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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 16 TRC Meeting AgendaAd Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission Agenda Thursday, September 16, 7PM Emma J. Harvat Hall Iowa City City Hall 410 E. Washington Street In order to encourage input from the public, the Commission intends to offer the opportunity to participate in the meeting remotely. However, this meeting is in-person, and those wishing to ensure their ability to participate should attend the meeting in-person. If you instead wish to participate remotely, you may attempt to do so by joining the meeting via Zoom by going to: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Z1lKoUxcSB2o-XLnk7tQlA. If you are asked for a meeting ID, enter Meeting ID: 923 5355 5433 to enter a 'Waiting Room' for the meeting. If you have no computer or smartphone, or a computer without a microphone, you can call in by phone by dialing (312) 626-6799 and entering the meeting ID when prompted. Meeting Agenda: 1.CALL TO ORDER 2.ROLL CALL 3.READING OF LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & DISCUSSION 4.VOTE TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES FROM AUGUST 19, 2021 5.REVIEW OF THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT WITH KERNS AND WEST INCLUDING REFERENCE CHECKS 6.VOTE ON WHETHER TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH KEARNS AND WEST (DISCUSSION ONLY IF NEEDED) 7.NEXT STEPS 8.ANNOUCEMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS/STAFF 9.ADJOURNMENT If you will need a disability-related accommodation to participate in this meeting please contact the Equity Director, Stefanie Bowers, at 319-356-5022 or at stefanie-bowers@iowa-city.org. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your accessibility needs. AD HOC TRUTH & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 MEETING PACKET CONTENTS AGENDA ITEM #3 • LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT AGENDA ITEM #4 • DRAFT MEETING MINUTES OF AUGUST 19, 2021 August 19, 2021 Draft Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Minutes Emma J. Harvat Hall City Hall Commissioners present: Amel Ali, Daphney Daniel (via Zoom), Chastity Dillard, Wangui Gathua, Eric Harris, Clifton Johnson, Sikowiss (Christine Nobiss via Zoom), Mohamed Traore. Commissioners not present: Kevin Rivera. Staff present: Stefanie Bowers. Others present who spoke: Charlie Eastham, Annie Tucker. Recommendations to City Council: No. Meeting called to order: 7:12. Reading of Land Acknowledgement: Gathua read the Land Acknowledgement. Staff commented that the recommendation to City Council has been noted in the draft minutes and that the approved minutes will be on the City Council Consent Agenda at its September 7 formal meeting. Approval of Minutes from the August 5, 2021: Ali moved, and Harris seconded. Motion passes 7-0. Gathua not present for vote. Public Comment of Items not on the Agenda: None. Presentation on Forest View Neighborhood Project by Charlie Eastham: Eastham would like for the TRC to recommend to the City Council to utilize the funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) for the redevelopment of Forest View. Due to the pandemic the developers no longer have the funds to proceed on this project. The original agreement with the developer (North Dubuque, LLC) was that no residents would be relocated and that residents would be allowed to become homeowners and the mortgage would be what residents currently pay in lot rent. Many in this neighborhood are Latinx/Hispanic some who are undocumented. A financial plan would be useful for the residents. When this redevelopment was first proposed there was some opposition by neighbors who objected to parts of the plan. Some opposition may have been attributed to an unwelcoming attitude towards people of color by the neighboring areas. Due to the pandemic the developers no longer have the funds to proceed on this project. The mobile homes in the Forest View neighborhood have deteriorated and during the winter are literally inhabitable so residents are anxious to see this redevelopment occur. Eastham considers this redevelopment and the persons of color involved in it to be part of the TRC’s charge. This redevelopment would assist over 90 families. The plan is for 57 manufactured homes and 30 new homes. The estimated price range for these homes will be $65,000-$85,000. This matter has been deferred to the housing subcommittee to discuss in more detail with residents of Forest View. There was some concern that it would be inappropriate to use ARP funds for this redevelopment because it is a project that preexisted the pandemic and that the TRC is not a legislative body. Annie Tucker thanked the TRC for their work. Proposal from Kearns and West: The TRC wants to move forward on having a conversation with the Kearns and West team. Staff will work with the Purchasing Department to see if the firm is available to meet with the TRC during its next regularly scheduled meeting of September 2. From the proposal it looks like the firm would be able to provide a project manager, a strategic planner and fill other roles that are needed by the TRC. There was some discussion on whether the firm is representative of people of color. At this time, the TRC plans to move forward on its budget recommendation to City Council as it relates to hiring a facilitator and if approved have the facilitator work with the TRC on presenting its budget at a later date. Update on Future Meetings Date: The TRC will continue to meet on Thursdays. Starting in October the TRC will switch to the second and fourth Thursday of each month. Community Topics for Discussion: There was a brief discussion on comments made by a Board of Supervisor on Twitter against a person who is undocumented. TRC members would like to hold listening posts in neighborhoods on ARP funds. There were also brief discussions on youth engagement and engaging with immigrant communities. One thought is to create a Youth Advisory Council and have youth work on restorative justice or the TRC can partner with organizations that are already doing that work which will allow it to better focus on its charge. Commission Announcements: Harris mentioned the new mask mandate order issued by the Mayor earlier in the day. Ali reported that Hy-Vee’s in this area are currently offering the 3rd dose booster shot for those who are immune compromised. Staff Announcements: None. Adjourn: 10:06 PM (To watch the video from this meeting please visit https://www.icgov.org/city-government/boards-commissions-and-committees/ad-hoc-truth-and-reconciliation-commission.) AD HOC TRUTH & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION ATTENDANCE RECORD YEAR 2021 (Meeting Date) NAME TERM EXP. 4/15 4/29 5/13 5/27 6/10 6/24 7/8 7/22 8/5 8/19 9/2 9/16 9/30 10/7 Ali 6/22 X X X X X X X X X X Daniel 6/22 X X X X X X O X O X Dillard 6/22 X X X X O X X X X X Gathua 6/22 X X X X X X X X X X Johnson 6/22 X X X X X X X X X X Harris 6/22 O X X X X X X X X X Nobiss 6/22 X O X X X X X O X X Rivera 6/22 X X X X X X X X X O Traore 6/22 X X X X X X X X X X KEY: X = Present O = Absent