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:
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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