Special Meeting of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission

TOWN OF LOS GATOS MEETING DATE: 03/20/2025 DEIC COMMISSION AGENDA REPORT Minutes of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission Meeting February 13, 2025 The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Commission of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a special meeting in person in the Town Council Chambers on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. CALL MEETING TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 5:03 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Chair Gordon Yamate, Vice Chair Diane Fisher, and Commissioners Carmen Lo, Varily Isaacs, Folake Phillips, D. Michael Kane, Tooba Ahmed, Anne Lamborn, Aanya Singh, and Ryan Idemoto. Absent: None. Town Staff Present: Assistant Town Manager Katy Nomura, Town Clerk Wendy Wood, Economic Vitality Manager Monica Renn, Events and Marketing Specialist Jessica Ertell, Intern Elizabeth Munoz, 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 to the Commission and that she is on NUMU’s internal DEI team. Closed public comment. CONSENT ITEMS 1. Approve the Draft Minutes of the January 9, 2025 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission Regular Meeting. Opened public comment. No one spoke. 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 February 13, 2025 DATE: March 20, 2025 Closed public comment. MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Kane to approve the minutes as is. Seconded by Commissioner Isaacs. VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. OTHER BUSINESS 2. Receive a report on Framework and Options for the Town’s Proposed Fall Festival Event and Provide Comments for Town Council’s Consideration (related to DEI Plan Goal B., Item 1.a.). Opened public comment. No one spoke. Closed public comment. Monica Renn, Economic Vitality Manager, presented the staff report. The Commission discussed the item and provided comments. 3. Review Recommended Commission Work Plan Items for 2025 and Make a Recommendation to the Town Council. Opened public comment. Linda Swenberg -Commented that she was speaking on behalf of a friend and wanted to know the names and titles of any books that would be recommended for the Library’s DEI reading lists, if the Commission would direct staff to add anything related to Nakba Day, and if anything new would be added to the Holiday and Recognition Plan. Closed public comment. Holly Young, Senior Management Analyst, presented the staff report. MOTION: Motion by Vice Chair Fisher that Item 3 on the proposed Work Plan be struck. Seconded by Commissioner Kane. PAGE 3 OF 5 SUBJECT: Minutes of the DEI Commission Meeting of February 13, 2025 DATE: March 20, 2025 VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. MOTION: Motion by Vice Chair Fisher that the DEI Commission recommend the Council approve Item 4 of the [proposed] Work Plan for 2025. Seconded by Commissioner Isaacs. VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Phillips to add [Town DEI Plan] Goal E: Educate the community about affordable housing to the 2025 Work Plan. Seconded by Commissioner Kane. VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. MOTION: Motion by Chair Yamate to recommend to the Council that we include [DEI Plan] Item B.3.a. as part of our Work Plan (develop a community learning opportunity focused on historical inequities and the history of the Town of Los Gatos). Seconded by Commissioner Lo. VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Lo to recommend to the Town Council that we include [DEI Plan] Goal A.2.a.: DEI Commission to recommend additional action items to the Town Council to make visible the equity issues that matter to the larger community as a discussion item as part of our Work Plan for the DEI Commission for 2025. Seconded by Commissioner Phillips. VOTE: Motion passed 9 – 0. Commission Idemoto was absent. MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Lo to include in the Work Plan Items 1 and 2 related to the Fall Festival [from the proposed Work Plan]. Seconded by Commissioner Kane. VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. 4. Discuss Outreach to the Community in the Categories of (1) Education/Schools, (2) Religious Groups, (3) Businesses, and (4) Non-Profits/Service organizations Regarding Opportunities for Collaboration (Related to DEI Plan Goal C, item 1.a.i.). PAGE 4 OF 5 SUBJECT: Minutes of the DEI Commission Meeting of February 13, 2025 DATE: March 20, 2025 In the interest of time, the Commission did not discuss this item. COMMISSIONER/STAFF LIAISON REPORTS MOTION: Motion by Commissioner Lo to include on the agenda for the next meeting a discussion about ways that the DEI Commission can make visible the equity issues that matter to the larger community, including action items to promote the safety and inclusivity of its community members. Seconded by Commissioner Kane. VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Kane reported that he spoke to Fr. Ricardo and Fr. Angelo at St. Luke’s and St. Mary’s, met with the Mayor regarding DEI issues, plans to talk to St. Mary’s about a low-income program that St. Lucy’s has, and highlighted various DEI-related newspaper articles. Commissioner Phillips reported that she participated in the Los Gatos Anti-Racism Coalition event and discussed affordable housing companies with a friend on the Planning Commission in another town. Commissioner Lamborn reported that 1% of commercial building costs can go to public art either on the building project or in public spaces and that she is on the board for a textile museum in Guatemala City and is connected with Central America. Commissioner Ahmed reported that she attended an interfaith community meeting. Chair Yamate reported that he participated in the Los Gatos Anti-Racism Coalition meeting, attended one of their board meetings, and had a conversation with Council Member Moore. Vice Chair Fisher reported that she wanted to draw attention to the desk item regarding her meeting with Rev. Swanson to learn about how Saratoga collaborates with a ministerial group to host a multi-cultural event in December. Commissioner Isaacs reported that she attended the Los Gatos Anti-Racism Coalition meeting. Commissioner Idemoto reported that the Youth Commission discussed participation in the Spring into Green event and that he is starting to plan the High School Diversity Week from April 28 to May 2 in his capacity as the Vice President of Los Gatos High School. Commissioner Singh reported that she and Commissioner Idemoto met with School District Board Members regarding collaboration. Commissioner Lo reported that she attended the Los Gatos Anti Racism Coalition Town Hall. PAGE 5 OF 5 SUBJECT: Minutes of the DEI Commission Meeting of February 13, 2025 DATE: March 20, 2025 ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 7:16 p.m. This is to certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the February 13, 2025, meeting as approved by the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission. /s/Holly Young, Senior Management Analyst