Ogden Community Engagement and Opportunity Commission

Meeting Minutes Ogden Diversity Commission Zoom Meeting WEDNESDAY, July 8th, 2020 – 1:00 PM In Attendance: Stacy Bernal, Kathie Darby, Jeremy Shinoda, Taylor Knuth, Kye Hallows, Betty Sawyer, Tom Szalay, Adrienne Andrews, Wesley Boykin Ogden City Staff Present: Viviana Felix, 1. Welcome. 2. Roll Call. 2.1. Approval of minutes from 6/10/2020. (Tabled for next meeting) 3. New Business. 3.1. Commissioner Check-in (Chair Knuth – 10 mins). a. Commissioners shared thoughts and feeling during these moments. 3.2. Open Conversation with Mayor Caldwell, Chief Randy Watt and Mark Johnson, Chief Administrator Officer (Chair Knuth – 50 mins). a. Vice Chair Andrews setup conversation guidelines for the group. Viviana specified that the public could engage during public comment section which is later in the agenda. b. Commissioner Sawyer started the conversation with where the mayor sees the conversation going on race and racism. c. Mayor Caldwell stated a culture change needs to happen in the city. He has the city looking at different policies across the board for diversity and inclusion. Has implemented things like the office of diversity, outreach at OPD and diversity commission to help get the city where it needs to go on this topic. Mayor knows that there is a need to review and implement policy changes. 1|Page d. Commissioner Sawyer asked if the city has undergone or is undergoing any policy reviews and what are the options there are to partnering with the commission on these reviews. e. Mayor Caldwell said he would like the commission to utilize their advisory role to start the conversation on best practices that could be used by the city in the area of diversity and inclusion. f. Commissioner Boykin brought up that the commission will be working on a strategic plan to engage the community. This is an opportunity for the commission to bring ideas that are bold and courageous so that the administration can approve and implement the policy changes. g. Chair Knuth expressed that sometimes the commission is limited in their ability to do things and has been asked to react instead of being proactive to issues and concerns in the community. h. Mara Brown specified that the commission cannot initiate public meetings because of the way that the ordinance is written. The commission would need approval from administration on this. Ms. Brown is aware that the commission may need a formal process for receiving assignments from administration. i. Commissioner Darby recalled an event where the commission needed data from the city and were limited in their ability because the commission was informed that they needed an assignment in that are to get the data. j. Commissioner Boykin expressed that the expectations for the Diversity Commission are laid out in the charter. k. Commissioner Sawyer wants to make sure that the entire commission understands the process specifically in the areas that the commission can make an impact. l. Commissioner Hallows would like to have a clear definition on what the commission is allowed and isn’t allowed to do. m. Commissioner Shinoda would like to know what a recommendation outline should look like and include (e.g. literature, examples, data and citizen input) so that city administration will consider it. 2|Page n. Mayor would like sound data on recommendations being made, in addition to an understanding from the group that it takes time to verify the information. o. Vice Chair Andrews asked what are the Mayor’s top 3 - 5 goals around diversity, equity and inclusion that can help the commission obtain a better understating of how to support him. p. Mayor said that the first goal would be addressing the perception of public safety officers. Community members fear our law enforcement. Second goal - economy in our city is important and creating a workforce that can be prepared to fill seats left vacant by other generations. Assist in directing our youth to take advantage of education opportunities in our city that will equip them to be in a better career and economic standing. Conversations around diversity are difficult for the city to have and he understands that we need to do better. Third goal – want our (Ogden City Corp) workforce to reflect our community. Recruiting is difficult for the city especially within communities of color because of some of the push back they receive. q. Commission Sawyer brought up the language and way the press release was presented last month from the police department on the 8 Can’t Wait request. r. Chief Watt apologized for the way the press release was presented on the 8 Can’t Wait. The police department thought it was the best method to present the information that was being requested from the coalition of community members. s. Chair Knuth asked Chief Watt and Mayor Caldwell if they believe there is racism— individual or systemic happening in our city and what are we willing to do to address this. t. Chief Watt said that they get a lot of comments from both sides of the conversation as well as data. The police department has used Weber State University to obtain data and evaluations on the department. u. The police department has a strategic plan composed of 4 areas. 1) Vibrant and sound community 2) High favorability of administration 3) Have the top 5 categories in the FBI be on the low end in Ogden City 4) Reputation for highly trained, professional, and friendly police department. 