Oct 03, 2022 City Council

UBER EXCEL, BABY.

[00:00:01]

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING.

EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.

MAYOR. I AM RENAE JACKSON, COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER.

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

AND I ALSO HAVE CANDICE STANCIL, WHO'S ON ZOOM WITH US TODAY, WHO WILL PROVIDE SOME UPDATES AROUND THE RACIAL EQUITY ACTION PLAN PROCESS.

SO YOU MAY RECALL THAT IN JANUARY 2020, THE CITY MANAGER, ANDREA ARNOLD, CREATED A CROSS DEPARTMENTAL EMPLOYEE EQUITY AND INCLUSION TEAM, AND THE TEAM WAS PUT IN PLACE TO LEAD THE CITY OF DECATUR IN OPERATIONALIZING THE COMMITMENT TO EQUITY IN ALL DIMENSIONS OF OUR ORGANIZATION AND ACHIEVE A COLLECTIVE VISION OF EQUITY.

NOW THE TEAM CONSISTS OF A NUMBER OF STAFF MEMBERS AND SOME OF THEM ARE HERE TODAY.

SO IF YOU'RE HERE TODAY, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO RAISE YOUR HAND OR STAND UP.

[4. PRESENTATIONS]

CHIEF.

NANCY BRUNE IS ON THE TEAM.

RASHAD CROWELL.

TERESA DE CASTRO.

STACY GREEN.

LINDA HARRIS.

SARA HOLMES.

SHERRY JACKMAN.

ERIC JACKSON.

TYLER STEPHENS.

FIRE CHIEF TONY WASHINGTON AND OUR NEWEST MEMBER, CHRISTINE MOORE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE TEAM.

THE TEAM'S OVERALL GOAL IS TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION, WHERE EVERYONE IN THE ORGANIZATION IS TREATED FAIRLY, EVERYONE.

AND THAT EVERYONE HAS EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES AND OUTCOMES AND TRULY FEELS WELCOME AND VALUED.

AND LET'S ADD BELONGING ON THERE TOO, BECAUSE THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT AS WELL.

IN ORDER TO DO THIS WORK, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS SOMETHING NEW FOR US.

WE'VE DONE DIFFERENT THINGS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, BUT WE WANTED TO BRING ALL OF THOSE THINGS TOGETHER AND REALLY BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AND MAKING SURE THAT THESE THINGS, WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.

BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO START.

WE HAD REALLY BIG IDEAS, BUT IT WAS, WE WANTED TO FIGURE OUT LIKE, HOW DO WE ACTUALLY GET THIS GOING? WHAT DO WE DO? AND SO WE JOINED THE GOVERNMENT ALLIANCE ON RACE AND EQUITY, ALSO KNOWN AS GARE, AND THEY HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING US MOVE FORWARD WITH THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING. I WILL SAY THAT I CURRENTLY SERVE ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE FOR GARE.

I'M ENTERING INTO MY SECOND YEAR ON THAT COMMITTEE.

AND THROUGH GARE WE HAVE WORKED WITH THEM TO IMPLEMENT AN EMPLOYEE EQUITY SURVEY.

2021 WAS OUR FIRST YEAR DOING THAT.

TO REALLY GET A BASELINE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE OUR EMPLOYEES ARE WHEN IT COMES TO EQUITY, WHAT ARE THINGS THAT THEY UNDERSTAND, WHAT TOOLS HAVE THEY USED BEFORE.

WHERE DO WE NEED TO FILL THOSE GAPS? WHAT TRAININGS DO WE NEED? AND SO WE ARE HOPING TO, IN 2024, DO OUR NEXT, IT'S A BI-ANNUAL SURVEY AND SO IN 2024 WE WANT TO DO THE SURVEY AGAIN. BY THIS TIME WE WOULD HAVE BEEN WELL INTO THE RACIAL EQUITY ACTION PLAN PROCESS AND IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THOSE THINGS AT THAT TIME. SO WE'LL GET ANOTHER IDEA OF WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE NEED TO GO.

TEN MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM PARTICIPATED IN THE GARE FOUNDATION'S WORKSHOP, ADVANCING RACIAL EQUITY, THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT.

AND IN THIS WORKSHOP WE GOT A CHANCE TO UNDERSTAND THE BASIS OF RACISM AND STRUCTURAL RACISM WITHIN GOVERNMENT AND WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE CHANGES IN THAT WAY.

AND IT WAS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A TRAIN THE TRAINER SESSION.

BUT DUE TO COVID, GARE HAS NOT HAD THOSE TRAININGS SINCE THEN.

AND SO THEY ARE DOING SOME RESTRUCTURING AND THEY'RE HOPING TO BRING THAT BACK AND THEN WE CAN DETERMINE HOW CAN WE USE THAT INFORMATION TO BRING FORTH TO OUR ORGANIZATION AND TRAIN OUR STAFF ON THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN ADVANCING RACIAL EQUITY.

WE ALSO, AS A TEAM, HAD TO DO OUR OWN WORK.

SO IN ADDITION TO ATTENDING THESE TRAININGS, WE HAD TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH OTHER.

NOW YOU MAY THINK, OH, WE ALL WORK TOGETHER.

WE SHOULD HAVE RELATIONSHIPS, WHICH WE DID.

BUT TALKING ABOUT RACE IS A DIFFERENT LEVEL.

PEOPLE HAVE A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF COMFORT WHEN DISCUSSING RACE AND ESPECIALLY DISCUSSING RACE IN YOUR WORKPLACE.

AND SO WE DID A LOT OF TEAM BUILDING THINGS TO DEVELOP THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND BE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS, REAL DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS AND TO BE VERY HONEST WITH EACH OTHER.

AND I CAN TELL YOU WE'RE STILL BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU'RE AT WORK TALKING ABOUT THESE THINGS.

PEOPLE HAVE TO BUILD THOSE COMFORT LEVELS.

AND SO THIS IS ONGOING WORK THAT WE WILL NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO.

[00:05:01]

AND SO MY GOAL IS TO BRING THAT BACK AT LEAST ONE MORE TIME, BECAUSE IT PROVIDED, IN MY OPINION, A BASELINE UNDERSTANDING OF RACISM AND THE HISTORY OF RACISM.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US AS WE DO THIS WORK FOR OUR ORGANIZATION, IS TO HAVE A SHARED UNDERSTANDING, SHARED LANGUAGE THAT WE'RE ALL USING.

SO IF I COME TO YOU AND I USE THE WORDS RACIAL EQUITY, YOU WILL KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IN REFERENCE TO RACIAL EQUITY IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR ORGANIZATION. AND THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT FOR US.

ANOTHER THING THAT THE TEAM HAS WORKED ON IS REVIEWING THE EQUITY AND RACIAL JUSTICE GOALS IN THE 2020 STRATEGIC PLAN AND REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS OURS TO DO AND HOW CAN WE SUPPORT THE MOVEMENT AND THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THESE GOALS, WHETHER IT'S THE FOLKS ON THE TEAM LEADING THESE EFFORTS, OR HOW DO WE SUPPORT OTHER PEOPLE WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION OR THROUGHOUT THE CITY IN MAKING SURE THAT WE ACHIEVE THESE GOALS? AND SO THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE'RE STILL WORKING ON.

AND SPEAKING OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND GOALS, ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN IS TO CREATE A RACIAL EQUITY ACTION PLAN.

AND SO WE ARE WORKING WITH THE COMMON GOOD AGENCY TO DO THAT.

AND I WILL PASS IT OVER TO CANDICE STANCIL, WHO WILL SHARE WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, RENAE.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

MY AUDIO IS NOT OKAY.

PLEASE DO LET ME KNOW.

I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE WITH YOU ALL AGAIN.

I'M UNDER THE WEATHER.

AND SO SUPER GRATEFUL FOR THE ABILITY OF TECHNOLOGY TO NOT LET US HAVE TO POSTPONE TONIGHT'S SESSION.

AND JUST APPRECIATE YOU ALL FOR LETTING ME DO THIS FROM HOME, WHERE I'M RECOVERING.

WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

I'M JUST GOING TO SPEND A FEW MOMENTS SHARING WITH YOU ALL WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS WITH THE TEAM AT THE CITY OF DECATUR.

WE HAVE HOSTED ALMOST 30 HOURS OF LISTENING SESSIONS AROUND THE CITY AS OUR FIRST STEP IN THE RACIAL EQUITY ACTION PLANNING WORK.

YOU'LL SEE ON THIS DELIVERABLES LIST, WE ARE FOCUSED ON CREATING OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS.

RENAE MENTIONED THE EQUITY TEAM.

WE'VE ADDED ABOUT NINE NEW MEMBERS TO THE EQUITY TEAM THAT ARE PART OF A COMMUNITY OF LEADERS WHO ARE VERY INTERESTED IN BEING A PART OF THIS WORK.

AND WE THINK THAT GROUP WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

THEY WILL BE THE DRIVERS OF A LOT OF THE DECISIONS AND ACTIVITIES HAPPENING DURING OUR THREE YEARS TOGETHER ON THIS PROJECT.

WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EQUITY ASSESSMENT.

WE'LL HAVE A DRAFT FOR YOU THIS MONTH, WHICH HAS SOME OF THE FINDINGS THAT WE'LL SHARE WITH YOU IN JUST A BIT THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM SOME OF THE LISTENING SESSIONS [INAUDIBLE]. ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE TWO FRAMEWORKS WE'RE DEVELOPING, ONE ON EQUITABLE DECISION MAKING AND ONE ON EVALUATING THE PROGRESS OF EQUITY IN YOUR WORK.

AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE COMMITTEES THAT ARE BEING FORMED TO WORK ON THOSE.

WE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING LAST WEEK WITH THE COMBO OF THE EQUITY TEAM AND THE REAP COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND THE NOTES FROM THAT MEETING WILL BE GOING OUT WITH THE FINAL TIME

[5. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS (Any person who wishes to make a brief announcement of a future community event that is open to the general public may do so at this time.)]

BUT WE HAVE LEADERS FOR EACH COMMITTEE AND WE'RE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THEY'RE GOING TO DO TOGETHER ON THOSE THREE WORKSTREAMS. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE A GROUP THAT'S THINKING ABOUT THE RACIAL EQUITY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERIES WHERE THEY MENTIONED REI'S WORK AND WORK WITH REI'S FUND.

THEY ARE REALLY FOUNDATIONAL BODY OF WORK AROUND THIS AND WE WANT TO PROVIDE A SIX MONTH SERIES THAT CAN BE A TRAIN THE TRAINER MODEL, AS WELL AS DIFFERENT TYPES OF DIRECT TO TEAM OPTIONS, SOME TECHNOLOGICALLY AVAILABLE SESSION.

SO WE WANT TO DO THAT IN WAYS THAT REALLY EVERYONE CAN ACCESS TO EXPAND ON THE FOUNDATIONAL WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING WITH REI.

AND THEN OF COURSE, THERE'S LONG TERM SUPPORT.

WE'LL BE WITH YOU AFTER WE HAVE SHARED OUT THE EQUITY ASSESSMENT AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON IS JUST WHO'D ASKED PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER FOR THE LISTENING SESSIONS THUS FAR, THAT PEOPLE WILL GET THE SAME OPPORTUNITY ONCE WE SHARE OUT THE EQUITY ASSESSMENT TO REFLECT ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS, PRIORITIZE THEM, MAKE SURE THEY FEEL RELEVANT AND CORRECT BASED ON ALL THE THINGS THEY HEARD DURING THE LISTENING SESSION.

I'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE AND IF QUESTIONS ARISE, RENAE, JUST LET ME KNOW IN THE ROOM.

[00:10:01]

BUT I'LL LEAVE TIME FOR QUESTIONS AT THE END AS WELL.

SOME OF THE EARLY FINDINGS FROM OUR LISTENING SESSIONS, AGAIN, ALMOST 30 HOURS OF WORK.

WE'VE SEEN MOST TEAMS OF THE CITY.

WE ALSO DID OUR MANAGEMENT SESSION LAST WEEK WITH THE MANAGEMENT TEAM AND SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT WE'RE HEARING.

PEOPLE REALLY DO LOVE THEIR TEAMS AT THE CITY OF DECATUR.

PEOPLE THAT THEY WORK WITH EVERY DAY ARE REALLY EXCITING COMMUNITIES OF FOLKS.

THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE DIVERSE NETWORKS.

THEY DO ACKNOWLEDGE WHERE THERE ARE CHALLENGES, BUT THEY REALLY DO ENJOY THEIR KIND OF IMMEDIATE EXPERIENCES.

