City Council - Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee

REIB City Council Committee April 15, 2025 5:30 – 7:00 pm Sharon Bushor Room Attendees: Christian Berry, Interim Director REIB (in person) Katie Greene, Community and Belonging Program Manager REIB (in person) Councilor Melo Grant, Chair (in person) Councilor Becca Brown McKnight (in person) Councilor Ranjit "Buddy" Singh (in person) Eric Agnero (in person) Jed Davis (in person) Ferene Paris (in person) Jeff Smith (in person) Ted Castle (in person) Keren Sita (virtual attendee) Mark Hughes (virtual attendee) Makayla Terjelian (virtual attendee) AAWA Leadership Council (virtual attendee) Michelle Bookless (virtual attendee) Eplanet Thunderstriker (virtual attendee) Bri (virtual attendee, no last name provided) John Lawlis (virtual attendee) Meeting Convened 5:33 PM Agenda: 1) Motion to Approve Agenda Councilor McKnight motioned to approve. Councilor Singh seconded. Unanimous pass. 2) Motion to Approve Meeting Minutes (a)March 2025 Councilor McKnight motioned to approve. Councilor Grant seconded. Unanimous pass. 3) Public Forum Councilor Grant reminded attendees to avoid disparaging language. Speakers voiced strong support for REIB and called for it to be fully staffed and funded. Member of the public urged follow-through on previous commitments. Other member of the public expressed concern about Office’s vision and emphasized the need to center the experiences of Black residents. Councilor Grant emphasized the important of advancing inclusion and belonging for all marginalized groups. 4) REIB Path Forward a) Staffing Update  Discussed upcoming interviews for the Admin and Financial Coordinator role, with a hire expected by early May. The Director position will be posted by the end of the month. Two new Program Manager roles will focus on Health Equity and Education, and the Community and Belonging Manager role will continue to evolve. b) REIB Motions from March meeting A motion was unanimously approved to begin the process of adding REIB to the City Charter. Councilors to approach City Attorney’s Office to provide input before the May meeting. There was discussion about using unspent salary funds to support Juneteenth and other REIB programs. Councilor Grant will explore fiscal support options and clarify the amount that can be carried over into FY26. Concerns were raised about the impact on Black vendors if Juneteenth funding falls short. Questions remain about who decides how funds will be used – see recording for more details. An update on available unspent staffing funds is expected before the next meeting. c) REIB Vision & Purpose Update Discussed the fall 2024 community engagement process that informed the REIB’s updated vision and purpose. Emphasis was placed on centering race while also addressing inclusion and belonging. Community members helped shape the statements through seven public sessions, surveys, and conversations with students, business owners, community members, and partner organizations. Feedback included support for the REIB as a standalone department, charting the office, a call for clear roles, youth engagement, intersectionality, and sustainable resources. The final vision highlights active engagement and representation in local government, while the purpose focuses on advancing equity and social justice through anti-racism, policy work, and inclusive governance. d) REIB Charter Update/Discussion Discussed Councilor McKnight (Chair of Charter committee) working with Councilor Bergman, the City Attorney, and Interim Director Berry to confirm the process. Motion passed unanimously to begin the chartering process, with plans for coordination between the Charter and REIB Committees. Discussed goal to establish lasting structure and commitment by adding REIB to the City Charter. 5) Councilor Updates Councilors discussed the need for stronger involvement and support of REIB, emphasizing the importance of keeping it a standalone department. Updates included a meeting with Trusted Community Voices, with interest in inviting members to share what they're seeing in their communities. Concerns were raised about ICE activity and support for impacted residents. Councilor Grant suggested inviting state and local leadership to discuss statewide equity work and policing concerns. 6) Community Forum Speakers called for REIB to support BIPOC economic empowerment and stronger ties with local businesses. There was a push to prioritize carryover funds for various equity-related initiatives. See recording for more information. 7) Motion to Adjourn Adjourned 7:26PM Topic: REIB CC Subcommittee Meeting Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android: https://zoom.us/j/96324562039 Phone one-tap: +19292056099,,96324562039# US (New York) +13017158592,,96324562039# US (Washington DC) Join via audio: +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 305 224 1968 US +1 309 205 3325 US +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 646 931 3860 US +1 689 278 1000 US +1 719 359 4580 US +1 253 205 0468 US +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 360 209 5623 US +1 386 347 5053 US +1 507 473 4847 US +1 564 217 2000 US +1 669 444 9171 US +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Webinar ID: 963 2456 2039 International numbers available: https://zoom.us/u/acZcHQezZj