Community Relations Commission

Wednesday, January 11, 2023 7:00 to 8:30 pm Gamon Room, Wheaton City Hall In-Person or Virtual Attendance I. Call to Order Rachel called the meeting to order at 7:04; Erica seconded . II. Welcome III. Roll Call In Person: Rachel Bautista, Mike Hodel, Erica Nelson, Laura Peccarelli, and David Sohmer Calling in: Saleha Jawaid and Marco Scola Absent: Meg Beasley, Scott Chedister, Ben Waterman, and Angie Welker IV. Approval of Minutes David motioned that the minutes be approved; seconded by Erica; minutes approved as presented. V. Old Business a. Budget planning meeting i. 2023 programming and budget of $16,600 was approved ii. Talked about ways in which the WCRC could work with other commissions such as the Fine Arts and History commissions. Also the city council aligned that Good Citizens Awards letter would come from the mayor only vs. city council member (as we proposed). iii. The city manager is also working on a few other items for commissions. Timing for these is TBD. 1. List of items: develop written documentation on BCC member appointment process; offer city code amendments for group care home licensing done administratively, highlight a BCC each month or so communicating its purpose statements, and draft a BCC member handbook iv. After the meeting, Rachel followed up with the city manager and mayor regarding the status of appointments since we still have 2 open positions. 1. In September the city clerk provided the latest update: 5 applications received. Additionally, one applicant was cleared by the mayor in July but still has not been submitted to city council for final appointment. 2. The city manager and mayor made a verbal commitment to have the remaining 2 spots filled by end of January. b. Christmas Tree Walk i. The WCRC tree generated a great deal of social media coverage. Rachel is still confirming with the organizations on donations, but based on number of ornaments picked-up: COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES January 11, 2023 1. Approximately 30% of the PADS ornaments were picked up (6 of 22) 2. Approximately 40% of the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans ornaments were picked up (8 of 19) 3. Current plan is to continue with this giving theme for future years (if the tree/decoration program continues) and request for WCRC tree to be placed in a higher traffic area (ie, north side of the tracks) for next year’s program. c. Bernie Kleina program about MLK’s Chicago Freedom Movement will take place on January 12 at 7 pm at the Wheaton Public Library. d. Black History Month i. The website will be updated to include events from Wheaton Public Library The WCRC will partner with WPL and the League of Women Voters of Wheaton to for storyteller Linda Gorham’s “African American Heroes and Sheroes” virtual presentation on February 21 at 7P. ii. There was a motion made by Erica to approve a $100 payment to fund Gorham under the commission’s Partner Program line item. Laura seconding and the motion passed. e. Women’s History Month i. Outreach has begun to businesses & artists for the “We Are Women” Wheaton art exhibit ii. On March 21, there will be a program at the Wheaton Public Library featuring Bob Goldsborough, a former reporter for the Chicago Tribune, who will highlight notable women of Wheaton. The program is being sponsored in partnership with the library and the League of Women Voters of Wheaton. iii. There was a motion made by David to approve a $100 speaking fee from the commission’s Partner Programs line item for Bob Goldsborough (1/3 of the total fee); Mike Seconded and the motion passed. f. Good Citizen’s Awards - Need an update in February from Angie and Scott VI. New Business a. Festival of Cultures i. Date has been set for Sunday, September 17 from 11 am until 6 pm ii. Will be hiring one city park employee at $40 per hour to help with set up and clean up. iii. Erica & Rachel walked through the sub-committees responsibilities. Ask is for everyone to read through these before next month’s meeting so we can assign/sign-up for each of the sub-committee work during the Feb meeting. VII. Public Comment VIII. Adjournment Motion was made to end the meeting at 8:10 by Mike; Dave seconded. 2/3/23 2