AND PEOPLE REALLY WOULD LIKE TO STAY HERE LONG TERM UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES.

ADDITIONALLY, OFTENTIMES THERE ARE KEY INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THAT EXACERBATE ISSUES AROUND DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION.

AND WE DISCOVERED THAT AT THE CITY.

THERE WERE QUESTIONS AROUND HOW WE UNDERSTAND THE LEADERSHIP'S VISION FOR THE CITY.

WHAT'S A MANAGEMENT PHILOSOPHY BEING? HOW DO MANAGERS ENGAGE WITH THEIR DIRECT REPORTS AND ALSO QUESTIONS AROUND PAY EQUITY? HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND IT? AND ONE EXAMPLE IS IF YOU MENTION EVERYONE GETS A 2.5% RAISE, THAT'S NOT EQUITY, THAT IS EQUAL.

AND PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT IS THAT THE PHILOSOPHY WE WANT TO OPERATE UNDER? THERE WERE ALSO SOME QUESTIONS AROUND EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND TRUST BUILDING BEING A CRITICAL PIECE OF SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT.

AND WE HAVE A LOT OF IDEAS FOR HOW WE CAN IMPROVE UPON THAT AND THE METHODS FOR COMMUNICATION BEING AVAILABLE TO FOLKS WHO MIGHT NOT BE AT A COMPUTER EACH DAY OR MIGHT HAVE DIFFERENT STRUCTURES WHERE THEY'RE OUT ON THE GROUNDS OF THE CITY IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

AND THEN THE LAST PIECE THAT I WOULD NAME IS WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT EVEN AMONGST THE MANAGEMENT TEAM, THERE WAS WORK TO DO SO THAT FOLKS CAN FEEL LIKE THEY CAN BE DIRECT AND FULLY TRANSPARENT WITH EACH OTHER.

AND WE BELIEVE THAT THOSE KIND OF CONSIDERATIONS REALLY DO TRICKLE DOWN AND HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE EMPLOYEES THAT EVERYONE IS SUPPORTING.

AND SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT JUST ARE CRITICAL FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND IN ADDITION TO SOME OF THE SPECIFIC LEARNINGS THAT WE HAVE FROM TEAM MEMBERS.

NEXT SLIDE.

CANDICE, I'M SORRY, WE HAVE A QUESTION.

SURE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUST READING THIS, I'M LOOKING AT THE CITY AND LOOKING AT THE LEADERSHIP VISION.

WE'RE INTERNALLY FACING.

IS THAT CORRECT? ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE CITY GOVERNMENT OR ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE CITY ITSELF? I'M SORRY, THIS MAY BE AN IGNORANT QUESTION.

NO, ABSOLUTELY.

CLARIFICATION THERE. WHEN WE'RE ASKING FOLKS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES, WE'RE ASKING THEM ABOUT DIRECTLY THEIR WORKING EXPERIENCES EACH DAY.

SO THE MANAGERS THEY REPORT TO, THE FOLKS THEY WORK DIRECTLY WITH, THOSE THEY SEE AS THE LEADERSHIP TEAM FROM A MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE.

SO SPECIFICALLY INTERNALLY AND HOW THEY EXPERIENCE THE DAY TO DAY KIND OF WORKING RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE COLLEGIAL.

THANK YOU. DOES THAT HELP CLARIFY?

[6. CONSENT CALENDAR]

THANK YOU.

GREAT CLARIFICATION.

AND WE'VE HAD TO BE REALLY SPECIFIC WITH EMPLOYEES WHEN HAVING THESE LISTENING SESSIONS TO GET THEM TO TURN INTERNALLY.

AND OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE THINGS AND CHOICES AND EXPERIENCES THAT HAPPEN WITH RESIDENTS OF THE CITY THAT HAVE AN IMPACT ON WHAT THEY EXPERIENCE DAY TO DAY.

BUT WE REALLY WANTED TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE CAN DO INTERNALLY TO MAKE THEIR EXPERIENCES MORE EQUITABLE AT THE SAME EACH DAY.

SOME ADDITIONAL EARLY FINDINGS AND POTENTIAL RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU'LL SEE MORE DEEPLY DEVELOPED IN THE EQUITY ASSESSMENT.

THERE WAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS AROUND HOW PEOPLE CAN DETERMINE, UNDERSTAND AND NAVIGATE PATHWAYS INSIDE THE CITY AS EMPLOYEES. ARE CERTAIN ROLES MORE OR LESS VALUED BASED ON WHAT FOLKS DO?

[7. American Recovery Act – Small Business Rescue Program Update - At the City Council meeting held on February 22, 2022, staff presented the Small Business Rescue Program using a portion of the City's allocation of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The program has been operating successfully since March of 2022 and has assisted over 61 businesses. Staff has been working with the Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at University of La Verne (ULV) to develop an update to the program. There is also a need to redirect the remaining funds to Fire Station 1 Gender Compliance Project. Community Development Director Scherer recommends that the City Council approve the update to the Small Business Rescue Program including: • The business must have been mandated to shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic. • The business has a minimum of at least one employee and does not exceed a maximum of fifty (50) full or full-time equivalent employees (two part-time employees’ equal one fulltime employee). • The number of additional grant participants will be limited to the amount of funding (up to $100,000) allocated to the program. • The business must submit the]

AND HOW IS THAT TIED TO IDENTITY AND WHO DOES THOSE ROLES? SO THERE'S SOME REAL LEARNING TO THINK ABOUT PATHWAYS AND HOW WE SUPPORT FOLKS WHO WANT TO GROW AND LEARN MORE AND EXPAND THEIR OPPORTUNITIES AT THE CITY. ADDITIONALLY, I BRIEFLY MENTIONED AND I'LL JUST DOUBLE TAP ON IT.

APPRECIATION IS NOT PAY EQUITY? SO THE IDEA THAT EQUALITY AMONGST EITHER RAISES AND OR RETIREMENT STRUCTURES MIGHT BE TIED TO YOU BEING IN A GROUP VERSUS THE INDIVIDUAL KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES.

THE QUESTION, AND THEN WHAT'S THE THEORY OR PHILOSOPHY BEHIND OUR PAY CHOICES? AND YOU'LL LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT.

PAY EQUITY AS A PHILOSOPHY IS HOW WE UNDERSTAND AND VALUE RESOURCES AND DEPLOY THEM.

SO FOLKS WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE CITY THINKING ABOUT IN PRIORITIZING IN THAT WAY? SUPPORT FOR EMPLOYEES AMIDST THE LOUDEST VOICE.

THERE WERE MANY TIMES WHERE EMPLOYEES FELT AS IF LEADERS DID NOT UNDERSTAND HOW TO STAND IN THE FACE OF PUSHBACK OR FRUSTRATION FROM EXTERNAL

[00:15:03]

AND THEY THOUGHT THAT IN THE MOST CRITICAL MOMENT, IF THEY COULD FIGURE OUT HOW TO STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH LEADERS, THAT WOULD IMPROVE THEIR DAY TO DAY EXPERIENCE.

AND SO WE THINK THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE LEARNED THERE AROUND TRUST AND KIND OF SUPPORT IN WAYS THAT ARE REALLY VALUABLE TO TEAM MEMBERS.

IN TWO FINAL PIECES THAT WE NOTICED, AGAIN, EARLY FINDINGS, WE ARE JUST DOING ANALYSIS ON THE DATA FROM ALL OF OUR SESSIONS.

PEOPLE ASK FOR A REALLY KIND OF FORMAL GRIEVANCE PROCESS.

WHEN THERE IS A CONCERN, HOW DO WE TAKE THAT THROUGH A PROCESS WHERE THERE IS A INDEPENDENT RESOURCE AVAILABLE TO US THAT IS NOT OUR DIRECT SUPERVISOR HAVING TO HANDLE THIS? WHETHER THAT IS BECAUSE IT INVOLVES THEM OR BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THAT THEY MAY BE UP AGAINST THINGS THAT WE CAN'T UNDERSTAND AS WELL.

SO HOW DO YOU MANAGE A GRIEVANCE PROCESS THAT FEELS SAFE FROM RETALIATION, FEELS FAIR, AND REALLY CAN BE RESOLVED WITH AN OUTCOME THAT IS WRITTEN AND SHARED AND PUBLICLY AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND? AND THEN THE FINAL PIECE IS THERE WERE LOTS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT, AGAIN, THAT FIRST PIECE, CLEAR ROLES AT THE CITY.

AND SO ONE OF THE PIECES THAT PEOPLE REALIZED WAS CRITICAL WAS WHAT DID TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT LOOK LIKE? HOW DID THEY KNOW THAT IT WAS EFFECTIVE? HOW ARE PEOPLE BEING SUPPORTED MEANINGFULLY AROUND EQUITABLE PERFORMANCE REVIEWS, TRANSPARENT PROMOTION PROCESSES, THE CREATION OF JOBS? HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND ALL OF THOSE PIECES THAT ARE HAPPENING AT THE CITY IN WAYS THAT ENSURE FOLKS TRUST THE PROCESS AND THINK THAT THEY HAVE A VOICE AND INFLUENCE IN IT, WHICH IS A KEY PIECE INCLUDED AT THE CITY.

THOSE ARE SOME OF OUR EARLY FINDINGS AND WILL LEAD TO A SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS.

WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, BUT LET ME SEE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS IN THE ROOM ABOUT ANY OF THOSE.

OKAY. JUST SO FOLKS ARE AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE LISTENING SESSIONS THAT WE'VE WRAPPED UP.

WE START WITH THIS SLIDE AFTER INTRODUCTIONS AND GIVE PEOPLE A SENSE OF THE LANGUAGE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, PER WHAT RENAE NAMED AROUND FOLKS HAVING SHARED LANGUAGE . DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAD EXPOSURE TO DIFFERENT TRAININGS AT THE CITY SO WHAT IS AROUND PEOPLE AND THEN WE ALSO GIVE THEM EXAMPLES OF WHAT EACH OF THESE PIECES CAN LOOK LIKE IN THE WORKPLACE. SO THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT INCLUSION IS AN ACTIVE EXPERIENCE WHERE WE ENSURE THAT TEAM MEMBERS HAVE INPUT ON DECISION MAKING.

THAT'S WHAT INCLUSIVE BEHAVIOR LOOKS LIKE IN THE WORKPLACE.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THEIR OPTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES HERE.

NEXT SLIDE. AND THEN THE FINAL PIECE OF THE LISTENING SESSION IS THIS SET OF QUESTIONS THAT WE LET THEM GO THROUGH.

WE HAVE DONE THIS IN ONE BIG GROUP.

WE'VE ALSO BROKEN UP SOME OF OUR LARGER GROUPS INTO SMALLER COMMUNITIES TO DO THIS.

IT'S MOSTLY BEEN BY DEPARTMENTS SO THAT WE CAN GET REALLY SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT IN A DEPARTMENT OR TEAM'S UNIQUE EXPERIENCES.

AND JUST SO FOLKS ARE AWARE OF, MANAGERS WERE IN A DIFFERENT SESSION FROM THEIR TEAMS JUST TO REDUCE THINGS LIKE POWER DYNAMICS OR ANY CONCERNS ABOUT SHARING PUBLICLY AND TRANSPARENTLY. AND WE DO THINK THAT THAT HELPED.

WE HEARD THAT FROM SEVERAL FOLKS THAT THEY WERE REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF A SPACE TO SHARE THOUGHTS IN.

NEXT SLIDE. AND WE GAVE FOLKS OF MULTIPLE WAYS TO SUBMIT DATA.

SO SLIDO WAS ONE.

IT'S A TECHNOLOGICAL TOOL WHERE PEOPLE GOT TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND MAKE SUGGESTIONS.

WE ALSO HAVE A FINAL SURVEY THAT'S COMING OUT IN THE COMING DAYS.

AND THEN WE ALSO AGAIN TOOK NOTES.

WE HAD A NOTE TAKER FOR EACH OF OUR SESSIONS, WHETHER THAT WAS IN-PERSON OR VIRTUAL.

SO WE HAVE A TON OF DATA TO FINISH SIFTING THROUGH AS WE FINISHED OUR LAST SESSIONS LAST WEEK.

AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE'VE LEARNED AND WE THINK WE SEE A PATHWAY FORWARD THAT REALLY WILL IMPROVE THE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION EXPERIENCES AT THE CITY AND SPECIFICALLY HELP FOLKS UNDERSTAND AND DEEPLY WRESTLE HOW TO ENSURE MORE ANTI-RACIST ATTITUDES AND PERSPECTIVES IN YOUR WORK.

AND SO WE WELCOME QUESTIONS ON THIS PROCESS WHERE WE ARE.

