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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTRC Agenda 4 18 2024Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission Thursday, April 18, 2024 Regular Meeting 7 PM – Emma Harvat Hall, City Hall 410 E. Washington Street AGENDA: 1.CALL TO ORDER 2.READING OF NATIVE AMERICAN LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 3.PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA (COMMISSIONERSSHALL NOT ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION WITH THE PUBLIC CONCERNINGSAID 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. 4.APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM APRIL 4, 2024 5.FOLLOW UP & DEBRIEF FROM THE TRC PRESENTATION TO CITY COUNCIL 6.TRC BUDGET UPDATE & REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS 7.NEXT STEPS FOR PHASE THREE AND FOUR 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. First Thursday Meetings ID: 867 2424 8095 Third Thursday Meetings 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. Cancelled 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. Cancelled Cancelled 1 April 4, 2024 Draft Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Minutes The Assembly Room, Iowa City Senior Center Commissioners present: Amos Kiche, Cliff Johnson, Chastity Dillard, Lauren Merritt, Wangui Gathua. Commissioners on Zoom: Chad Simmons. Commissioners not present: Louis Tassinary. Staff present: Redmond Jones, Stefanie Bowers. Recommendation to City Council: No. Meeting called to order: Approximately: 7:15 PM. Reading of Land Acknowledgement: Merritt read the Land Acknowledgements. Debrief from Fact-Finding and Truth-Telling Events: Commissioner Johnsons shared his thoughts on the truth-telling events, stating he thought the event(s) went well and there was growth with the work that was done. Johnson also mentioned the idea of expanding these events into the community to get others involved. Commissioner Kiche shared that he learned a lot from those who participated in the events. Kiche was able to learn more about what goes on in the community including how small business owners are affected and how systems (school system, legal system) have failed individuals. Kiche suggested vetting people who will be speaking at truth-telling events with more detail and communication to avoid surprises during the events. Kiche also suggested sticking to guidelines on how the events should operate. Commissioner Merritt agreed on the idea of a vetting process for the purpose of safety and productivity in future events. Merritt also shared that there is potential to do more with these events in the future. Commissioner Simmons spoke about the positive aspects of the events, including the process of events (fact finding, truth telling, and healing circles). Simmons shared that the event was not consistent with the model discussed regarding how the events would operate. Simmons also shared that there is a need for better understanding of the systems (police, education, housing) that the commission is working to fix to come up with solutions they can present to the city to bring about improvements for the community. Merritt suggested implementing time to process each truth-telling and putting aside additional time to brainstorm options for solutions. Johnson recommended more advertisement to get more people involved. Commissioner Gathua suggested implementing a stricter time limit where people stop speaking once the time is up (like what is done in city meetings). Gathua also suggested being better prepared and tentative to any rising tension during the events. Agenda Item #4 Cancelled 2 Commissioner Dillard shared the need for community involvement and for the commission to go to community members and share what they have learned to help the community. Dillard shared strengths from the meeting including the process, mobile-crisis partners, and healing circles. Dillard also suggested providing more healing circles for the community and a vetting process for future truth-tellers. Dillard mentioned the need for the commission to present as a united front centered around the message of racial injustice. Facilitator Dr. Larry Schooler acknowledged the work the commission has done and shared he agrees with the need for separate time to absorb the stories told at each event. Phase 2: Budget Update, Request for Additional Funds from the City Council, Next Steps & Follow-up: Johnson suggested reaching out to community members through churches to get more involvement at truth-telling events. Dillard revisited the commissioners north star framing question that represents the commission’s guiding vision. Dillard suggested taking what the commission has learned, along with the model of the north star framing question and using it to reconnect with the community and gather data/ information to use for the recommendation they will present to the council. Simmons asked what the overall message is that the commission is intending to deliver to the council on April 16th. Dillard answered that the commission will share that there is still work to be done. Simmons followed up by asking if the commission does not receive funding will it stop the work they are currently doing. Dillard answered that if the city wants the commission to do the work that they have asked them to do