO THE UNDERLYING ISSUES THAT HAVE LED TO THIS EPIDEMIC OF RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION IN OUR SOCIETY THAT HAS GONE ON FOR FAR TOO LONG. WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT . THE PERIOD OF TIME THAT TIME THAT PASSED AT THE END OF THE CIVIL WAR AND ANY MEANINGFUL CHANGE IN THE 1960S THROUGH CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION TO GIVE BLACK AMERICANS FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS WAS 100 YEARS AND WE ARE ABOUT 60 YEARS PAST THAT. ALL THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE TO GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS OVER THAT PERIOD OF 100 YEARS AND THEN GOING BACK 300 YEARS BEFORE THAT DURING THE HORRORS OF SLAVERY BACK TO 1619, WE ARE STILL VERY EARLY IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO GET OUR HANDS AROUND IT AND RECONCILE WITH THIS SYSTEMIC DAMAGE THAT HAS BEEN DONE IN GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS FROM MARGINALIZED GROUPS. THE TIME FOR DEALING WITH THE NONSENSE FROM PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SWEEP THESE ISSUES UNDER THE RUG IS OVER WITH. THEY WANT TO ENGAGE IN NONSENSE. THEY CAN ENGAGE IN NONSENSE. WE DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT. SOME PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY DON'T WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT THE CAUSE OF THE U.S. CIVIL WAR WAS AND WE ARE IN THE YEAR 2024. OR THEY WANT TO PRETEND LIKE JIM CROW NEVER HAPPENED. SO, I'M OUT OF TIME, SO THANK YOU. >> THANKS. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO PROVIDE ANY LAST COMMENTS? NO? OKAY, CAN YOU CHECK THE VIRTUAL AUDIENCE? IS THERE ANYBODY FROM THE PUBLIC ANTICIPATING? >> THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT FOR TONIGHT STUDY SESSION ITEM. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT THESE USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE NOW. ALL RIGHT, I HAVE ONE HAND, MOLLY , I WILL ASK YOU TO UNMUTE. >> HI, THANK YOU. I'M VERY GLAD TO HEAR THAT THIS WILL BE A STANDING COMMISSION . THANKS FOR CONTINUING THOSE EFFORTS. AS STEVE AND OTHERS TALKED ABOUT THE MAKEUP OF THE GROUP IS ESSENTIALLY IMPORTANT. THERE IS A NEED TO PUBLICIZE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE APPOINTED TO THE COMMISSION IN WAYS THAT ENSURE THE INFORMATION REACHES THE MOST PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. I WONDER ABOUT MORE WAYS TO DO THAT. I ALSO APPRECIATE WHAT COUNCILMEMBER MOLLY SAID ABOUT THE UNINCORPORATED -- UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF OUR COMMITTEE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO LIVE IN THOSE AREAS. AND I ALSO WANTED TO ECHO WHAT CAN YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW ADVISING ON STRUCTURAL POLICY ISSUES IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLE FOR A COMMISSION LIKE THIS BECAUSE IT'S HOW PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE ABLE TO THRIVE HERE OR NOT RIGHT HERE. SOMETIMES IT'S ABOUT LIFE-AND-DEATH. SO, I HOPE THE CITY DOES SEEK POLICIES AND SPECIFIC INPUT FROM THE COMMISSION. FOR INSTANCE, POLICE AND HIRING PRACTICES. I WANT TO ECHO WHAT MEGAN SAID ABOUT THE NEEDS FOR EDI EDUCATION IN THE COMMUNITY. THAT SUPPORTS OUR EFFORTS AND OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS PIVETTA SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED. THANKS SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE ANOTHER HAND. ANDREA, I WILL ASK YOU TO UNMUTE. >> CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> YES, GO AHEAD. >> HI, THIS IS ANDREA CRIDER. I'M A