AND AGAIN, WE'LL GO ONE MORE SLIDE.

WE'LL JUST WRAP UP WITH THE CALENDAR SO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF THE TIMING FOR WHAT'S COMING NEXT, AND THEN WE'LL LEAVE SPACE FOR QUESTIONS.

SO WE'RE WE'RE WRAPPING UP THE RACIAL EQUITY LISTENING SESSIONS WHICH WERE IN SEPTEMBER, AND WE DID LAUNCH THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS.

THIS OCTOBER WE'LL START OUR DRAFT OF THE EQUITY ASSESSMENT.

WE'LL DO THE FRAMEWORK RESEARCH AND DESIGN.

WE'RE INTRODUCING TEAM MEMBERS TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF FRAMES AROUND DECISION MAKING EQUITABLY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

AND THOSE TEAMS WILL GET TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DESIGNING ONE FOR THE CITY.

TOWARDS THE END OF THIS YEAR, WHEN THE EQUITY ASSESSMENT IS COMPLETE, WE'LL ACTUALLY HAVE A COMMUNICATION PLAN AROUND HOW TO SHARE THIS OUT WITH CITY EMPLOYEES.

AND THEN IN JANUARY AND MARCH, WE'LL ACTUALLY GO BACK AND DO ANOTHER ROADSHOW THAT EXPLAINS WHAT THE PRIORITIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE FROM THE EQUITY ASSESSMENT.

[00:20:06]

DO THEY WORK? DO THEY MATTER? ARE THEY CLEAR? AND THEN OUR HOPE IS IN MARCH, TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERIES FOR EMPLOYEES, HOW WE'LL DELIVER THAT, WHAT THE TIME FRAME ON IT WILL BE.

WHO WILL BE OUR TRAINERS AND SUPPORTERS IN ENGAGING AROUND THAT SET OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE.

I'LL PAUSE THERE.

REANE, IS THERE ANYTHING I'VE MISSED THAT YOU WANT ME TO TALK ABOUT AND THEN ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD, FEEL FREE TO DO SO.

NO, I THINK YOU DID A REALLY GOOD JOB.

BEFORE WE LAUNCH INTO THAT, CAN WE GO BACK TO THAT LANGUAGE SLIDE, THE LEVEL SET? ABSOLUTELY. I'D LOVE TO JUST SPEND A LITTLE TIME ON, YEAH, THAT PINKY ONE.

WAS IT ONE MORE? THIS IS THE LANGUAGE.

THE OTHER ONES WERE EARLY FINDINGS.

OH, GOD. THANK YOU. AND JUST SO I MEAN, I WON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME.

I KNOW THIS MEETING IS SHORT AND WE WANT TO BE THOUGHTFUL AS YOU ALL PREPARE FOR YOUR NEXT ONE.

BUT THE REASON WE DO THIS IS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT IS DIVERSITY, WHAT IS INCLUSION, WHAT IS EQUITY, WHAT IS ANTI-RACISM, AND THEN WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IN THE WORKPLACE? BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY DOING THIS WORK IN A PERSONAL SETTING LIKE YOUR CHURCH OR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD BE VERY DIFFERENT.

BUT THERE ARE CLEAR EXAMPLES OF WHAT DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE LOOKS LIKE.

SO WE JUST WANT TO GIVE PEOPLE A STARTING PLACE BECAUSE MANY TIMES FOLKS COME IN KNOWING WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

AND SO THESE ARE JUST A SET OF EXAMPLES.

SO I DO HAVE A QUESTION IN TERMS OF PARTICIPATION.

WHAT LEVEL OF PARTICIPATION HAVE WE SEEN WITH THE EMPLOYEES? SO WE HAVE A PERCENT OR DO WE HAVE, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE MANY, MANY EFFORTS AND AVAILABLE WAYS TO TO PARTICIPATE WERE MADE KNOWN FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.

[8. PUBLIC COMMENTS/ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - This is the time set aside for anyone wishing to address the City Council on items not listed in any other place on the agenda. Under the provisions of the Brown Act, the legislative body is prohibited from talking or engaging in discussion on any item not appearing on the posted agenda. However, your concerns may be referred to staff or set for discussion at a later date. Please email your public comment to the Assistant City Clerk at cityclerk@cityoflaverne.org. Your public comment will be shared with the City Council and included as part of the permanent record. If you wish to speak, email your phone number and staff will call you back. There is a 3-minute time limit on public comments.]

ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY.

I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK EXPLICITLY TO OUR NOTES BECAUSE WE DID NOT TRACK INDIVIDUALS.

WE DO HAVE NUMBERS FOR EACH SESSION.

AND SO IF I WERE TO THINK ABOUT THE AVERAGE, WE DID, LIKE I SAID, ALMOST 30 HOURS OF SESSIONS.

MOST SESSIONS HAD BETWEEN FOUR AND 15 PEOPLE.

SO IT GIVES YOU A GOOD SENSE OF, YOU KNOW, I'D SAY WE SAW MORE THAN A HUNDRED FOLKS IN OUR EXPERIENCE OF DOING THESE, AND MOST DEPARTMENTS HAD ALMOST A 100% PARTICIPATION THAT SHOWED UP.

SO IF A DEPARTMENT SCHEDULED A SESSION, MOST OF THEIR TEAM WAS THERE, IF NOT 100%, SOME PRETTY HIGH PARTICIPATION FOR THE DEPARTMENTS.

AND WE COULD SHARE A LIST OF DEPARTMENTS WHO HAD INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS.

AND THEN FOR THE SESSIONS THAT WERE OPEN COMMUNITY SESSIONS, WE ALSO TRACKED DEPARTMENTS, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS JUST ONE PERSON FROM SAID DEPARTMENT GENERALLY IN THOSE OPEN OR VIRTUAL SESSIONS. WE ALSO EVEN HAD PART TIME EMPLOYEES SHOW UP, WHICH WAS A QUESTION THAT WE HAD AND WERE CONCERNED ABOUT.

SO WE WERE EXCITED TO SEE THEM PARTICIPATE AS WELL.

SO I CAN CIRCLE BACK TO RENAE WITH A FINAL COUNT, BUT I'D SAY AT LEAST 100 PARTICIPANTS ACROSS THE ALMOST 30 HOURS OF SESSIONS.

AND I WILL ALSO ADD THAT ALL DEPARTMENTS AND DIVISIONS SIGNED UP FOR A LISTENING SESSION.

AND SO WE ARE WITH THE SURVEY THAT THE AGENCY HAS CREATED, MAKING SURE WE'RE GOING BACK TO FOLKS TO SAY, OKAY, IF YOU MISSED THE LISTENING SESSION AND EVEN IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN SOMETHING ELSE CAME UP FOR YOU, PLEASE FILL THIS SURVEY OUT AND REALLY TARGETING OUR PART TIME FOLKS AS WELL.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THAT'S HELPFUL TO KNOW.

AND IT'S ENCOURAGING TO HEAR THAT A GOOD NUMBER OF OUR EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATED.

YES. I EVEN HAD REQUESTS FOR ONE ON ONE SESSIONS AND HAD SOME OF THOSE.

SO JUST YOU KNOW THEY ARE DEFINITELY TRYING TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES THOUGHTFULLY AND TRANSPARENTLY WITH OUR TEAM.

THANK YOU. SO WERE THERE ANY COMMON THEMES THAT MAYBE POPPED OUT THAT YOU DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THAT YOU HEARD SORT OF OVER AND OVER IN THE DIFFERENT LISTENING SESSIONS? I THINK ONE THAT MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW IF I'D SAY I WAS SURPRISED, BUT I THINK IT'S BECOMING MORE CLEAR THAT THERE IS COMPLEXITY IN IT.

MORE COMPLEXITY THAN MAYBE ORIGINALLY WAS CLEAR, IS THE IMPACT OF TURNOVER, PARTICULARLY AROUND TALENT AND HR.

AND SO PEOPLE HAVE A GREAT EMPATHY FOR HR BECAUSE THEY KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF EMPLOYEES IN A SMALL TEAM, AND YET THE TURNOVER IN HR HAS HAD SUCH IMPACT ON PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO KIND OF NAVIGATE WHAT THEY THINK IS HELPFUL INFORMATION OR CHOICE MAKING.

[00:25:03]

WE KNEW THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAD SHIFTED A BIT.

BUT I THINK WHERE PEOPLE SURPRISE ME WAS THEIR DESIRE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PARTNER WITH THEM MEANINGFULLY AND THE EMPATHY THEY FELT FOR THE DEPARTMENT AS THAT DEPARTMENT TRIES TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SUPPORT THEM IN WAYS THAT HONOR KIND OF, YOU ALL KNOW THIS, PROCESSES THAT WERE JUST KIND OF WHAT WE DID, BUT NOT ON PAPER.

AND AS WE MOVE TO A MORE FORMAL PROCESS OF REALLY HAVING TO SUPPORT PEOPLE CONSISTENTLY AND EQUITABLY, THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SAY, WELL, THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A PROCESS PREVIOUSLY, BUT IT PROBABLY WASN'T OUR BEST PROCESS.

AND HOW THAT CHANGE CAN BE HARD.

PEOPLE FELT A LOT OF EMPATHY AROUND THAT TENSION THAT WE'RE HAVING AT THE CITY TO MAKE THAT SHIFT.

THANK YOU. YEAH.

AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD PLACE TO BE.

I'LL JUST SAY, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IN SITUATIONS WHERE I'M WORKING WITH ENTITIES WHERE HR IS SEEN AS KIND OF OFF DOING THEIR OWN THING AND NOT AS CONNECTED TO THE TEAM AND EMPLOYEES.

AND I THINK PEOPLE SEE THEM AS [INAUDIBLE] PARTNERS IN THE WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO STRUCTURALLY, BUT ALSO WANT TO PARTNER WITH THEM AROUND THINGS LIKE CARE, CONNECTION, WELLNESS, WHICH ARE OTHER PIECES THAT THE HR TEAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR.

THE THING THAT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IS EVERYONE'S WILLINGNESS OR, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE TALKED TO, THEIR WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS, NO MATTER HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT OR WHERE THEY STAND WHEN IT COMES TO RACIAL EQUITY.

HAVING PEOPLE COMING TO ME AND SAY THIS IS.

I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN A LISTENING SESSION AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT'S NEXT.

ALTHOUGH I WASN'T IN ANY OF THE LISTENING SESSIONS, PEOPLE HAVE SHARED THEIR EXPERIENCES AS FAR AS FEELING GOOD ABOUT THIS AND REALLY FEELING GOOD THAT THE CITY IS ACTUALLY GOING TO DO SOMETHING.

THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME BECAUSE WE DO HAVE FOLKS SOMETIMES THAT FEEL LIKE, OKAY, WELL THIS IS JUST ANOTHER THING THAT WE'RE DOING, BUT PEOPLE ARE REALLY CONFIDENT THAT SOMETHING WILL ACTUALLY COME OUT OF THIS.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I WOULD, IF WE'RE ABOUT TO CLOSE, THIS WOULD BE MY FINAL COMMENT, UNLESS THERE ARE OTHER QUESTIONS THAT COME UP.

BUT I DO THINK THAT WHEN I STEP INTO ORGANIZATIONS, MOST OF THE TIME, WHAT THEY SAY IS WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE, WE'VE SHARED THIS BEFORE.

AND WHAT I'VE EXPRESSED TO THEM THAT I THINK IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS TIME IS THAT, ONE, THIS WILL BE ON PAPER AND PUBLICLY VISIBLE, RIGHT? YOU WILL GET TO SEE YOUR COMMENTS, WHAT YOU SHARED, HOW YOU UNDERSTOOD THAT IN WAYS THAT MATTERS FOR ANONYMITY AND HOLD THEM IN WAYS THAT ARE COMFORTABLE AND SAFE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO SHARE OUT.

BUT ALSO, IT'LL BE PUBLIC.

AND WE TALKED ABOUT HOW PRESSURE ON ORGANIZATIONS WORKS TO MOVE THE NEEDLE FORWARD, AND THAT'S PRESSURE FROM LEADERSHIP ON THEMSELVES.

LIKE YOU ALL SAY, THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE HOLDING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE FOR.

IN ADDITION TO THINGS LIKE TEAM MEMBERS BEING ABLE TO PUSH AN AGENDA BECAUSE THEY HAVE IT ON PAPER AND CAN SAY WE AGREED TO PRIORITIZE THESE THINGS, WHERE IS IT SHOWING UP IN STRATEGY AND RESOURCE, ETC.

