school.
Yay.
>> Good evening everyone.
>> Good evening. Welcome to the April 8,
2026 equity board meeting. So, we at the
beginning part of our agenda would like
to call to order.
Uh yes, sorry. Roll call. No worries.
>> Getting back into it. Um, okay.
Heather, Preppy
>> here,
>> Varnica, Caric, Leslie
>> here. Lorna here. Uh, Chris
>> here.
>> Awesome. And we can hear you just fine.
Chris, can you hear us? Okay.
>> Yeah, I can hear you. Great.
>> Great. Um, Oscar, I believe, has an
excused absence. And then Juan.
>> Okay,
>> perfect. And just for the minutes, we
are starting our meeting this evening at
6:05 p.m.
>> And I'm here.
Yes, Kelly.
I'll run through the the alternate.
Yes.
Okay, thank you Jillian. And um do we
have any public comments for this
evening? I see we have several members
of the public and commissions.
>> Thank you. Good to see you.
>> So we are um open and welcoming public
comments this evening from our members
of the public.
>> So we have
>> Yeah, we have two invitation and Serena
is going to do the first one. So
>> okay,
>> yes. Good.
>> Okay. I've never done this before, so
>> um so uh I'm coming from the garage. Um
my name is Serena. I'm the program
manager there at the garage um which is
a teen center nonprofit dropin center um
after school program. And um we are
hosting co-hosting with the Isquappa
High community a uh community panel um
that's going to be uh I believe four or
five teens
um talking about the topic of trusting
teens. And I can hand I only have five
of these but I can more
>> pass these out.
um and they're going to talk about um
their experiences and perspectives on
being a teen and um
>> answering questions like
have you ever felt your opinions or
perspectives minimized because of your
age? Um so really talking about like
what their experience is with adults and
things they wish um adults knew um about
their um yeah and we'd love it if you
could come. It's free to come um it's
right here at the garage which is right
next to the steelhead room. Uh it's
going to be next Monday uh from 6:00 to
7:30 p.m. Uh if you want to drop by and
say hi. I think for some are also gonna
provide snacks, too. So,
>> thanks.
>> I think it'll be a good good way for you
to hear from uh our young
>> like young people
>> in the community.
>> Fantastic. Thank you.
>> Yeah.
>> So, we thought this would be a great
community
exercise for
community. I remember you are the second
program for May 2nd. I'm over
My
at May 2nd, we have a
called the Mona Foundation uh which is
an international organization that
supports uh education of girls all
across the world.
>> Oh, sure.
>> And um it's it's a it's a great program.
So in chat
we still
>> yeah he said that's a wonderful
experience for re
projects around the world supporting the
education of women
and many champions around the world and
the speakers were veterating and
experienced to share and learn from that
>> ex Microsoft person that uh is expanding
to education and uh
>> nonprofit. Yes.
>> Wonderful. Thank you for your time.
>> Thank you. We appreciate all the work
that the Banana um uh community does
here in Isla and also the great work of
the uh garage. So, thank you for uh
sharing this information and also your
time and bringing these great community
events to us. terrible.
>> Thank you. Good to see you.
>> The next item on our agenda, this
evening.
>> Good night.
>> Thank you.
>> The next business item on our agenda
this evening is the approval of minutes
from October 2025 and also February 2026
of the Flying Board. So, if you want to
take a look at the minutes that are, I
believe, included in your meeting
package this evening
and let us know if there are any uh
changes, corrections to the minutes.
Okay. Does anyone would anyone like to
make a motion to approve amendments of
the October 2025 and February 2026
equity board meeting as written? So, do
we have a first?
>> I can be up first. in terms
all in favor.
>> I
salude meeting minutes are approved.
Thank you very much everyone.
So we are now at the chair report and um
opening question. My goodness, I had two
questions and I I think I just figured
out which one I want to ask. So, here's
the question for this evening. What is
something that felt absorbent over the
winter that you are excited to see come
back to life in the community or in your
life?
So, one more time, what is something
that felt dormant over winter that are
you that you are excited to see come
back to life in the community or enjoy
little springy everything that's
blooming around us. though
the inspiration for tonight's question.
>> So, who would like to go first?
>> We got Chris up.
>> Hi, Chris.
>> Hi. I get off. Um, super excited to go
back outside and um do like some walks
and trails and all that fun stuff. Um, I
know a lot of folks like to go when it's
rainy. Not a fan personally. I like to
go when it's sunny outside.
Uh, so yeah, I'm excited about that. And
seeing everyone else out, too. As soon
as it gets sunny, you kind of feel
everyone's on their bikes, everyone's
walking around. So, I love that.
>> Absolutely.
>> Thanks, Chris.
>> You'd like to go next,
>> please.
>> Yeah. um seeing the cherry blossoms. Um
like they're beautiful, but my husband
will major and so it's just like it's
really fun to see his enthusiasm with
all the photos he takes everywhere. So
it's just like the reminder of
springtime.
>> Absolutely.
I think there might be a running thing
because uh I'm a native Californian and
my goodness, this weather has been just
a bear this year. So I'll go next. Um I
would say just getting outdoors. I've
been plotting my um my garden. Uh bought
a whole bunch of garden stuff and it was
able to open up boxes and get potting
soil and just play in the soil. So, just
seeing all of the beautiful stuff around
me and things are blooming. Um we're
going to have vegetables. It might be
three tomatoes and one onion, but we're
going to have vegetables this spring and
summer. So, I'm pretty excited.
So, you like to go next?
>> I'm good.
um
uh gardening. I you know I Steve does
the digging, I do the pruning which I
love because it's just like shaping and
it's beautiful.
>> Yeah, it's very fun.
>> Fantastic.
>> You can go next. Lot lot of things.
Birds, bees, butterflies, lot days,
sunshine.
>> Absolutely.
>> Um mine's more like in my house. I'm
excited to see my plants like bloom like
especially my orchids because I was gone
for like five weeks and I thought my
plants have died but they revived and
they're lucky.
>> Um and so just seeing the little changes
and then outside I just think that it's
just always a good it's just a good way
to start the season.
>> Absolutely.
Since you all covered gardening, that is
my love too. But I'll talk about um my
neighborhood Friday afterwork get
together. A culdeac tends to do a bring
a chair, bring a drink and a snack and
sit on the sidewalk and talk and get
together with the culde-sac. and they
started the neighbors started it last
year and I so love that because I think
that's one of the things we need
especially postcoid building community
and that's one of the reasons I joined
this group to figure out how to help our
community build community and I love
that my street does that and I don't
have to do anything for it and I just
hope all other culde-sacs and
neighborhoods have something like this
to bond and build relationships with
each other.
>> Absolutely. I have to say that Wara is
my garden inspiration. Uh my husband and
I went and dropped some items off last
year and she was good enough to show us
her beautiful garden. And what she
doesn't know, I was basically taking so
many mental notes of all the things that
I did wrong last year in my garden that
she showed me how to fix. So I'll have
to keep you updated on if I buy it this
year.
Do you have anyone else that would like
to and again let me repeat the question.
