HomeMy WebLinkAboutTRC Agenda 11 16 23Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Thursday, November 16, 2023
Regular Meeting
7 PM – Emma J. Harvat Hall
AGENDA:
1.CALL TO ORDER
2.READING OF NATIVE AMERICAN LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
3.PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA (COMMISSIONERS
SHALL NOT ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION WITH THE PUBLIC CONCERNING
SAID ITEMS.)
Only in-person comments will be allowed for Public Comment. Public comment for
specific agenda items, which must be directly related to that agenda item, may be made
in-person or remotely.
4.APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM OCTOBER 5, 25, 26, 2023 AND NOVEMBER
9, 2023, MEETINGS
5.TRC PLANNING PRESENTATION – COMMISSIONER SIMMONS
6.DISCUSSION AND NEXT STEPS
A.TEAM DYNAMICS AND SOME RECOMMENDED PROJECTS THAT
WILL BUILD STRONGER COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
B.REVIEW OF FACILITATOR TRAININGS
C.OTHER ITEMS RELATED TO NEXT STEPS FOR PHASE 1
7.EXPECTATIONS AND PRESENTATION PLANS OF PHASE 1 TO CITY
COUNCIL ON NOVEMBER 21, 2023
8.ANNOUNCEMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS
9.ANNOUNCEMENTS OF STAFF
10.ADJOURNMENT
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 is different than the meeting link and ID for
the third Thursday.
First Thursday Meetings
ID: 867 2424 8095
Third Thursday Meetings
ID: 895 3695 0485
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
October 5, 2023
Draft Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Minutes
Emma J. Harvat, City Hall
Commissioners present: Chastity Dillard (via Zoom), Clif Johnson, Chad Simmons, Sikowis,
Marie Krebs, Lauren Merritt, Wangui Gathua, Louis Tassinary.
Commissioners not present: Eric Harris.
Staff present: Redmond Jones, Stefanie Bowers.
Meeting called to order: 7:06.
Reading of Land Acknowledgement: Krebs read the Land Acknowledgement.
Approval of the meeting minutes of September 21 and September 27, 2023: Krebs moved, and
the motion was seconded by Gathua. The motion passed 8-0.
Comment of Items not on the Agenda: Amos Kiche encouraged Commissioners to follow up on
the recently held Fact-Finding session with a questionnaire/community survey.
TRC Budget Presentation: Deputy City Manager Jones presented the expenses of the TRC from
August 1- October 4. The TRC had previously budgeted $10,000 for Phase 1. The amount would
cover costs related to special meetings, community marketing, special events, and miscellaneous
pilot programs.
Most costs are food-related expenses followed by supplies the TRC needed for trainings. The total
cost to date is $6,667.91. The budget presented does not reflect payments made to facilitators.
Change Phase One Timeline: Simmons discussed with fellow Commissioners how the last few
months have felt rushed. Simmons moved to change the phase 1 completion date to no longer than
March 31, 2024, to increase learning and reduce pressures on staff, consultants, and
commissioners. Krebs seconded. The motion passed 8-0. Simmons further noted that the pause
does not change what the facilitators must do or cause any additional work for them.
Simmons further moved that phase 1 includes a practice example of all the parts of the model
working together with a review of the expected outcomes. Tassinary seconded the motion. The
motion passed 8-0.
Circles and Circles Training: There was a discussion about when to hold the circles. Possible
suggestions were to hold two in one week, bi-monthly, or near the date of Truthsgiving. Each
circle will take at least 3 hours. Staff will look at finding a venue for a circle on October 21.
Follow-Up on Fact-Finding Sessions: Dr. Schooler and Laurel were not able to join the meeting
today but did relay to staff that Commissioners Krebs, Nobiss, and Johnson should review the list
for the major categories from the sessions and let them know what categories are missing from the
list that should be included and what are some key indicator that they want to be sure they track
under each category.
Agenda Item #4
2
The categories currently are: public safety/policing/law enforcement,
namings/memorialization/remembrances, economic development, health, environmental justice,
education, and other.
Strategic Doing Update: Commissioners were provided with a brief update on the Spanish
Strategic Doing Workshop Pathfinder Projects. There will be a follow-up meeting held on October
19 at the South District Market.
Reports of Commissioners: Sikowis reported on the upcoming Indigenous Peoples Day
Celebration being held at Terry Trueblood Recreation Area. Johnson would like to see the TRC
participate in the University of Iowa's homecoming parade in 2024.
Adjourned: 10:10
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.
6/1 6/15 7/20 8/1 8/2 8/3 8/17 8/24 9/7 9/14 9/21 9/27 10/5
Dillard 12/31/24 P P P P P p P P P P P P P
Gathua 12/31/24 P P P P P P P P A P P P P
Harris 12/31/24 A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Johnson 12/31/24 P P P P P P P P P P A A P
Krebs 12/31/24 P P P P P P P P P P P A P
Merritt 12/31/24 P P P P P P P A P P P P P
Nobiss 12/31/24 A P P P P P P A P A A A P
Simmons 12/31/24 - - - - - A P P P A P P P
Tassinary 12/31/24 - - - - - P A P P P P P P
KEY: P = Present
A = Absent
1
October 25, 2023
Draft Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Minutes
Assembly Room, Iowa City Senior Center
Commissioners present: Chastity Dillard, Lauren Merritt, Wangui Gathua, Louis Tassinary,
Chad Simmons, Marie Krebs.
Commissioners not present: Eric Harris, Sikowis Nobiss, Clif Johnson.
Staff present: Redmond Jones, Stefanie Bowers.
Meeting called to order: 5:22 PM.
Reading of Land Acknowledgement: Dillard read the Land Acknowledgement.