AND THEN ALSO ANY EXTERNAL PARTNERS THAT YOU ALL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH LIKE US WHO WILL SAY THESE ARE THINGS YOU ALL MADE A COMMITMENT TO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PROGRESS IS HAPPENING. AND SO I DO THINK PEOPLE ARE FEELING GRATEFUL AND HOPEFUL THAT THE OUTCOMES ARE DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF THE COMMITMENT AND THE PRESSURE THAT CAN BE PLACED ON MOVING IT FORWARD BECAUSE IT'S CLEARLY ARTICULATED AND THERE ARE SOLUTIONS AVAILABLE TO THEM.

AND SO I HOPE THAT YOU ALL WILL STAND WITH US AT THE COMMON GOOD AGENCY AND YOUR TEAM TO HONOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE THAT WE PUT FORWARD IN A WAY THAT MAKES SENSE FOR THE STRUCTURE, THE RESOURCES AND THE THINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THE CITY.

RIGHT. PRIORITIZING THOSE.

OBVIOUSLY, WE CAN'T DO EVERYTHING AT ONCE, BUT REALLY SAYING, HERE'S WHAT WE COMMIT TO RIGHT NOW, HERE'S WHAT WE COMMIT TO IN THE FUTURE, AND THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS.

OTHER QUESTIONS.

[9. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS - Each Council Member may address the Council and public on matters of general information and/or concern. This is also the time for Council Members to report on conferences and/or meetings they have attended.]

SO I HAVE A BAD TENDENCY OF LEANING TOWARDS THE TANGIBLE.

SO I'M CURIOUS, I MEAN, TRY TO ANTICIPATE, COULD YOU GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OUTCOMES OR SOME ACTION ITEMS OR WHAT ROLE WE MIGHT HAVE IN TERMS OF MOVING THIS FORWARD AND DECISIONS WE MIGHT MAKE WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR ME.

I KNOW IT'S ALL GOING TO COME. I'M JUST AN IMPATIENT PERSON MAYBE ONE EXAMPLE.

I THINK THAT THERE IS A REAL NEED FOR A FORMALIZED SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM AT THE CITY.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE ASKING FOR PATHWAYS TO GROW AND DEVELOP AND WHAT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN THE CASE IS LIKE

[00:30:07]

AND I THINK WHAT WE UNDERSTAND IS THAT FOR FOLKS WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE IDEA OF SPONSORSHIP, IT MEANS SOMEONE UNIQUELY COMMITTED TO ADVANCING YOUR CAREER INSIDE OF A PLACE, RIGHT? I PUT YOU IN PARTICULAR MEETING FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS OR I AM UNIQUELY CHECKING IN ON HOW YOU'RE ADVANCING SKILLS AND UNDERSTANDING THAT.

SO A FORMAL SPONSORSHIP PROCESS BY WHICH WE CONNECT SENIOR LEADERS TO LEADERS WHO MIGHT BE IN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT THEY WANT TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT WOULD BE A VERY TANGIBLE WAY THAT YOU WOULD QUICKLY MOVE THE NEEDLE ON WHAT PEOPLE SEE AS A LACK OF OPPORTUNITY AND CLEAR PATHWAYS.

AND SO THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE STRUCTURE, RESOURCE, TIME, A COMMITMENT TO BEING SURE THAT YOU'LL BE A LEADER IN THAT PROGRAM WHERE APPROPRIATE.

AND SO THAT'S ONE TANGIBLE EXAMPLE.

AND I'VE SEEN THAT SHIFT PROMOTION PROCESSES AND TENURE LISTS IN WAYS THAT ARE PHENOMENAL AT LOTS OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.

SO THAT'S ONE REALLY TANGIBLE PROCESS THAT I THINK YOU WOULD RECOMMEND.

ANOTHER ONE IS DEVELOPING A PAY EQUITY PHILOSOPHY, WHICH MEANS GOING THROUGH A PROCESS THAT HELPS YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR RESOURCE, WHY DO YOU MANAGE IT THE WAY YOU DO, WHAT ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU ASK WHEN YOU MAKE A DECISION AROUND RESOURCE, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO PAYMENT STRUCTURES? THAT CAN BE ELIMINATING THINGS LIKE ASKING PEOPLE WHAT THEIR PREVIOUS SALARY WAS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO THERE'S LOTS OF WAYS THAT THAT CAN SHOW UP AS A PHILOSOPHY AND STRATEGY, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR TO FOLKS AS YOU'RE MAKING DECISIONS.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION.

SEVERAL WE LIKE THAT WILL GIVE YOU STEPS, TIMING.

WE'LL EVEN GIVE YOU EXAMPLES WHERE THERE ARE CASE STUDIES AVAILABLE AND THEN WE'LL HELP YOU TO PRIORITIZE WHICH ONES, THIS ONE MIGHT TAKE YOU 12 MONTHS.

AND SO DECIDING TO DO THESE TWO TOGETHER IS MAYBE WHAT YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH NOW AND THEN THERE ARE OTHERS THAT WILL BE LONG TERM.

DOES THAT HELP? I'M SORRY.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE WILL ALSO HAVE A RACIAL EQUITY ACTION PLAN THAT WILL HELP GUIDE US THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

AND SO WHAT DOES TRAINING LOOK LIKE? HOW OFTEN ARE WE DOING TRAINING? WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING THOSE TRAININGS? WILL IT BE MANDATORY? WILL IT NOT? WE'LL ALSO HAVE AN EQUITY TOOL WHICH, THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT WE WILL ASK OURSELVES WHEN WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT.

SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT WAS USED DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE AN ASSESSMENT TOOL THAT WE'LL USE TO SHOW WHERE WE ARE WITH THIS WORK.

WHERE DO WE NEED TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS? HOW WELL ARE WE DOING? WHERE DO WE NEED TO KIND OF CIRCLE BACK AND REVISIT SOME OF THOSE THINGS? ONE OF THE THINGS I THOUGHT ABOUT WAS WHEN, THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION AND YOUR TEAM AND ALL THAT THEY ARE DOING TO HELP THE CITY MOVE FORWARD.

BUT WHEN RENAE AND I WERE SPEAKING FOR THE EMBRACE WEBINARS AND SOMEBODY ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT AS POLICYMAKERS CAN WE DO? AND ONE OF THE THINGS I SAID IS IT TAKES FUNDING.

AND SO I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO AS POLICYMAKERS IS SORT OF RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE WILLING TO PUT RESOURCES FORWARD TO REACH THE NECESSARY OUTCOMES AND TO DO THE WORK TO MOVE THE CITY FORWARD.

AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT WE'LL BE ASKED TO DO AND THAT WE'LL FIND WAYS TO SUPPORT THE CITY IN MOVING FORWARD.

SO I THINK WE MADE THAT COMMITMENT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO TO SPONSOR THE ANTIRACISM SPEAKER SERIES TO SUPPORT THIS WORK.

AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT AS BEING AN IMPORTANT THING THAT WE NEED TO SUPPORT WITH THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES AT THE DISPOSAL OF THE CITY FOR THE BETTERMENT OF EVERYONE.

SO. BUT THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, AND I'LL ADD TO THAT.

AS WE THINK ABOUT BETTER TOGETHER AND OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO NOT H AVE US DO THAT WORK INTERNALLY AS WE EXPECT OUR CITY TO WRAP THEMSELVES AROUND THIS VISION, THE VISION THAT WE'VE CREATED.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK INTERNALLY FIRST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW HOW TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS INTERNALLY, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO HAVE THEM, WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO HAVE THEM WITH OUR COMMUNITY.

SO. RIGHT. IF I COULD JUMP IN.

MAYBE ONE OTHER PLACE WHERE I THINK YOU ALL WILL BE UNIQUELY IMPACTFUL FOR THIS GROUP AND HOW MUCH

[00:35:01]

AND WE CREATE NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE CREATE COMMUNITIES BY THE MESSAGES WE SHARE.

AND I THINK YOU ALL WILL BE UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO HELP US THINK ABOUT WHAT MESSAGES DO WE WANT RESIDENTS TO BE THINKING ABOUT, HOW THEY ENGAGE WITH EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY, HOW THEY UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY AND VISION THAT YOU ALL ARE SETTING AS LEADERS, AND WHAT KIND OF PLACE WE WANT DECATUR TO BE.

AND I KNOW YOU THINK ABOUT THAT ALL THE TIME, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'LL BE UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU SEE SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AROUND STANDING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH EMPLOYEES, PARTICULARLY WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH CONSTITUENT CHALLENGES AND CONCERNS.

THANKS. THANK YOU, RENAE AND CANDICE, FOR THIS PRESENTATION TONIGHT.

AND I LOVED WHAT I WAS HEARING.

IT'S JUST EXCITING WORK AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S OFF TO A REALLY STRONG START.

I REALLY LIKE THE WORD OPERATIONALIZE BECAUSE IT REALLY GIVES ME SOMETHING TO HOLD ON TO AND THINK ABOUT TRUE ACTION AND OUTPUTS.

AND LIKE COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY SAID, YOU KNOW, TANGIBLE THINGS THAT WILL BE LOOKING AT BEING ABLE TO DO AND THAT IT'S CROSS FUNCTIONAL, WHICH I'VE LEARNED OVER MY TENURE THAT'S SHORT GROWING INTO LONGER THAT PARTICULARLY WITH THE BUDGET, WHEN WE DO PUT THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT ISSUES AND PLAN TOGETHER, WE GET A MORE ROBUST OUTPUT.

SO I'M GLAD THE BASE OF THE WORK IS CROSS FUNCTIONAL WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION BECAUSE I WAS THINKING ABOUT YOU'RE TACKLING ISSUES THAT ALSO, I THINK, FOR EXAMPLE, INITIATIVES AROUND PAY GRIEVANCE POLICY.

THESE PATHWAYS TO PROMOTION.

THEY REALLY ALSO TRACK WITH WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM YOUNGER WORKERS AND WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE FROM THEIR ORGANIZATIONS.

SO I THINK THIS IS JUST IMPORTANT WORK ALL AROUND AND THAT THERE'LL BE SOME GREAT INTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT HELP US WITH MAINTAINING AND CULTIVATING GREAT EMPLOYEES.

I HAD A QUESTION. WELL, OTHER THING, THE LANGUAGE SLIDE, I THINK, IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT TOOL.

I'M JUST GUESSING IT'D BE GREAT TO HAVE IT IN EVERY MEETING BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY'S SUBSCRIBING TO THE SAME DEFINITION.

AND I MEAN, I'M GOING TO PRINT THE TOOL OR THE LANGUAGE SLIDE MYSELF.

AND BECAUSE YOU GET TO SOME DIVERGENCES THAT CAN HAVE REALLY IMPORTANT CONSEQUENCES IF FOLKS AREN'T STAYING ON THE SAME PAGE.

AND I KNOW THAT THE CONVERSATIONS ARE PERISHABLE.

THEY HAPPEN AND THEN EVEN IF ONE OR TWO PEOPLE CHANGE, YOU DON'T HAVE THE SAME COMMON UNDERSTANDING.

SO IT'S LIKE SOMETHING WE KEEP GOING BACK TO.

SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THAT.

AND MY QUESTION WOULD BE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT SOME OF THE OUTPUTS OR THE TRAINING OR THE OPERATIONALIZATION, IT'S LIKE SIX SYLLABLES, CAN BE EXTENDED TO OUR CITIZEN BOARDS BECAUSE THAT'S ALSO A REALLY INTERESTING PLACE WHERE THEIR RESIDENTS OR VOLUNTEERS AND ALSO SOME ARE NOMINATED BY US INTERFACE WITH THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY? SO HOW CAN WE KIND OF HELP THEM BRIDGE MAYBE SOME OF THE GAPS AND HELP US GO DEEPER WITH MODELING THIS WORK? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. I THINK THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT THE BETTER TOGETHER ADVISORY BOARD HAS BEEN HAVING.

HOW DO WE TRAIN NOT ONLY THE VOLUNTEER BOARDS BUT VOLUNTEERS FOR THE CITY? LIKE HOW DO WE GET THEM ALL ON THE SAME PAGE OF WHAT THE CITY'S COMMITMENT IS AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS HOW WE'RE MOVING WHEN IT COMES TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION. AND AS A VOLUNTEER, YOU ARE A PART OF THIS ORGANIZATION AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO HAVE THAT UNDERSTANDING.

THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR. THANK YOU.

I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT TOO.

IT'LL JUST BE EXCITING.

AND I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF US BEFORE WE GET MORE REPORTS, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT ONE.

I LOVE THE OPENNESS TO THAT.

