Ogden Community Engagement and Opportunity Commission

Meeting Minutes Ogden Diversity Commission Zoom Meeting WEDNESDAY, February 10th, 2021 – 1:00 PM In Attendance: Stacy Bernal, Kathie Darby, Kye Hallows, Christine Ipsen, Betty Sawyer, Jeremy Shinoda, Roger Snow, Adrienne Andrews, Taylor Knuth Excused: Iveth Vazquez Absent: Tom Szalay Ogden City Staff Present: Viviana Felix 1. Welcome. 2. Roll Call. 2.1. Approval of minutes from 1/13/2021. (Motion made by Commissioner Darby, seconded by Commissioner Hallows). 3. New Business. 3.1. Commissioner Check-in (Chair Knuth – 10 mins). a. Brief conversation was has among commissioners. 3.2. Mayor Mike Caldwell and Mark Johnson, Chief Administration Officer (60 mins). a. Mayor welcomed ideas for how to engage community after the pandemic. They Mayor is focused on safe ways to bring back community and the need of awareness for mental health. b. Chair Knuth asked what are some challenges the mayor has face in the area of diversity and inclusion. c. Mayor explained that one part of being more aware is by having Viviana’s position that can bring awareness of issues and concerns of the community to administration. They Mayor also stated that through the process of building the diversity commission it was envisioned that a group of people like the commission would be another opportunity for the city to know about the issues. d. Vice Chair Andrews made a recommendation that Viviana be included in the senior executive meetings to be able to provide her community perspective as well as provide information to the commission. e. Commissioner Bernal shared her experience being on the Commission the last year and expressed some of her frustration with the comments made in the honorary street name of Bingham Fort Lane. f. Chair Knuth followed up and asked a question about ways that administration and commission can engage in meaningful ways when it comes to topics that impact the community. g. Vice Chair Andrews thanked Chief Young for reaching out to her and asking her to be involved in the deputy chief hiring process. She also expressed that the diversity charter commits everyone that signed it to look at things differently in the areas outlined. h. Chair Knuth clarified his intentions in inquiring about the appointment process of Chief Eric Young. He also shared comments and thoughts from former commissioners on their experience of being on the commission and lack of engagement from administration. i. Commissioner Sawyer mentioned that she is hearing that the commission wants to be proactive in combination with the Mayor’s office. She suggested that can look like quarterly meetings with the public that allow the commission and the mayor to inform the public of what is happening. Additionally, Commissioner Sawyer expressed that within the hiring process that the city should consider on having a strategic plan for all department on what diversity, equity and inclusion goals look like along with trainings in that area. j. Mayor expressed that Gary Williams has provided training for city council and other city areas along with Viviana do some as well. k. Commissioner Sawyer stated that a strategic plan for all city departments would be a better option than one focused on the entire city as it may look different at a department level. l. Commissioner Snow expressed that he supports the idea of storytelling and ways for community engagement as we transition out of the pandemic. m. Vice Chair Andrews shared a community event idea on boxed lunch, a book, and a blanket. An outdoor gathering that can happen in the spring or summer and allows people to have a read a book, discuss the book, or bring someone in to present on the book. Mayor liked the idea and added that these types of events can take place within walkable distance from people like the field at James Madison. The Mayor would like to continue to receive these types of ideas from the commission. n. Commissioner Shinoda provided some thoughts on diversity and inclusion and communicating the work that is being done in Ogden with other government agencies across the state. He also added that Ogden should look into becoming one of the most inclusive community in the country and state because it will help drive more employment opportunities to the city as well as build and strengthen the community. Commissioner Shinoda agreed that administration would be more successful if they look at things differently and avoid saying this is the way we’ve always done it. o. Commissioner Darby shared that there are still plans to have the basketball on wheelchair game in honor of John Prescott who was an active community member. She encouraged administration and city council to participate. p. Mayor wrapped up the conversations by saying that he would like to continue to hear from the commission, administration can get so wrapped up in other things that if they aren’t brought up at the fore front things gets lost. He thanked the commission for being vocal and doing the work that they do.  3.3. Racism as a Public Health Crisis Follow