What is something that felt dormant over
the winter that you were excited to see
come back to life in the community or in
your life
to Yeah. Hey everyone, Jillian St. I
know it's been a minute. So, um
uh I feel like I'm feeling much more
creative this spring. Like I used to do
a lot of watercolor painting and stuff
like that and I haven't done as much of
it recently. But I feel like I'm doing a
lot more of that and like oil pastels
and stuff at home and it's just been
really nice to like walk around the
neighborhood, see the flowers, feel
like, oh, I can like take a photo or go
out there and like paint or draw that
and that's been really great.
>> So thanks.
>> Hi, I'm Andrea Leonard. I'm the deputy
city administrator and um since I love
plants but everybody has covered that a
lot. Um I happened to be on a meeting
today and somebody's background was like
a beautiful mountain and lake and
instantly I was just thinking how nice
it would be to be out on the water. That
is something I do not do in the winter.
Uh but would love I'm looking forward to
more sunny days and warming up enough to
get out there on the water. Be fun. Here
here anyone online would like to uh
share with us on the opening question
once going twice. Don't be shy.
>> I heard you.
>> Yeah, you did. Thanks, Chris.
>> Okay. Well, thank you all for sharing um
on the the opening question. And
apparently we're all going to be
outside. So love it. Okay, so it looks
like our first business agenda item uh
this evening is the equity impact
assessment community engagement plan. So
I'm going to hand that over to Jillian.
>> Yeah. Hi everyone. So um like to talk a
little bit about some of the work that
I've come to equity board uh a couple of
times over the past year or so. Um we're
in the phase now where we're designing
the community engagement plan. So, we
wanted to bring that forward for all of
you. So, um I'll be doing a little bit
of presenting, but Andrea Leonard, our
deputy city administrator, will also be
um providing a little bit of the
background for this work um and here to
answer any questions. So, if I go ahead
and share my screen, we can go ahead and
get started.
>> I think that'll work for now. Just let
me know if you need to spam any chair or
anything because they go after this.
>> Yes.
>> So, like I said, we'll cover a little
bit of background on the overall
project. Then we'll I'll present the the
proposed community engagement plan. Then
I have three uh questions for all of you
tonight. So, first, are the goals for
the community engagement plan
appropriate and are they aligned with
the desired outcome from the engagement?
Um, are the proposed engagement methods
and groups the right one for the
project? and basically was missing um
from the table and from these
conversations. And then is there support
for equity board involvement as
proposed? So there are a few um steps
along the way where I'd like to see the
equity board involved. I want to make
sure that those are the right points.
>> All right. So I'll go ahead and hand it
off to Andrea.
So part of the background is kind of how
we got here. Uh so of course the equity
board created in 2021, one of the many
city advisory boards and commissions. Um
after the board was formed, uh we made
the equity framework and it was piloted
with different departments, a lot of
presentations to the equity board trying
to use the framework and think about
what's the next step of that. I know
there's more work that this group is
wanting to do on that this year. Um, and
we, you know, we didn't want to stop
there with the equity framework. I think
we're just keeping, uh, on the progress
of this work. And so, part of, uh, the
history is 2024, we had a strategic plan
update. And one of the outcomes of that
strategic plan was a need for an equity
operational plan. We're going to talk
more about how that plan fits in with
other city plans and other work and the
work that the equity board does in a
little bit. Um, and uh, also in the
budget, we have $50,000 for professional
services to help us start that plan.
It's going to be multi-phases,
and Jillian's going to go over that in a
little bit. So, we put out the RFP, the
request for proposals um, for equity
visioning and program evaluation.
And so, those are kind of the two first
phases we're hoping to accomplish with
that funding.
and uh we have selected a finalist to do
that work. And so we're excited to move
forward as part of that. Before we um
fully get them under contract, we wanted
to flesh out the community engagement
plan a little bit in case we needed to
add some tasks to their contract. And so
that's why we're we're kind of waiting
to finalize the contract until after
this discussion.
So that brings us to what part of what
is this and how does this fit in with
other things. I think as we look at
trying to form what are our equity goals
or kind of a loose vision for equity and
this upon how we deliver services as a
city government. So this isn't
necessarily equity goals that we would
like to see within the community but how
we as a city deliver services in an
equitable manner. um that's the guidance
that we're looking for. So we want to
establish those goals and then figure
out okay how do we get there? Where are
the gaps? That's the essence of this
work and that's going to form a plan
really. And so as we look at how does
that fit in to all the other work that
the city does, we have of course our
comprehensive plan that is our
overarching plan that governs really all
of the work that we do.
The comprehensive plan itself has vision
goals in many different areas like
growth and development, like
transportation, and like equity. You'll
see in a little bit. So, um, what we're
working towards is the creation of
essentially an equity plan in the same
way that we have the Isiqua climate
action plan that the environmental board
stewards. Uh the same way we have a
mobility action plan the way that the
transportation advisory board stewards,
we're looking to uh step by step create
a plan for the equity board that you can
help steward and that will form the
basis of your work plan for years to
come. And so that's how this work kind
of fits in to the other city plans
within the comprehensive plan. As you
can see from this diagram, we have a lot
of functional plans. So like I was just
saying the the mobility action plan, the
IAP, the ESCA climate action plan, etc.
So this would be another functional plan
just like those other plans that the
equity board, you all would help steward
and uh inform us in our work as we try
to make sure we're making progress.
Are there any questions about the what
we're working towards in the equity plan
and how that would fit in with other
city plans?
One one of the things that we're looking
at is um just like the mobility action
plan uh is folded into the comprehensive
plan and forms our goals and policies
and actions within the comprehensive
plan under transportation.
So would the equity plan under our
equity uh uh goals. And so this is what
we have so far. I don't intend for any
of you to read all of that text on this
slide. But what is important to take
away from this slide is that um in the
comp plan we do attempt to address
equity and this is how we address it. uh
the guiding principle equity to ensure
that isqua services and uh outstanding
quality of life are accessible to
everyone. That feels maybe a little
outdated when we talk about what does
equity mean and what do we want equity
to look like in the city? How we deliver
services based on that. So what we're
hoping to do through this process as we
think about what we do some community
engagement establish what do we what are
our equity goals those equity goals are
going to supplant this language we're
going to replace this language because
we feel that this is um out ofd
um there and needing some revision
any questions so far if not I'm going to
turn it over to Jillian
off to.
>> All right, this slide is just a reminder
what was in that request for or the RFP
for um equity visioning and goal setting
and that tool development. This came to
the equity board in the fall of last
year for refinement. I'll just go over
the outcomes of both phases, but I'm
happy to answer any other questions as
well. So the outcome of phase one, which
is really that staff developed and staff
um kind of carried out community
engagement plan, is to have
comprehensive and community driven a
comprehensive and communitydriven equity
vision and goals. We're hoping that
those equity goals are broad enough to
encompass multiple lines of city
service, but specific enough to guide
some kind of evaluation in phase two. So
phase two is the development of the
equity evaluation tool by the consultant
and the outcome of that is that we have
a program evaluation tool that can be
used by a across a broad array of city
programs by staff. So there are multiple
parts to this building staff capacity to
use a tool like this um creating a tool
adapting it. Um but that's really what
we're looking at in phases one and two
with this RFP. Like Andrea mentioned
we're building towards that equity
action plan. That's a future phase of
work that'll be addressed in a in a
future budget.