AND I THINK OUR HOPE IS TO DO SUCH A STRONG TRAIN THE TRAINER STRUCTURE, THAT YOU'VE GOT ENOUGH HANDS IN-HOUSE WHO COULD DO THIS IN LOTS OF WAYS, BECAUSE I CAN IMAGINE THIS SHOWING UP FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

I CAN IMAGINE THIS SHOWING UP FOR SENIOR CITIZENS DIFFERENTLY.

BUT THE FOUNDATIONS BEING THERE FOR FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT WELL.

AND TO ADD TO THAT, THIS WORK, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT'S SUSTAINABLE.

SO HOW DO WE DO THAT? CAPACITY BUILDING IS ONE ONE OF THOSE WAYS, BUT MAKING SURE THAT WE ALL HAVE THE THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THIS WORK FORWARD.

IT DOESN'T JUST LIE IN THE EQUITY AND ENGAGEMENT OFFICE, IT DOESN'T JUST LIE WITH THE BETTER TOGETHER ADVISORY BOARD.

BUT THIS IS ALL OF OUR WORKS.

WE ARE JUST RESOURCES AND WE ARE POINT PEOPLE TO HELP PEOPLE MOVE FORWARD.

THANK YOU, CANDICE.

IF I MAY I'D LIKE TO ADD ONE MORE THING.

PLEASE. THE MAYOR MENTIONED THE NEED TO PUT RESOURCES TOWARDS THIS WORK.

[00:40:01]

AND SO RECOMMENDATION IS TO CREATE AND HIRE POSITION THAT'S SOLELY DEDICATED TO THE EQUITY WORK THAT WAS APPROVED IN THE CURRENT YEAR'S BUDGET.

AND JUST WANT TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE TO THE CITY COMMISSION THAT THAT JOB HAS BEEN CREATED AND IT HAS BEEN POSTED AND IT WOULD JUST BE REALLY A MATTER OF WEEKS, I ANTICIPATE, BEFORE WE'RE INTERVIEWING AND ANNOUNCING THAT POSITION.

SO WE'LL HAVE THAT POSITION ON BOARD TO BE ADVANCING, NOT JUST THE INTERNAL WORK THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TODAY, BUT ALSO MANY OF THOSE PRIORITIES THAT ARE IDENTIFIED IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

THANK YOU. WELL ALRIGHT.

OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE.

AND WE'D JUST ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE CHIEF RICHARDS AS THE CO-CHAIR OF THE INTERNAL EQUITY TEAM.

AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

SO. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

SO IT'S ABOUT TEN AFTER.

WE WILL TAKE A SHORT BREAK AND COME BACK AT 7:34.

CITY COMMISSION FOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 3RD.

COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THE MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 26, 2022. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SETS OF MINUTES? SO MOVE. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ARE THERE ANY CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED/ THE CHAIR VOTES AYE.

AND THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.

NEXT, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO READ THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH PROCLAMATION AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO PAY ATTENTION.

THIS IS, I THINK, A REALLY IMPORTANT PROCLAMATION THAT WE HAVE TO PRESENT THIS EVENING.

WHEREAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A PATTERN OF ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR IN ANY RELATIONSHIP THAT IS USED BY ONE PARTNER TO GAIN OR MAINTAIN POWER AND CONTROL OVER ANOTHER INTIMATE PARTNER.

IT CAN BE PHYSICAL, SEXUAL, EMOTIONAL, ECONOMIC, PSYCHOLOGICAL OR TECHNOLOGICAL ACTIONS OR THREATS OF ACTIONS OR OTHER PATTERNS OF COERCIVE BEHAVIOR.

AND WHEREAS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HAPPENS IN EVERY COMMUNITY, IT AFFECTS PEOPLE OF ALL GENDERS, RACES, ETHNICITIES, SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS, AND AGES. ONE IN FOUR WOMEN AND ONE IN TEN MEN HAVE EXPERIENCED SEXUAL VIOLENCE, PHYSICAL VIOLENCE OR STALKING BY AN INTIMATE PARTNER DURING THEIR LIFETIME.

AND WHEREAS, IN OCTOBER 1981, THE NATIONAL COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HELD A DAY OF UNITY TO CONNECT PEOPLE WHO WERE WORKING TO STOP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

THIS GREW INTO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, FIRST OBSERVED IN 1987, WHEREAS DUE TO THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC, THE LOCKDOWNS THAT WERE IMPLEMENTED UNINTENTIONALLY CREATED A CONDITION IN WHICH THE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WERE TRAPPED WITH THEIR ABUSERS, THEY WERE LESS ABLE TO CONTACT OUTSIDE AGENCIES FOR HELP WHILE THE STRESS OF THE PANDEMIC, ALONG WITH THE ISOLATION AND ECONOMIC HARDSHIP IT CAUSED FUEL THE VIOLENCE THAT WAS INFLICTED.

AND WHEREAS, RACISM, HOMOPHOBIA, TRANSPHOBIA, AGEISM AND DISCRIMINATION BASED ON PHYSICAL ABILITY, NATIONALITY OR OTHER FACTORS HELPED TO PERPETUATE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND MAKE FINDING SAFETY EVEN MORE DIFFICULT FOR SOME VICTIMS. AND WHEREAS, WE ARE COMMITTED TO STANDING WITH AND SUPPORTING SURVIVORS AND VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND WE HONOR THE DEDICATION OF ADVOCATES AND SERVICE PROVIDERS, HONOR THE COURAGE AND RESILIENCE OF SURVIVORS, AND RECOMMIT OURSELVES TO STANDING WITH THEM FOR SAFETY, DIGNITY AND JUSTICE.

AND WHEREAS, WE MUST DEDICATE OURSELVES TO CREATING A COMMUNITY AND A SOCIETY WHERE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS NOT TOLERATED, WHERE SURVIVORS AND VICTIMS ARE SUPPORTED, AND WHERE ALL PEOPLE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE WITHOUT FEAR OF VIOLENCE OR ABUSE.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DECATUR, HERE DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 2022 AS DOMESTIC

[00:45:05]

AND I THINK WE HAVE A STAFF MEMBER THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS FOR A FEW MINUTES.

SO THANK YOU.

CHRISTINE. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS AND CITY MANAGER.

I WANTED TO BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.

I WANTED TO START WITH THAT SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT I MAY READ MAY BE TRIGGERING OR STRESSFUL.

SO IF ANYONE FEELS THAT THEY MAY NEED TO REMOVE THEMSELVES OR TAKE WHATEVER TIME THEY NEED TO DECOMPRESS OR WHENEVER THEY SEE FIT, THAT IS COMPLETELY NORMAL AND OKAY.

THERE SHOULD BE PINS.

I THINK MOST OF YOU HAVE THEM ON OR IN FRONT OF YOU.

THEY ARE PURPLE TO SIGNIFY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, SO YOU CAN WEAR THEM THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OR WHENEVER YOU FEEL FIT.

I'M GOING TO BE WEARING MINE ALL MONTH, BUT IT'S UP TO YOU, YOUR DISCRETION.

I JUST ALSO WANTED TO REINSTATE THAT ONE IN FOUR WOMEN AND ONE IN TEN MEN ARE AFFECTED BY THIS.

AND THERE ARE SIX TYPES WHICH WERE READ IN THE PROCLAMATION, AND THERE ARE GROUPS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SUCH AS BLACK AND AFRICAN AMERICANS, PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES, NATIVE AMERICANS, YOUNG PEOPLE, INCLUDING CHILDREN, TEENAGERS AND THOSE LIVING ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES AS WELL AS OLDER ADULTS, LATINX COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AS WELL AS MEN, WHICH USUALLY TEND TO BE OVERLOOKED.

JUST A SMALL STATISTIC FROM THAT IS THAT WOMEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 16 AND 24 EXPERIENCE INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, WHICH IS INTERCHANGEABLE WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AT THE HIGHEST RATE OF ANY AGE GROUP.

AND IT'S ABOUT THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT OF THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

AND I ALSO FOUND SOME STATISTICS FOR THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

IN 2020, 42,031, INCIDENTS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE WERE REPORTED.

OF THOSE, 69 WERE REPORTED BY FEMALE VICTIMS AND 31 FROM MALE VICTIMS. IN 2021, 212 KNOWN CASES OF FAMILY VIOLENCE RELATED FATALITIES WERE REPORTED.

AND THERE WAS A 49% INCREASE IN FAMILY VIOLENCE RELATED FATALITIES FROM 2020 TO 2021.

ON AVERAGE, NEARLY 20 PEOPLE PER MINUTE ARE PHYSICALLY ABUSED BY AN INTIMATE PARTNER IN THE UNITED STATES.

TO KIND OF BRING THAT IN, BECAUSE YOU WERE ALL HERE LAST WEEK, OUR COMMISSION MEETING LAST WEEK WAS A LITTLE BIT OVER AN HOUR, SO THAT WOULD BE ABOUT 1,200 AND SOME CHANGE VICTIMS IN THAT TIME PERIOD.

I ALSO WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME RESOURCES.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT BOOKS THAT YOU CAN READ.

I BROUGHT A COUPLE.

THERE'S. IT'S KNOW MY NAME, A MEMOIR BY CHANEL MILLER.

THERE'S BLACK AND BLUE BY ANNA QUINDLEN.

THERE'S ALSO A NETFLIX SERIES CALLED MADE, WHICH TALKS ABOUT DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN A HOUSEHOLD.

THERE'S ALSO THE ONE LOVE FOUNDATION, WHICH WAS A FOUNDATION TO MEMORIALIZE YEARDLEY LOVE.

SHE WAS A LACROSSE PLAYER FOR UVA.

SHE WAS MURDERED OR KILLED IN MAY OF 2010 BY HER FORMER BOYFRIEND, WHICH WAS A RESULT OF ENDING THE RELATIONSHIP.

AND HER FAMILY STARTED THE FOUNDATION AND THEY NOW GO AROUND TO DIFFERENT COLLEGES IN THE UNITED STATES, EDUCATING THEM ON INTERVENTION, KNOWING THE SIGNS AND WHAT A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP LOOKS LIKE.

WE ALSO HAVE RESOURCES WITHIN THE CITY, WHICH WE HAVE SAFE PLACES.

IT LOOKS LIKE A YELLOW STREET SIGN.

THEY ARE DIAMOND SHAPED AND THE A IN PLACE IS SHAPED LIKE A HOME.

THEY CAN BE FOUND INSIDE OF THE REC CENTER, THE FIRE STATIONS, AS WELL AS PD.

AND I JUST WANTED TO END WITH ANYONE THAT'S OUT THERE OR MAY FEEL THAT THEY KNOW SOMEONE, THAT LOVE SHOULD NEVER HURT AND THAT THERE ARE RESOURCES AND THAT WE ARE THERE TO SUPPORT THEM.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR RESEARCH AND FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

NEXT, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR THE SUDS BEER FESTIVAL.

SO WELCOME, MADELEINE.

HI THERE. I'M MADELEINE HENNER, THE PROGRAM'S DIRECTOR OVER AT LEGACY DECATUR.

[00:50:01]

PREVIOUSLY, THE DECATUR BEER FESTIVAL.

SIMPLY US DOING OUR SHARE, WITH PERMISSION FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND LOCAL BUSINESS LEADERS.

DAVE BLANCHARD, TOM MOORE AND MIKE GALLAGHER MADE THE DECISION TO BRING BACK THIS ICONIC DECATUR EVENT AND A NEW DECATUR SPACE LEGACY PARK.

THE MOVE TO LEGACY PARK ALLOWS ALL ATTENDEES TO HAVE A VIP EXPERIENCE WITH ROOM TO SPREAD OUT AND ENJOY THE 70 PLUS CRAFT BEERS, QUALITY EATS AND ROCK AND LIVE TUNES.

THE EVENT WILL ALSO FEATURE SOME AMAZING LEGACY PARK NON-PROFITS, INCLUDING FOOD FROM THE REFUGEE WOMEN'S NETWORK, MUSIC FROM THE FRANK HAMILTON SCHOOL OF MUSIC AND INFORMATIONAL TABLES REPRESENTING WILDNESS, BIRD REHAB, L'ARCHE, INSPIRITUS, WYLDE CENTER, DECATUR ARTS ALLIANCE AND SO ON. ALTHOUGH THE DECATUR BEER FESTIVAL IS BEST KNOWN FOR BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND PUTTING ON AN AMAZING EVENT AND HIGHLIGHTING LOCAL BUSINESSES, ITS PURPOSE AS A FUNDRAISER FOR LOCAL NONPROFITS CANNOT BE OVERLOOKED.

OVER ITS 20 YEAR RUN, IT HAS RAISED $1.6 MILLION FOR LOCAL NONPROFITS.

