HomeMy WebLinkAboutTRC Agenda 9 7 23Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Thursday, September 7, 2023
Regular Meeting
7 PM - Emma J. Harvat Hall
410 E. Washington Street
AGENDA:
1.CALL TO ORDER
2.READING OF NATIVE AMERICAN LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
3.APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES: AUGUST 24, 2023.
4.PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
COMMISSIONERS SHALL NOT ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION WITH THE PUBLIC
CONCERNING SAID ITEMS.
5.COMMISSION BYLAWS
6.BETTER TOGETHER 2030 PLAN
7.INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN
8.STRATEGIC DOING WORKSHOPS
9.FACILITATOR WORK PLAN FOR PHASE ONE
10.CORRESPONDENCE
11.ANNOUNCEMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS
THIS ITEM INCLUDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BRIEF UPDATES FROM STAFF AND
COMMISSIONERS. COMMISSIONERS SHALL NOT ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION ON
UPDATES.
12.ADJOURNMENT
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.
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cMIaaV6cTxGwOlWu2-hFHg#/registration
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all City of Iowa City-sponsored events. If
you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to
participate in these events, please contact the Office of Equity and Human Rights at 319-356-
5022 or humanrights@iowa-city.org.
Agenda Item #2
Draft minutes of the August 24, 2023, meeting were not available when the September 7, 2023, agenda packet
was posted but will be distributed as a late handout at the September 7, 2023 meeting.
Agenda Item #3
BY-LAWS OF THE AD HOC TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
ARTICLE 1 THE COMMISSION
Section A. The name of this organization is the Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission
(“TRC” or “Commission”), referred to in these By-Laws as the Commission. The Commission is
authorized by the City Council Resolution Number 20-228, effective date September 15, 2020.
ARTICLE 2 PURPOSE
Section A. As stated in Resolution No. 20-228.
Section B. The purpose of the Commission is 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 deciding
and/or renaming public spaces and/or rights of way in honor of the Black Lives Matter
Movement.
ARTICLE 3 CHARGES
Section A. Charges of the Commission, and as stated in Resolution No. 20-228, shall include:
1) fact-finding – the TRC shall collect evidence 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; 2) truth-
telling – the TRC shall provide multiple for a and creative opportunities for persons impacted
and traumatized by racial injustice to share their stories of racial injustice and experience to be
heard by the community including but not limited to city government; 3) Reconciliation – the
TRC shall 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.
ARTICLE 4 MEMBERSHIP
Section A. The Commission shall consist of nine (9) members, appointed by vote of the
City Council 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 also with lived experience. 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.
Commented [EG1]: Suppress, in line with resolution art.
2: “as well as experts who support those communities”.
Agenda Item # 6
Section B. Members shall serve through December 31, 2024.
Section C. Orientation for members, including functions, duties, and responsibilities, shall
be conducted by the staff assigned to the Commission.
Section D. Commissioners are expected to attend all regularly scheduled meetings. The
Chairperson or staff shall be notified of an absence prior to any meeting.
Section E. Three (3) consecutive, unexplained absences of a member from regular
meetings can result in a recommendation to the City Council from the Commission to
discharge said member and appoint a new member.
Section F. Six consecutive absences of a member from regular meetings can result in a
recommendation from the Commission to said member to examine its membership and, if
necessary to resign his or her position.
ARTICLE 5 OFFICERS
Section A. The Commission shall have two (2) officers: Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.
Section B. Officers shall perform the duties set forth in these by-laws.
Section C. The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson shall be elected from the Commission's
membership.
Section F. Chairperson. The Chairperson, when present, shall preside at all meetings of
the Commission, appoint committees, represent the commission before City institutions and
the community, coordinate with the facilitators, and in general, perform all duties incident to
the office of the Chairperson and such other duties as may be prescribed by the members
from time to time.
Section G. Vice-Chairperson. In the absence of the Chairperson or shall perform the duties
of the Chairperson and when so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the
restrictions upon the Chairperson.
ARTICLE 6 MEETINGS
Section A minus. The commission has the following types of meetings:
Regular meetings
Special meetings
Commented [EG2]: Constant absence of members, even
if explained, affect the work of the plenary notwithstanding
the cause. Situations preventing a commissioner to
participate for three months (or six meetings) should be
prevented.
Commented [EG3]: Include among functions.
Commented [EG4]: suppress
Work sessions
Section A. Regular meetings are opportunities to take action on agenda items, receive public
comment, discuss issues, receive updates from staff, and receive member communication. At
least one (1) regular meeting shall be held each month.
