HomeMy WebLinkAboutTRC Agenda 9 21 2023Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Thursday, September 21, 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, SEPTEMBER 7, AND
SEPTEMBER 14, 2023.
4.PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
COMMISSIONERS SHALL NOT ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION WITH THE PUBLIC
CONCERNING SAID ITEMS.
5.STRATEGIC DOING WORKSHOPS FOLLOW-UP
6.CITY BUDGET
7.“WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE - A SUGGESTED ROADMAP FOR OUR
FUTURE” PRESENTATION
8.FACT FINDING SESSION (WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 @ 5 P.M.)
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_lcIl8llPSRq1u0xPlL-1Ew#/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
1
August 24, 2023
Draft Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Minutes
Emma J. Harvat, City Hall
Commissioners present: Chastity Dillard, Clif Johnson, Louis Tassinary, Chad Simmons, Marie
Krebs, Wangui Gathua.
Commissioners not present: Eric Harris, Lauren Merritt, Sikowis Nobiss.
Staff present: Stefanie Bowers.
Meeting called to order: 7:07.
Reading of Land Acknowledgement: Dillard read the Land Acknowledgement.
Approval of the meeting minutes of August 17, 2023: Gathua moved, and the motion was
seconded by Simmons. Motion passed 6-0.
TRC Logo Selection: Commissioner Johnson shared the four logos that have been designed for the
TRC. The Commission discussed each one and what they like about it. Simmons moved, and
Johnson seconded for the below image to be the logo for the TRC. Motion passed 5-1 (Gathua in
the negative).
Talking Circles: Facilitator LaMere provided an overview of the Talking Circle. A Talking Circle is a
way of providing traditional healing through coming together as relatives, respecting each other’s
time and words that are expressed from the heart on various topics. Some Commissioners
expressed concern with cultural appropriation with sacred objects and smudging. LaMere replied
that the TRC would co-create the development of the Talking Circles. It was decided that the
Talking Circles would be held on Thursday, September 21st and Saturday, September 30th.
Commission Bylaws: Facilitator Gonzalez sent bylaws that they had modified over the weekend.
Staff had the City Attorney’s Office (CAO) review the modified bylaws. The CAO’s Office made two
suggestions—delete the two references to closed sessions as they are not correct interpretations
of Iowa law. Simmons moved to approve the bylaws with the changes by the CAO, Tassinary
seconded. The motion failed 2-4 (Dillard, Gathua, Krebs, Johnson in the negative).
2
Strategic Doing Workshops: On September 14th, a Strategic Doing (SD) session will be held at the
Iowa City Senior Center. It will be followed up on September 16th at the South District Market.
Staff and Commissioners will both send out personal invitations to the community, including
those in the areas of non-profit, community, medical, religious/spiritual, business, University, and
School District. Marlen Mendoza and Angie Jordan will assist Facilitator Fixmer-Oraiz at the
sessions. There will be a separate Spanish speakers SD held on September 23. Dillard move to
hold this additional Spanish speaker’s SD, Gathua seconded. The motion passed 6-0.
Fact Finding: Kearns and West will lead a fact-finding session on Wednesday, September 27, from
5-9, here at City Hall.
Adjourned: 9:35 p.m.
This meeting can be viewed in its entirety at this link.
AD HOC TRUTH & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
ATTENDANCE RECORD
YEAR 2023
(Meeting Date)
NAME
TERM
EXP.
4/6 5/4 6/1 6/15 7/20 8/1 8/2 8/3 8/17 8/24 9/7 9/14 9/16
Dillard 12/31/24 P P P P P P P p P P
Gathua 12/31/24 P P P P P P P P P P
Harris 12/31/24 A P A A A A A A A A
Johnson 12/31/24
P P P P P P P P P P
Krebs 12/31/24 P P P P P P P P P P
Merritt 12/31/24 P P P P P P P P P A
Nobiss 12/31/24 A P A P P P P P P A
Simmons 12/31/24 - - - - - - - A P P
Tassinary 12/31/24 - _ - - - - - P A P
KEY: P = Present
A = Absent
1
September 7, 2023
Draft Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Minutes
Emma J. Harvat, City Hall
Commissioners present: Chastity Dillard, Clif Johnson, Louis Tassinary, Chad Simmons, Marie
Krebs, Lauren Merritt, Sikowis Nobiss.
Commissioners not present: Eric Harris, Wangui Gathua.
Staff present: Stefanie Bowers, Redmond Jones.
Meeting called to order: 7:02.
Reading of Land Acknowledgement: Merritt read the Land Acknowledgement.
Comments on items not on the agenda: Angie Jordan invited the TRC members to an upcoming
community event being held on Saturday, September 23, at the South District Market.
Approval of the meeting minutes of August 24, 2023: Item skipped. The minutes were not
available at the time of the meeting.
Commission Bylaws: After a brief discussion that clarified the revisions made by Facilitator
Gonzalez and those by the City Attorney’s Office (CA0), Simmons moved, and Tassinary
seconded to approve the revised bylaws. This motion included removing the two sections on closed
sessions as advised by the CAO. Motion passed 7-0.