NEIGHBOR IN THE COMMUNITY BUT I ALSO WORK FOR THE COUNTY. I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT THE COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING HAVING A COMMISSION LIKE THIS. I ORIGINALLY WAS ONE OF THE APPLICANTS TO THE ARDPIE WHEN THAT WAS PUT FORTH , AND TO BE HONEST, I THINK I HAVE MISSED SOME OF THE HISTORY ON WHAT HAPPENED THERE, AND I SORT OF FELL OFF THE RADAR AFTER MOST OF THE COMMISSION IN THE FIRST ROUND TURNED UP BEING PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT PEOPLE OF COLOR. I REMEMBER THE NAACP LEADERS COMING TO THE MEETING AND CALLING THIS OUT . ARDPIE BASICALLY RESTRUCTURING TO TRY TO BECOME MORE DIVERSE . AT THAT POINT I FELT LIKE I ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE OF COLOR, FIRST AND FOREMOST, ON THIS --ON THAT COMMITTEE . AND SO, I TOOK A BACK SEAT, BUT I DO THINK PART OF THE REASON WHY I APPLIED THEN AND MY FEAR NOW IS JUST OF COURSE THE MAKEUP. MAKING SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON A COMMITTEE LIKE THIS ARE GOING TO BE CENTRAL TO VOICING THE VOICES OF THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE MOST IMPACTED BY THESE ISSUES. I WANTED TO SUPPORT SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WHAT THE COMMITTEE MIGHT DO, AT LEAST IN TERMS OF RECOMMENDING PROCLAMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS . I ALSO THINK HAVING INPUT ON GRANT RECOMMENDATIONS IS ESSENTIAL . I DEFINITELY THINK IT TAKES MORE THAN JUST PUTTING ON EVENTS, BUT I THINK EVENTS ARE ESSENTIAL AS WELL IN TERMS OF PULLING AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THESE TYPES OF ISSUES. I WANT TO ECHO THE OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO TALKED ABOUT BACKING UP PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO DO THESE THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEIR SCHOOLS. JUST NOW JOHN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS STILL PUTTING ON THEIR AGENDA WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN RAISE A PRIDE FLAG. THESE THINGS AREN'T GOING AWAY. THAT HAS BEEN A NUMEROUS YEAR FIGHT FOR THAT SCHOOL. MY KIDS JOINING THIS NEXT YEAR. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME . I THINK THAT THEY COULD CONTINUE TO HELP HOLD TOWN HALLS, COLLECT DATA , AS STEVE SAID, AND I ALSO LIKE THE IDEA OF HAVING THEM RECOMMEND POLICIES OR HIRING DECISIONS WHEN IT COMES TO TOWN POLICING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS UP. >> THANK YOU. I HAVE NO FURTHER HANDS. >> IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE DOING REALLY GOOD ON TIME , DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH WE WANT TO TALK BUT I'M GOING TO START WITH MARK AND THEN WE WILL GO THAT WAY, DOES THAT SOUND GOOD? OH, YEAH, I'M SORRY. I WAS GOING TO HAVE TRACY TALK, THANK YOU. TRACY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE US A FEW THOUGHTS ON WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD SO FAR TONIGHT? >> YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LISTENING TO THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR AND THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, MOST IMPORTANTLY , I THINK AS WELL . A COUPLE OF THINGS STAND OUT. AS A PERSON WHO HAS DONE THIS WORK, DEI WORK FOR A LONG TIME, WE ALL SAY THIS BUT REPRESENTATION MATTERS. IT REALLY MATTERS. AND WHEN STEVE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE NEED TO HAVE PARTICIPANTS OF ALL OF THE DIVERSE GROUPS, IT'S CRITICAL. IT'S ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL OTHERWISE YOU HAVE WHAT I CALL A FALSE POSITIVE. YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE