Ogden Community Engagement and Opportunity Commission

MINUTES Ogden Diversity Commission Virtual - Zoom WEDNESDAY, January 12th, 2022 – 4:30 PM In Attendance: Jeremy Shinoda, Roger Snow, Betty Sawyer, Tom Szalay, Kari Harbath, Stacy Bernal, Kathie Darby, Jessica Adams Excused: Absent: Taylor Knuth, Iveth Vasquez, Christine Ipsen, Shardae Jones Ogden City Staff Present: CJ Hernandez 1. Welcome. a. Chair Shinoda introduced the newest member of the Diversity Commission, Jessica Adams. 2. Roll Call. 3. Action Item - approval of minutes from 12/08/2021. a. Commissioner Sawyer made a motion to approve the minutes. Commissioner Darby seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 4. New Business. 4.1. Current events in the community - Chair Shinoda a. Commissioner Sawyer forwarded a flyer for Martin Luther King events that are coming on Monday at the Marshall White Center and the Ogden City Amphitheater. There will also be a prayer vigil at the State Capitol on Sunday at 6:00 pm that anyone is welcome to attend. b. Commissioner Sawyer was recently honored at the Women of Impact Gala.  c. CJ forwarded a notice from Multicultural Affairs who are offering masks to non- profits. d. CJ stated that EDC Utah is still planning on visiting to talk about their leadership efforts and CJ sent an invitation to the Commission to meet with them for lunch. e. Commissioner Bernal reminded the Commission that in April she does Awesome Autistic Ogden and they are still in the planning stages of that event. She is reaching out for ideas/suggestions from the Commission and anyone who would like to be involved in the event. f. Chair Shinoda informed the Commission that on Tuesday, the City Council and Mayor issued a joint resolution for a plan on the Marshall White Center. On Tuesday, January 18th, from 6-8 pm, there will be a town hall discussion at the Marshall White Center about the plans, drawings, and community feedback. g. Chair Shinoda reminded the Commission of another town hall on Thursday, January 20th, from 6-8 pm, at the Ben Lomond High School Athletic Center and on Wednesday, January 26th, there will be another town hall, but that will be a virtual event. 4.2. City Council Recognitions – Brandon Garside from City Council staff a. Brandon Garside would like the Commission’s thoughts on some changes the Council is considering on recognitions. Instead of the formal presentation of a framed proclamation recognition, there would be a quick acknowledgement at the beginning of the meeting. Brandon showed an example of this new way of recognizing events at a recent city council meeting recording. b. Chair Shinoda would like some room to be left for a formal presentation for a very special event, if that would be possible. Brandon asked Commissioner Sawyer and Bernal how they felt about having a simple recognition for events that happen regularly, instead of a formal proclamation and plaque. Commissioner Bernal stated she would like the more historically underrepresented groups in Ogden to be recognized more often. Commissioner Sawyer’s concern is if you take the proclamation away, what would be put in its place. She would like focused acknowledgments. Brandon stated there could be a better collaboration between  the Council and the Diversity Commission where the Commission could tell them what focused events should be talked about each month. Brandon asked the Commission to consider some thoughts and ideas and let him know what they think. CJ asked what the format is to get these ideas to the Council or the “how to” and “where do we go from here.” Brandon stated it could just be in written form and forwarded to him. c. Commissioner Darby suggested that instead of a proclamation at City Council, that someone from City Council could go to an organization and give the award in person. Any ideas can be sent to CJ and she will forward them on to Brandon. Brandon will also be in touch with CJ as each yearly proclamation comes up. d. Commissioner Snow suggested a standing agenda item for the Commission on recognitions. 4.3. Commission Applicants – CJ Hernandez a. CJ stated several terms are up in March and some are renewing, and some aren’t. There are four positions that need to be replaced, and two that are not quite sure yet. If a Commissioner would like to renew, please put that in writing for CJ to confirm. There hasn’t been much interest in new applicants. There needs to be a minimum of 9 Commissioners and up to 11. CJ is open to suggestions on recruiting new applicants. b. Commissioner Bernal asked what the process is in selecting a candidate. CJ stated once someone fills out the online application, the Mayor selects a candidate and sends that recommendation to the City Council. 5. Old Business. 5.1. Annual Report Status- Chair Shinoda a. Chair Shinoda stated he will have a draft out to the Commissioners and CJ by the end of the week. This report will cover the last year and a half. 5.2. Christmas Village cottage update – CJ Hernandez a. CJ sent out some pictures of the cottage that is available. She also has been told there is another cottage that is available as well, but she does not have pictures  yet. She would like the Commissioners to think about ideas for the cottage because this needs to be submitted around May. 6. Committee Reports. 