AS A KIND OF LEARNING YEAR AND A NEW SPACE, WE'VE SHIFTED THE GRANT PROCESS FROM APPLICATIONS BEFORE THE EVENT UNTIL AFTER, UNTIL WE KNOW HOW MUCH REVENUE WE'RE DEALING WITH FOR THE PROCEEDS.

AND SO WE'VE LIMITED THIS YEAR'S PROCEEDS TO THE NONPROFITS AT LEGACY PARK.

SO I HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15TH, FROM NOON TO 4 P.M..

WHEN WE GET THE WRISTBANDS IN, WE'LL PUT A WRISTBAND FOR YOU AND A GUEST IN EACH OF YOUR MAILBOXES.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.

ARE TICKETS CURRENTLY ON SALE? TICKETS ARE ON SALE.

[LAUGHTER] SO YOU CAN GO TO.

WELL, I KNOW HERE, BUT OUR WIDE LISTENING AUDIENCE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SCAN THIS.

SO IF YOU LOOK UP SUDS, SIMPLY US DOING OUR SHARE, DECATUR BEER FESTIVAL.

THE TICKETS ARE ON FRESHTIX.COM.

ALL RIGHT. CAN I JUST SAY THIS ART IS ADORABLE? [LAUGHTER] IT IS REALLY CUTE.

AND I LOVE THE NEW NAME, SO IT'S GREAT.

SO THANKS. NEW NAME FOR A REVAMPED EVENT.

WE'RE REALLY EXCITED. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, MADELEINE.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT, WE'LL ASK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ACTION ITEMS. THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO COMMENT ON AGENDA ACTION ITEMS AND ITEMS OTHER THAN AGENDA ITEMS. YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE COMMENTS DURING REQUEST AND PETITIONS, AND THESE COMMENTS WILL BE HEARD LATER IN THE MEETING.

WE HAVE ONE AGENDA ACTION ITEM.

IT IS THE GENDER NEUTRALIZATION OF PRONOUNS IN THE CITY CHARTER AND WE WILL TAKE INPUT FIRST FROM THOSE WHO HAVE JOINED US IN PERSON AND THEN WE'LL SEE IF THERE ARE ANY WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT FROM OUR VIEWING AUDIENCE ONLINE AFTER WE TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT FROM THOSE IN OUR CHAMBERS.

SO IF THERE'S ANYONE HERE NOW THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE THE ONE AGENDA ACTION ITEM WITH RESPECT TO GENDER NEUTRALIZATION OF PRONOUNS, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND MAKE YOUR COMMENT.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND MAKE YOUR COMMENT.

SO, THANK YOU. MY NAME IS LYNN GATHERCOLE.

I LIVE AT 1003 KATIE KERR DRIVE IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.

AND I'M ACTUALLY HERE BECAUSE I LOOKED AT THE COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA THAT'S POSTED ONLINE.

AND ITEM NUMBER TWO WAS COVERING THE PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDAS AND TALKING ABOUT THE CHANGE TO THE CITY ORDINANCE REGARDING PROPERTIES WHERE YOU COULD PUT DUPLEXES, QUADS ON LOTS THAT ARE 80 FEET WIDE. IS THAT NOT BEING TALKED ABOUT TODAY? THAT'S CORRECT.

IT WILL BE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA AT THEIR NEXT MEETING AND WILL BE ON THE CITY COMMISSION AGENDA AT THE FOLLOWING MEETING.

SO IT WILL BE ON OUR NEXT MEETING IN TWO WEEKS.

YES. IT'S ON ONLINE THAT WAY.

THAT'S WHY.

OKAY. OR IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THAT, IF YOU WILL DO IT UNDER REQUEST AND PETITIONS TONIGHT, SINCE IT'S NOT AN AGENDA ACTION ITEM OR YOU CAN PLEASE MAKE YOUR COMMENT OR SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS AT THE MEETING WHERE WE WILL BE LOOKING SPECIFICALLY AT THAT AS AN AGENDA ACTION ITEM.

[00:55:04]

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ARE THERE OTHERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON OUR ONE AGENDA ACTION ITEM? SEEING NONE IN OUR MEETING.

I'LL ASK MS. ROARK TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYONE ONLINE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON OUR ONE AGENDA ACTION ITEM, THE GENDER NEUTRALIZATION OF PRONOUNS IN THE CITY CHARTER.

ALL RIGHT, SEEING NONE WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND ASK MS. ROARK TO COME FORWARD WITH THE AGENDA ACTION ITEM.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING. I AM ACTUALLY EXCITED TO BE BEFORE YOU WITH THIS ITEM TONIGHT.

I'M HERE TO RECOMMEND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 0-22-XX FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBSTITUTING GENDER NEUTRAL PRONOUNS AND TERMS WITHIN SECTIONS 3.10, 3.11, 3.15, 3.16, 3.17, 3.21, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 5.10, 5.11, 6.11, 6.12, 7.11, 8.11, 8.12.

IN THE CITIES CHARTER [LAUGHTER], YOU MAY RECALL, OR MAYBE NOT, MARCH 2021 WAS ACTUALLY A WHILE AGO, THAT I WAS BEFORE YOU TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE HAD CONTRACTED WITH MUNICODE TO PERFORM A REVIEW OF OUR CODE OF ORDINANCES FOR INSTANCES OF GENDERED LANGUAGE AND THEN TO PROVIDE US WITH A LIST OF RECOMMENDED MODIFICATIONS AS PART OF OUR EFFORTS TO SUPPORT EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN THE COMMUNITY.

GENDERED LANGUAGE WAS FOUND IN OUR CHARTER, IN THE GENERAL CODE SECTIONS AND THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE.

IN PARTICULAR, THERE WERE 20 SECTIONS IN THE CHARTER THAT I JUST LISTED THAT HAD SOME GENDERED LANGUAGE.

AN EXAMPLE OF GENDER NEUTRAL OR GENDER LANGUAGE WOULD BE TAKING IN CHARTER 3.10, SAYS CITY COMMISSIONERS RIGHT NOW SHALL BE ELECTED BY RECEIVING A PLURALITY OF VOTES CAST IN AN ELECTION DISTRICT IN WHICH HE OR SHE QUALIFIED.

AND WE ARE LOOKING TO CHANGE THAT TO SOMETHING SUCH AS JUST 'CITY COMMISSIONER' INSTEAD OF USING HE OR SHE.

THE ATTACHED LANGUAGE SEEKS TO MODIFY ANY AND ALL MASCULINE AND OR FEMININE LANGUAGE TO GENDER NEUTRAL LANGUAGE.

IN YOUR AGENDA PACKET WAS A READING GUIDE THAT LISTED ALL THE LOCATIONS FOR CHANGE AND IT'S CALLED THE GENDER NEUTRALIZATION REPORT FOR THE CITY CHARTER. THE INTENT OF THESE SUBSTITUTIONS IN CHANGING OF TERMS SHALL NOT SUBSTANTIVELY ALTER OR MODIFY THE MEANING OF OR EFFECT OF ANY PROVISIONS IN THE CHARTER.

OUR CITY ATTORNEY, BRYAN DOWNS, HAS REVIEWED THESE SUGGESTED CHANGES AND RECOMMENDS THE ATTACHED SUBSTITUTIONS.

BECAUSE THE AMENDMENTS TO THE CHARTER ARE BEING ASKED TO BE ADOPTED BY HOME RULE, HE CHARTER AMENDMENT MUST BE ADOPTED AT TWO REGULAR CONSECUTIVE MEETINGS.

SO TONIGHT WOULD BE OUR FIRST READING AND HOPEFULLY ADOPTION.

THE SECOND READING OF THE ORDINANCE AND FINAL ADOPTION IS RECOMMENDED FOR INCLUSION ON YOUR OCTOBER 17TH AGENDA.

IN ADDITION, A NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE CHAMPION NEWSPAPER ON SEPTEMBER 22ND, AS WELL AS SEPTEMBER 29TH, AND A FINAL AND THIRD RUN OF THE NOTICE WILL OCCUR THIS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6TH, AS REQUIRED BY THE STATE CODE.

CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTIONS OF THE GENERAL CODE AS WELL AS THE U.D.O.

TO SUBSTITUTE GENDER NEUTRAL PRONOUNS IN TERMS, AND THOSE SECTIONS WILL BE PLACED ON THE OCTOBER 17TH AGENDA.

SO TO REITERATE, TONIGHT IS JUST PART ONE OF THIS PROCESS.

I WILL BE BACK BEFORE YOU ON OCTOBER 17TH.

PART TWO AND THREE WILL INCLUDE A PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION.

YOU MAY HAVE HEARD AT OUR MEETING LAST WEEK WHEN THE MAYOR READ THE PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA THAT THE CITY MANAGER OFFICE HAS AN ITEM ON THERE TO ASK THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO RECOMMEND CHANGES TO THE LANGUAGE SINCE THEY HAVE ZONING IMPLICATIONS, WE NEED IT TO FOLLOW THE ZONING PROCEDURES LAW.

SO THERE WILL BE A ZONING ORDINANCE ON THE AGENDA AS WELL AS A SECOND ORDINANCE THAT WILL AMEND THE GENERAL SECTIONS OF THE CODE.

[01:00:04]

AND THAT WAS QUITE A LOT AND VERY SPEEDILY.

SO IF WE HAVE SOME QUESTIONS I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.

ARE THERE QUESTIONS? I HAD A QUESTION WHEN I FIRST SAW THIS AND ASK ABOUT THE SEPARATION OF THIS ONE VERSUS THE OTHER ONES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE CONSIDERED AFTER GOING TO PLANNING.

AND YOU'VE MADE IT CLEAR THAT IT'S DIFFERENT FOR THE CITY CHARTER, BUT THEY REQUIRE THE TWO ADOPTION VOTES.

THAT IS CORRECT.

I THINK WHEN WE FIRST STARTED LOOKING AT THIS, WE SAID WE FELT LIKE THIS WAS THE WAY THAT OUR CHARTER AND AND OUR ORDINANCES NEEDED TO REFLECT THE MORE INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE.

SO APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS AND BRINGING IT FORWARD.

SO ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE? 0-22-XX FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBSTITUTING GENDER NEUTRAL PRONOUNS AND TERMS IN THE CITY'S CHARTER? SO MOVE. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS AN ORDINANCE VOTE.

COMMISSIONER MAYER, HOW DO YOU VOTE? AYE. COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY.

AYE. COMMISSIONER WALSH.

AYE. MAYOR PRO TEM POWERS. AYE.

THE CHAIR VOTES AYE.

AND THE ORDINANCE IS ADOPTED FOR ITS FIRST READING.

NEXT, WE'LL OPEN THE MEETING UP FOR REQUEST AND PETITIONS TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BRING SOMETHING FORWARD AT THIS MEETING TO THE CITY COMMISSIONERS.

THIS IS THE LAST OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS MEETING FOR OCTOBER 3RD.

SO IF THERE'S ANYONE IN OUR AUDIENCE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

IF NOT, WE'LL MOVE FORWARD TO THOSE WHO ARE JOINING US ONLINE.

SEEING NONE, WE'LL MOVE TO THOSE WHO ARE JOINING US ONLINE.

AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT, IF YOU WILL, PLEASE RAISE YOUR VIRTUAL HAND.

WE WILL BE HAPPY TO LET YOU MAKE A COMMENT TO THE CITY COMMISSION AFTER YOU'VE STATED YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND MS. ROARK WILL UNMUTE YOU.

SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT, NOW'S THE TIME TO DO SO.

ALL RIGHT, SEEING NONE WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE MEETING FOR REQUEST AND PETITIONS AND WE'LL MOVE TO REPORTS AND OTHER BUSINESS.

FIRST, WE HAVE A RESOLUTION TO CONSIDER THAT CONFIRMS THAT THE CITY COMMISSION WENT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON SEPTEMBER 26 FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING REAL ESTATE MATTERS.

AND THAT RESOLUTION IS RESOLUTION R-22-XX.

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION? TO MOVE.

SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

AYE THE CHAIR VOTES AYE AND THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

NEXT, I'M GOING TO READ OUR ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS AGENDA.

THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS WILL MEET ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER THE 19TH AT 7:30 P.M.

IN THIS ROOM.

THESE ITEMS DO NOT COME BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION.

THEY ARE DECIDED AT THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS AND CAN ONLY BE APPEALED IN SUPERIOR COURT.

AND IF THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT, THEY'RE WELCOME TO ATTEND THIS MEETING OR SUBMIT THEIR COMMENTS IN WRITING TO ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER DAVID YOUNGER.

AND THAT MEETING AGAIN WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19.

