HomeMy WebLinkAboutTRC Agenda 3 7 2024
Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Meeting
Thursday, March 7, 2024
7:00 Emma Harvat Hall, City Hall
410 E. Washington Street
AGENDA:
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. READING OF NATIVE AMERICAN LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
3. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 15, 2024
4. PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA (COMMISSIONERS
SHALL NOT ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION WITH THE PUBLIC CONCERNING
SAID ITEMS.) 5 MINUTE MAXIMUM FOR EACH SPEAKER.
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.
5. CORRESPONDENCE
6. PRODUCTION TEAM FOR UPCOMING EVENTS
7. TRANSLATIONS FOR UPCOMING EVENTS
8. UPDATE ON FACT-FINDING
9. UPDATES ON TRUTH-TELLING
10. OTHER UPDATES FOR PHASE 2
11. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS
12. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF STAFF
13. 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.
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February 15, 2024
Draft Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Minutes
Emma J. Harvat Hall, City Hall
Commissioners present: Lauren Merritt, Marie Krebs, Louis Tassinary, Chad Simmons, Wangui
Gathua, Cliff Johnson, Chastity Dillard.
Commissioners on Zoom: None.
Commissioners not present: Sikowis Nobiss.
Staff present: Redmond Jones, Stefanie Bowers.
Recommendation to City Council: No.
Meeting called to order: 7:02 PM.
Reading of Land Acknowledgement: Merritt read the Land Acknowledgement.
Approval of the meeting minutes from January 25 and February 1: Tassinary moved, and
Gathua seconded. Motion passed 8-0.
Public comment of items not on the agenda: Annie Tucker spoke to the commission about the
potential of hiring a third party to help with event planning and execution of their mission.
Correspondence: Marie Krebs announced her resignation from the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission due to her inability to serve as what she would consider a “good” member of the
commission.
As the newest commissioner of the TRC, Amos Kiche was welcomed to the team and introduced
himself.
Discussion on racial preference with City Attorney: The discussion started with questions on
any guidelines that commission should be using when expressing their feelings and/ or thoughts as
it relates to race. Attorney Goers suggested avoiding hardline exclusions of protected groups or
people. A few questions related to the commission communicating with any litigants suing the city.
Goers reminded commissioners of the potential of putting oneself in a position of being a witness
against the City, avoiding specific names, and avoiding interpreting and concluding any
information or evidence.
Goers discussed keeping an open discussion in meetings that allows individuals to come forward
and speak while the commission listens but avoids drawing conclusions or making decisions on
behalf of the commission or individual speaking. Goers also noted to not be exclusionary based on
gender in times of sensitive discussions with the commission where an individual coming forward
may request a particular audience.
Agenda Item #3
2
Legislative Update by Deputy City Manager: Redmond Jones discussed the mission of the
commission and what it looks like alongside legislative priorities. Starting with City Council
priorities of values and impacts:
Values:
1. Racial Equity, Social Justice, and Human Rights.
•Protecting rights of manufactured home residents.
•Continued use of federal funding supporting residents and business for Covid
recovery.
•Support reform measures to reduce racial disparity in criminal justice system and
address systemic racism.
•Employer outreach.
•Law enforcement to address hate-related acts.
•Reinstate voter approved public library levies.
•Protect and support the freedom of movement of people using public transit.
2. Climate Action
•Flexibility in international energy codes.
•Support legislative change.
3. Partnerships and Engagement
•Working with University students to help with their rent protection proposal.
•Support and continue excellence in primary and secondary and higher education
institutions and advocate for additional education funding.
•Allow communities to have more say on what happens in their community.
Impacts:
1. Neighborhoods & Affordable Housing.
2. Mobility.
3.Safety and Wellbeing.
4. Economy.
Updates on Fact-Finding: Dr. Larry Schooler shared a fact-finding document with the
commission to confirm nothing is missing.
Discussion on Concept Note: Leo Hylton of Think Peace shared a document that acts as a
comprehensive walkthrough of community encounters to use as a touchpoint moving forward.
Prioritizing 3 main aspects:
1. Safety.
2. Economic development.
3. Education.
The commission discussed priority and approach for a communication plan.
Final notes include, meeting needs of truth tellers, community connections and communication,
and criteria of truth tellers.
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Other Updates Phase 2: The commission went over who to reach out to for fact-finding and how
to go about that before the next meeting in three weeks. Possible advertisement include TV ads,
social media posts, and notice on the TRC website. Locations for the March events are being
researched currently.
The meeting wrapped up with a discussion on the intention and execution of the upcoming truth-
telling events.
Announcement of Commissioners: Johnson will be participating in a Masters Boxing Division in
Las Vegas.
The meeting adjourned at 11:03 PM. To view the recording or listen to the audio of this meeting,
visit this link.
AD HOC TRUTH & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
ATTENDANCE RECORD
YEAR 2024
(Meeting Date)
NAME
TERM
EXP.