6.1. Outreach Committee Update a. Commissioner Szalay reported that in December CJ and others went to Ben Lomond High and setup a table for an event. Commissioner Szalay suggested the Commission work with Commissioner Sawyer to create an outreach event for black history month. He also stated that he and Chair Shinoda are on the equity council for the Ogden School District, and they are looking at ways to hire more people of color to become teachers and administrators. He suggests a forum where teachers can talk about what a great career teaching is and invite the community to attend. 6.2. Equity in Policing Committee a. Commissioner Sawyer would like to bring back the multicultural Covid task force group. She did receive several Covid test kits that are available for the community. She will be giving out new children’s coats and shoes on Monday to the community. She would like to know how the Ogden City Police plan on moving forward in terms of meeting and giving updates to the Commission on a regular basis. 7. Comments from Staff. 8. Comments from Commission Members. 8.1. Commissioner Bernal a. Commissioner Bernal stated that her and Commissioner Adams have met with Ogden Police to help facilitate Autism training. The PD stated they recently did some training called Vertra. She and Commissioner Adams looked over the training and didn’t feel it is effective, so they are still working to facilitate a more in depth training with the police department. She would also like OPD to have a database that would flag if there was an autistic person, or some type of mental  illness or disability involved with a police call prior to arriving on that call. OPD stated that could be feasible with their dispatch center. 8.2. Commissioner Szalay a. Commissioner Szalay informed the Commission that he will not be renewing on the Commission but is still willing to help out anyway that he can. 8.3. Commissioner Sawyer a. Commissioner Sawyer wanted to inform the Commission about the Utah Safe App that is in place for students to report any bullying or harassing. Many young people are using the app to report activity and just to talk with counselors that are available on the app. Commissioner Adams stated this app is being promoted at Ben Lomond High through a hope squad and that if there are hope squads in other schools it is being promoted as well. 9. Public comment: This is an opportunity to address the Commission regarding concerns or ideas on any topic. To be considerate of everyone at this meeting, public comments will need to be submitted electronically, diversity@ogdencity.com or by calling 801-629-8109. Participants are to state their first and last name for the record. Comments will then be submitted for the record. 9.1. Mr. Desoto- Public Comment a. Mr. Desoto stated he has applied to the Diversity Commission but has not heard back and would like to be considered for the Commission. The Commission asked that he fill out a new online application since there is a new process now. 9.2. Diana Lopez- Ogden Police Department a. Diana informed the Commission that the police departments annual awards banquet is on February 28th and that all Commissioners will receive an invitation. Also, the revamped Ogden Community Crime Conference is coming up on April 6th and 7th at the Megaplex. The Citizens Police Academy is also coming back on April 13th and will be on Wednesdays for approximately 7 weeks, one night a week and one full Saturday. 10. Adjournment. NEXT REGULAR OGDEN DIVERSITY COMMISSION MEETING WEDNESDAY, February 9th, 2022 Virtual Meeting *** Public meetings will be held electronically in accordance with House Bill 5002, Open and Public Meetings Act Amendments, signed into law on June 25, 2020. Pursuant to a written determination by the Ogden Diversity Commission Chair finding that conducting the meeting with an anchor location presents a substantial risk to the health and safety of those who may be present due to infectious and potentially dangerous nature of COVID-19 virus, public meetings with be held electronically for the next thirty (30) days. The public may monitor or listen to open portions of the meeting electronically by following the instructions below. No physical meeting location will be available. Zoom Meeting Connect via Telephone https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82702687881?pwd 1 669 900 9128 =allaekVYUEFzT0pSQzZJdUVtalYzdz09 Meeting ID: 827 0268 7881 Meeting ID: 827 0268 7881 Password: 543006 Password: 543006 In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing auxiliary communicative aids and services for this meeting should contact the Management Services Department at 629-8701 (TTY/TDD: 711 or 888-735-5906) or by email: accessibility@ogdencity.com at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.