Section B. Special meetings are unscheduled meetings called to act when special
circumstances require urgent action, or to focus on a specific topic. The Chairperson, Vice
Chairperson, or any three (3) Commissioners may call a special meeting.
Section B bis. Work sessions are meetings designed to discuss TRC matters in an informal
manner, allowing interaction between citizens and Commissioners. Work sessions do not
culminate in action at that meeting. Actions or recommendations should be taken at either the
next regular meeting or at another publicly announced date and time.
Section C. Meetings shall be held in an accessible, public meeting place. Notices of meetings
(agenda) for all regular and special meetings shall be posted and distributed to members and
the media at least 24 hours before any meeting is held. All provisions of the State Open
Meeting Law shall be followed. The Chairperson or a designated representative, shall prepare
an agenda for all meetings, provided Commissioner suggestions are considered.
Section D. A quorum shall consist of five (5) Commissioners. A majority of present and
voting members shall be necessary to pass a motion. The Chairperson shall vote as a member.
Section E. No formal action shall be taken on items not on the agenda.
Section F. The rules in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall
govern the Commission in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not
inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules or order the Commission may adopt.
Section G. Time shall be made available during all regular meetings for public comment on
items not on the agenda. Commentators shall address the Commission for no more than 5
minutes. Commissioners shall not engage in discussion with the public concerning said items.
Section G bis. A closed session is a meeting or part of a meeting where the commissioners
consider an issue in the absence of public. The commissioners may decide, by majority vote,
to pass to a closed session where the matters being considered (1) involve attorney-client
privilege, medical professional-patient relationship or are otherwise legally privileged from
disclosure, (2) would pose a threat to the safety and integrity of those participating in the
meeting, (3) to consider human resources-related issues such as discipline or performance
evaluation of individual commissioners, facilitators and staff members. A closed session is not
Commented [EG5]: Insert
Commented [EG6]: Insert
Commented [EG7]: Insert.
Commented [SD8R7]: Suggest deleting the “citizen” and
inserting “members of the public” or “community
members.”
Commented [EG9]: Insert
allowed for purposes of considering general human resources policies but only when they
concern an individual person.
Section G ter. Minutes must be kept for closed sessions. All board actions, whether taken in
open or closed session, must be recorded in the minutes. However, as long as the reasons for
convening in closed session continue to exist the minutes may withhold any information that
requires confidentiality, consistently with the Iowa Code, Chapter 22. Once the underlying
purpose for the closed session ceases to exist, however, all records of the session, must be
provided to any person requesting them.
Section H. Time shall be made available during all regular meetings for Commissioner
reports of items not on the agenda. Commissioners shall not engage in discussion with one
another concerning said reports.
Section I. The Commission's designee shall record all activities and statements made at
Commission meetings, hereafter known as minutes of the meeting. All Commission records
shall be public except those excluded pursuant to Iowa Code, Chapter 22.
ARTICLE 7 SUBCOMMITTEES
Section A. Formation of subcommittees shall be by majority vote of the Commission in
whatever subject area, or whatever number of committees, is deemed necessary. The
subcommittee(s) shall consist of no more than four members.
ARTICLE 8 AMENDMENTS
Section A. The By-Laws can be amended at any regular Commission meeting by a majority
vote, provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing to the Commission three (3)
days prior to the meeting at which it is to be acted upon and such amendment is not in conflict
with the Resolution No. 20-228.
Commented [EG10]: To insert
Commented [SD11R10]: Suggest deleting. This is not an
accurate statement of Iowa law. With respect to closed
meetings, Section 21.5 of the Iowa Code governs “closed
sessions” to very specific situations. In my opinion, the TRC
will not be able to go into closed session and having such a
provision implies that closed sessions are possible. Further,
even if the TRC can legally go into closed session, the bylaws
do not need to provide for doing so.
Commented [EG12]: To insert
Commented [SD13R12]: Suggest deleting. This is not an
accurate statement of Iowa law. Minutes of closed sessions
are not available to the public at some point in time absent
a court order with the exception closed sessions regarding
the buying or selling real estate. Section 21.5(5)b(1) of the
Iowa Code states in relevant part: “The detailed minutes
and audio recording of a closed session shall be sealed and
shall not be public records open to public inspection.
However, upon order of the court in an action to enforce
this chapter, the detailed minutes and audio recording shall
be unsealed and examined by the court in camera…”
Commented [EG14]: insert
Agenda Item #7
Suggested North Star Statement by Commissioner Chad Simmons
“Help Iowa City Communities express their Truth, and find ways
to reconstruct systems that allow everyone to live prosperous lives.”
Agenda Item #8