So, if there are any questions about
that, I'm going to transition into the
community engagement itself. I know that
I feel like I've brought the the RFP to
you all at least once or twice. Um, so
taking that um the outcome of phase one
again at the bottom of the screen, we
thought really deliberately about what
the community engagement plan should do
and came up with two core goals. First,
that basically we have enough and
diverse community input to shape the
city's high level equity goals. And
second, that the decision makers, in
this case, our city council, honor the
community input that's been um that's
been requested and the community work
that's gone into developing this vision
and goals.
So as we move through this, this is just
a helpful way to think about as staff
requests feedback from the community,
what we are basically promising to use
that feedback for. So it's a way to keep
us accountable um as they seek seek
feedback. I won't spend a lot of time
here um but happy to answer any
questions about it. And now let's talk
about the different phases of the
community engagement plan. So tasks one
and two um are basically getting
feedback on the plan itself. So, we're
here before you tonight to get some
community input on the community
engagement plan. We'll then take it to
the services, safety, and park city
council committee to get their feedback
as well so that our elected leadership
is brought into this process from the
beginning. They haven't heard about this
project since it was approved as part of
the budget and we've had quite a bit of
turnover on our city council. So, it'll
be a good opportunity to overview the
entire project and get any specific
input on the community engagement plan
as well and then really um hit the
ground on the next couple of phases of
work.
>> So, the next uh three tasks are really
receiving community feedback. So, there
are kind of three main ways we think
about getting this feedback. The first
is a survey of the public. So this is
kind of designed to be really broad to
be sent out to a variety of groups
including isqua's board and commission
has neighborhood groups kind of known
contacts throughout the city where we
can broadly share a really highlevel
five minute style survey about equity
and city services.
Um we intend to have this um shared via
posters as well. Um and the survey
itself will be translatable via the the
forum cabinet.
>> Um and then we also want to do a little
bit of out a fair bit of outreach to
faith and cultural groups. So this is
basically trying to get those who have
been underrepresented in civic processes
before brought in. So this is a little
bit more time inensive. This is personal
in-person outreach to see if these
groups would be willing to take the
survey, if they'd maybe be more
comfortable focus grouping the survey to
make sure that those um responses are
are captured and to identify some folks
from those communities who can serve in
the community workshop to actually
develop the vision and goals to make
sure that those perspectives are
represented um in the vision and goals.
So, some of the groups we're thinking
about reaching out to are based on
islaw's demographics. So, we're thinking
about the Hindu community, Chinese
Americans, uh, Korean-Americans, the
Russian and Ukrainian communities, and
the Hispanic community here in Isiqua.
You don't have a comprehensive list of
all the organizations in your in your
packet today, but this is a place where
I'd welcome some feedback. If there are
any organizations or groups that you
think that we should be reaching out to,
I'd really welcome that feedback.
So then we also want to offer some
tableabling at community events to get
some folks who who aren't going to scan
the QR code and take a survey. Um but
we're thinking kind of towards the end
of June or beginning of July around
things like concerts in the green
concert in the green or the farmers
market or the wagon decorating that kind
of a thing. pull a few questions from
the survey to kind of mirror in this
in-person opportunity for feedback.
Something interactive like dot voting
that kind of invites people in and it's
a pretty low barrier way to provide some
feedback on again equity and municipal
services here in Isiqua.
>> So with that at that point we are we're
hoping to have really sufficient
community engage engagement to move into
developing the vision and goals. So
we're planning on a community uh
leadership workshop. So this would be
non-elected leadership. We're thinking a
group of no more than 20 that is
representative geographically
um racially and culturally and kind of
age representation as well. Um to draft
the vision and goals from the community
engagement gather. This is a place where
we want to make sure that the consultant
is engaged to kind of get their arms
around all the different perspectives in
the room and come to consensus on what
um those draft goals and vision can be.
We think this might be one meeting. It
might be two meetings depending on on
how the conversation goes. Then we'd
bring that draft vision and goals to
services, safety, and parks to bring it
back to the committee where it started
with. Um, and that committee would
provide a recommendation on the draft
vision and goals to city council. And
then this fall, we envision city council
adopting that vision and goals.
So, this is really just a resource side
to pull out basically where I'm seeking
equity board feedback. So, part of it is
tonight um or really you can email me
the next couple of weeks any groups you
think of that um that I should be
reaching out to some for some of that
more personal in-person outreach to get
feedback. Um I'd like to see if possible
a couple of board members assist with
tableabling at events this summer. And
then I'd also like to see a member of
the equity board on that workshop of
non-elected community leadership. I
think you all have a kind of interesting
role in between being city staff um but
being a member of the community who's
plugged in and kind of understands um a
little bit of how these things kind of
work on the city level as well.
>> Okay. How about it?
>> So, here are our questions for tonight.
And I think let's start um let's start
with the first one. Um are the goals for
the community engagement appropriate and
are they aligned with the desire?
Actually, let me pause and see if you
all have any questions about the plan
itself before we dive into to your
feedback.
>> No questions for me. I think it was
incredibly comprehensive from my
standpoint. Very clear.
>> Okay. happy to answer answer any
questions as they come up, but let's go
back to the goals of the plan and make
sure that they're kind of hitting what
we want them to. So, these are the goals
and outcomes. Basically, do they match?
Are the goals going to get us the
outcome is really what I'm asking here.
>> Can you tell me what does sufficient
mean?
>> That's a good question. I don't think we
have like an exact number or like
I think it's a little bit based on
isqua's demographics right making sure
that
>> approximately how many
people
>> are you hoping to engage with and do you
have an idea of what your diversity
goals are in collecting the data. So for
example, if our community is
approximately 70%
people global and data born and 30% that
are not are you what kind of demographic
questions are you going to ask so then
we can then use that data to disagregate
the information and ensure that the data
truly reflects the community that we're
engaged.
>> Okay, thank you for that clarification.
So this is something we thought a lot
about. Um, we haven't like designed this
survey yet, but when we were thinking
about how to make sure we get, you know,
sufficient sufficient and representative
community engagement, we thought about
if asking demographic questions might
turn some people off um kind of in
today's day and age if that might be an
issue. So, we landed on the survey kind
of having all of the um the the
functional questions at the top and then
having a select list of um of
demographic questions um I believe
around race, neighborhood, and kind of
age group. Um those are the three we
landed on. If you think there are other
demographics that meaningfully like
ensure that we're representative
um in collecting this information, I'd
be curious to hear that.
I'm wondering if one of the ideas is
instead of making the
the survey translatable to actually have
the survey
in different languages and so it saves
out automatically. And that in itself
would be an easy way to collect some
information
>> and then making it friendly because
sometimes survey questions don't
translate very
>> yeah that's a good idea. I'll ask our
comm's team if like we can see on the
back end like right now what it does is
basically like when you scan the QR code
to take the survey you can pick which
language you want it in and I'll see
whether or not that data is collected on
our end or if we should have like
essentially separate QR codes for
different languages to to address that
but I'm hearing that language is
important
>> so one one thing I'm thinking about So,
and Kelly, you probably know more about
this, but so when I think about
community engagement,
when you're trying to track who said
what, it's really important to associate
a comment with who said it
>> because there's a risk of
my diplomatic filters are failing me.
But like, so say
an older white male says something about
teenage girls and maybe they're making a
recommendation about something like
that.
