HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda TRC 10 21 2021
Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission Agenda
Thursday, October 21, 2021 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 below link. Please note that the meeting link and ID
for the first Thursday of each month is different than the link and ID for the third Thursday of each
month.
First Thursday Meetings https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cMIaaV6cTxGwOlWu2-hFHg
ID: 867 2424 8095
Third Thursday Meetings https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lcIl8llPSRq1u0xPlL-1Ew
ID: 895 3695 0485
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. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES FROM OCTOBER 7, 2021
5. PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA (COMMENTATORS SHALL ADDRESS THE TRC
FOR NO MORE THAN 5 MINUTES. TRC MEMBERS SHALL NOT ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION WITH THE
PUBLIC CONCERNING SAID ITEMS).
6. COMMUNITY COMMENT ON THE TRC’S CHARGES INCLUDING FACT-FINDING AND TRUTH-
TELLING
7. UPDATES ON THE PROGRESS OF THE FUND EXCLUDED WORKERS COALITION AND THE
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN
8. TRC FRAMEWORK
9. DISCUSSION AND VOTE ON WHETHER TO RECOMMEND THAT CITY COUNCIL EXTEND THE
TIMELINE FOR THE TRC TO FULFILL ITS CHARGE
10. DISCUSSION AND VOTE ON WHETHER TO DO A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR A FACILITATOR
FOR THE TRC
11. ANNOUCEMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS/STAFF (TRC MEMBERS SHALL NOT ENGAGE IN
DISCUSSION WITH ONE ANOTHER CONCERNING SAID ANNOUCEMENTS).
12. 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
OCTOBER 21, 2021 MEETING PACKET CONTENTS
AGENDA ITEM #3
• LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
AGENDA ITEM #4
• DRAFT MEETING MINUTES OF OCTOBER 7, 2021
AGENDA ITEM #8
• RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING AD HOC TRUTH AND
RECONCILIATION COMMISSION, NO. 20-228
AGENDA ITEM #10
• PROCEDURES FOR RE-BIDDING
This meeting can be viewed at https://citychannel4.com/cgi-bin/vdb/ytp.pl?id=F21784.
October 7, 2021
Draft Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Minutes
Emma J. Harvat Hall
City Hall
Commissioners present: Amel Ali, Chastity Dillard, Wangui Gathua, Eric Harris, Sikowiss (Christine
Nobiss via Zoom) Mohamed Traore.
Commissioners not present: Daphney Daniel, Kevin Rivera, Clifton Johnson.
Staff present: Stefanie Bowers, Redmond Jones, Geoff Fruin.
Recommendations to City Council: No.
Meeting Called to Order: 7:06.
Reading of Land Acknowledgement: Gathua read the Land Acknowledgement.
Vote to Approve the Meeting Minutes from September 30, 2021: Motion by Ali, seconded by Traore.
Motion passed 6-0.
Public Comment of Items not on the Agenda: None.
Community Comment on the TRC’s Charges Including Fact-Finding and Truth-Telling: The TRC plans on
releasing a survey. The survey will be translated in other languages and will be available online. The TRC is
also planning to hold a truth-telling event.
Consider a motion to recommend that City Council A) Clarify the Intent, Purpose, and Expectations of
the TRC and B) Extend the Timeline for the TRC to Fulfill its Charge: The TRC decided to not make any
recommendations to the City Council until the new year when it is possible the make up of the City
Council may change due to the November elections. The current concern is that any recommendation
made by the TRC to the City Council may lead to the TRC being abolished. The TRC plans to do as much as
they can on the resolution now even though it is without the support of the entire City Council. Motion by
Traore, seconded by Ali to delay any recommendation to the City Council on expectations for the TRC.
Motion passed 5-1 (Nobiss in the negative). Motion by Traore, seconded by Harris to request an
extension of time for the TRC to complete its charge from the City Council. Motion fails 3-3 (Ali, Gathua,
Dillard in the negative).
Begin a Conversation on How to Heal the Divide within the African American Community in Johnson
County: Some TRC members have spoken with Angie Jordan who has offered to plan an opportunity for
folks to begin to have conversations. The focus would be on what everyone has in common versus what
they may differ on. Jordan also mentioned that Annie Tucker may be able to hold restorative justice
circles to heal the wounds. The TRC will continue to have conversations with the community to come to
an understanding.
Updates on the Progress of the Fund Excluded Workers Coalition: The Coalition has had over 700 people
sign the petition in Johnson County. Commissioner Harris will send staff the petition. The group has been
using their own survey to collect stories from those whose livelihood has been affected due to the
pandemic.
This meeting can be viewed at https://citychannel4.com/cgi-bin/vdb/ytp.pl?id=F21784.
Think Peace: Dozens of TRCs are being established around the county due to the social movements of a
few years ago. Think Peace can assist the TRC in connecting with other TRCs and also with its mission.
