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Home My WebLink AboutTRC Packet for May 4 2023 Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission Agenda Thursday, May 4, 2023, 7 PM Emma J. Harvat Hall 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. READING OF NATIVE AMERICAN LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 3. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES FROM APRIL 6, 2023 4. PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA (TRC MEMBERS SHALL NOT ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION WITH THE PUBLIC CONCERNING SAID ITEMS) 5. RESIGNATIONS – MOHAMED TRAORE & KEVO RIVERA 6. DEBRIEF AND NEXT STEPS 7. FOLLOW UP ON COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE ICCSD 8. CORRESPONDENCE 9. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS/STAFF (TRC MEMBERS SHALL NOT ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION WITH ONE ANOTHER CONCERNING SAID ANNOUNCEMENTS) 10. 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. April 6, 2023 Draft 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. Commissioners absent: Eric Harris, Sikowis Nobiss, Mohamed Traore. Staff present: Stefanie Bowers, Eric Goers, Redmond Jones. Meeting called to order: 7:08 pm. Reading of Native American Land Acknowledgement: Merritt read the Land Acknowledgement. Approval of Minutes from March 2, 2023: Rivera moved, and Merritt seconded. Motion passed 6-0. Presentation of ARPA Funds for Inclusive Economic Development: Mayor Bruce Teague introduced Deputy City Manager Redmond Jones’s presentation, ARPA Funds for Inclusive Economic Development. Jones outlined City Council’s plan to award $4 million of ARPA funds to local businesses and entrepreneurs. Jones estimated, of the $4 million in ARPA funds, $3 million would be spent on physical space and $1 million on support needs. Statements of interests will be due May 1st. Jones encouraged proposals that would produce community connections as well as systematic change within Iowa City. Merritt asked about the possibility of involving the Planning and Zoning Commission, and Jones answered that the appropriate staff would respond to zoning concerns as submissions come in. Merritt inquired about the deadline, questioning if there would be enough time for applicants to submit proposals. Jones answered by clarifying that the proposals are expected to be brief and built upon after submissions. Merritt suggested using an online database for proposal matchmaking. Rivera sought clarification on who would be eligible as well as the number of expected awards. Jones clarified that small businesses would be targeted but could not provide an estimate of projected award amounts. Gathua asked about how small businesses would be defined and asked that the council provide Swahili translations of promotional materials. Jones answered that he would contact Gathua, after the meeting for Swahili translation resources. Jones, in response to Merritt’s query about who would be on the review committee, answered that he, Redmond Jones, Mayor Bruce Teague, and Economic Development Coordinator Wendy Ford would compose the review committee. Rivera asked how the program’s success would be measured. Jones answered sustainability, systematic chance to the economic ecosystem, and investment recovery would be used to indicate and measure success. Facilitator Services Proposal: City Attorney Eric Goers introduced the consultant agreements and asked the commission for opinions and/or questions. Dillard invited the public to speak. Selena Martin of the Help, Hope, and Love Foundations inquired about the possibility of shrinking the budget by employing locally. Merritt asked about liability in the contracts and whether the City’s or the Commission’s interests would be prioritized. Goers answered that facilitators had not yet discussed this. Merritt inquired about the possibility of a facilitator leaving and how this might play out. Goers answered that addressing the contracts to specific individuals could prevent this. Annie Tucker raised the possibility of subcontracting mediators who might better represent varying demographics on a case-by-case basis. This prompted discussion of funding subcontractors through reallocating funds and approval of subcontracting. Goers clarified that reallocation would require written approval from City Council if the budget was exceeded or if Phase 3 were to be implemented. Goers also clarified in response to Gathua’s prompting that subcontracting would be covered by the current contracts if they were referenced individually. Gathua and Krebs asked Tucker to clarify how subcontracted mediators would be paid within budget. Tuckers clarified that mediators would be paid from the mediation fund if the costs exceed the budget. Selena Martin requested clarity on phases. V. Fixmer-Oraiz outlined the first two phases. The Commission approved the contracts. Goers projected the contracts would be seen by the council in the coming month of May. ICCSD Elementary School Performance Incident: Krebs mentioned meeting with Laura Gray, Executive Director of Diversity & Cultural Responsiveness, and Carmen Gwenigale, Director of Curriculum, and noted their enthusiasm in proposing solutions. Commission Announcements: Rivera condemned recent anti-trans legislation is Des Moines and urged the commission to embrace intersectionality. Johnson thanked everyone involved in the first Iowa City Golden Gloves Tournament and promised to be more available to meet with community members after nationals. Gathua sent support to Kenya in response to increasing violence at anti-government demonstrations and encouraged community members who want to get involved to contact her. Gathua also encouraged inquiries about her upcoming trip to Zambia on which she will be joined by other Grand Canyon University faculty. Gathua acknowledged Good Friday, Passover, and Ramadan. Dillard thanked those who attended a fundraising event at Shakespeare’s Pub and Grill as a part of a campaign to fund summer camp for local children. Adjourned: 8:34 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 4/20 5/4 5/18 6/1 6/15 Dillard 6/23 P P P P P Gathua 6/23 A P P P P Harris 6/23 P P P P A Johnson 6/23 P A P A P Krebs 6/23 P P P P P Merritt 6/23 P P P P P Nobiss 6/23 P A P P A Rivera 6/23 P A P P P Traore 6/23 P P P A A KEY: P = Present A = Absent