>> To me, that might have less credibility
to that comment because it's not by that
a person of that group saying it about
what they need. So I think especially so
if you're in mixed groups, right, and
not in affinity based groups, it might
be important to take note of who is
saying what and
somehow weighing a little bit more by
that credibility factor. And so I think
that that can be a tricky dimension. And
so I think with surveys that that's kind
of why you want some demographic
characteristics on the surveys, but also
when you have the the community
engagement. So that group of like 20
people, right? Yeah.
>> Trying to make sure you're associating
some comments have more validity that
comes from members of the group talking
about themselves from the high from
their own experience versus someone. So
yeah, was trying to think about being
careful
your 50 dang comments on unfair.
>> I think that's a note that we can also
leave for our consultants to think
about. I think they're pretty
experienced since I did this and I think
they'll be able to handle that. Yeah, if
they're in if they're in the rooms
especially. But if they're on the
>> Yeah.
>> And they are in for the community in
correct
>> for the um so the community workshop
>> for the workshop.
>> Yes.
>> But the tableabling event won't
necessarily have them right
>> supporting to be part of the other day.
>> Right. What's um interesting about
tableabling events is like at the
culture fest we pretty much did like
board driven tools and resources. We
didn't have a table um cloth and we just
borrowed something from um the city just
like ad hoc. And so I guess if you're
ask is for equity board members to be
there and participate in volunteers,
what tools and resources are there uh
for us because we brought all of our
stuff together.
>> Yeah. To do it. So that was a little bit
of an issue for participation. So
there's something to be mindful of. The
other piece is I noted that you said
Asian-Americans as a demographic profile
and are you considering also non like
Asian-Americans as well? um like at your
profile of like demographics because I I
thought you specified like being like
Asian-American like Chinese American,
Korean-American that what is
>> So I based that off of some of the kind
of language info that we have around
some of the larger cultural groups here
in Isiqua.
>> Um and those were the top five or six
that that had come up. Okay. I think I
would like to recommend making a little
bit more comprehensive instead of just
very like specific like that because in
Isiqua I think that we have a lot of
people who are not like um
Asian-American or tried to be like um
like we have a lot of immigrant
communities as well. So those are some
things to consider
>> um as you try to get a survey from like
you know the community and things like
that. help me. Can you help me
understand? I think I'm missing like how
to operationalize that comment. Like
what I should, you know what I mean?
Like is that like who I should reach out
to? Is that
>> I think if your demographic profile, you
have like your set list of like folks
you think you're going to reach out to.
I would try to like encompass it to make
it a little bit broader because like my
neighbors aren't like um they're not
Indian-American. they're, you know,
they've moved over from a different
country and like
>> so those are things to consider. I I
guess I don't know why the tying of it
is very like um
>> like first generation that's my first
question is like you're looking for
first generation feedback but there's
more than first second third generation
feedback.
>> Okay, thank you. Yeah, some of that so
just for a little bit of clarity in what
I was thinking there. So, um, that's
also a little bit based on what cultural
groups seem to have a a presence in a
squa and have someone that we can maybe
reach out to. Um, so that's a little bit
of where that was drawn from as well.
>> Is there like a list um within like the
city that you have like resources or
like the certain groups or how did you
pull the the groups in like the process?
Yeah. So, I pulled the groups from
basically scanning our demographics and
searching for either for both like faith
and cultural and kind of community sort
of groups looking on places ranging from
Meetup to um like just a variety of
places. Um, so
>> Jillian, I had a question in regards to
something you had mentioned earlier and
I think that what makes survey work um a
lot easier and um I think more
comprehensive is using standardized
lists that you already have now. So you
have data that you can that you can
utilize now. But I'm always concerned
when there's the use of I guess a go-to
list of um of contacts that we're kind
of missing
>> the folks that may very well provide
some amazing feedback. So um I just want
to share my concern that we're really
casting a wider net than just what our
current resources are. And like for
instance um I think about service and
charitable organizations. Uh we have the
Blue Lodge. They're Masons here in uh
Isiqua. Long storyried um uh charitable
organization that has um deep roots in
this community. So I think reaching out
to them would be uh pretty uh um I think
would give you some substantial
information. Um also um close and near
and dear to my heart um senior adult and
child focused organizations.
>> I think it's very important. I love the
infographic of having the child
underneath standing on a pedestal even
though it's a bit old school in terms of
what equity is and it's really access.
So, uh adult and child focused uh
organizations really should uh be
hopefully on the current list if not a
developed list. Um also transportation
and food uh distribution organizations.
Um we have uh several here in uh Isaklaw
that I think would be pretty critical.
And then also uh recreational
organizations
um I think they can uh really give a lot
of feedback in terms of access in
equity. So
>> yeah,
>> thank you. I think yeah, we were pretty
conscious of that. I think the survey of
the public is drawing from from our list
of groups and orgs that we already know.
The outreach to faith and cultural
groups is a little bit of us casting a
wider net and maybe visiting with some
folks who we haven't tapped into as much
before, tried to build as much of a
relationship with before. Um, so there
be a question on if the person is a
Isqua resident, is that an requirement?
Because
>> I think some people have valid feedback
because they work with the Isakqua
community. Yeah. But they're not
necessarily a resident. Is that
something you're going to take like
you're talking about, you know, first
person like who is this person saying
this and what is their role within the
community?
>> Yeah, I think part of that is going to
be assessed through that neighborhood
question. If you know if they say I
don't live in is then we know. Um
so I do I'll just chime in too. I do
think um we are wanting to know how we
deliver services. So this is guidance
for how can we deliver services in a
more equitable manner. And so I think
what we'd be looking at is who are we
serving and who can provide input into
what they would like to see for those
services. We will weigh um is called
resident input more heavily because
they're the ones who pay the taxes for
those services. They're a greater
proportion of the people that we serve.
Um and they are our bosses. uh really
and so so we want to hear from them and
we'll prioritize them but I think if
there's other voices for example you
were mentioning a nonprofit uh
organizations that provide services in
Isiqua maybe those people aren't
residents but they work here they
provide services they're part of the
isiqua community they have a certain
perspective to share so I think it makes
sense to to listen to them too of course
we want to hear from them
>> how many people normally respond on when
you do surveys?
>> That's a good question. I don't know the
answer.
>> Varies widely depending on what's the
survey for. Um is it is it something
that you know we are looking for a lot
of people? I think your question of how
many people are you looking to respond?
I think that's great. I think we need to
talk about our targets and how we can uh
achieve those targets because this is
going to be a big it's it's a big plan.
Uh, so I was just wondering because my
neighborhood is by Lake Samameish Road
and when you were looking for the design
for that road between the state park and
Timber Lake, um, I know some of the HOA
people really amplify that message in
Facebook
>> and so I'm curious because it's a very
limited number of people who live on
that side road like what was that a good
outcome? What is a good outcome?
what does it what it normally look like?
So, what would you all like to help?
>> Yeah, and I know you're going to discuss
it.
>> It's a it's a great question. You know,
we did things like outreach for our
strategic plan. Uh we heard from uh
hundreds of people. When we do our
community survey on a bianual basis, um
it's statistically representative of the
Isiqua uh community. And so, I'm
forgetting exactly how many that is, but
it's 800 people. Thank you, Swondon. I
think we need like 700ish to be
significant.
>> So, obviously these citywide efforts, we
look for a higher number than maybe hey,
what do you want to see in your
neighborhood or on your street? Of
course. Um, so I think we need to it's a
great point to what are our targets?