Better Together 2030 Plan: Cady Gerlach, Executive Director of Better Together 2023, presented
the history of the project, the vision, and the guiding principles. Gerlach closed the presentation by
asking the TRC to recommend that the City Council formally adopt the Inclusive Economic
Development Plan.
Inclusive Economic Development Plan: V Fixmer-Oraiz spoke on how community outreach and
engagement was conducted, including through Strategic Doing, research, surveys, and interviews.
Then went on to discuss the outreach highlights that included the demographics of those
respondents and concluded with the recommendations.
Strategic Doing Workshops: Time was spent crafting a “North Star Statement.” The group
eventually agreed on the following:
How can we strategically build capacity and amplify the voices of BIPOC and ethnically
oppressed Peoples in order to express their truths, all while addressing historical oppression,
genocide, racism, and the need to de-construct colonial systems, ultimately creating foundations
for safer spaces for healing and empowerment?
The motion passed 7-0.
Agenda Item #3
2
Facilitator Work Plan for Phase One: Kearns and West will lead a fact-finding session on
Wednesday, September 27, from 5-9, here at City Hall. At this session, the TRC will select focus
topics, focus areas, data, and the methodology for collection.
The TRC was asked to hold October 25 and 26 for a session by Think Peace on truth-telling.
Announcements of Commissioners: Nobiss gave an update on the first-ever Indigenous Peoples’
Day being held here in Iowa City and that tickets have gone on sale for Truthsgiving: The Truth
Will Not Be Whitewashed.
Adjourned: 10:02 p.m.
This meeting can be viewed in its entirety at this link.
AD HOC TRUTH & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
ATTENDANCE RECORD
YEAR 2023
(Meeting Date)
NAME
TERM
EXP.
4/6 5/4 6/1 6/15 7/20 8/1 8/2 8/3 8/17 8/24 9/7 9/14 9/16
Dillard 12/31/24 P P P P P P P p P P P
Gathua 12/31/24 P P P P P P P P P P A
Harris 12/31/24 A P A A A A A A A A A
Johnson 12/31/24 P P P P P P P P P P P
Krebs 12/31/24 P P P P P P P P P P P
Merritt 12/31/24 P P P P P P P P P A P
Nobiss 12/31/24 A P A P P P P P P A P
Simmons 12/31/24 - - - - - - - A P P P
Tassinary 12/31/24 - _ - - - - - P A P P
KEY: P = Present
A = Absent
1
September 14, 2023
Draft Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Minutes
Emma J. Harvat, City Hall
Commissioners present: Chastity Dillard, Clif Johnson, Louis Tassinary, Lauren Merritt, Wangui
Gathua, Marie Krebs.
Commissioners not present: Eric Harris, Sikowis Nobiss, Chad Simmons.
Staff present: Stefanie Bowers.
Meeting called to order: 5:31 p.m.
Reading of Land Acknowledgement: Facilitator Fixmer-Oraiz read the Land Acknowledgement.
Strategic Doing Workshops: The session began with the participants including community,
Commissioners, and facilitators creating community agreements. Facilitators went over the
difference between strategic planning and strategic doing.
The pathfinder projects are:
1)A Financial Literacy & Credit Builder Program. Members: Tracy Jon Sargeant, Charles
Eastham, Amos Kiche, Louis Tassinary. Meeting October 30 at 6 pm at the Center for
Worker Justice.
2)Community Cohort- Develop a curriculum for a cohort of community members to engage
truth-telling, fact-finding, and reconciliation/healing throughout the community.
Members: Monica Nieves, Chastity Dillard, Tony Branch, Laura Bergus, Annie Tucker, Clif
Johnson, Mark Pries, Kim Scott, Wangui Gathua. Meeting October 1 at 4 pm at ICORE
Boxing Club.
3)A Focused Marketing Campaign for BIPOC & Ethnically-Oppresses Peoples to Connect
them to employment opportunities & training through Iowa Works. Members: Lauren
Merritt, Kate Moreland, Nancy Bird, Marie Krebs, Corey Johnson. Meeting October 2 at 5
pm on Zoom.
Adjourned: 9:02 p.m.
Agenda #3
AD HOC TRUTH & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
ATTENDANCE RECORD
YEAR 2023
(Meeting Date)
NAME
TERM
EXP.
4/6 5/4 6/1 6/15 7/20 8/1 8/2 8/3 8/17 8/24 9/7 9/14 9/16
Dillard 12/31/24 P P P P P P P p P P P P
Gathua 12/31/24 P P P P P P P P P P A P
Harris 12/31/24 A P A A A A A A A A A A
Johnson 12/31/24 P P P P P P P P P P P P
Krebs 12/31/24 P P P P P P P P P P P P
Merritt 12/31/24 P P P P P P P P P A P P
Nobiss 12/31/24 A P A P P P P P P A P A
Simmons 12/31/24 - - - - - - - A P P P A
Tassinary 12/31/24 - _ - - - - - P A P P P
KEY: P = Present
A = Absent