Council Subcommittee

MINUTES OF THE GILBERT COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE ON CIVILITY, NOVEMBER 14, 2018 COUNCIL PRESENT: Chair Eddie Cook and Councilmember Brigette Peterson COUNCIL ABSENT: Councilmember Scott Anderson STAFF PRESENT: Lisa Maxwell, Clerk’s Office; Jolean Fleck, Human Resources; Linda Ayres, Parks and Recreation; Melanie Dykstra, Manager’s Office; Kory Parker, Public Works; Patrick Portee, Police Department; Michael Burkhart, Fire Department; and Zara Bish, Communications Department STAFF ABSENT: Kelli Collins, Public Works CALL TO ORDER Chair Cook called the meeting to order at 4:32 p.m. AGENDA ITEMS 1. Consider approval of the minutes of the October 17, 2018 meeting. A MOTION was made by Michael Burkhart, seconded by Melanie Dykstra, to approve the minutes of October 17, 2018. Motion carried 9-0, with Zara Bish abstaining. 2. Review and discussion of a draft Civility Policy. Chief Talent Officer Jolean Fleck discussed the changes made to the policy when she put it in the Town’s policy format. She added the process for what the public should do if they had an experience where they felt they were not treated civilly. In that instance the person should report their experience to the Mayor. Also, the scope was expanded to include contractors, Boards and Commissions members and others. A MOTION was made by Councilmember Brigette Peterson, seconded by Melanie Dykstra, to approve the Civility Policy. Motion carried 9-0, with Zara Bish abstaining. Clerk Lisa Maxwell said the Policy will be on the December 20, 2018 Council agenda for approval. Chair Cook said he would also like for there to be a proclamation at that meeting as well. 3. Discussion of adding a pillar to the Pillars of Character. Currently there are the six Pillars of Character on display in the Council Chambers. There are new updated designs for these pillars on the Character Counts website. Since the Town would like to add a seventh pillar we would have to create our own. Zara Bish said she can design and print new banners for the Council Chambers. Melanie Dykstra said she has a problem adding civility to the six pillars currently on display. This would be combining a new concept to an old program. She would like for there to be one comprehensive program presented that represents both the way we act internally as staff and externally in our interactions with citizens. There was a discussion about the reason the Town has the Pillars of Character. This was done in collaboration with the area schools. Chair Eddie Cook said he thinks the Pillars are for the entire community and he feels we would be supplementing those pillars by adding civility. Linda Ayres asked if civility would be added to the Town’s values. Melanie Dykstra noted civility is really a part of each of the values. She is not sure it needs to have its own banner in the Council Chambers. Michael Burkhardt agreed that most of the values are tied to civility. Jolean Fleck asked if the intent is to call out civility as a value in Council Chambers. Chair Cook replied civility is a Gilbert pillar and no one else has such a policy. Kory Parker noted the Pillars are all tied to civility in some way. There was a discussion about what the goal is with this policy. There is currently the on-going Gilbert kindness program. Part of that program is being civil to each other. The Town is in the process of reworking the Town’s mission, vision and values. Councilmember Brigette Peterson said after 18 years maybe it is time to move on from the Pillars of Character. Patrick Portee agreed that since things are changing across the board this is an opportunity to change this program. Zara Bish said once the new values are determined there will be new branding and new pillars can be created for Council Chambers at that time. Councilmember Brigette Peterson said we can have the proclamation now and look at displays later. Melanie Dykstra said there can be an official announcement and the policy can be incorporated into staff trainings. Chair Cook thanked everyone for their time and contributions. It is his hope what Gilbert is doing will inspire other communities to start a similar program. ADJOURN Chair Cook adjourned the meeting at 4:52 p.m. ATTEST: ___________________________ ___________________________________ Chair Eddie Cook Lisa Maxwell, MMC, Town Clerk CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Subcommittee on Civility of the Town Council of the Town of Gilbert held on the 14th day of November, 2018. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. Dated this ____ day of ____________________. ___________________________________ Lisa Maxwell, MMC, Town Clerk