Committee on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Regular Meeting

Lansing, MI · September 11, 2024

Minutes

Minutes Committee on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Wednesday, September 11, 2024 @ 4:30 p.m. City Council Conference Room CALL TO ORDER Council Member Pehlivanoglu called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. PRESENT Council Member Jackson, Chair - excused Council Member Pehlivanoglu, Vice-Chair Council Member Carter, Member OTHERS PRESENT Sherie Boak, Council Office Manager Lisa Hagen-Lawrence, OCA MINUTES MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM AUGUST 14, 2024, AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 2-0. PUBLIC COMMENT No public comment at this time. DISCUSSION/ACTION DISCUSSION - City Programs for City to Consider Council Member Pehlivanoglu noted this was brought about earlier when Ingham County EDI Officer attended, they took notes from HRCS Diversity Manager. Over the last months this Committee has compiled, combined the services that are offered to the community. This was comparing and contrasting the two entities trying to make sure there were no gaps and it does not appear there are things that aren’t being done by both the County and the HRCS city. Council Member Pehlivanoglu concurred. MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER TO CLOSE OUT THE PROJECT OF THE PROGRAMS FOR DIVERSITY FOR THE CITY TO CONSIDER. MOTION CARRIED 2-0. Budget Priorities Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Ms. Boak explained the document in the packet which included the section from the City Council Rule 16 which speaks to each Committee and their charge. That portion will not be included in the overall Budget Priorities resolution, just the list of items. 1. $200,000 - Housing Support. Committee recommends creating a comprehensive plan that addresses the unique needs of our unhoused populations that include, unhoused, sheltered, transit, and individuals suffering with addiction, mental health, and physical needs. Equitable housing options for our diverse unhoused populations. I.e. Supporting diverse housing needs such as shelters, warming and cooling centers, those that prefer not to be sheltered, and transit populations. Council Member Carter noted that based off conversations in the last year, it appears there needs to be a housing plan for the City and an across the board to capture and support the need for the next fiscal year. Council Member Pehlivanoglu while the City does have the funds of $800,000 to be used for these purposes, this is an effort to support and sustain into the next fiscal year and beyond. 2. $100,000 - DEI Implementation. Committee recommends adding a DEI Implementation Specialist to work alongside DEI Officer and department leaders and staff to assist in implementation DEI strategies. Council Member Carter this is to make it easier to navigate through the series of event to have someone work with the DEI officer. 3. $50,000 - Citizen Complaints. Committee recommends creating and deploying a Complaint Awareness campaign identifying the citizen compliant process and history of general outcomes. Council Member Pehlivanoglu noted this addresses a conversation from this Committee, not dealing with departments, but dealing with any business in the City, and how to lodge a complaint. Some of the population does not know where to look or have access. 4. $100,000 - Veterans Assistance. Committee recommends adding a Veterans Assistance Specialist to assist Veterans in applying for city jobs, access resources, and housing support. Council Member Carter acknowledged that there are resources for Veterans, this is additional to assist with those that need more notable for that need more accessibility. Council Member Pehlivanoglu noted that in job descriptions, for example, how could that assistance help in those job postings. 5. $100,000 - Youth Opportunities. Committee recommends creating youth opportunities, apprenticeships, internships, job shadowing, and paid positions where youth can learn, participate in public and civic engagement, and paid experience. Council Member Carter said that looking at what Council is hearing from constituents, they want to include the youth in citizen engagement. 6. Onboarding & DEI Training. Committee recommends all departments, and branches of local government receive onboarding and DEI training to ensure quality of work and cultural move meeting role expectations. Council Member Pehlivanoglu asked OCA if the Boards receive DEI training. The requirements for ethics and OMA was established via Council resolution. Ms. Hagen – Lawrence explained the current Council training which is used for all Boards, via a resolution. Ms. Boak asked if the Committee is interested in amending that resolution. Council Member Pehlivanolgu asked OCA if there is an additional cost to add this training. Ms. Hagen-Lawrence stated she is not sure if they would have to contract with an outside agency for that part of training or not. Council Member Pehlivanoglu stated at this time she encouraged keeping it in a priority since there is not information on cost, but if it is deemed not a necessary cost, it can be addressed as an amended resolution at a later date. 7. $150,000 Disability Inclusion. Committee recommends hiring a disability consultant to address the needs of seen and unseen persons with disabilities. Consultant can address creating an inclusive culture, making adaptive accommodations, providing additional supports in the community and in homes, and infrastructure investments to support those with visual impairments amongst others who have specialized conditions. Council Member Carter explained that this is necessary so Council can make sure the COuncil is fully inclusive. MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER TO ACCEPT THE BUDGET PRIORITIES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025/2026 FROM THE COMMITTEE ON EQUITY DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION. MOTION CARRIED 2-0. Other No other topics. Adjourn Adjourned at 4:45 p.m. Submitted, Sherrie Boak Recording Secretary, Lansing City Council Approved by the Committee on November 13, 2024

