Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission

TOWN OF LOS GATOS MEETING DATE: 09/12/2024 DEIC COMMISSION AGENDA REPORT Minutes of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission Meeting August 8, 2024 The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a regular meeting in person in the Town Council Chambers on Thursday, August 8, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. CALL MEETING TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 5:07 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Chair Gordon Yamate and Commissioners Carmen Lo, Varily Isaacs, Folake Phillips, D. Michael Kane, Pradeep Khanal, and Ryan Idemoto. Vice Chair Diane Fisher participated by telephone pursuant to the Brown Act. Absent: Commissioners Memarzia and Balasingham. Town Staff Present: Assistant Town Manager Katy Nomura, Library Director Ryan Baker, Economic Vitality Manager Monica Renn, and Senior Management Analyst Holly Young. VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS Opened public comment. Alexandra Thompson (New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU)) -Commented that she wanted to introduce herself and let the Commission know that NUMU is open to any opportunities to collaborate on DEI work. Closed public comment. CONSENT ITEMS 1. Approve the Draft Minutes of the July 11, 2024 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission Regular Meeting. No one spoke. MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Kane to approve the consent calendar. Seconded by Commissioner Khanal. 110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832 www.losgatosca.gov PAGE 2 OF 5 SUBJECT: Minutes of the DEI Commission Meeting of August 8, 2024 DATE: September 12, 2024 VOTE: Motion passed unanimously by roll call vote. COMMISSIONER/STAFF LIAISON REPORTS Commissioner Idemoto announced that he spent part of the summer researching inequity in the business/corporate world and that he will be reporting to the DEI Commission on the Youth Commission meetings once they start again following the summer break. Vice Chair Fisher announced that she and Commissioner Kane met with the pastor of St. Mary’s Church to discuss the DEI Commission’s work, the potential for Commissioners to help to facilitate tough conversations within the Church, and participating in an upcoming Los Gatos Clergy meeting. She also spoke to Jessica Blitchok with the Jewish Community Relations Council and Jewish Silicon Valley regarding a United Against Hate event on September 22 and requested that the Youth Commissioners and Arts and Culture Commissioner contact her if they are interested in participating in a personal capacity. She also clarified for a community member that the background working document for holiday and recognition events published in the agenda packet was only background material. Commissioner Kane announced that he attended the Commissioner Brown Act Training, that he would like to have a script to distribute to people regarding the Commission’s work, and that he distributed his Commission business cards to various community members. Chair Yamate announced that he scheduled a meeting next week with Santa Clara County staff regarding the potential restrictive covenant redaction project and received an email from Jeff Suzuki with the Los Gatos Anti Racism Coalition regarding communication with the school district about an equity resolution. Commissioner Lo announced that she also received the communication from Jeff Suzuki with the Los Gatos Anti Racism Coalition regarding the school district’s curriculum and further incorporating DEI. Commissioner Isaacs volunteered herself as a resource with experience working with the high school and on a United Against Hate campaign. Commissioner Khanal announced that he attended the Los Gatos National Night Out and he is interested in the DEI Commission potentially participating next year, that there is an upcoming Los Gatos Oktoberfest event hosted by KCAT, and that Councilmember Rob Moore is having a Garden Party on August 11. Commissioners Phillips had no report. PAGE 3 OF 5 SUBJECT: Minutes of the DEI Commission Meeting of August 8, 2024 DATE: September 12, 2024 The staff liaison, Senior Management Analyst Young, announced that Commissioner Broadhead submitted his resignation from the DEI Commission and his seat will be added to the fall recruitment, and a recording of the Brown Act/Public Records Request/Workplace Violence prevention Commissioner training will be sent out by the Clerk Department. OTHER BUSINESS 2. Discuss Participation in the Town’s Screen on the Green Event (Work Plan Item Regarding Town Events, Goal B., Item 1.a.). No one spoke. MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Kane to spend $90 from the Commission budget in order to obtain the rights to show “Boundin’” at Screen on the Green. Seconded by Commissioner Isaacs. VOTE: Motion passed unanimously by roll call vote. MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Isaacs to spend up to $150 from the Commission budget to purchase supplies to create a bookmark coloring activity for the DEI Commission’s Screen on the Green table, which could include cardstock, crayons, printing, and rights to images. Seconded by Commissioner Kane. VOTE: Motion passed unanimously by roll call vote. 3. Select a Commission Member to Serve as a Community Grant Rater (Work Plan Item Regarding Community Grants Rubric, Goal A, Item 1.a.). Ryan Baker, Library Director, presented the report. No one spoke. Chair Yamate volunteered to serve as the Community Grant Rater. 4. Receive Library’s Working Document for Holiday and Recognition Events (Work Plan Item Regarding Annual Communications Campaign Goal D, Item 1.a). Ryan Baker, Library Director, presented the staff report. No one spoke. The Commission received the report. PAGE 4 OF 5 SUBJECT: Minutes of the DEI Commission Meeting of August 8, 2024 DATE: September 12, 2024 5. Explore Hosting a Panel Discussion Event (Work Plan Item Regarding Developing a Community Learning Opportunity on Historic Inequities and Developing Diversity, Sensitivity, and Awareness Training Goal B, Items 3.a. and b.) Holly Young, Senior Management Analyst, presented the staff report. No one spoke. The Commission discussed holding off on any further event planning until the Commission Events Policy is completed. 6. Discuss a Potential Restrictive Covenant Redaction Project (Work Plan Item Regarding Developing a Community Learning Opportunity on Historic Inequities and Developing Diversity, Sensitivity, and Awareness Training Goal B, Items 3.a. and b. and Work Plan Item Regarding Annual Communications Campaign Goal D, Item 1.a). Opened Public Comment. Alexandra Thompson (New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU)) -Commented that NUMU met with Santa Clara County staff regarding publicizing the County restrictive covenant redaction program and would be open to collecting records of any restrictive covenants in Los Gatos. Closed public comment. The Commission discussed the item. 7. Consider Potential Questions to Support an Initial Needs Assessment and Listening Campaign for Outreach to Community Partners in the Categories of (1) Education/Schools, (2) Religious Groups, (3) Businesses, and (4) Non-Profits/Service Organizations (Work Plan Item Regarding Collaboration with Community Organizations Goal C, Item 2.a. Community- and School-Based Programming). No one spoke. The Commission briefly discussed the item. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m. This is to certify that the foregoing is a true PAGE 5 OF 5 SUBJECT: Minutes of the DEI Commission Meeting of August 8, 2024 DATE: September 12, 2024 and correct copy of the minutes of the August 8, 2024, meeting as approved by the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission. /s/Holly Young, Senior Management Analyst