SO YOU'LL GET TO HEAR THIS AGENDA ONE MORE TIME BECAUSE WE MEET AGAIN ON THE 17TH.

SO THE FOLLOWING ARE THE APPLICATIONS.

STEPHEN WHITFIELD, OWNER AND APPLICANT, HAS APPLIED FOR A VARIANCE FROM LAND DISTURBANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE TREE CANOPY CONSERVATION ORDINANCE FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 219 GORDON STREET.

SECOND, BRITTNEY BURKE, OWNER AND APPLICANT, HAS APPLIED FOR A VARIANCE FROM SIDE YARD SETBACK REQUIREMENTS AND FRONT YARD SETBACK REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 214 GARLAND AVENUE.

THIRD, MICHAEL DECARLO, APPLICANT, AND ANDY BEACH, OWNER, HAVE APPLIED FOR A VARIANCE FROM SIDE YARD SETBACK REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 222

[01:05:01]

D) ANNE HILLGARTNER AND JOHN BERNAU, OWNERS AND APPLICANTS, HAVE APPLIED FOR A VARIANCE FROM STREAM BUFFER REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 163 COVENTRY ROAD.

ITEM E, STEPHEN KLIM, APPLICANT, HAS APPLIED FOR A VARIANCE FROM STREAM BUFFER REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 304 MADISON AVENUE. AND THEN FINALLY, KEVIN GOUDY, OWNER, HAS APPLIED FOR A VARIANCE FROM FLOOR AREA RATIO REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 115 CANDLER OAKS LANE.

I ALSO WANT TO READ THE PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL MEET NEXT WEEK ON OCTOBER THE 11TH AT 7 P.M.

IN THIS ROOM.

THE NEW BUSINESS THAT WILL BE CONSIDERED IS THE THE CITY OF DECATUR COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS REQUESTED TEXT AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE 2, ARTICLE 3, ARTICLE 6, ARTICLE 7, AND ARTICLE 12 OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE TO ALLOW DUPLEX, TRIPLEX AND QUAPDLEX RESIDENTIAL UNITS IN R50, R60, R85 AND RS-17 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS.

IN ITEM B, TALIA AND JOE BUNTING HAVE REQUESTED A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW AN EIGHT BEDROOM LODGING HOUSE TO FUNCTION AS A BOUTIQUE INN WITHIN AN R-60 ZONING DISTRICT FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 620 PINE TREE DRIVE.

AND ITEM C, THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE HAS REQUESTED TEXT AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE 7, ARTICLE 11 AND ARTICLE 12 OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBSTITUTING GENDER NEUTRAL PRONOUNS.

AND THESE ITEMS WILL GO TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FIRST AND THEN WOULD COME TO THE CITY COMMISSION WITH A RECOMMENDATION AT OUR FOLLOWING MEETING ON OCTOBER THE 17TH.

MAYOR? YES. SO JUST WITH THIS PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA ITEMS ARE A COUPLE OF THEM THAT WILL COME TO US.

AND SO WOULD THAT BE OUR FINAL CONSIDERATION? AND THEN AFTER OCTOBER 17TH, BOTH THESE WOULD COME BEFORE US.

WOULD WE CONSIDER THEM AT ALL IN THE FUTURE OR IS THAT THE DATE WHEN THOSE ISSUES ARE DECIDED? SO I THINK IT WOULD DEPEND.

ON THE FIRST ITEM WE HAVE TO HAVE THREE HEARINGS.

AND SO I DON'T BELIEVE THEY WILL GO TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION A SECOND AND THIRD TIME.

THREE HEARINGS. SO ONE IN OCTOBER, ONE IN JANUARY AND ONE IN FEBRUARY.

SO THEY'LL COME BACK.

THANK YOU. WE'LL HAVE THESE HEARINGS.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

RIGHT. RIGHT. SO AND THEN I THINK THE TEXT AMENDMENTS, MS. ROARK, EXPLAIN THAT ONE.

BUT YES, THE FIRST ONE IS THE ONE THAT THE STATE LAW CHANGED THIS YEAR, HENCE THE THE BLUE SIGNS AND THE THREE DATES.

BUT THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT, BECAUSE I WASN'T SURE IF IT HAD TO GO BACK TO PLANNING EACH TIME, BUT IT JUST COMES.

DO WE VOTE ON IT EACH TIME OR IS IT, BECAUSE THE AMENDMENTS FOR THE GENDER NEUTRAL PRONOUNS, WE HAVE TO VOTE ON.

IT ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE THE BUDGET HEARING TO AN EXTENT, BUT THANK YOU.

WE'LL BE ALL LOOKING FOR THAT CLARIFICATION BECAUSE I'M SURE WE'RE ALL GETTING QUESTIONS WELL BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING I'LL HAVE THAT ANSWER TO YOU.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

YEAH, BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT, BUT YES, THANKS FOR ASKING FOR THAT.

SO AND THEN NEXT, WE HAVE A REDISTRICTING UPDATE THAT I WILL TURN OVER TO MS. ARNOLD. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

COMMISSIONERS. I WAS GOING TO HAND OUT THIS MAP.

THIS IS THE SAME MAP THAT'S THAT'S ONLINE.

I BELIEVE THAT THIS WORK IS GOING TO PULL IT UP FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE.

SO TONIGHT, I JUST WANT TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF REDISTRICTING FOR THE CITY.

AND BASED OFF OF THE 2020 CENSUS RESULTS, THE POPULATIONS OF THE CITY COMMISSION AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION DISTRICTS DO CONTAIN ENOUGH DEVIATION TO REQUIRE ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR VOTING DISTRICTS TO MEET THE ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE REQUIREMENT OF THE GEORGIA AND US CONSTITUTIONS. SO JUST TO BE CLEAR THAT THE CONCEPT IS THAT DISTRICTS WITHIN A POLITICAL ENTITY NOT BE SO DISPROPORTIONATELY POPULATED AS TO DIMINISH THE VOTING STRENGTH OF ANY OF THE CITIZENS.

[01:10:04]

SO PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE, AND THAT IS BASED IN THE US AND THE GEORGIA CONSTITUTIONS, SPECIFICALLY THE EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE. SO IF THE ACTUAL DISTRICT POPULATION DEVIATION EXCEEDS 10%, THEN REDISTRICTING IS NEEDED.

AND ACCORDING TO THE 2020 CENSUS, THE CITY'S IDEAL DISTRICT POPULATION WAS 12,464, AND THE TOTAL DEVIATION WITHIN THE CURRENT DISTRICTS IS JUST 11.41%.

SO WE ARE OUTSIDE OF THAT ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF DEVIATION.

SO DISTRICT 1 CURRENTLY HAS A POPULATION OF 13,175, SO THAT'S 711 PEOPLE ABOVE THE IDEAL DISTRICT POPULATION.

DISTRICT 2 HAS 11,753 PEOPLE AND THAT'S 711 PEOPLE LESS THAN THE IDEAL DISTRICT POPULATION.

AFTER MEETING WITH STAFF FROM THE STATE LEGISLATIVE AND CONGRESSIONAL CONGRESSIONAL REAPPORTIONMENT OFFICE, THE MAP THAT YOU HAVE THERE IN FRONT OF YOU, THE ONE THAT'S ALSO ONLINE AND AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

AND THIS MAP WAS PRODUCED WITH THE PROPOSED VOTING DISTRICTS, AND THAT WILL RESULT IN A TOTAL DEVIATION OF 0.16% OR A TOTAL DEVIATION OF 20 PEOPLE.

YOU CAN'T GET A WHOLE LOT CLOSER THAN THAT.

AND SO YOU'LL SEE HERE ON THAT PROPOSED MAP, AND IT'S JUST THE SECTION THAT'S THERE THAT'S OUTLINED IN RED.

THE PROPOSED DISTRICT EXTENDS DISTRICT 2 EAST ALONG THE EXISTING BOUNDARIES OF EAST PONCE DE LEON AVENUE TO THE NORTH, EAST HOWARD AVENUE ON THE SOUTH, FROM NORTH MCDONOUGH STREET TO NORTH CANDLER.

AND BY DOING THIS, IT REDUCES THE DISTRICT 1 POPULATION BY 701 FOR A TOTAL OF 12,474, AND THE DISTRICT 2 POPULATION WOULD INCREASE BY 701, GETTING US TO 12,454.

LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT SURE IF WE COULD GET IT ANY CLOSER THAN THAT.

AND IF YOU ARE CURIOUS AS TO WHAT RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS ARE IN THAT THAT RECTANGLE, WE HAVE TOWN SQUARE CONDOS, PHILLIPS PRESBYTERIAN TOWER, THE ARLO, AND THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF HOUSING, THERE'S A SMATTERING OF HOUSING, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ON EAST MAPLE AND NORTH CANDLER.

AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE FOUND THE 701 PEOPLE.

IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE THE PROPOSED DISTRICT WE ARE RECOMMENDING THE SCHEDULE BELOW BECAUSE THIS IS ALSO AN AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER.

SO IT DOES REQUIRE THE THREE ADVERTISEMENTS, WHICH WE WOULD START ON OCTOBER 20TH AND THEN THE ORDINANCE WOULD BE HEARD AND RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION ON NOVEMBER 7TH AND THEN AGAIN ON NOVEMBER 21ST FOR A SECOND ADOPTION.

AND WE WANT TO DO THIS BEFORE THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR BECAUSE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WILL NEED TO TAKE THESE SAME DISTRICTS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, TO BE APPROVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

SO THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT PROCESS THAT THEY NEED TO FOLLOW THAT THE CITY.

THE CITY, WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE THIS CHARTER CHANGE THROUGH HOME RULE.

AND SO THE PROCESS IS WE INITIATE, WE'LL MAKE THE ADOPTION AND THEN TURN IT OVER TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR THEM TO HAVE CARRIED THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE WITH THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND TO HAVE THESE DISTRICTS READY FOR THE 2023 ELECTION.

I HAVE SENT THIS INFORMATION TO THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT AND ASKED HER TO SHARE WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD AND ALSO OFFER TO HAVE A WORK SESSION WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD ANYTIME BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF THE YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY THEY'RE COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT'S BEING CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COMMISSION. LAST TIME WE DID THIS WAS 2011.

[01:15:03]

SO ROUGHLY EVERY TEN YEARS AFTER EVERY CENSUS, IF THERE IS ENOUGH DEVIATION, THESE CHANGES WILL TAKE PLACE.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS ABOUT THIS REDISTRICTING? WE REACH OUT TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SWITCHED OR WERE PROPOSING TO SWITCH? OR WE'RE GOING TO PUBLISH IT NORMALLY.

THERE'S NO SPECIAL OUTREACH.

AND I DIDN'T SAY THIS.

NO SPECIAL PUBLIC HEARING IS REQUIRED AS PART OF THIS PROCESS.

I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT FOR BOTH OF THOSE MEETINGS IN NOVEMBER THAT WE HAVE A SEPARATE, SPECIFIC PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS. AND SO IT WOULD ALLOW ANYONE IN THE IMPACTED AREA, OF COURSE, TO SPEAK UP.

LIKE I SAID, THAT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT OF THE STATE LAW TO MAKE THE CHANGE.

BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE PRUDENT.

CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THIS WAS DRAWN WELL, I WORKED WITH A STAFF PERSON AT THE STATE REAPPORTIONMENT OFFICE.

AND THE WAY THEY LOOK AT IT, I MEAN, THEY DON'T KNOW ANY OF THE POLITICS.

YOU KNOW IT'S STRICTLY AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS WHERE THEY'RE LOOKING AT EXISTING, WELL ONE I WOULD SAY MAYBE SOME NATURAL BORDERS. IN THIS CASE THE RAILROAD TRACKS AND PONCE DE LEON, I THINK THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SIMPLE, CLEAN LINES AND JUST REALLY JUST TRYING TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF THE LAW; IT'S THE ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE.

WHAT'S THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO DO THAT? AND IN THIS WAY, IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE STAFF AND THE REAPPORTIONMENT OFFICE, THIS APPEARED JUST TO BE A NATURAL PROGRESSION.

ACTUALLY WHAT I WOULD ENVISION IS IF THE POPULATION CONTINUES, SAY, TEN YEARS FROM NOW WE HAVE A SIMILAR DEVIATION THAT I WOULD SEE THE DISTRICT 2 PERHAPS CONTINUING TO THE EAST BETWEEN THESE PONDS AND THE RAILROAD TRACKS OUT TO THE CITY LIMITS.

AND AGAIN, THAT IS VERY MUCH THE TYPE OF FEEDBACK I RECEIVED FROM THE STAFF PERSON.