THE DATA BASED ON THE REALITY OF THE LIVED EXPERIENCE. THE SECOND THING IS, LISTENING TO PUBLIC COMMENT IN PARTICULAR . I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE AUTOMATIC ENROLLMENT OF SOMEBODY FROM PARKS AND REC AND FROM PLANNING , JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE ON THOSE COMMISSIONS ALREADY OR FROM THOSE DEPARTMENTS DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY ARE QUALIFIED TO SIT ON THIS COMMISSION. AND SO, ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD SING JUST STRONGLY IS THAT WE DEVELOP A SET OF BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS THAT ARE BASED AROUND ONE'S EXPERIENCE NOT ONLY IN COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP, BUT ONCE PROPENSITY TO BE OPEN TO INTROSPECTION ABOUT MATTERS RELATED TO DEI AS WELL AS ANY ADVOCACY WORK . THE LAST THING YOU WANT ARE RINGERS ON THEIR THAT DON'T REALLY SUPPORT THIS WORK. THE FINAL POINT IS THIS SORT OF ROB BETWEEN POLICY AND BEING ABLE TO IMPACT POLICY. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF -- HOPEFULLY A VERY DIVERSE GROUP IF THEY CAN'T IMPACT POLICY. I'M UNDERSTANDING FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S PERSPECTIVE AND THE WAY GOVERNMENT IS SET UP, THERE IS A LINE THAT CANNOT BE CROSSED, BUT NEVERTHELESS IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THEIR PERSPECTIVE BE HEARD. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. AND I THINK IT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THIS NOT JUST BE A COMMISSION FOCUSED ON, WHAT IS THE NEXT CULTURAL EVENT FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR OR LGBTQ ? WE ARE NOT HERE TO THROW PARTIES. WE ARE HERE TO MAKE CHANGE. SO, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE BALANCE OF THE WORK BE MORE TOWARD THE STUFF THAT IMPACTS PEOPLE'S LIVES . THOSE WILL BE MY SUMMARY COMMENTS. >> THANK YOU, TRACY, I APPRECIATE THE SUMMARY. >> I JUST WANT TO ADD ONE CLARIFICATION. THERE WILL BE POLICY --I KNOW THE WORD POLICY WASN'T ON THE SLIDES, BUT THE RECOMMENDATION OF DIB OR FOCUS RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL HAS TO DO WITH POLICIES. JUST TO CLARIFY , WE ARE SEPARATING INTERNAL POLICIES VERSUS EXTERNAL, SO WHEN THE ARDPIE EXISTED, WE TOOK SEVERAL POLICIES TO THEM FOR CONSIDERATION. THE PROVIDED FEEDBACK. WE TOOK THOSE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL. THE COUNCIL APPROVED THEM. SO, THERE WAS NUMEROUS EXTERNAL POLICIES THAT WE DID, INCLUDING THE CITIES GENERAL PLAN VISION STATEMENT AS WELL . THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT ABSOLUTELY WILL COME IN FRONT OF THIS NEW COMMISSION. I CAN SEE A LOT OF , THE WORK THAT PLANNING THAT MICHAEL KAST DOES WITH HOUSING POLICY. I CAN SEE THAT COMING IN FRONT OF THIS COMMISSION. I CAN GO ON AND ON BUT THERE IS A LOT OF EXTERNAL FACE POLICIES THAT OF PEOPLE'S LIVES EVERY DAY THAT ABSOLUTELY WILL WOULD BRING IN FRONT REGARDING THE DELINEATION WE WERE MAKING IS JUST, WE HAVE RULES IN PLACE THAT GUIDE A LOT OF OUR INTERNAL PROCESSES ALREADY AND SO THAT WAS THE ONLY SEPARATION WE WERE TRYING TO MAKE. >> THANK YOU. GOOD COMMENTS BY EVERYBODY, AND WE ARE A COUPLE WEEKS SHY OF FOUR EUROS OF THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD AND SOON THEREAFTER ON JUNE 6th OF 2020 I WAS SAYING WE NEED A TASK FORCE OR SOME TYPE OF COMMITTEE TO HAVE A COMMUNITY DISCUSSION . I'M GLAD WE ARE FINALLY GETTING TO THIS POINT . AS SOMEBODY WHO GREW UP IN THIS TOWN AND WAS BLESSED TO GROW UP IN A RACIALLY MIXED TOWN, --I REALLY WANT TO THE SAME HIGH SCHOOL. WEREN'T WE BLESSED TO HAVE MY DIVERSE COMMUNITY THAT