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Home My WebLink About09/08/2022 REAC MEETING MINUTESBremerton Race Equity Advisory Committee – Meeting Minutes Thursday, September 8th, 2022, 6:00 p.m. Learn more at https://www.bremertonwa.gov/1232/Race-Equity-Advisory-Committee-REAC Next REAC meeting: Thursday, October 13th, 2022, 6:00 p.m. SERVING THIS MEETING Tech Host: Quinn Dennehy Facilitator: Anna Mockler Land Acknowledgement: Glenna Matteson Timekeeper: Anna Mockler Notetaker: Jennifer Chamberlin OUR PURPOSE o To advise the City Council, by applying a race equity analysis to all aspects of governance; and o To maintain engagement with and accountability to other work being done throughout the Bremerton Community in service of Race Equity. OUR VISION Bremerton Race Equity Advisory Committee envisions a City that: o Strives to continually dismantle its own institutional racism, within policies, programs, budgets, initiatives, legislation, systems, and infrastructure. o Amplifies and joins racially, culturally, and socially integrated community endeavors toward equity, well-being, and liberation for all; and o Aspires to model for the nation a City in which people of different races, ethnicities, and backgrounds can interact, form friendships, and participate fully in the community’s political, economic, educational, cultural, and civic endeavors. REAC Members Attending: Darryl Riley, Glenna Matteson, Sarah van Gelder, Airen Lydick, Leiyomi Preciado Lagdameo, Quinn Dennehy, and Anna Mockler 1.Welcome & Introductions a.The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Quinn Dennehy. b.Glenna Matteson read the Suquamish Tribe’s Land Acknowledgement Statement. c.Airen Lydick read the Purpose and Vision of Bremerton REAC. d.Bremerton REAC members introduced themselves. 2.Approval of Meeting Agenda & Meeting Minutes a.The Meeting Agenda was approved; and the July 13, 2022 Meeting Minutes were approved unanimously as amended. 3.REAC Purpose, Structure, and Attorney's Memo a.Assistant City Attorney Brett Jette was available to answer questions on the Legal memo and email on committee structure and the Open Public Meetings Act. Removing public comment/testimony from meetings could remove some of the concerns surrounding liability (potential violations, challenges or invalidating action). Example: smaller work groups of 3 members may meet/email to avoid a quorum; but to avoid a rolling quorum (discussion outside the work group), full discussion must be done during REAC Meetings. Darryl Riley left the meeting at approx. 6:25 PM Summary of Suggested Action (per Memo): Make recommendation to City Council to adopt an Ordinance which specifies the committee’s purpose, addresses terms and appointments for Community Members, and establishes staff support for the committee. Bremerton Race Equity Advisory Committee – Meeting Minutes Thursday, September 8th, 2022, 6:00 p.m. Learn more at https://www.bremertonwa.gov/1232/Race-Equity-Advisory-Committee-REAC Next REAC meeting: Thursday, October 13th, 2022, 6:00 p.m. ACTION ITEM: Council Members to incorporate the Legal Memo and feedback from today's discussion into a new draft ordinance for discussion at the next meeting. FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS: • Can REAC invite Guest Speakers? Is this or is this not considered public comment? • What is impact of removing public comment from the meeting agenda? What is considered a quorum per our Charter (or suggested Ordinance)? • Are there any other sub-committees that have a different structure that allows community involvement and discussion? • What type of structure can be established to allow conversation among community members (outside REAC meetings), to allow the removal of barriers, and to meet REAC’s purpose and vision? • Can the committee review the ordinance collaboratively by email? Airen suggested that Bremerton REAC make the following recommendations to City Council, when the ordinance "establishing" Bremerton REAC is proposed to them. Bremerton REAC recommends that City Council adopt an ordinance codifying the following parameters of the Bremerton Race Equity Advisory Committee: (1) Purpose, (2) Member Selection and Removal Processes, (3) Term of Member Appointments, (4) Staff Support for Bremerton REAC, and (5) Meetings and Officers. Details of this recommendation from Bremerton REAC to City Council are as follows: (1) PURPOSE and that this "PURPOSE" should be articulated using specifically and fully all of the "PURPOSE" *and* "VISION" language developed by the Bremerton REAC itself in its first six months of existence. This "PURPOSE" *and* "VISION" language has grounded Bremerton REAC's work all along, and this language can be seen on the Bremerton REAC meeting agendas and minutes since *at least February 2021*, i.e., for *at least* a