IT'S VERY MUCH A NUMBERS GAME.

AND ALSO WE DID CONFIRM THAT THIS DOES NOT, THIS HIGHLIGHTED AREA, THAT THERE ARE NO CURRENT CITY COMMISSIONERS NOR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS LIVING IN THAT DISTRICT.

AND SO IT WOULD NOT BE DISRUPTIVE TO ANYONE WHO IS CURRENTLY ELECTED.

BUT I THINK TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY, I THINK, YOU KNOW, LETTING PEOPLE KNOW, BUT ALSO ESPECIALLY ONCE ANY CHANGES ARE MADE THAT WE ADVERTISE THAT AND LET THE FOLKS THAT LIVE IN THAT DISTRICT KNOW THAT SO THEY AREN'T SURPRISED WHEN THEIR VOTING DISTRICT CHANGES DEFINITELY WE WOULD HAVE A LIST OF ALL THE RESIDENTS AND WE WOULD NOTIFY THEM OF THEIR NEW VOTING DISTRICT.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THEY CARE, BUT IT JUST SEEMS. RIGHT. RIGHT.

AND JUST A FOLLOW UP QUESTION.

I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWER. I'LL MAKE SURE I DON'T BUNGLE THIS.

IT DOES NOT AFFECT ATTENDANCE DISTRICTS.

THAT'S COMPLETELY SEPARATE.

THAT IS COMPLETELY SEPARATE.

YEAH. THIS IS VOTING DISTRICTS FOR CITY COMMISSION AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.

AND SO SOMETIMES WHEN WE USE THAT TERM REDISTRICTING, THE WORD DISTRICTS CAN SOMETIMES BE CONFUSED TO MEAN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

FOR THE LISTENING AUDIENCE OUT THERE.

THANK YOU. CITY COMMISSION AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS VOTING DISTRICTS ONLY.

BECAUSE IN SOME LOCATIONS THEY ARE DEFINITELY NOT THE SAME.

ALL RIGHT.

IS THAT ALL FROM YOU ? THAT'S IT.

UNLESS I HEAR SOME SOME CONCERNS THE PLAN WOULD BE TO NOTIFY THE CHAMPION NEXT WEEK TO START THE

[01:20:06]

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER MAYER.

THANK YOU. SO, STARTED WITH A GREAT WORK SESSION AND THEN HAD A REALLY MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION AND SHARED INFORMATION ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND I'M GLAD WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES AND A PLATFORM TO BE ABLE TO SHARE INFORMATION THAT IS SO IMPORTANT ABOUT TOPICS THAT ARE TOUGH BUT AFFECT SO MANY PEOPLE.

SO IT'S GREAT TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO HELP REMOVE STIGMA FROM THINGS THAT WE DON'T TYPICALLY GET TO TALK ABOUT SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY CAN REACH OUT AND GET HELP AND GO TO SAFE SPACES WITH HOUSES MARKED WITH A WHEN NECESSARY.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

IT IS THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR.

[SINGING] FALL FESTIVAL SEASON.

SO STARTING WITH PORCHFEST NEXT WEEK.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO PLAN OUT YOUR DAY FOR SATURDAY, PLEASE VISIT OAKHURSTPORCHFEST.ORG WHERE THERE IS AN INTERACTIVE MAP COMPLETE WITH ALL OF THE ROADS AND ALL OF THE BANDS PERFORMING AND WHAT TIME THAT THEY ARE PERFORMING.

HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE ANALOG LIKE ME, YOU CAN ACTUALLY PICK UP A COPY OF THE MAP STARTING ON THURSDAY AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS: WAHOO WINE AND PROVISIONS, [INAUDIBLE], THE IMPERIAL, OAKHURST MARKET, U JOINT AND THE DECATUR VISITOR CENTER.

SO WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING A SUPER FUN PORCHFEST, AND THEN WE'LL REST UP SO WE CAN BE READY FOR SUDS THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND.

THAT'S ALL FOR ME TODAY, MAYOR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TIME.

AND I DO THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A NICE WEEKEND AS WELL.

COME ON WEATHER.

ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER DUSENBURY.

I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO TALK ABOUT.

SO I'M JUST GOING TO PASS AND SAY IT'S BEEN A GREAT MEETING AND APPRECIATE YOU ALL.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

[LAUGHTER] I DIDN'T HAVE A LOT EITHER.

I'M ACTUALLY SO OVERWHELMED BY OCTOBER THAT I'M NEARLY PARALYZED WITH THE CALENDAR.

I'M EXCITED FOR FALL, THOUGH.

I'M EXCITED FOR JUST THIS JOURNEY WE'VE BEEN ON AS A CITY, SETTING THE TONE WITH THE RACIAL EQUITY ACTION PLAN.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT SPRING, IT'S FALL.

BUT I FEEL LIKE IT'S A TIME OF REGROWTH AND REBIRTH AND A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CITY.

AND IT ALSO SPEAKS TO THE INFUSION OF DOLLARS AND SUPPORT FROM FEDERAL AND STATE OPPORTUNITIES THAT I THINK ARE GOING TO ALSO FUEL THIS TYPE OF WORK AND OTHER WORK THAT WE'RE EMBARKING ON.

THANK YOU TO THE CITY I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION REGIONAL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, AND I'M SURE I'LL TALK ABOUT IT AT DIFFERENT POINTS AS THOSE LEARNINGS ARE COMING TO THE FORE AND THE NETWORKS AND THE RELATIONSHIPS.

BUT CERTAINLY THE THROUGH LINE OF ALL THE HARD WORK FOR REGIONAL AND LOCAL LEADERS TO DO ON THE BIGGEST TOPICS THAT WE KEEP COMING BACK TO HAS THE THROUGH LINE OF RACIAL EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE AND HOW TO PUT AN EQUITY LENS ON EVERY DECISION FROM STORM WATER TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO TRANSPORTATION TO BUYING FIRE TRUCKS AND HIRING STAFF AND ALL THESE THINGS.

SO THIS IS JUST ONE MORE WAY THAT WE CAN DO OUR JOBS EVEN BETTER, MORE THOUGHTFULLY AND PLAN FOR PEOPLE WHO WILL BE HERE WELL AFTER WE ARE GONE AND NOT DOING THIS WORK.

SO I VALUE THAT PRESENTATION AND THE WORK THAT WILL BE ROLLING OUT OVER THE NEXT, LESS THAN A YEAR, 6 TO 9 MONTHS.

SO OTHER THAN THAT, I WANTED TO MENTION, AM I SCOOPING YOU ON NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP DAYS? [LAUGHTER] THOSE ARE COMING UP AND THEY ARE GREAT.

WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DO THEM FOR A WHILE AND WE CAN DO THEM AGAIN.

AND WE WILL GO TO THE CITY'S WEBSITE AND THERE'S A PDF JUST DO NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP DAYS, DECATUR, GEORGIA.

EVERYTHING'S OUT THERE.

I KNOW FOLKS LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

AND OUR CREW DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB SO WE CAN ALL GET STRAIGHTENED OUT AND ORGANIZED FOR THE WINTER.

I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO TALK ABOUT.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, MAYOR PRO TEM.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, I'LL PIGGYBACK ON YOUR FALL COMMENT.

I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT IN FALL, WE CHANGE TIME.

ALSO, REMEMBER TO CHANGE YOUR BATTERIES IN YOUR SMOKE DETECTORS.

I THINK THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE CITY.

THERE WAS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT ONE.

KUDOS TO OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR DOING AN AMAZING JOB MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY GOT OUT AND THERE WERE NO LIVES LOST.

BUT I'D LIKE TO ASK, IF IT'S POSSIBLE AS WE TALK ABOUT THINGS WE'RE GOING TO DO FOR OUR CLEAN ENERGY PLAN, IF WE COULD ALSO INCLUDE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THE ROUNDS WITH OUR SENIORS, THAT THEY HAVE FUNCTIONING SMOKE DETECTORS.

YOU KNOW THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE OFTEN DON'T THINK ABOUT.

AND IN MY OTHER WORLD, I HEAR TOO MANY INSTANCES WHERE THERE ARE NO WORKING SMOKE DETECTORS.

[01:25:04]

THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE SORT OF LITTLE COMPONENTS.

I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MLK EVERY DAY PROJECTS.

AND I THINK THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

IT IS ALSO FALL.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT EVERY FALL AND EVERY OCTOBER IS, LADIES, IT'S TIME FOR YOUR MAMMOGRAMS. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU KNOW, TO GO GET CHECKED BECAUSE EARLY PREVENTION IS ALWAYS THE BEST.

SO I'LL BE WEARING PINK AT ALL OF OUR COMMISSION MEETINGS THIS MONTH.

SO LOOK FORWARD TO JUST CLEAN BILLS OF HEALTH FOR OUR MOTHERS, OUR DAUGHTERS, OUR FRIENDS AND OUR NEIGHBORS WELCOME A NEW BUSINESS INTO THE COMMUNITY.

I DID A RIBBON CUTTING FOR JOURNEYMAN NEXT TO THE VISITOR CENTER ON SATURDAY.

IT'S A BIKE AND COFFEE SHOP, SO IT'S A COOL SPACE.

I'M HAPPY TO SEE. IN FACT, I'LL BE TAKING MY NEW E-BIKES OVER THERE TO GET THEM THOROUGHLY CHECKED OUT BEFORE WE KILL OURSELVES ON THE HIGHWAY [LAUGHTER].

THEY DID A GREAT JOB WITH MY WIFE'S BIKE.

WE SAW IT UP ON THE RACK [LAUGHTER].

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THANKS TO EVERYONE.

THE WORK SESSION WAS INFORMATIVE.

I'M INSPIRED BY THE STEPS THAT WE'RE TAKING INTERNALLY, AND I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO, IF YOU MISSED OUR WORK SESSION, TO GO ONLINE AND LISTEN, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO GET THE WORD OUT OF THE WORK THAT THE CITY IS DOING INTERNALLY.

AND I LOVE THAT WHAT COMES OUT OF IT IS GOING TO BE PUBLIC AND ALLOW THAT ACCOUNTABILITY FOR FOR ALL OF US.

I WILL MENTION THERE IS COFFEE WITH A COP THIS WEEK ON THURSDAY MORNING OR I BELIEVE WEDNESDAY MORNING, 8:00. I NEED TO LOOK AT MY CALENDAR, WEDNESDAY MORNING, 8:00, AT DANCING GOATS.

SO A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

OUR POLICE OFFICERS REALLY ENJOY DOING THAT.

AND IT'S A FUN TIME TO GO OUT AND MEET OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND HAVE A CONVERSATION AND A CUP OF COFFEE.

SO WITH RESPECT TO WHAT YOU HAD MENTIONED ABOUT SMOKE DETECTORS, I BELIEVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS GONE OUT TO OUR SENIORS HOMES BEFORE TO CHECK ON AND REPLACE SMOKE DETECTOR BATTERIES.

SO MAYBE WE COULD REACH OUT I THINK.

PROBABLY DIDN'T DO THAT DURING COVID, BUT I THINK NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING CARE OF THEM.

AND WE ALSO HAVE, BEFORE YOU GO TO THE SUDS EVENT, YOU CAN GO TO THE MADISON AVENUE SOAPBOX DERBY THAT SAME SATURDAY, OCTOBER THE 15TH.

I SAW ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS AND HER FRIENDS PRACTICING ON THE STREET.

AND SO AND THEY DID A GREAT JOB.

THERE WAS NO, YOU KNOW, THEY THEY HAVE IT DOWN, SO THEY'LL BE PREPARED.

BUT THAT'S ALWAYS A FUN EVENT.

SO LOTS OF GREAT THINGS HAPPENING AND LOTS OF FESTIVALS AND FUN EVENTS.

AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME OUT AND ENJOY THEM, BE A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, SEE YOUR NEIGHBORS AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.

SO THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS.

ACTUALLY I FORGOT SOMETHING.

TOMORROW FROM 4 TO, NATIONAL NIGHT OUT.

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT. DECATUR HOUSING AUTHORITY RETURNING THE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT.

IT'S A WAY TO MEET PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S THEIR WAY OF GIVING BACK.

I THINK THEY'RE DOING IT IN BOTH AT SPRING POINTE AND AT OLIVER HOUSE.

SO, TWO SEPARATE NIGHT OUTS.

FOR FAMILIES AND KIDS.

AND IT'S ALWAYS A FUN EVENT.

AND THE WEATHER IS LOVELY THIS WEEK.

SO THANKS FOR REMINDING US.

NOW, IF THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE WILL ADJOURN THIS MEETING AT 8:20.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.