Equity Commission

MEETING MINUTES TUMWATER EQUITY COMMISSION APRIL 27, 2026 CONVENE: 6:00 p.m. PRESENT: Chair Michael Snow, Vice-Chair Ellen Matheny, Commissioners Vanessa Arita Reyes, Tina Crary, Sarah Ellison, Lisa Gorski, and Vonny Turner Mayor Leatta Dahlhoff and Councilmember Kelly Von Holtz Staff: Assistant City Administrator Kelly Adams CHANGES TO THE No changes to the Agenda. AGENDA: APPROVAL OF This was the first meeting of the Commission. There were no MINUTES: minutes to approve. PUBLIC COMMENT: No public comment. WELCOME AND Mayor Dahlhoff and Councilmember Von Holtz welcomed and INTRODUCTIONS: thanked the new Commission. Commissioners introduced themselves and shared their perspective on why they volunteered, what they were curious about, and what outcomes they sought from the meeting. OVERVIEW OF Administrator Adams shared the definition of advisory boards COMMISSION and commissions, examples in Tumwater, and the guidance AUTHORITY AND provided by Tumwater Municipal Code (TMC) 2.60. The ROLE: Commissioners discussed their new purpose, duties, responsibilities, and authority. They also discussed their relationship with the City Council and the Mayor. TUMWATER EQUITY COMMISSION – APRIL 27, 2026 1 OPEN PUBLIC Administrator Adams shared information on the Open Public MEETINGS ACT Meetings Act and the training requirement for Commissioners. TRAINING: Training is due by July 20, 2026. COMMISSION Administrator Adams discussed the need for the Commission to BYLAWS: have Bylaws, or rules of procedure. Administrator Adams provided a draft document to the group based on the current practices of the Planning Commission and an example from the City of Renton. The Commission will discuss Bylaws at the next meeting. COMMISSION WORK Administrator Adams discussed the need for the Commission to PLAN: have a work plan based on the Duties and Responsibilities listed in TMC 2.60.050. The Commission will discuss work plan development at the next meeting. Administrator Adams shared a brief lesson on Robert’s Rules of Procedure and prepared the group to elect a Chair and Vice-Chair. SELECTION OF Nominations for Chair included Commissioners Snow, Matheny, COMMISSION CHAIR: and Crary. VOTE OF By a majority roll call vote, Commissioner Snow was elected AFFIRMATION: to serve as Chair of the Tumwater Equity Commission for one year. SELECTION OF Nominations for Chair included Commissioners Turner and COMMISSION VICE- Matheny. CHAIR: VOTE OF By a majority roll call vote, Commissioner Matheny was AFFIRMATION: elected to serve as Vice Chair of the Tumwater Equity Commission for one year. NEXT MEETING DATE: Administrator Adams requested a rescheduling preference for the next meeting, as the next meeting falls on a holiday. The Commissioners also discussed alternate meeting times. MOTION: Commissioner Gorski moved to hold the next meeting on May 27, 2026 seconded by Commissioner Arita Reyes. Motion carried unanimously. NEXT MEETING DATE: The next meeting is scheduled on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. TUMWATER EQUITY COMMISSION – APRIL 27, 2026 2 ADJOURNMENT: With there being no further business, Chair Snow adjourned the meeting at 7:11 p.m. Prepared by Kelly Adams, Assistant City Administrator TUMWATER EQUITY COMMISSION – APRIL 27, 2026 3