Agenda

Packet

AGENDA Committee on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion September 11, 2024 at 4:30 PM Lansing City Hall, City Council Conference Room 124 W. Michigan Avenue, 10th Floor To provide input or ask questions on any item that is listed on the agenda, members of the public may contact the City Council at city.council@lansingmi.gov or (517) 483-4177 prior to the meeting. To view the meeting live and participate in virtual public comment: https://www.lansingmi.gov/1212/Council-Committee-Meetings Council Member Jackson, Chairperson Council Member Pehlivanoglu, Vice Chairperson Council Member Carter, Member 1. Call to Order 2. Minutes A. August 14, 2024 3. Public Comment on Agenda Items (Up to 3 Minutes) 4. Discussion/Action: B. DISCUSSION - City Programs for City to Consider C. DISCUSSION - Budget Priorities Fiscal Year 2025/2026 5. Other 6. Adjourn Persons with disabilities who need an accommodation to fully participate in these meetings should contact the City Council Office at 517-483-4177 (TTY 711) 24 hour notice may be needed for certain accommodations. An attempt will be made to grant all reasonable accommodation requests. Page 1 of 4 Minutes Committee on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Wednesday, August 14, 2024 @ 4:30 p.m. City Council Conference Room CALL TO ORDER Council Member Jackson called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. PRESENT Council Member Jackson, Chair Council Member Pehlivanoglu, Vice-Chair- excused Council Member Carter, Member OTHERS PRESENT Sherie Boak, Council Office Manager Lisa Hagen-Lawrence, OCA Hannah Jones- Nelson MINUTES MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM JULY 10, 2024, AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 2-0. PUBLIC COMMENT No public comment at this time. DISCUSSION/ACTION RESOLUTION – Appointment; Hannah Jones- Nelson; 2nd Ward Member; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Board; Term to Expire 6/30/2026. Ms. Jones – Nelson first began explaining her time in Lansing since 2021, and her passion to getting involved. She elaborated on her career, volunteering, substituting in the schools, and her interest in being a member of this Diversity Advisory Board to give everyone a voice, and involving and educating the youth and young people. Council Member Carter asked her if she volunteers with other programs with the youth, and Ms. Jones-Nelson admitted her time has been with students and neighborhood volunteering. She works with denominational youth ministry in the district for churches. Council Member Carter asked why this Board, and Ms. Jones-Nelson stated in her ministry work it is male dominated, and feels this is an opportunity to get involved. In her personal life she has a family member with special needs and wants to make sure she has a voice. MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF HANNAH JONES-NELSON, 2ND WARD MEMBER TO THE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION ADVISORY BOARD WITH A TERM TO EXPIRE JUNE 30, 2026. MOTION CARRIED 2-0. Page 2 of 4 DRAFT Council Member Jackson informed the applicant this will go before the full Council on August 26th where she could be appointed and sworn in. DISCUSSION - City Programs for City to Consider Council Member Jackson noted that over the course of the session, what the City can do in the field. This included having the County attend to talk about their programs. The Committee could consider a report with suggestions for the budget priorities. The next meeting, September 11th, is this Committee’s last meeting before Budget Priorities is due. The Committee could consider from things that have been done. Ms. Boak went through the materials, and asked the Committee to review the spreadsheet and check their choices to prepare either a Committee report, ordinances or resolutions. Other No other topics. Adjourn Adjourned at 4:42 p.m. Submitted, Sherrie Boak Recording Secretary, Lansing City Council Approved by the Committee on Page 3 of 4 DRAFT Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. The Committee on Equity Diversity and Inclusion will establish relevant policies that improve health in the Black, brown, indigenous, and other communities of color, support local, state and federal initiatives that advance social justice and racial equity, and continue to work which began in 2013 through the City Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on Diversity and Inclusion. The Committee will assess current and proposed laws(ordinances and health regulations) and policies, as well as their implementation, to promote health for Black, brown, indigenous, and other residents of color of the city of Lansing, will assess internal policies and procedures to ensure racial equity is a core element in all organizational practices will report back through the Committee of Whole on the status of its work on no less than a quarterly basis. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Lansing City Council has established the following as its Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Budget Policies and Priorities and requests that the Administration review them and encourages that they, to the extent practical, be included in the Administration’s budget presented due to the City Council by the fourth Monday in March 2025. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Committee on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion has established the following priorities: 1. The City of Lansing will include in their FY2024/2025 Budget public safety planning, a commitment, support, and a partnership with Advance Peace which will help lives and reduce the life altering trauma experienced by people living in the impacted communities and by the service providers who support them, including law enforcement. Council asks the Administration to focus the budget allocations to fully fund the City portion for FY2024/2025. 2. $80,000: (1) FTE Human Resources Employee; RE: Focus on DEI in the hiring process to work towards having a workforce that reflects the diversity of the City of Lansing.- Page 4 of 4