WE ALL HUNG OUT WITH ? I'VE BEEN THE GREAT FISHERY OF THAT WONDERFUL ENVIRONMENT THAT I WAS PART OF THAT WAS COLORBLIND. IT WAS THE GREATEST THING ABOUT GROWING UP IN MARTINEZ PICK SOON THEREAFTER IT PERTAINED TO WOMEN, TOO. THEIR HIGH SCHOOL BECAME --WE ENDED UP COACHING THE WOMEN'S TEAM. WE GREW UP IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT WAS FOSTERED. THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO SEE OUR CITY GOVERNMENT DO. I HAVE A WHOLE PAGE OF NOTES TO SAY BUT I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO SAY THEM. A COUPLE OF THINGS I WILL SAY. WHEN IT COMES TO, SHOULD THE POTENTIAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS BE INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS OR OUTSIDE PICK COMMUNITIES DON'T HAVE BOUNDARIES. COMMUNITIES DON'T HAVE ARBITRARY LINES THAT ARE DRAWN THROUGH THEM . THIS COMMUNITY HAS MEMBERS HERE HERE AND HERE, WHERE THEY LIVE IN THE CITY LIMITS OR NOT. WE HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT THAT, YES, THERE IS GOING TO BE SPILLOVER. THERE ARE THINGS WE TECHNICALLY CAN'T DO. IN THE WHOLE, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THESE COMMUNITIES ARE ALL INTERWOVEN AND NOT DEFINED BY BOUNDARIES. IT THEN BECOMES EXCLUSIVE WHICH IS CONTRARY TO INCLUSIVITY WE ARE TRYING TO FOSTER . WHEN IT COMES TO THE COMMITTEE , WE USED TO INTERVIEW FOR EVERY . THE COUNCIL WOULD INTERVIEW THE COMMISSION MEMBERS. WE SET UP AND PUT ASIDE A WHOLE DAY OR MORE OR MULTIPLE WHOLE DAYS . THAT'S MY SCHEDULE. IF THEY HAD PLANNING COMMISSION FIRST AND THIS COMMISSION SECOND, WE WOULD ASK, WHAT IS YOUR QUALIFICATION FOR THAT COMMISSION? I THINK THAT IF WE ONLY HAVE A PROCESS FOR THIS ONE COMMITTEE . I THINK THAT ALMOST IS A BLIND SPOT WHERE WE ARE SAY, THIS IS AN EXCLUSIVE COMMISSION. YOU CAN ONLY APPLY FOR THIS COMMISSION . YOU ARE NOT WORTHY TO APPLY FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION, TOO OR THE OTHER COMMISSIONS. I THINK THAT IS EXCLUSIVE, NOT INCLUSIVE. SO, THAT VERY POINT AND THAT VERY NOTION THAT I JUST BROUGHT UP , THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT OF THE COMMISSIONS REASON FOR BEING , TO POINT OUT GAPS IN POLICY JUST LIKE THAT. THAT YOUR POLICY IS MISSING THE POINT. I'M REALLY CONDENSING EVERYTHING I WANT TO SAY. I'M GETTING TO THE POINT. SO, THAT'S WHAT I SEE THIS COMMISSION AS BEING . THAT PROCESS ON HOW WE DO THIS IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT SHOWS , ARE WE LEARNING? HAVE WE LEARNED? ARE WE WILLING TO LEARN? WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMUNITIES THAT FEEL THAT THEY HAVE HISTORICALLY COME AT THE VERY LEAST, NOT BEEN LISTENED TO. BEYOND NOT BEING LISTENED TO, HAS BEEN THE HARM. AND WE ALSO -- THEY ARE THE CHOIR THAT WE ARE PREACHING TO . THEY GET IT. THEY KNOW. THEY WANT THEIR VOICES TO BE HEARD. THEY WANT US DECISION-MAKERS TO UNDERSTAND THAT. PART OF THE PROBLEM IS ALSO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE FOSTERING ILL WILL IN OUR COMMUNITY. THEY ARE OUT THERE. THEY DON'T BELIEVE IN DIVERSITY . THEY HAVE THINGS IN THEIR HEART THAT WE WOULD RATHER NOT SEE. WE ALL HAVE THOSE BUT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THEM. SO, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT --HOW DO I SAY THIS? THAT THEY FEEL THAT THEY ARE NOT BEING DEMONIZED AND THAT THEIR VOICES ARE STILL HEARD TOO IF THEY HAVE CONCERNS. IT'S A TOUGH TENSION BAR WE WILL BE JUGGLING HERE. AGAIN, I'M REALLY DISTILLING EVERYTHING DOWN DUE TO TIME. SO, THAT'S PART OF THE MISSION WHEN THIS COMES BACK TO COUNSEL. FOR SETTING THIS UP, I THINK WE PROBABLY HAVE TO HAVE THE PROCESS