Up (Vice Chair Andrews – 10 mins). a. Commissioner Snow shared out on the last meeting for the committee. The committee still needs to consider if they would like to move forward with a recommendation to city council to declare Racism as a Public Health Crisis. b. Vice Chair Andrews added that the recommendation needed to have clear action items that would be recommended to City Council. c. Chair Knuth reminded the group that pervious Council Chair Choberka had asked the commission to make recommendation on this topic and an official response has not been issued. d. Commissioner Sawyer made a motion to draft a recommendation declaring Racism as a Public Health Crisis, seconded by Commissioner Darby. Vote reflected 8 in favor and 1 against. Motion moves forward. Commissioner Snow shared that he does not feel comfortable moving forward with a recommendation because he feels more information is needed. e. Viviana to schedule another meeting for this group. 4. Old Business. 4.1. Community Conversation Committee Update (Vice Chair Andrews – 5 mins). a. Vice Chair Andrews provided a review of the Community Conversation with 5 Police Chiefs and the Weber County Sheriff. There were about 56 people logging off and on during the conversation. She thanked Viviana and Diana for working on this to get communication and marketing materials out as well as managing questions. b. The next community conversation will be virtual on April 22nd. For details to follow at the become available. c. The recording of this community conversation is available on the commissions Facebook page. 4.2. Nominating Committee Process (Viviana – 5 mins). a. Applications will be accepted through the end of this week and the following week applicants will be contacted to schedule an interview with the nominating  committee. If the process moves forward accordingly there should be names on the mayor’s desk within the first two weeks of March. b. Community members of the nominating committee include Wesley Boykin and Enrique Romo. c. Chair Knuth challenged Commissioner Sawyer and Commissioner Snow to engage young people in the application process. d. Viviana clarified questions about eligibility and conflicts of serving on multiple city committees. 4.3. Outreach Committee Update (Commissioner Shinoda – 5 mins). a. Commissioner Shinoda mentioned that the next phase of outreach are commissioner testimonials and stories. Committee has talked about different strategies for outreach but nothing has been set. b. Commissioner Shinoda thanked Viviana the work done on the commission’s social media page. c. Commissioner Bernal followed up on the outreach committee’s interest to share something in the Indie Magazine. Commissioner Bernal has started working there and is over marketing and would be happy to work with the commission to get something in there using the budget the commission has wisely. Viviana followed up saying she has reached out to Lisa Stout who is the city’s finance department and hasn’t heard back. 4.4. Racial Equity in Policing Committee Update (Commissioner Sawyer – 5 mins). a. Commissioner Sawyer mentioned that she sent the mayor and city administration an email asking for a set day and time to continue these meetings along with access to information that had been requested previously. b. Mayor has replied back saying that he will get back to Commissioner Sawyer. The goal is for the committee to meet in between meetings with the mayor to advance the work of the group. c. Commissioner Sawyer will also be involved in the hiring process of the new deputy police chief.  4.5. Rules Committee Update (Commissioner Darby – 5 mins). a. Commissioner Darby provided an update on the document process. b. Chair Knuth expressed that he would like to see language included into the rules about how we engage in conversation with and about people who are underserved and marginalized. Specifically, the Chair would like to see language in the rules that involve microaggressions and pronouns. 5. No Action Required. 5.1. Marshall White Center Survey Available. 6. Comments: 6.1. Commission Staff. a. No comments at this time. 6.2. Commission Members. a. Vice Chair Andrews shared that Ruby Bridges is coming to speak virtually at Weber State University. b. Chair Knuth acknowledged that the conversation held by city council in regards to the Honorary Street naming of Bingham Fort Lane and that it was very unfortunate to hear some of the comments by councilmembers. c. Commissioner Sawyer shared that the NAACP will be having an event this Friday. d. Commissioner Hallows shared some thoughts and reflections. 6.3. Public Comment: a. Shawn Choate – Bank of Utah HR Director – shared information about her DEI efforts and Bank of Utah. 7. Adjournment. (Commissioner Darby, Commissioner Bernal) NEXT REGULAR OGDEN DIVERSITY COMMISSION MEETING WEDNESDAY, March 10th, 2021 Virtual Meeting Minutes prepared by: Minutes approved by: Date: _______________________________ _______________________________ __________________________ Viviana Felix – Ogden City Taylor Knuth, Chair