HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-06-20 Bd Comm minutesAttachments:Ad Hoc Truth & Reconciliation Commission: May 4
Item Number: 4.a.
June 20, 2023
Ad Hoc Truth & Reconciliation Commission: May 4
1
May 4, 2023
Approved Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Minutes
Emma J. Harvat Hall, City Hall
Commissioners present: Chastity Dillard, Wangui Gathua, Marie Krebs, Lauren Merritt, Kevo
Rivera, Clif Johnson, Eric Harris (via Zoom), Sikowis Nobiss.
Staff present: Stefanie Bowers, Redmond Jones.
Meeting called to order: 7:08 pm.
Reading of Native American Land Acknowledgement: Dillard read the Land Acknowledgement.
Approval of Minutes from April 6, 2023: Rivera moved, and Merritt seconded.
Motion passed 8-0.
Public Comment of Items not on the Agenda: Mohamed Traore suggested the TRC adopt a
mindset that prioritized solutions and offered further reading material. Traore finished his
comments by urging the TRC to keep the youth in mind when considering outreach and decisions
that will disproportionately affect Iowa City youth.
Resignations: Traore expressed frustration with his inability to enact change as a member of the
TRC. Traore advocated for the TRC and community to invest in local children and lamented the
lack of available funding for the TRC. Traore thanked the TRC for its efforts. Dillard, Johnson,
Merritt, Gathua, Krebs, and Harris individually thanked and praised the pair for their
contributions to the commission and community. Rivera thanked the commission and reviewed
their history with the commission. Rivera encouraged the TRC to continue to work toward
bettering the community regardless of negative responses from the community.
Debrief and Next Steps: Merritt praised the community’s passion the past Tuesday at the City
Council meeting. Johnson expressed excitement toward the community’s eagerness to be
involved. Gathua also expressed excitement before reflecting on her experience as a member of
the TRC, emphasizing the need to focus on success. Manape LaMere praised the commission and
empathized with the resigning members. Eduardo Gonzalez emphasized the need for continued
work and stressed the need for resiliency. Dillard praised the presentation for its amplification of
contributor voices. Dillard suggested working to make meetings accessible, making time for
Strategic Planning, creating a healing process, and putting out a new release. Merritt suggested
updating the website to better disseminate information. Merritt also suggested creating a
structure for future meetings. Johnson suggested improving TRC-related advertising. Rivera
suggested making outreach communications more concise and transparent. The TRC discussed
possibilities for collecting community responses online. Rivera suggested fostering relationships
directly with community members. Gathua and Johnson agreed and made further suggestions
regarding where to facilitate meeting the community.
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Jones outlined the communication process with contractors and the role of the TRC in this
communication.
Follow Up on Communications with ICCSD: There were no updates.
Commission Announcements: Johnson thanked the City Council and announced an upcoming
absence. Merritt announced her application to serve on the Community Police Review Board.
Gathua invited the community an upcoming Community Get Together picnic. Dillard thanked
Rivera for his commitment to the commission. Rivera announced AAPI Month and encouraged
solidarity between BIPOC communities. Dillard announced the upcoming Coralville Asian Festival.
Adjourned: 9:18 PM.
City Board and Commission meetings are recorded and can be viewed in their entirety by
visiting this link.
AD HOC TRUTH & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
ATTENDANCE RECORD
YEAR 2023
(Meeting Date)
NAME
TERM
EXP.
1/5 1/19 2/2 3/2 4/6 5/4 5/18 6/1 6/15
Dillard 12/31/24 P P P P P P
Gathua 12/31/24 A P P P P P
Harris 12/31/24 P P P P A P
Johnson 12/31/24 P A P A P P
Krebs 12/31/24 P P P P P P
Merritt 12/31/24 P P P P P P
Nobiss 12/31/24 P A P P A P
Rivera 12/31/24 P P P P P P
Vacant 12/31/24 - - - - -
KEY: P = Present
A = Absent
Attachments:Board of Appeals: May 1 [See Recommendation]
Item Number: 4.b.
June 20, 2023
Board of Appeals: May 1 [See Recommendation]
Attachments:Community Police Review Board: May 9 [See Recommendation]
Item Number: 4.c.
June 20, 2023
Community Police Review Board: May 9 [See Recommendation]
Attachments:Historic Preservation Commission: May 11
Item Number: 4.d.
June 20, 2023
Historic Preservation Commission: May 11
Attachments:Public Art Advisory Committee: May 4
Item Number: 4.e.
June 20, 2023
Public Art Advisory Committee: May 4