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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/10/2022 REAC MEETING MINUTESBremerton Race Equity Advisory Committee – Minutes Thursday, February 10th, 6:00 p.m. via Zoom SERVING THIS MEETING Tech Host: Quinn Dennehy Tech Co-host: Jennifer Chamberlin Facilitator(s): Quinn Dennehy Land Acknowledgement Reader: Sarah van Gelder Timekeeper: Darryl Riley Notetaker: Glenna Matteson 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. Attending: Council Members Quinn Dennehy (Chair), Jennifer Chamberlin (Vice Chair), and Jeff Coughlin. Community Members Airen Lydick, Darryl Riley, Sarah van Gelder, and Glenna Matteson. 1. Opening and Welcome a. Meeting was called to order at 6:03 PM. b. Land acknowledgement was read. c. REAC purpose and vision was read. d. REAC members introduced themselves. Kylie Finnell, City attorney also introduced herself. 2. Approval of This Meeting Agenda a. Quinn noted an adjustment he made to the meeting agenda, notably Kylie’s advisement on meeting structure. Airen also adjusted agenda to strike approving the minutes from December 9th meeting, as members have not seen them yet. b. Members approved meeting agenda. 3. Public Comments a. Mike Szymanski made a public comment regarding the vision statement. He asks the committee to give an example and evidence of institutional racism. He also asked what the REAC has accomplished in the last 18 months. b. Drake Evans made a public comment asking for examples of systemic racism, specifically within the Norm Dicks building. He also asked what projects REAC is working on to address systemic racism. 4. Approval of Minutes from January 25th, 2022 REAC Meeting a. The minutes were unanimously approved. Bremerton Race Equity Advisory Committee – Minutes Thursday, February 10th, 6:00 p.m. via Zoom 5. Update on Bremerton City Council’s Activities a. Re-establishing Updates: Quinn has volunteered to be the Council liaison for REAC, and update the committee monthly on the council’s activities that are pertinent to REAC. Jennifer noted that all three council members can informally keep the committee informed, but Quinn will take the leadership role in a monthly council update. Quinn suggested a standing agenda item of “Council updates.” b. Action Item Follow-up: GARE Membership ▪ Funds were greenlit for membership, but Bremerton has not actually registered for the membership. ▪ Quinn will ensure the membership is secured, and Glenna Matteson should be able to be the city liaison for GARE. ▪ Kylie noted that the full City Council will need to approve that Bremerton become a member of GARE. ▪ Action Item: Quinn will check on the Council resolution to get GARE membership, and otherwise draft a resolution to get Council approval. c. Action Item Follow-up: Getting on the March 2nd City Council Agenda ▪ Jennifer will follow up with Council President to get REAC on the agenda of March 2nd. d. Action Item Follow-up: City Council Retreat ▪ Saturday, March 19 from 9:00 AM to approx. 3:00 PM (Details TBA) 6. Working Team Reports a. Change The Power - update on plans for the Tue, Mar 1st Community Conversation; presentation from Jessica Guidry of Kitsap Public Health District will be incorporated. The community conversation will bring data back to the community but also gather more data, all with the intention of guiding the community and especially city council on how to move race equity forward. Airen updated REAC on the timeline of preparation and the agenda of the event. i. Quinn will invite the Mayor to give opening remarks. Quinn will also connect Sarah to the City representative to submit the press release via the City. ii. REAC looked over the Press Release drafted by Sarah Van Gelder. 7. Guest- City Attorney Kylie Finnell a. Discussion on the Structure of REAC– Kylie Finnell advised the REAC on the intricacies of how REAC should run. She noted that the committee’s creation did not include the necessary infrastructure that advisory committees typically have. b. Kylie will advise committee on various forms of how the committee can continue to operate. The committee will also utilize the March retreat to make recommendations to the Council of how the committee will continue to operate. 8. Old Business c. January 27th with Bainbridge Island REAC i. Watch - http://apps.bainbridgewa.gov/media/video/2022/REAC_20220127cc.mp4 ii. They invited us to do it again on Thursday, April 28th, 6-7:30 p.m. ci. Bremerton REAC Retreat i. March 10th, 2022, 6 p.m. - End Time TBD ii. Sarah and Airen are working on an agenda. Possible agenda items may include: 1. reflection on the year since our first retreat (March 2021) Bremerton Race Equity Advisory Committee – Minutes Thursday, February 10th, 6:00 p.m. via Zoom 2. assessment of how our REAC structure, methods, and processes are (and are not) serving our Purpose and Vision 3. building upon community leaders’ interview input and the March 1st Community Conversation 4. confirming our priorities and action plans for 2022 5. selecting a REAC Community Co-Chair (if desired) 8. New Business a. Establish Roles for March 10th Retreat: i. Tech Host: Quinn ii. Tech Co-host/Helper: Jennifer iii. Land Acknowledgement Reader: Jeff iv. Timekeeper: Sarah and/or Airen v. Notetaker: Quinn vi. Facilitator: Sarah and/or Airen 9. Public Comment None 10. Closing Remarks Meeting adjourned 8:13 PM. Learn more at https://www.bremertonwa.gov/1232/Race-Equity-Advisory-Committee-REAC Regular REAC meetings are currently held at 6 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month, via Zoom.