1/4 1/25 2/1 2/15 3/7 3/21 4/4 4/18 5/2 5/16 6/6 6/20 7/18
Dillard 12/31/24 Z P P P
Gathua 12/31/24 P P P P
Kiche 12/31/24 - - - P
Johnson 12/31/24 A P P P
Krebs 12/31/24 P P P P
Merritt 12/31/24 P Z P P
Nobiss 12/31/24 Z Z Z A
Simmons 12/31/24 P P P P
Tassinary 12/31/24 P A P P
P = Present in person
A = Absent
Z = Zoom
U.E. Local 896
Campaign to Organize
Graduate Students
February 20, 2024
To the Council Members of the Iowa City City Council, Johnson County Board of Supervisors,
Chief Dustin Liston, and University of Iowa Police:
CC: Iowa City Human Rights Commission, Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Iowa
City Community Police Review Board.
We, the democratically elected leadership of UE Local 896 (COGS), acknowledge the abundant
history of student activists standing for what is right and write you to 1)demand that you stand
with student demonstrators and the People on the front lines of defending human rights, social
justice, and a higher standard of living for all workers in the “Greatest Small City of the Arts.”
We 2)demand a public apology and commitment to justice from the City Council, University
Police Department, and Chief Dustin Liston and 3)that all affected demonstrators have their
charges dropped (JCo 7,Iowa City Students for Justice in Palestine). Critically, we 4)demand
that the City respond to the unnecessary injustice on patrol in our community and decrease the
amount allocated to the Iowa City Police Budget to divert these funds to the People. 5) demand
that the University of Iowa rescind their decision to ban graduate students from Jessup Hall &
Iowa Memorial Union or waive the student union fees for these individuals.
Iowa City is a UNESCO City of Literature that advertises itself as the Greatest Small City of the
Arts - yet, those individuals who drive forward the innovative work on television and in print that
capture the world’s attention live in poverty, are overpoliced, and their rights are under
attack.The City’s priorities are evident as it spends nearly 17.3 million on police force and a
mere 1 million dollars on affordable housing each year.
Currently, the Iowa City Police receives nearly 40% of Iowa City’s general funds each year, yet
nearly 90% of calls are logged as unjustified/unnecessary, including the recent arrests of local
demonstrators. We see this and those city officials who deem it necessary to increase funding as
fiscally reckless and the silence in response to the violence waged against our trans,
gender-nonconforming, and gender-fluid community to be deplorable. It is gravely irresponsible
to increase funding for force yet again when our community - your community - faces immense
barriers to timely mental and physical healthcare, including gender-affirming healthcare, safe and
affordable housing, food security, childcare infrastructure, and even timely snow removal. The
Agenda Item #5
needless maintenance and expansion of the use of force in the City of Iowa City adversely
impacts the working class, preserves the status quo, and creates barriers to the recruitment,
retention, development, and expression of talent and innovation in our community.
The City’s strategic plan states that it seeks to improve relationships with the community. Yet, it
seeks to increase funding for force that carries out the will of the State - a state that is currently
waging a relentless and comprehensive attack upon the human rights for trans*,
gender-nonconforming, and gender-fluid individuals, which threatens their survival, access to
healthcare, and sense of security.Our union unequivocally stands for basic rights such as “safe
and affordable housing, freedom from workplace violence, and the right to not be discriminated
against for who they are.” Currently, the state of Iowa, the City of Iowa City, the Iowa City
Police Department and the University of Iowa Police Department each stand in violation of such
basic rights.
It is impossible to retain inclusive, accessible spaces with excessive police patrol. Given the
diverse experiences held by the many individuals who comprise our community, it is paramount
to accept and respond to the fact that patrol reduces the sense of safety and increases the sense of
threat or harm. Focus groups at the University of Iowa reveal that faculty of color feel driven out
by the excessive utilization of force.
This is a critical time to create a community that seems safe, particularly in an UNESCO City of
Literature which should uphold human rights as proposed by the U.N., including “health,
housing, education, and freedom to access the benefits of science and culture.” We demand that
you, our community leaders and elected officials, act with care towards our community rather
than fear. That you turn towards discomfort and take righteous action. The capacity to live
without fear of being harassed, harmed, or even killed is a fundamental civil liberty; presently,
our community is overpoliced per national standards, which translates to increases in community
and individual suffering. This suffering is concentrated around those with identities that are
connected to vast historical trauma.
We denounce any city budget proposal that would increase funding for ICPD as antithetical to
the labor movement and oppositional to the advancement of working people the world over. The
police are not working class and they are not allies to working people.
As several of you are former COGS members yourselves, we are sure that you recall the efforts
of our early organizers to ensure that racial and social justice would be dual foundations in our
fight for economic rights and democracy as graduate workers at the University of Iowa. That
fight continues today. Our members took to the streets in support of the Iowa Freedom Riders
and Black Lives Matter movements here in Iowa City, and we take to the streets to stand with
our trans, gender-nonconforming, and gender-fluid community as they face horrific and
relentless threats from state legislation.