Eduardo Gonzalez has been working with TRCs for the last 21 years. Gonzalez started the work in Peru
where over 69,000 people were killed. Gonzalez’s work here in the US includes working with the TRC in
Greensboro and the one established in the state of Maine. Dave Ragland is the co-founder of the Truth-
Telling of Ferguson, Missouri. Unlike, the City of Iowa City, the one in Ferguson was not created by the city.
The Truth-Tellers focused a lot on police violence. Ragland continues to educate and organize around
police violence while still trying to create a national process. Antti Pentikäinen has worked with the TRCs in
South Africa.
Announcements of Commissioners: Traore mentioned Project Better 2023. Ali commented on an event
being held at Tippie that featured Casey Gerald. Nobiss spoke on the upcoming Indigenous Peoples’ Day
and invited fellow Commissioners and the community to come out to an event being held in recognition of
the day at a Native owned business here in Iowa City. Gathua reminded Commissioners that October is
domestic violence awareness month and shared that the 2021 Pat Meyer Vision Award is later this month.
Adjourn: 8:45 PM
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 X X X X
Daniel 6/22 X X X X X X O X O X X X X O
Dillard 6/22 X X X X O X X X X X X X X X
Gathua 6/22 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Johnson 6/22 X X X X X X X X X X X X X O
Harris 6/22 O X X X X X X X X X O X X X
Nobiss 6/22 X O X X X X X O X X X O X X
Rivera 6/22 X X X X X X X X X O X X X O
Traore 6/22 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
KEY: X = Present O = Absent
Prepared by: Council members Janice Weiner and Laura Bergus I
Resolution No. 20-228
Resolution establishing Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Whereas, in Resolution No. 20-159 (Initial Commitments addressing the Black Lives Matter
Movement and Systemic Racism in the wake of the murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis
Police and calls for action from protesters and residents), the Iowa City City Council resolved asfollows:
By October 1, 2020, create an ad hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission to bear
witness to the truth of racial injustice in Iowa City and to carry out restorative justice,
through the collection of testimony and public hearings, with such work to include a
recommendation to the Council of a plan for dedicating and/or renaming public spaces
and/or rights of way in honor of the Black Lives Matter movement; and,
Whereas, the City Council committed to allocate City funds of $1,000,000 during the present
Fiscal Year to support Resolution 20-159, which includes a variety of initiatives, among them theTruthandReconciliationCommission; and,
Whereas, truth and reconciliation underscores the imperative that confronting and reckoningwiththepastisnecessaryforsuccessfultransitionsfromconflict, injustice, resentment and
tension to peace, equality and connectedness; and,
Whereas, while we acknowledge that other forms of injustice and challenges have occurred
over the course of the history of the city of Iowa City, the focus of this Commission is on race;
and,
Whereas, the City Council acknowledges the existence of painful, systemic, persistent, and
varied forms of racial injustice in Iowa City, and acknowledges that such injustice persists
despite past efforts to address it, consistent with observations that systemic racism and white
privilege are deeply resistant to change; and,
Whereas, the Iowa City community must look comprehensively into its past and bear witness to
the truth of racial injustice in order to provide the best possible foundation for moving into afutureofequitybasedonhealingandhope; and,
Whereas, the City Council recognizes that, for a Truth and Reconciliation process to be
meaningful, it must include bold action to confront privilege, stimulate difficult conversations,
and reach and engage a full cross-section of the community, including those in the communitynotinclinedtoengageorresistanttoengagement; and,
Whereas, a comprehensive process will require that City of Iowa City departments and the CityCouncilitselfparticipate, including individual councilors, in good faith, in the process and to
actively encourage broad participation throughout the community, and the City Council hereby
commits to such participation and encouragement; and,
Whereas, creation of an Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission is in the best interests of
the City and its residents.
Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved by the City Council of the City of Iowa City, that:
1. The Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) is hereby established
Resolution No. 20-228
Page 2
2. The TRC shall have nine members who are representative of the City's BIPOC
communities and organizations, including those who have direct lived experience with
systemic racism, as well as experts who support those communities. To the extent
possible, as determined by the City Council, the TRC shall include representation from
groups such as the Iowa Freedom Riders, the Black Voices Project, the South District
Neighborhood Association, the Iowa City Human Rights Commission, and the
Community Police Review Board. Johnson County residency is required. Iowa City
residency is preferred but not required if an applicant offers expertise or representation
not available from applicants who reside in Iowa City. Members of other City boards and
commissions are eligible to serve on the TRC.
3. Applications for membership on the TRC shall be announced, advertised, and available in
the same manner as those for all City boards and commissions.
4. The TRC shall select the Chair, who when present will preside over all meetings, and the
Vice -Chair, who will serve as chair in the absence of the Chair.
5. Within the charges of the TRC set forth herein, the TRC is not required to seek approval
from the City Council, mayor, or city manager to set its own agenda and prioritize its
activities.
6. The TRC shall be facilitated by an independent consultant, funded by the City, with
expertise in group facilitation and human rights, and to the extent possible, experience
with diversity, implicit bias, mediation and conflict resolution, until such time as the TRC
concludes by the favorable vote of at least three-fourths of all the members of the TRC
7/9) that facilitation is no longer needed.