year and a half. This is the language: The PURPOSE of Bremerton Race Equity Advisory Committee (REAC) is: -- To advise the City Council, by applying a race equity analysis to all aspects of governance; and -- To maintain engagement with and accountability to other work being done throughout the Bremerton Community in service of Race Equity. Bremerton REAC envisions a City that: -- Strives to continually dismantle its own institutional racism, within policies, programs, budgets, initiatives, legislation, systems, and infrastructure. -- Amplifies and joins racially, culturally, and socially integrated community endeavors toward equity, well-being, and liberation for all; and -- Aspires to model for the nation a City in which people of different races, ethnicities, and backgrounds can interact, form friendships, and participate fully in the community’s political, economic, educational, cultural, and civic Bremerton Race Equity Advisory Committee – Meeting Minutes Thursday, September 8th, 2022, 6:00 p.m. Learn more at https://www.bremertonwa.gov/1232/Race-Equity-Advisory-Committee-REAC Next REAC meeting: Thursday, October 13th, 2022, 6:00 p.m. endeavors. . (2) MEMBER SELECTION AND REMOVAL PROCESSES that *either* -- Bremerton REAC itself shall determine the member selection and removal processes *or) -- that the City Council shall develop these collaboratively with Bremerton REAC, with the goal of bringing a meaningful race equity analysis to these processes. (3) TERM OF MEMBER APPOINTMENTS that Bremerton REAC appointments shall be for a term of two years (4) STAFF SUPPORT FOR BREMERTON REAC that City Council will identify paid staff support for Bremerton REAC, which includes a race equity analysis, including fair compensation for and acknowledgement of staff members' labor (5) MEETINGS AND OFFICERS That Bremerton REAC will meet at 6:00 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. Any changes to this schedule, or additional meetings or retreats, will be approved and duly noticed by Bremerton REAC. Several comments were made emphasizing disappointment that these issues should have been addressed prior to the committee's formation; and needing additional time prior to the meeting to review the agenda and proposed ordinance. There was also discussion (without consensus) regarding the removal of public comment from agendas, if that would remove the constraints of quorum. And a suggestion of changing from advisory to accountability; and importance of addressing missed opportunities for community engagement through tables, promotion, or infographics. 4. Appointments a. Airen Lydick's term will expire on September 13. After discussion, his term was extended to October 13. b. Sarah Van Gelder's term will expire on September 13. After discussion, her term was extended to October 13. c. Leiyomi Preciado Lagdameo's term began on July 14, but the duration was not established. After discussion, her term will expire October 13. When the committee structure is established, then if community members want to continue their commitment, terms would be re-established. 5. Public Comments – There were no public comments… 6. Update on Bremerton City Council's Activities a. Action Item Follow-up: ▪ Bremerton REAC Vacancies – There have been no new applications. ▪ Other Business – Budget Workshops are scheduled on October 24, 25, and 27; and GARE Membership & DEI Consultant/Staff to be discussed. There will be opportunities for public comment during the Public Hearings on the 2023 City of Bremerton Budget. All Budget Workshops are open for the public to attend. Bremerton Race Equity Advisory Committee – Meeting Minutes Thursday, September 8th, 2022, 6:00 p.m. Learn more at https://www.bremertonwa.gov/1232/Race-Equity-Advisory-Committee-REAC Next REAC meeting: Thursday, October 13th, 2022, 6:00 p.m. 7. Old Business a. Update on GARE Log-in Credentials for Darryl, Glenna, Sarah, and Airen FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS: • Would IT or City Council Budget be used to address license issue for Outlook? • Has GARE Membership has been paid for? • Can an unused email address be used to access GARE portal? b. Update on next Joint Meeting with Bainbridge REAC – Meeting not rescheduled. c. Update on next Retreat – Postponed until after the committee structure is established. d. Other Business: Update on technical issues before last month’s cancelled meeting. 8. New Business a. Motion made by Jennifer to remove public comment from agendas. Motion died due to a lack of a second. b. Establish Roles for October 13th Meeting: i. Tech Host: Jennifer Chamberlin ii. Land Acknowledgement Reader: Quinn Dennehy iii. Timekeeper: Glenna Matteson iv. Notetaker: Council Staff v. Facilitator: Quinn Dennehy 9. Closing Remarks The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 PM.