Our members stand for a working-class movement to bring a higher standard of living for all. We
voted for you so that you would fulfill your campaign promises to fight for social, racial, and
economic justice in our city. Our members and allies are watching you now to see how you will
act for the People as stewards of our public funds.
We implore all members of the city council to Invest in the People, Not the Police Force, so that
Iowa City may truly become the Greatest Small City of the Arts.
UE Local 896/COGS
Steps to Prepare for Truth Telling Hearings / Healing Circles events
1. Engage in publicity through website and social media
a. Press release directed to the formal print media, audiovisual, new media.
b. Potential language for a press release (adapt, correct or change as required):
“Truth and Reconciliation Commission to hold Community Encounters on
fact-finding, truth-telling, and racial healing”
The Iowa City Truth and Reconciliation Commission is announcing a
major point of accomplishment called for by Resolution 20-228. March
14th will be a virtual offering of facts found related to racial injustice,
followed by an in-person facilitated fact-finding engagement on March
18th.
March 20th and 21st will be the Truth Telling Hearings and Healing
Circles. If you are interested in witnessing, please show up early and
commit to staying for the duration: 5:30pm-9:30pm CT. This will help
support Truth Tellers who have experienced racial injustice and violence.
It is vital to keep disruptions to a minimum to honor the sharing of hard
truths.
After the close of the public Truth-Telling Hearings at 9:30pm, the Native
Partners and Healing Partners will hold a private space for Truth Tellers,
their support people, and select witnesses to the truth.
2. Organize three different groups of commissioners for outreach to Truth Tellers
As agreed by the TRC, small commissioner groups (3-4 commissioners each) do not
constitute a quorum and therefore a formal TRC meeting, facilitating informal outreach to
explore availability of truth tellers.
3. Identify Truth Tellers and ask questions
a. Identify local organizations, community groups and associations (formal and
informal), and school groups and associations (formal and informal) involved in
social justice issues;
These might include: churches, civic associations, business associations, school
groups, non profits, health organizations, mutual aid groups of formerly
incarcerated people, social / racial / restorative / transformative justice /
abolitionist activists (individuals and groups), etc;
Agenda Item #8
b.Reach out to leaders and members of the identified organizations,groups,and
associations,seeking those who might consider speaking on issues related to the
commission’s focus;
c.Seek to include Truth Tellers reflecting the diversity of the community vis a vis
race,ethnicity,gender,sexuality,religion and other aspects covering the
multifaceted cultural and social outlook of Iowa City;
d.It is recommended to ask for at least 1 reference from the community for
prospective truth tellers (in practice this may mean that individuals will have the
support of neighbors,their community or their associations);
e.Schedule a time for a brief,preparatory meeting to initiate and establish
relationship:explain what the TRC is,learn about the testimony a potential Truth
Teller might give.
Potential questions to help organize/clarify a narrative (for this first round
of truth teller hearings):
1.What has been your experience with police /law enforcement?
2.Can you identify positive aspects of that interaction?
3.Can you identify negative aspects of that interaction?
4.If something negative happened,did anyone intervene on your
behalf?
5.What kind of support would you have wanted?
6.Were you harmed as a result of that interaction?Please describe
the harms that were inflicted.
7.What would you need to experience harm repair?
8.In the context of interactions with police/law enforcement what
would racial justice look like for you?
f.The commissioner groups will make recommendations to the TRC about the truth
tellers to invite,taking into account how illustrative,pedagogical,eloquent the
narrative is,and ensuring that the truth teller is fully committed to participate and
they have support to engage in the process (i.e.they are supported by family and
friends,or their community or association,church fellow congregants,etc.)
g.Decide the list of invited truth tellers and contact them formally as the TRC to
ascertain their continued willingness to participate.Encourage truth tellers to
identify a person who will support them and accompany them during their
participation in the hearing.
4.Set up a care element for potential Truth Tellers and Witnesses (healing circles,MH
professional,nurse if necessary/possible,etc.).
a.Refer to the “Preparation for Truth Tellers”section of the “Trauma-Informed Truth
Telling &Witnessing Protocol (middle of p.7)
b.From the “Trauma-Informed Truth Telling &Witnessing Protocol”(p.10):
i.Account for the needs of those bearing witness by providing tissues on
the table and slips of paper and pens if they want to make a note of
something that was said or keep track of a thought or question to discuss
later;
ii.Provide water so that those witnessing trauma may stay hydrated to
mitigate the negative physiological and emotional impacts of stress on the
nervous system;
iii.Take the opportunity in preparing witnesses to watch just a few or several
videos from The Truth Telling Project website.Visit
TheTruthTellingProject.org/ITTL to find recordings and hear from our truth
tellers.