What are we hoping? You should talk
about that.
So, one thing I don't know those you or
Leslie, but um so this is community
feedback, but do we want customer and
client feedback? Look, so like the human
services commission and all the people
they serve like will there be an effort
to have surveys reach
customers of the city?
>> You want me to take that?
>> Yeah. Okay. So uh I think uh so yes I
think they're folded into this
population of people we want to hear
from. The first phase of this work as we
think about trying to establish some
equity goals that's going to form the
overall where do we want to head and
then the next step is looking into
specific lines of service, specific
programs and saying okay if this is our
goal let's refine that for this specific
service or this specific program and
then really engage with those people who
are receiving those services in terms of
how far are we from that? what are some
of the things that we can do to fill
that gap? And so I think this is not the
end of our community engagement on
forming the equity plan. This is really
the let's let's establish what are our
our guideposts, where do we want to go,
>> and then we're going to keep diving
deeper into how we deliver services,
understand what that experience is from
those that we serve. That can then form
our actions to get to those goals. The
first step is let's figure out where we
want to head.
>> Have you heard of the targeted
universalism?
It sounds a lot like that. So you're
you're using the community phase to get
those uh universal goals and then
digging in to what what is the gap for
different groups within the community.
And that's where targeted like you have
you have goals for each you're getting
goals for you assess the gap for each of
those groups from that universal goal.
and you designed something very specific
>> for most schools. You're interest
thank
you.
>> The other piece of feedback I might so
I've done related work at a different
level of government and there tends to
be confusion over what
jurisdiction does what services,
provides what services. Um yeah, like
for county government it's very murky
what the county provides versus cities
uh versus state and federal. So there
may and hopefully the consultant
consultants can help with that like how
to clarify what is the city of Isiqua
even the school district right it the
lines are all blurry for people so if
you want something that's a little bit
more actionable you might have to
clarify what are municipal services.
Yeah,
>> great point. It's very confusing.
>> Okay, I feel like we've kind of been we
and out of these questions. So, I think
I'll just put these up here and see if
there's any other feedback on any of
these questions. And Quan, I know you
had a question about like what resources
we'd have. I think in this case because
it's like city programming in kind of a
different way, you know, we'd provide
the the engagement tool, whatever that
is, and just ask for volunteers to show
up and and do some of that like, hey, do
you want to place a dot on the spectrum
from equity to equality or whatever it
is? It's Yeah.
>> Yeah. I think just from being there or I
don't remember what it was, but um
there's like this thing about people
shying away from doing the engagement
because they're so unsure about like
being right or wrong and having a
conversation. And so there's I don't
know how to capture and like make sure
people feel like welcomed into doing
that this kind of like feedback. Um
maybe like a premeating or something if
folks are interested to walk through
exactly what we're asking possibly.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah. Um
yeah because it does get a little bit
like awkward and like some people got
it, some people didn't get it and then
we had younger um demographics that were
like oh I understand this and then um so
just within just a conversation itself
um takeaway is different
like group and people who approached the
table.
So I guess the question is will there be
training for everyone before we are off
for tableabling at events like the
farmers market and so forth. And I also
wonder for the equity board to be
involved could they be partnered with
city staff?
>> Yes.
>> At the same time. So it's not just two
board members sitting at a table asking
but someone from the city in addition to
someone in the community which is the
board. So I think that a little bit more
welcoming so we can do the perspective
of people working for the city as well
as people who are volunteering and
help you know to invite more voices.
Yeah, I think that's great. I think we
maybe have room to ask our internal
staff equity team if anyone wants to to
do that and to have like a little bit of
a prep meeting so everyone feels like
we're comfortable and we know what our
roles are and what we're doing. Um, and
regardless, I was planning on being
there. So, you'll have someone from from
staff.
um great, but I I wonder how to get to
our folks with disabilities
and um I was just I wonder if the school
district might be the way to
reach them because I know there's the
schools tend to know who the students
are and maybe the parents or other
family members can help inform some of
their things especially around access
and kind of think I I think we knew we
had we had a like an ADA plan group um a
few years ago that we were planning on
reaching out to. Um but Laura, if it's
okay, I might follow up with you about
who the right contact is.
>> So, you will be connecting. We'll talk.
>> Okay, sounds good.
All right, I'm seeing a lot of Chris, I
know we've been talking for a while. any
feedback that you want to you want to
throw out here?
>> Everyone's been kind of saying what I'm
thinking, so I'm good right now. Thank
you, though.
>> Okay, I think the sense I've got I'm
just going to run through each of these
questions and make sure I've got it
right. Okay, so it feels like the goals
for community engagement are
appropriate, but we need to do a little
bit of fine-tuning on what it means to
have sufficient community engagement.
um the proposed methods and groups, are
they the right ones for the project? Um
I think we got some suggestions about
who else to reach out to and how to be
pretty careful about using that
feedback, making sure that it's
associated to people from the group that
is being discussed.
Uh and then it sounds like there is
support for equity board involvement so
long as there's it's not just a like
show up. It's a little bit more um a
little bit of prep beforehand making
sure that city staff is paired with
equity board volunteers
that kind of capture the conversation
and the feedback.
>> I think so.
>> Okay. And that's all I have for you
tonight. Um, so next steps is I'll
follow up via email um about the the
equity board involvement this summer and
just get a little bit of interest from
all of you maybe at your your May or
June meeting to see who's available. Um,
and then I'll also be reaching out
towards the end of the summer about an
equity board member to serve on the
workshop uh group as well. So that might
come via email rather than me coming to
one of these meetings, but
school work.
>> Thank you very much, Jillian.
>> Fantastic presentation as usual. Thank
you very much. Thanks to you both.
>> Oh, Jillian gets all the credit. Of
course.
>> Absolutely.
>> All right. So, this is kind of a weird
point in the meeting where we're gonna
switch. So, I'm gonna let Dale know that
I'm done. Yeah.
>> Um I think you all need to go into
recess. I think we need just like like a
brief motion to to do that. Um and then
we'll swap and you all will continue
with your meeting.
>> Okay. So um would anyone like to make a
motion for us to adjourn our meeting for
10 minutes?
>> Sure.
>> I make the motion for us to recess or
>> Fantastic. Have a second.
>> Second that.
>> All right. All in favor? Hi.
>> Hi. Hi.
>> All right. So, we are officially
adjourned for 10 minutes.
>> All right.
>> Will the recording be turned off?
>> Um, it should be
I'm a little bit nervous about turning
it off because then I don't know how
it's all going to knit back together
when Dale comes back to turn it on for
the meeting. What I can do is I can mute
the room and just let her know to unmute
it when she comes back in. Does that
seem reasonable or should I just stop
the recording?
>> No, I think stop the recording.
>> Okay. I just didn't want to like lose
it.
>> We can I think we can knit it back
together.
>> Okay. This morning.
>> Yeah. Okay. And if that's not the case,
then they can blame me and that's not on
you.
>> I made sure to to stop the recording
right after you said that.
>> Good.
>> Chris, can you hear us now?
>> Sure can.
>> Awesome. Hey,
>> that's right.
>> Okay, fantastic. So, it looks like our
next agenda item is parks rules and
regulations. I'm going to hand that over
to Dale.
>> Awesome. Please share my screen.