EQUAL AND TRANSPARENT IN SELECTING IT. I AGREE WITH TRACY, HAVING THAT PATRON SAINTS OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONS , THE OVERLORDS FROM OTHER COMMISSIONS, EVEN THOUGH THEY DO INTERACT AND THEY DO HAVE POLICY INTERACTION, I THINK IT SHOULD BE COMMITTEE FOR THAT VERY REASON. GRANT FUNDING AND DISBURSEMENT , BY THE WAY, WE NEED TO SET UP A REAL MECHANISM . FUNDING IS GOING TO BE A BIG ISSUE. THIS IS CONNECTED TO THE. >> LASTLY , YOU HAVE THE UNINTENDED COMMENT OF THE NIGHT. IT IS THINGS WHEN YOU LISTEN AND THINK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY MEMBER SAY SOMETHING , HE SAID STATUS QUO. YOU SAID CROW. AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO BE AWARE OF. THE POINT IS , WHEN WE SAY THINGS WHAT THEY MEAN AND WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT. >> WE NEED TO GO TO ANOTHER SESSION BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO EXPLORE THIS. I WILL KEEP THIS SHORT. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE MAKEUP AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A WIDE AND DIVERSE RANGE OF PEOPLE. AND HOW THIS WILL BE ADVERTISED AND HOW WE WILL REACH ALL THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE WANT TO TARGET AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE AN AWARENESS THAT THIS IS HAPPENING. IT'S IMPORTANT AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF TO MAKE SURE WE GET PEOPLE WHO ARE TRULY INTERESTED AND WANT TO PARTICIPATE AND HAVE A PASSION AND HOW WE GO ABOUT SELECTING THOSE PEOPLE TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE PEOPLE THAT WE FEEL WOULD BE THE BEST TO SERVE ON THIS COMMITTEE. I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE THAT LIVE WITHIN OUR CITY AND OUTSIDE OF OUR CITY BECAUSE COMMUNITIES DO NOT STOP. MARTINEZ IS AN EXPANDED COMMUNITY. YOUR IMPACTED BY THESE ACTIVITIES GOING ON AROUND YOU. I WAS IMPRESSED WITH SOMETHING THAT YOU SAID . YOU SAID THAT PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE THE REALITY OF THE LIVING EXPERIENCE. AND I HEARD MARK TALKING ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE . NOT EVERYBODY HAD THAT EXPERIENCE EVEN AT THE TIME YOU WERE GROWING UP. EVERYONE HAS HAD A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE BASED ON WHO THEY ARE AND WHO THEY INTERACT WITH AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS GREAT. THAT'S THE PROBLEM. SO I THINK THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE TRULY LIVED THE EXPERIENCE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR SOCIETY ARE THE ONES THAT NEED TO BRING THEIR VOICE FORWARD AND BE HEARD SO WE CAN TRULY REACH DOWN AND DETERMINE WHAT IS IT THAT WE NEED TO COUNT AND HOW DO WE CREATE THE CHANGE WE WANT TO SEE. I KNOW THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO COMMUNICATE WHAT IT IS YOU THINK WOULD BE MOST VALUABLE, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR HONESTY . I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE MEET THE MARK AND WHAT WE INTEND TO DO. THAT IS SORT OF MY COMMENTS. AND WE NEED TO HAVE A GREATER DISCUSSION. WE ARE NOT DONE HERE AND I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE ON SO WE CAN GET THE CLEAREST DIRECTION. >> VERY QUICKLY. THE MORE I HEAR OF THE DISCUSSION , THE MORE MY EXPERIENCE AND PROCESSING THE DATA TELLS ME WE SHOULD CONSIDER MIXING THE IDEA OF AUTOMATICALLY HAVING SOMEONE FROM PLANNING AND SOMEONE FROM FROM PARKS BECAUSE THOSE ARE SPOTS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY GO TO DIVERSE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND THAT IS MORE IMPORTANT. THERE