7. To conform with the requirements of laws pertaining to open meetings and public records
and to facilitate transparency and public education and participation, administrative/clerical
assistance and media/event assistance shall be provided by City staff as determined by
the City Manager and City Clerk. Media assistance may be supplemented by outside
expertise on a case-by-case basis if the Commission believes it will substantially expand
outreach.
8. The TRC shall determine the frequency and conduct of its meetings. The meetings will
be open to the public and conducted in accordance with Chapter 21 of the Iowa Code.
Records, documentation, and communications of the TRC will be public records under
Chapter 22 of the Iowa Code.
9. The TRC shall serve from the date of appointment of all members to June 30, 2022. The
TRC shall have an organizational meeting no later than 30 days after the appointment of
all members.
10. Within 90 days of its organizational meeting, the TRC shall recommend to City Council a
preliminary budget for funds needed to carry out the charges of the TRC beyond what
existing City staff, programs, and services can provide.
11. The charges of the TRC are as follows:
A. Fact -Finding The TRC shall collect evidence, including first-hand testimony, of
discrimination and racial injustice in multiple settings and compile a complete
record of racial injustices that will inform and support the fundamental institutional
and policy reforms necessary to address systemic racism.
Resolution No. 20-228
Page 3
B. Truth -Telling The TRC shall: 1) Provide multiple fora and creative opportunities
for persons impacted and traumatized by racial injustice to share their stories of
racial injustice and experience to be heard by: (a) fellow communities of color; (b) a
broad cross section of the entire Iowa City community; and (c) key decision -
makers in city government, the business community and the University; 2) Explore
ways to provide such opportunities through art, music, theater, workshops, rallies
and other forms of congregation, multimedia and listening designed to reveal truths
that cannot be fully expressed in traditional fora; and, 3) Create a repository for
community stories expressed in multiple media (written, video, audio, art) that can
be catalogued and used to educate and inform members of the community.
C. Reconciliation The TRC shall: 1) Provide opportunity for and facilitate direct
conversation among and between community members of color, white community
members and representatives of various sectors in which people of color
experience discrimination and injustice (e.g. police and protesters, landlords and
tenants, students and teachers, patients and health care providers, business
owners and staff); 2) Create a replicable model that provides a structure for
enabling these conversations throughout the city; 3) Make available opportunities
for a broad cross section of the community to learn about discrimination and racial
injustice in our community; and, 4) Identify and recommend to the City Council
institutional and policy reforms, new social practices, expectations, protocols,
habits, rituals, conversations and celebrations that will move Iowa City toward a
shared experience of race and difference, justice and equity and community and
harmony.
12. The TRC shall strive to provide a safe and supportive space for its work, premised on
mutual respect, and shall conduct its work so as to promote healing and justice. The TRC
shall consider the possibility of adverse actions against those who participate in its work.
The TRC shall carefully consider mechanisms to protect participants, and shall work to
support those who allege harm due to their participation in the TRC process.
13. The TRC shall submit periodic updates to City Council to include, but not be limited to: its
plans for community education; recommendations for Council action; requests for
resources the TRC needs to carry out its work; and recommendations to dedicate and/or
rename public spaces and/or rights of way in honor of the Black Lives Matter movement.
14. By May 1, 2022 the TRC shall submit to City Council:
A. A report summarizing the work of the TRC.
B. A repository of community stories expressed in multiple media (written, video,
audio, art).
C. Recommendations to the City Council for: 1) Institutional and policy reforms to end
systemic racism; 2) Opportunities to create new social practices, expectations,
protocols, habits, rituals and celebrations that will move Iowa City toward a shared
experience of race and difference, justice and equity and community and
harmony; 3) Measures to enhance the autonomy/security/sovereignty of
communities of color and mitigate disparities in social and economic power; and 4)
A recommendation on whether and in what form the work of the Commission
should continue.
15. At any time in its work, and no later than June 30, 2022, the TRC shall strive to submit to
City Council a replicable model and structure for conversations between people of color
Resolution No. 20-228
Page 4
and white community members and representatives of various sectors in which people of
color experience discrimination and injustice.
16. Absent further action by the City Council, the TRC will dissolve on June 30, 2022.
Passed and approved this 15 day of September, 2020.
ted by
City Attorney's Office - 09/10/2020
Procedures for re-bidding.
• Enter the bid into Ion Wave (Our new digital bidding software). (1 to 3 days)
• Bids will be out for three weeks; we could reduce this to 2 in a crunch. Given the complaints last
time I wouldn’t recommend it. (3 – Weeks)
• Distribute scoring instructions and get signed documents back. (1 week)
• Evaluation (2 weeks)
• Tabulate scores. (1 day)
• Schedule interviews and interview. (1 to 2 weeks)
• Tabulate 2 round scores. (1 day)
• Make award recommendation and vote on award. (1 to 2 weeks)
• Prepare council packet materials. (1 to 5 days)
• Take to council for approval and Issue Purchase Order. (1 to 2 days)