>> As a side note, this this is a bigger
screen.
>> It is. It's quite sizable
>> and it's a very spacious room. It is a
little echoey in here which is like less
great but we're making it work.
>> It's got these multi cameras there.
>> I know. Don't you feel a little bit like
you're uh being very seen?
>> It's not that coldest.
>> Great.
Okay. Um, I'm really excited to talk to
this group in particular about this um,
current project that our parks
department is working on and that I'm
supporting them in their work. Back in
early January, though, the story of this
starts much earlier as you'll see by the
materials in a moment. Um,
we really started de some early
development of park rules and
regulations, something that
little known fact but now known by
anyone that watches this recording do
not explicitly exist here in the city of
Isa. So when this went to council, um,
council member Nichols explicitly asked
for an equity lens to be taken to this
process and so I am here bringing this
to you, introducing it to you. It's
still quite in a nent stage.
The purpose of tonight is to get your
feedback on the plan to update and
consolidate park rules and regulations
within the city's municipal code, as
well as to gather initial thoughts on
key rules to be included in updating the
rules and regulations.
There are some specific questions we're
going to come back to. We're actually
going to go through each of these
individual questions rather than sort of
stopping at the end. I want to answer
question one, then I want to give you a
little more information. Then I want to
answer question two, and then I want to
give you a little bit more information.
I want to answer question three. So, do
you agree with the administration's
general direction, which is to
consolidate, update, and clarify park
rules and regulations within a single
chapter of our city code?
What topic areas do you believe will be
the most high interest for the community
in terms of rules and regulations? And
do you already have policy perspectives
on the position the city should take on
these topics?
and what if any thoughts do you have
about the overarching approach to
broader community insight which I'll
share a bit about this as well.
So we're going to start with this first
uh question. Do you agree that that it
makes sense for the city to consolidate
update and clarify rules and regulations
within a single chapter in the municipal
code? A little background on this. So
the park rules as they exist currently
are sort of sprinkled throughout the
municipal code. There's a little bit
about park rules in terms of land use
and acquisition that's in the land use
portion of our code. There's a little
bit about like don't put trash here in
one title. There's an animal control
chapter, but there's not a there's not
one place. So, if someone were just to
Google what are the park rules for the
city of Isiqua, you wouldn't find really
anything. Um, and there certainly,
you'll notice as you move in and out of
park space, trail space, they're not
posted anywhere because
well held secret, they don't exist
really. Um, and we certainly don't have
any sort of mechanism for enforcing
them. And so, why have rules if we also
don't have a plan to uphold those rules?
Also, the rules that do exist. So the
stuff that's in chapter um that's in
9.25 that was last updated in 1985.
So
you know I wasn't alive then. Um and
then the the more recent update in 26
was updated in 2000. Still people in
this room that weren't alive then. Um so
this collection of park rules within the
code as it exists. They're simply not
complete and they're a bit um like
well-aged. What is Leslie? What do you
say? 65 and better. They're they're you
know 26 years and better. Um also not
all the current and emergent issues that
we experience in our parks are covered
and there's actually no there's no
framework for how to address emergent
issues. Um, and that's one thing that we
would hope to solve in this consolidated
chapter is like how do we how do we
address things we can't say for sure are
going to happen, but we can we know we
can anticipate things will change and
evolve and um that's made it difficult
for us to address um or even enforce
current behavior that uh might not be
wellreceived. Um I can't even wait till
I get into the topics. I have feelings
about what everyone's going to talk
about, but you know, if someone were to
say like dump a bunch of trash in the
park, there's no way to enforce that
that behavior isn't allowed. Um, and I
think that's something that we want to
think about. Like there's just no way to
stop anyone from doing really anything
anything less than a mis a gross
misdemeanor. So, anything that's like
not against the law law, um, there's no
way to say, "Hey, that's not something
we do here." the off these shot dogs for
example.
>> So we have a little bit of an
opportunity um to provide a more
complete set of rules. Um one thing that
is really
great is that there are actually a lot
of cities in the region right now that
have been going through this process
over the past three, four, five years.
Um the city of Shoreline adopted a a
chapter of rules in 2019 um shortly
after the city of Redmond did the same.
And I know the Redmond's rules were
included as an example to look at for
this evening. Um, and then the city of
Kirkland is I would say in the next two
weeks about to adopt a a similar chapter
for themselves. So
there there's this is a sort of thing
that's happening regionally. The good
thing about that is that I've been able
to talk to those cities about their
processes, learn more about the things
that they considered, um, which I think
has the opportunity to make this a
really strong um, set of rules that are
really thoughtfully constructed.
Um, also
this is not just coming from parks. I'm
supporting the parks team as they work
on this. We're also we've consulted the
human services team. Um we're working
closely with the police department, with
our city attorney. Um so this isn't
something that parks is just doing on
their own. We want to make sure that
this is a really collaboration among
departments. Um specifically human
services has been a big part of as we've
thought about sort of the way we want to
go with this. And then um there's also
been an opportunity to engage the city's
boards and commissions in this process.
So the park board clearly they've
already they've already had an initial
touch point here um but also getting to
engage the equity board this time and to
come back to the equity board before the
rules the proposed chapter goes to
council
>> analysis. So as part of tonight and I
promise we're going to get to question
number one which is just me saying does
this make sense? Should we do this or if
we shouldn't why shouldn't we? Um, in
preparation for tonight, I shared the
city of Redmond's recently updated parks
chapter as well as a little bit of a um
like a crosswalk item of like what does
our what do we currently have if
anything, what it what does Redmond have
and what are the notes um sort of the
differences between them. Um, one thing
that I really like about the parks
chapter um, for the city of Redmond's
code and that the parks uh, board also
really appreciated is that one, it's
consolidated in a single chapter. Two,
uh, there's a dedicated section for
definitions.
Uh, three, there's
more guidance about rule making long
term that we I mean we just don't even
have anything about that. Um, that
there's a whole framework for
enforcement. So, not just saying this
is, you know, this is not something
that's going to happen in the court part
our parks, but actually saying how are
we going to go about enforcing that? Um,
and Kirkland, I can also Kirkland's
materials weren't in the packet, but
have it inside or was doing this project
in Kirkland and so I recently talked to
them about their enforcement uh
framework as well. Um and then just
having park specific code um around
fireworks, weapons, tobacco,
um other things like that. And then also
I think what you see in Redmond's and is
true in Kirkland's as well as sort of
special events permits are sort of
integrated into this chapter. So there's
a really a one-stop shop for everything
that's happening in parks.
So this
is the sort of like this is the
comparison at the high level. So if you
were to take this back in front and
really isolate it down, we've got really
strong code around um land acquisition
and around how we use our open space. We
don't really have anything around how
people behave in those spaces. We don't
have anything around how people behave
on trails. Um, for those of you that
closely followed the ebikes discussion
while I was on maternity leave, um,
there's nothing around how fast someone
is allowed to go on a motorized or
non-motorized
wheeled item on our in our parks or on
our trails, things like that that just
don't exist anywhere. So, people might
be acting dangerously. There's no way to
enforce that. Um, and the Redmond uh
example, and this is the same with the
Kirkland, just has stronger trail
positions. We really don't have anything
in our code currently about trails. Um,
and some future proofing against
emergent issues by creating a a
framework for consideration.