ARE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR CROSS POLLINATION BETWEEN ALL THE COMMISSIONS. >> I AGREE. ABOUT THE NEED TO CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION. I DON'T THINK --THIS WORK IS TOO IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE A DECISION TONIGHT. IT WARRANTS FURTHER CONTEMPLATION AND MORE ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR COMMUNITY . BUT JUST GENERAL COMMENTS. I BELIEVE NOW MORE THAN EVER WE NEED TO DOUBLE DOWN ON THESE EFFORTS, ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE WITNESSING , VERY SADLY, SIGNIFICANT PUSHBACK AND ROLLBACK IN MANY PARTS OF OUR COUNTRY WITHIN POCKETS OF OUR STATE , AND SADLY AMONG INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY. IT SHOULDN'T HAVE TO TAKE A TRAGIC INCIDENT SUCH AS WHAT HAPPENED TO MR. FLOYD TO COMPEL US TO ACT. IN THIS WORK AS WAS SAID TONIGHT , IT'S ONGOING BECAUSE RACISM AND PREJUDICE CONTINUE TO PERMEATE OUR SOCIETY. WITH DUE RESPECT TO COUNCIL MEMBER ROTH'S, I'M GLAD YOU HAD THAT EXPERIENCE. BUT AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP IN THIS COMMUNITY, I CAN TELL YOU I DIDN'T HAVE THAT LIVED EXPERIENCE AT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. >> I'M VERY AWARE OF IT. AND, BY THE WAY, SOMEDAY WE WILL TALK ABOUT MY EXPERIENCES DIRECTED AT ME. BUT THOSE LIVED EXPERIENCES CONTINUE TO THIS VERY DAY. SINCE I'VE BEEN APPEAR. FROM SOME IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO HAVE COME TO ME AND QUESTIONED , ARE YOU REALLY FROM HERE? DID YOU REALLY GROW UP.? YOU SPEAK SO WELL. THIS IS GIVING YOU A FLAVOR OF WHAT IS I'VE HAD TO ENDURE. AND OTHERS WHO WOULD DARE QUESTION WHETHER I BELONG HERE. YOU WERE SELECTED NOT ELECTED. I'VE HEARD THAT. I BELONG HERE. I'VE EARNED THE RIGHT TO BE HERE AND SO HAS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU CAME HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE MARTINEZ IS A WELCOMING COMMUNITY. PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME IS IT A RACIST COMMUNITY AND I WOULD SAY , NO, IT IS NOT. BUT DO WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY WHO HARPER HATE AND SADLY THE ANSWER IS YES BUT IT DOESN'T CONSTITUTE A MAJORITY. I CAN ASSURE YOU IF IT DID, MY FAMILY AND I WOULD'VE LEFT A LONG TIME AGO. FOR ME , IT IS SO CRITICAL BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I WANTED TO GET UP HERE WAS BECAUSE OF THE HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF WORK THAT WE PUT IN INTO THAT TASK FORCE. I DID NOT WANT TO SEE IT BE IN VAIN. I'VE BEEN AROUND GOVERNMENT LONG ENOUGH TO SEE THESE TYPES OF REPORTS GET ISSUED AND THEN IT SITS ON A BOOKSHELF AND COLLECTS DUST AND YOU MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM AT HAND. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THAT HERE. ESPECIALLY AS WE SEE THE LEVEL OF VITRIOL IN OUR NATIONAL BODY POLITICS CONTINUE TO WORSEN , AND IT'S IMPORTANT WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS AND WE HAVE TO CONFRONT THESE HAD ON. WE CANNOT DANCE AROUND THE EDGES. WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE HEART OF THE MATTER, AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO GET COMFORTABLE WITH BEING UNCOMFORTABLE. I WANT TO THANK STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY FOR ALL THE WORK THAT WENT IN HERE. WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO. AND TO MY COLLEAGUES I WOULD SAY , WE NEED TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION. IT IS AN HAPPENING IN A LOT OF PARTS OF CONTRA COSTA. I HAD A CHANCE TO MEET WITH ONE OF THEIR DIVERSITY COMMISSIONERS. SHE'S A MOTHER . AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENT AT COLLEGE PARK . WHAT I HAVE BEEN HEARING COMING OUT OF THEIR, IT IS JUST SHOCKING. IT IS EXTREMELY DISTURBING AND NOT ALL STUDENTS GO TO MARTINEZ UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. ABOUT ONE THIRD GO TO SCHOOL IN PLEASANT HILL. THE GO-TO VALLEY VIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL IN COLLEGE PARK HIGH SCHOOL. THE COMMUNITIES ARE TIED IN A LOT OF WAYS AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE PLEASANT HILL FOR THE WORK THEY'VE DONE AND SERVE AS A MODEL FOR US. MORE COMMUNITIES NEED TO DO THIS TYPE OF WORK , ESPECIALLY IN THE REGION AS DIVERSE AS CONTRA COSTA IS. THE TRAGEDY OF MR. FLOYD MAY HAVE WANED FOR SOME BUT IT HAS NOT FOR ME AND FOR MANY PEOPLE OF COLOR. IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO MEET THIS CHALLENGE WITH FORTITUDE AND COMPASSION AND DETERMINATION . THIS WORK IS TOO IMPORTANT TO LET FALL BY THE WAYSIDE. AND MY COMMITMENT TO EVERYONE HERE IS AS LONG AS I'M BLESSED TO BE HERE, I WILL CHAMPION THESE ISSUES. >> I HEARD TWO CONFLICTING COMMENTS FOR MY COLLEAGUES. ONE THAT WE ARE NOT READY WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS MORE AND THE OTHER ONE BEING THIS IS SO IMPORTANT WE CANNOT STOP. 'S I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE FROM MY PERSPECTIVE I AGREE THAT WE CANNOT NOT BE THOUGHTFUL BUT I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE STARTED AND STOPPED TASK FORCE MULTIPLE TIMES BECAUSE IT WAS NOT PERFECT AND PEOPLE WERE FRUSTRATED AND SO WE STOPPED AND STARTED OVER AND WE NEVER GOT THE WORK EVEN STARTED SO FOR MY PERSPECTIVE I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. I THINK WHAT YOU PRESENTED IS YOU WOULD COME BACK TO US AT THE NEXT MEETING WITH A MORE FLESHED OUT IDEA ABOUT TAKING OUR COMMENTS AND GIVING US MORE OF AN IDEA WHAT IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE SO THAT WHEN IT COMES BACK AS A PROPER ORDINANCE THAT WE WOULD SAY WE ARE ON BOARD WITH THAT. I THINK IT IS THE RIGHT PATH. THERE ARE REALLY GOOD COMMENTS TONIGHT AND GAPS IN THE PLAN . I ABSOLUTELY HEARD EVERYBODY TALK ABOUT THE MAKEUP OF THE COMMISSIONERS AND THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT SELECTION AND I THINK THAT WAS THE OBJECTIVE OF TONIGHT WAS TO GET FEEDBACK. IT WAS HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR AND I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT MAKING THE COMMISSION DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHERS, BUT IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE CONSIDER BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE A BETTER WAY TO DO IT. I THINK WE HAVE --YOU RECEIVED GOOD COMMENTS. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANYTHING THAT WAS HURT OR DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE GOING FOR THE MEETING IN JUNE TO GIVE US FEEDBACK ON WHAT THIS NEW COMMISSION MIGHT LOOK LIKE? >> THIS IS DEFINITELY AN ITERATIVE PROCESS AND WE WILL HAVE TO SEE WHEN WE COME BACK WITH WHAT WE HAVE IN TAKING ALL THE FEEDBACK WE'VE GOTTEN AND INFERENCES RETAKEN AND FORMULATE THAT INTO SOMETHING THAT IS SOMETHING FOR THE COMMISSION CONSIDERATIONS IN TERMS OF ALL THESE QUESTIONS REGARDING WHAT THIS NEW COMMISSION WILL BE AND WE WILL JUST HAVE TO GO FROM THERE. WE MAY FIND ON THE FIFTH THERE ARE STILL QUESTIONS NOT QUITE ANSWER JET AND WE MAY HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER SESSION. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT TRACY SAID BUT ONE THING SHE HIT ON THAT WE SHOULD RESOLVE TONIGHT IS THE IDEA , ALTHOUGH IT WAS WELL-INTENTIONED TO HAVE LIAISON RE