then the commission will need the money to move forward. Johnson agreed that The City needs to be held accountable for what they set out to achieve with this commission. Johnson also mentioned the possibility of sponsorships for funding. Commissioners discussed the importance of city involvement and what the future of the commission would look like without it. Dillard then brought up the need for increased community support. A solution presented was providing more healing circles to the community which would then lead to people who may be interested in the commission work. Merritt suggested an advertising budget. Dillard emphasized the importance of word of mouth to get community members involved. Johnson suggested a digital billboard advertising. Dillard brought up the upcoming April 16th meeting with council and proposed moving the meeting back to give more time to provide an itemized list of what the proposed increase budget would be used for. Facilitator Annie Tucker brought up the importance of the April 16th meeting regarding the facilitation team that reports to council. Schooler asked for clarification on what the city believes to be the commissions obligations under the contract relative to the presentation planned for April 16th. Redmond Jones clarified that the contract speaks to a joint effort to put together a closing of the activities and recommendations that the facilitators have brought to the commission. Dillard stated the need for the commission to present on progress on April 16th and to then schedule an additional meeting where budget and funding is discussed in detail. Schooler clarified that the facilitators’ role is to both report on the TRC’s progress and to provide a set of recommendations to allow the TRC to continue once their contract with the facilitators ends. Simmons shared that he does not think it is a good idea for the commission to go to the April 16th meeting without a full presentation including budget. Simmons shared the political nature of the meeting suggests what the commission is bringing to the meeting will benefit the city rather than simply updating them on progress. Simmons suggested to go to the city and ask to move back the date. Simmons agreed to support whatever final decision is made by the commission. Cancelled 3 The commission had to consider contractual obligations regarding the date of the meeting with council and information presented by Jones resulting in a final decision to present a progress report and highlights of their plans moving forward with a promise of additional budget information in May. Commissioners discussed who would oversee giving the presentation to the council at the April 16th meeting. It was decided Simmons and Merritt will present to the City Council. Announcements of Commissioners: None. Announcements of Staff: Jones stated there will be a budget report available at a future date. The meeting adjourned at 9:52 PM. The full meeting video can be viewed at this link. Cancelled AD HOC TRUTH & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION ATTENDANCE RECORD YEAR 2024 (Meeting Date) NAME TERM EXP. 1/4 1/25 2/1 2/15 3/7 3/14 3/18 3/20 3/21 4/4 4/18 5/2 5/16 6/6 6/20 Dillard 12/31/24 Z P P P P P P P P P Gathua 12/31/24 P P P P A P P P P P Kiche 12/31/24 - - - P P P P P P P Johnson 12/31/24 A P P P P P P P P P Vacant 12/31/24 - - - - - - - - - - Merritt 12/31/24 P Z P P Z P P P P P Nobiss 12/31/24 Z Z Z A A A A P P R Simmons 12/31/24 P P P P P P P A P Z Tassinary 12/31/24 P A P P P P P P P A P = Present in person A = Absent Z = Zoom Cancelled Revised April 14, 2024 Truth & Reconciliation Commission Chastity Dillard - Chair Wangui Gathua Clifton Johnson Amos Kiche Lauren Merritt - Vice Chair Chad Simmons Louis Tassinary Agenda Item #7 Cancelled Truth Telling Topic ExpertOrganization Support Phase One: System Design Learning August 2023 - October 2023 Training Sessions •Opening Session (Aug)ꢀ •Strategic Doing (Sep)ꢀ •Fact Finding (Sep)ꢀ •TRC Worldwide Models (Oct)ꢀ •Healing Circles (Feb 2024) Cancelled Phase Two: System Design Practice *Topic A (Experts) (N/A) Truth Telling (Mar) Organization /Community Support (Mar) Reconciliation Healing Circle (Mar) Topic A Results and Review (Apr) Fact Finding (Mar) Developing Our Story in Public January 2024 - April 2024 *Reconciliation Strategic Doing (N/A) * Will be incorporated during Phase Four Cancelled Part II: Community Projects •Public Presentationꢀ •Educator’s Work Groupꢀ •Housing Work Groupꢀ •Social Justice Work Groupꢀ •Small Business Work Group Phase Three: Subject Matter Experts May 2024 - August 2024 Part 1: Areas of Interest Affordable Housing Economic Development EducationSocial Justice Cancelled Topic A (Experts) Community Truth Telling Organization /Community Sponsor Reconciliation Strategic Doing & Healing Circles Project(s) Topic A Results and Review Fact Finding Developing Our Story North Star Question Public Forum Fact Finding Organization Stories Community Stories Possible Solution’s How You Can Help Phase Four: Execute Truth Telling Model September 2024 - December 2024 Final Report Film Documentary Final TRC Public Meeting Cancelled Revised April 14, 2024 Truth & Reconciliation Commission Questions & Answers Chastity Dillard - Chair Wangui Gathua Clifton Johnson Amos Kiche Lauren Merritt - Vice Chair Chad Simmons Louis Tassinary Cancelled