So this is sort of what the general
proposal is is to move towards
developing an ISPA version of a single
chapter similar to what Redmond had that
you saw in your materials for tonight.
And so question number one is the one
above the current green box which is
does this feel like the right direction
to consolidate update and clarify park
rules and regulations within a single
chapter of the code and I open it for
questions and discussion on this
question.
Looks good to me.
>> I agree.
>> Yes.
>> Any descent?
>> I have a question.
>> Yes.
>> Do you want to I
>> I agree. I just think that um chapter
codes language is hard to understand
sometimes if you don't work hard. And so
I want to be cognizant of the language
being a code just to prevent any
barriers from understanding what this
is. um just because yeah working
government I found myself constantly
translating contracts and words into
layman's terms for our own employees
because they didn't understand what it
meant. So those are just I'm in
agreement just some just reducing
barriers.
>> Y
>> So would you recommend like something
like a fifth grade reading standard or
something like that for
>> I kind of like those things where it's
like explained to me like I'm five a
little bit. Yeah. So that's very basic
to understand. Um and I think especially
if we're looking at the audience of
Isiqua, we have such a diverse
community.
>> Um and English may not be the first
language. So something that might be
easier. Also, I am aware that we have a
lot of like translation things that we
are working on as well. So
>> but I think you're right. The fourth or
fifth grade level is what we should aim
for in especially since the parks will
be used by maybe young children and so
nothing that is too complex to read
especially on posted
>> but also to explain to people who they
are already having to navigate language
and culture and learning the new.
So the thing I wanted to mention was I
like the idea of having everything
consolidated into a chapter. It's just
you know when I think about the topics
and I I don't I know
>> yeah we're getting to that
>> but it seems like some of those topics
are co-owned by other sections or
chapters of municipal code. So like
safety, you know, around firearms or,
you know, alcohol, open containers, you
know, speed of motorized vehicles. So
I'm just wondering if we put it all in
this parks chapter, if something changes
in a related
um article in a different area of city
code, is it all of a sudden going to be
really hard to make sure that everything
is tracking and consistent? I don't know
if we're opening up that big can of
words.
>> That is why we have an excellent uh
clerk's department that will make sure
that it's tagged. Okay? So, when it does
change one place, it will go have to go
through prosecuting changed elsewhere.
That's more likely to go one way than
the other way. So, if it if it gets
changed within the parks chapter, it
won't necessarily push out to the
broader city, but if it does change at a
at an umbrella level, it'll push it
would need to be reapproved with an S
chapter.
>> Okay. Cool. Yeah. Also, why we have
police as part of this because a lot of
that would be around sort of gross
misdemeanor behavior. If things were to
change around enforcement or gross
misdemeanor behavior and those
misdemeanor are happening in our parks,
we would see that change happen there as
well. Yeah. Great.
>> I think it's uh very smart um of the um
the city to go in this direction. um
just based on what I do for a living,
having to look to many different places
as opposed to one place that basically
has all the information that you need in
terms of rules, enforcement, expectation
um in one place is very helpful. And I
also appreciate two things um in terms
of what Redmond is doing and I hope that
that's infoted in what the city is
looking to do which is um the future
proofing against emergent issues. So
really that aspect but also the
anticipation that we are going to have
challenges and having kind of a forward
thinking uh process through these rules
that this is what's going to happen if X
thing happens.
>> So I think it's a great approach.
>> Yeah.
>> Awesome. Thank you Lesley.
I think Chris had his hand up a little
bit, but
>> Chris, thank you, Quan.
>> All good. Um, I did I wanted to agree
about um what y'all were saying about
the eighth grade reading level. That's
usually the standard we have um when
we're communicating across the country
because we have a lot of managers who
English isn't their primary language.
So, um, anything that comes from Costco,
we we we kind of want it to be at that
eighth grade reading level. Um, so it's
inclusive of everyone. So, and we get
rid of all the jargon and like words
that, you know, not everyone is familiar
with.
>> That's great. Super helpful. Well, very
much heard. Very much noted.
>> Awesome.
Quick minor comment is I don't know
where this is going to be displayed
besides in the chapter
>> that maybe have a QR code that people
can just use to look it up easily.
>> People are so good at jumping ahead to
my next questions.
That's the problem when I give them at
the beginning. Um so let's do question
two and then perfect. I've noted that
for question number three. Um the next
little bit I want to the next question
set I want to answer is what topic areas
do you think are going to be the most
high interest
uh for the community and do you all with
your equity lens on already have
perspectives on the position the city
should take
the next couple slides are just some of
the issues we're already thinking about.
So, some of the issues we're already
thinking about types of rules to
consider, and you saw some of these in
the Redmond um example, uh animals and
pets,
parking, um hours of use,
swimming and access to water,
waste, litter, um drones,
well, specifically, I should say drone
operators because you actually can't
regulate I'm learning all sorts of
things. Drone operators,
>> self-driven drones maybe.
>> We don't even go there yet. Um,
amplified music, PA systems,
interference with park and trail use,
damage to property, damage to wildlife,
um, the vegetative kind, but I guess
also the animal kind. um removal of
property, dumping in water,
solicitation,
um smoking,
etc. And so I'd love to just open it up
for topics that you all already think
from your own experience in Isiqua Parks
um are going to be high interest or or
things that you do foresee us as a city
really there being value to creating
some clear rules and perspectives that
you may already have. And then we'll
talk about enforcement framework
afterwards.
>> Where does having large gatherings at
the park fall?
>> Because
I think sometimes people want to have a
large gathering like
>> Yeah.
>> party or like a teenage party or maybe a
birthday party and
they're going to bring everything there.
>> Yep.
>> And how does that work? And so I think
having clear cons
>> directions.
>> Yeah.
>> So that other all park users know what
the rules of engagement or rules for the
park how to use it.
>> Yep. That's a great point that's kind of
hidden right now in a lot of ways like
within special event permitting. If you
go that like route um it's not it's not
clear. It's not
>> some parks you can rent shelters but
some parts you can't. But then some
people like, "Well, why can't we just go
there and put some tables and set up?"
>> Yep.
>> Can you get married there? Can you, you
know,
>> Yep.
I mean, yeah, I think with um like any
big gatherings and like just in general,
I think we should really focus on like
the litter or waste rule and like just
in general like making sure like you're
keeping the space um just how it was
before you even go out there.
>> I think most all proposals are pretty
important to keep it there.
Not sure if you had this in the previous
slide, but just overall um guidance
around noise and lighting because a lot
of people go to parks for quiet and not
like bright lights everywhere. So,
>> I don't know if it makes to also
consider like quiet songs in parks.
the parks that don't have pickle ball
more mainable to quiet zones. Yep.
>> Something about locations for where bike
bicycling, skateboarding,
skating, walking, running because as
someone who walks on trail sometimes
you're sharing.
>> But what if it's a space in a park and
then you're having to deal with people
doing certain activities in some areas?
So like areas at that location for where
striking activities I don't want to be
like bossing everyone around and how to
use the park but just to keep people
safe right now
just just popped in my head because you
brought up and I did follow the ebike uh
saga it was quite uh soap opish
>> um
>> are there any considerations about use
of ebike bikes or other like electronic
kind of uh um either recreational
devices on either trails or in parks
that would have an overlap with wherever
they're named in the code in here. The
the the way that um right now at least
the emerging thing that is being
considered is not necessarily a
prohibition on devices because I think
we can't anticipate all devices.