Consider Recommendation to Remove Ad Hoc Truth & Reconciliation Commissioner:
Dillard moved, and Gathua seconded to recommend to the City Council the removal of Eric Harris
due to three unexcused absences per the by-laws section 4 article E.
The motion passed 5-0. (Simmons was not present for the vote).
Truth-Telling:
The Native Partners did a welcome and grounding.
Think Peace went over public hearings of a truth and reconciliation commission (TRC). The key
objective of a truth process is to protect the rights of persons who were harmed. Some truth
commissions work behind closed doors to provide confidentiality for persons testifying.
The objectives of a TRC cannot be secured without the support of communities. The public can
assist during educational outreach or a media strategy.
Hearings for institutions are one type of public hearing. These are hearings for persons who were
harmed and focused on cases. Public hearings should be in a space that provides a safe platform
to honor persons who were harmed and create opportunities for constructive engagement and
dialogue from the public. The approach for hearings should be survivor-centered to ensure
appropriate protection and avoid new harms.
Commissioners worked in pairs to identify truth-telling norms and roles and then reported to the
group.
The Native Partners provided closing reflections. The meeting was adjourned at 9:08 PM.
To view the recording or listen to the audio of this meeting, visit 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 5/4 6/1 6/15 7/20 8/17 9/7 9/21 10/5
Dillard 12/31/24 P P P P P P P P P P P P P
Gathua 12/31/24 A P P P P P P P P P A P P
Harris 12/31/24 P P P P A P A A A A A A A
Johnson 12/31/24 P A P A P P P P P P P A P
Krebs 12/31/24 P 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 P P P P
Nobiss 12/31/24 P A P P A P A P P P P A P
Simmons 12/31/24 - - - - - - - - - P P P P
Tassinary 12/31/24 - - - - - _ - - - A P P P
KEY: P = Present
A = Absent
1
October 26, 2023
Draft Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Minutes
Assembly Room, Iowa City Senior Center
Commissioners present: Chastity Dillard, Lauren Merritt, Wangui Gathua, Louis Tassinary,
Chad Simmons, Marie Krebs, Clif Johnson.
Commissioners not present: Eric Harris, Sikowis Nobiss.
Staff present: Redmond Jones, Stefanie Bowers.
Meeting called to order: 5:31 PM.
Reading of Land Acknowledgement: Gathua read the Land Acknowledgement.
Truth-Telling:
The Native Partners opened with a “remembering song”.
Dr. Melinda Salazar started with a grounding relaxation technique.
Eduardo Gonzales provided a brief overview of the session held on October 25, which, as he
explained, was the “what” and “why” of public hearings, whereas today’s session is the “how.”
How would a public hearing be done, and what would be needed?
The discussion moved into the organization of hearings, including the selection or invitation of
statement-givers, preparation, and procedure.
Truth-telling comes in between fact-finding and reconciliation. As part of any fact-finding, the TRC
must decide the objectives of the hearings, topics, focus, and protocols.
Commissioners then broke into small groups to go over conceptualization, preparation,
implementation, complements, and follow-ups of truth-telling.
Dr. David Ragland delivered the envisioning exercise for the Commissioners, asking them to
provide as much information as possible about that safe space.
The session ended with a song by the Native Partner on having blessings in one's life.
The Native Partners provided closing reflections. The meeting was adjourned at 9:04 PM.
To view the recording or listen to the audio of this meeting, visit this link.
AD HOC TRUTH & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
ATTENDANCE RECORD
YEAR 2023
(Meeting Date)
NAME
TERM
EXP.
2/2 3/2 4/6 5/4 6/1 6/15 7/20 8/17 9/7 9/21 10/5 10/25 10/26
Dillard 12/31/24 P P P P P P P P P P P P P
Gathua 12/31/24 P P P P P P P P A P P P P
Harris 12/31/24 P P A P A A A A A A A A A
Johnson 12/31/24 P A P P P P P P P A P A P
Krebs 12/31/24 P 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 P P P P
Nobiss 12/31/24 P P A P A P P P P A P A A
Simmons 12/31/24 - - - - - - - P P P P P P
Tassinary 12/31/24 - - - _ - - - A P P P P P
KEY: P = Present
A = Absent
Agenda Item #5
From:Annie Tucker
To:AdHocTruth
Subject:Questions for reflection, and prep for reporting
Date:Monday, November 13, 2023 11:48:03 PM
** This email originated outside of the City of Iowa City email system. Please take extra care openingany links or attachments. **Hi Commissioners,
As we were thinking about us and you reflecting on Phase 1 and looking ahead, and
preparing for reporting to the Council, we wondered if having some questions in
common would be helpful?
So, Melinda Salazar and V and I put these questions together. If they're helpful
for you, great!
1.What’s good about where we are right now in the Iowa City Truth
& Reconciliation Commission training?
2.What are the talents, experiences, knowledge and skills I have
brought to the team?
3.How has the workshop on Fact-finding brought me closer to our
dream or vision for the Iowa City Truth and Reconciliation
Commission?
4.How has Think Peace’s workshop on TRCs, Trauma-Informed
Truth Telling, and Envisioning the Truth Telling Hearings changed
my vision for Iowa City’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission?
5.Strategic Doing is an agile method for creating collaborative
solutions. What are some aspects of this process that are beneficial to
the TRC? What would you do differently?
6.What I think would be helpful for the commission at this time: (for
example, we have heard you say things like: more time to dive deep
together into what we want/our possible choices, access to the
consultants as we the commissioners discuss/brainstorm about our
choices, how to reach out to the community for their input, shaping
and providing some pilot events, etc.)
See you Thursday.
Annie Tucker
Agenda Item #7