3|Page v. Vice Chair Andrews mentioned looking at developing cohorts of police officers of color to help with the isolation that may exist when entering the police force. w. Chief Watt welcomes the Diversity Commission to sit down with Diana Lopez and other police department staff to review and analysis the surveys that have been conducted by Weber State University. Chief Watt agreed that there is racism in the community but does not know the level of it in our community. x. Mayor mentioned that there is racism and it has been more obvious in that last couple month since we have all been restrained to our homes. The Mayor knows that conversations need to continue with individuals in the community and is open to ideas for community policing. Acknowledged that under Chief Watt’s directions the police department has made over 70 policy changes. Open to idea for community policing. They Mayor would like to get feedback from the commission on what could use improvement and what is working. y. Commissioner Sawyer asked what does community policing look like for Ogden City? Explained that different models for this have been shaped by federal grants. In addition, Commissioner Sawyer asked how Ogden City is addressing pay equity among the officers? z. Chief Watt mentioned that community policing is the backbone of how the department is structured. Doesn’t believe that the other areas in the department would function accordingly without community policing. aa. Chair Knuth mentioned that there may need to be a follow up meeting with administration leadership on how the commission can be more proactive or receive an assignment from administration to help address the issues that were discussed today. Policies may need to be reviewed to get administration buy-in. bb. Mayor said that anyone from the Diversity Commission is welcome to email him and other members of the administration. Mayor is more than happy to direct people to the right people to get the information that is needed. cc. Commissioner Sawyer asked if the Mayor had released a statement on the race climate or where his stance is on the topic. 4|Page  dd. Mayor Caldwell shared on his social media after Saturday’s events. He put something out in his own voice, the city has to state neutral on topics. City supports racial diversity. ee. Commissioner Sawyer asked if the Mayor could issue a statement. ff. Mayor Caldwell said that he as an elected official can put that information out, the city cannot do that. Mayor is open to the idea. gg. Chair Knuth asked Viviana to follow up and schedule another meeting with Chief Watt, Mark and Mayor Caldwell. 3.3. Clinton Spencer, Ogden City Deputy Planning Manager (Chair Knuth – 30 mins). a. Clinton Spencer discussed community plan initiatives happening in the East Central Community. b. Updating the plan in three areas Accessory Dwelling Units (e.g. “mother-in-law units”), Bus Rapid Transit System and Nine Rails Creative District Master Plan. c. Ogden City’s planning is concerned with obtaining feedback from the community since most sessions will be done electronically. In the past they have done open houses and information sessions to obtain feedback. d. Chair Knuth asked what demographic information is collected from the community when they participate in one of the sessions. e. Mr. Spencer said that demographic information is not collected traditionally. Most sessions are held conversation style where they allow for dialogue on the plans for the community and neighborhood. f. Vice Chair Andrews reminded everyone that we have be broaden our awareness of the different possibilities of why people may not be able to become homeowners. We need to reassess the use of language that “others” renters. g. Mr. Spencer provided a link for commissioners to submit feedback should commissioners have other ideas or questions. https://docs.google.com/document/d/17yucgerKl6FB3GGU9sDuvcDeNMC3MH0VyNoha2I 7aY/edit?usp=sharing 5|Page  3.4. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee with Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce (Commissioner Bernal – 10 mins). a. Commissioner Bernal was unable to connect audio to discuss this item. 3.5. Committee Memberships Requests (Vice Chair Andrews – 10 mins). a. Insufficient time, item to be reported on via email. 4. Old Business. 4.1. Recap of Office of Multicultural Affair Report and Next Steps (Chair Knuth – 10 mins). a. Insufficient time, item to be reported on via email. 4.2. Virtual Planning Retreat (Viviana – 2 mins). a. Insufficient time, item to be reported on via email. 4.3. Nominating Committee Open Application Process (Viviana – 5 mins). a. Insufficient time, item to be reported on via email. 4.4. Community Conversation Committee (Vice Chair Andrews – 5 mins). a. Insufficient time, item to be reported on via email. 5. No Action Required. 5.1. Outreach Committee (Commissioner Shinoda – 2 mins). a. Insufficient time. 5.2. Poverty Committee (Commissioner Darby – 2 mins). a. Insufficient time. 5.3. Latino Soccer Leagues Conversations (Viviana). 6. Comments: 6.1. Commission Staff. a. Viviana – Art Request for Qualification, will send out information via email among other requests that have arrived to the Diversity Commission. 6.2. Commission Members. a. Chair Knuth will send information to the commission on mobile testing site for COVID-19. Would also like to remind everyone of the commission’s virtual retreat happening next week. 6|Page  6.3. Public Comment: Chair Knuth asked for a motion to move public comment after Mr. Spencer’s presentation. Commissioner Boykin motioned to move public comment, motion was seconded by Commissioner Darby. a. Angel Castillo – thanked the commission for the conversation they hosted. Asked the commission to participate in the next city council meeting where comm 7. Adjournment. (Commissioner Shinoda motioned to adjourn the meeting, motion was seconded by Commissioner Szalay) NEXT REGULAR OGDEN DIVERSITY COMMISSION MEETING WEDNESDAY, August 12th, 2020 Virtual Meeting Minutes prepared by: Minutes approved by: Date: _______________________________ _______________________________ 3/4/2021 __________________________ Viviana Felix – Ogden City Taylor Knuth, Chair 7|Page