>> Sure.
um as someone for instance who's like
seen those like delivery robots but I do
think yeah wild little robots delivering
food not in my neighborhood but I was in
San Francisco not too long ago and I was
like man everything here is autonomous
at this point
>> um speed is something that feels very
important
>> to define a speed limit on trails
>> makes sense
>> yeah because I agree with Lorna you
don't want to be Dr. or no in this
scenario, but it's just kind of having
kind of rules of engagement or play for
everyone's equal enjoyment of the space.
>> Yeah. Because that tends to be the issue
when people bring up the safety issue.
It's the speed at which some
vehicles are traveling.
>> And maybe even something like in these
areas the a bicycle should be walked
rather than ridden.
>> Yep. at being very clear about that
because sometimes I see people biking
around across like certain trail heads
and you're like no I think you should be
walking your bike
>> across that. So, yep.
>> So, rel so some of these topics and I
think it ties to your next question but
you know like so controlled substances
you know I'm thinking there may be like
a cultural aspect to some of those
things. Um I mean this is so like I I
just think you know certain community
members need to be engaged before some
code gets written up around um
>> like so medicable medicinal marijuana
for example or um
>> you know I don't think our you know
indigenous populations here use like
peyote or you know but you know kind of
thinking of that and you know which
communities have uh the rights to do
certain things I don't know if it's in
public spaces or whether that should be
considered or
>> and then we know and I saw in the
Redmond code like fishing rights there's
like a little caveat around fishing
rights but if there's also
you know like how how to be
I think there's an opportunity to write
that and also be respectful and also
educate the public on certain
communities that have the rights to
fish. Um so that that's an area and then
I think well the pets you know off leash
and if you expect if you expect uh pet
owners to pick up after their pets you
really can't keep them off leash and you
know just some of those kind of things.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah.
So I don't I mean those are the things I
know but so I think there just needs to
be some you know diverse
community perspectives to give feedback
because I don't know where cultural
like needs and norms may clash with what
might be kind of our
more majority kind of norms of what's
written in code.
Do folks feel ready to transition to
that conversation,
>> the policy conversation?
>> Um, engagement
>> engagement.
>> Okay, I want to hop to that one. Um, so
what what thoughts about engagement? Um,
you know, one thing, so there's
currently a survey that's live. So
that's the basel the very very baseline
has been taken care of. There's a survey
that's live. There are two artic posted
up are along some trails in parks.
They'll be up there for a while. Um but
we are thinking about other engagement.
Um knowing that there's not a you know
we don't have a lot of staff capacity to
do this long term. We do have a
conversation set up with Snow Palmy
Tribe to talk about specifically our
open space. Um but wanted to get this
group's thought on broader
open space, access to water. I'm trying
to think of the other things to on that
agenda. Um
other particular groups that should be
engaged.
>> Have you spoken to friends of Lake
Samish State Park and the Isqua Alps
groups to get some input from them?
>> Uh the um Isqua Alps trail club has
representatives on the park board. So
they've the friends of lakes. Friends of
lakes mammish. Yeah, that's a great one.
Other thoughts
>> is the capacity to have like a table. I
feel like there are so many surveys and
tables going. Yes. But at some local
parks like or even reaching out to
people who have emailed regarding the
use of Confluence Park or some of the
other parks because you know those
people
you already have the data and that
information of who's been renting out
spaces and checking in with them to see
what they
because they have interest in using
those spaces and now we're going back to
them and say we see you're uh
appreciative and use our case and we
want to, you know, value your
involvement in the community and ask you
for feedback.
>> I love that and it validates that
impulse I had. So now I can say someone
on the equity board said it'll
get it a little bit further. And then I
I'm wondering um it's not is it the
25th? April 25th sustainability is the
sustainability fair in the first farmers
market. And so I can see if we can have
a table at that. Yeah. Leslie, you
sounded like you had a thought.
>> No, no, no. I was just agreeing with
very much what Laura said. Sorry, need
to be quiet on that.
>> No, I love that comment.
>> Yeah, it's great.
>> Very similar. Maybe it's already
captured on what you said, but do we
know if there's data of that sort for
all the parks in Isiqua on how it's been
used over say the last two decades?
>> Late breaking not yet news is that we
are looking into acquiring access to
data that would tell us more about park
use. Right now, I just had a demo with a
a vendor
last oh Monday. Wow, it's been a long
week. Monday.
>> Yeah. So, we will have uh we will
potentially have some of that data very
soon.
>> And maybe also relatedly looking
forwards into the future like how groups
and people might want to use the park in
the future maybe for our installation or
I don't know music or whatever else.
>> Yep. We won't be able to get this will
be more about like movement data and it
will be aggregated and and anonymized
but I do think there's there's some
stuff in the works right now um around
um park use and I think specific
investments potential investments in
specific parks um coming up. So
yes,
>> isn't um like front street area going to
be closed on the weekend? And I'm
wondering as the it's closed to also
have a booth uh in addition to like
sometimes at a confluence park and stuff
because people it's so walkable that
it's easy for people to just like swing
by because I know some of the
restaurants have like their little
tables out with their menus right now
because it's all nice and sunny. So just
wondering if it's be um you know for
>> for um the city to have something out
there as well.
that was that.
>> So, thinking ahead and I'm trying to
figure out how this fits in with
community input, but I I'm so I'm
thinking about the enforcement side y
>> of what gets written in code. Yeah.
because we know certain groups get
overpoliced, certain groups like to
police and um
>> I feel like there we could set the stage
for a a productive conversation around
the enforcement side to avoid people
like I was on the bus this morning and a
person with the dog came on and someone
behind him was like are you allowed to
have that dog? Talk to a driver. Is he
allowed to have a dog? It was just like
causing this big ruckus. And I'm like, I
can imagine something like this just
creating opportunities for
just nasty interactions between people.
And
so I I don't know, but something around
like how this would be enforced and what
are the norms, how to be respectful
about it.
>> Yep.
I had some of the same thoughts when we
had our our premeating um Caric and I
with uh Dale and to the policy um
question I wrote my self a couple of
notes which is just in terms of equity
what would be the process to ensure that
public engagement with park users is
equitable fair same thing and consistent
in relation to communication of park
rules in issuing tickets and violations
so that was one thing and then I call
this as a mustave Is there an audit or
review of this process in the revision
of the proposed part code? So more kind
of overall after these rules are
implemented as a kind of a review or an
audit process. And that's I think that's
really what I'm getting at is are we
looking at the rules as they've been
implemented in the effects and how
they're being um I guess how they are
being um enforced and then what the
effects of that are.
>> Um I also made a note to myself. Is
there a reporting compliance mechanism
in the park code or another area which
uh reviews reports on a regular basis?
mark what regular would be in this case
on enforcement engagement by park
personnel and the public and then um
yeah generally those are the the
comments I was thinking about which is
>> I I agree 100% with prey with it which
is you have certain people that believe
that they are the police or they are the
authority when in in reality they are
not and so I I think we need to have
I think a strong lens on how these rules
are being implemented, who's doing it,
and then also studying the after effects
of the groups that are basically being
focused on. And hopefully that's being
done as fairly and equitably as
possible.
>> Really like that.
>> Yeah. And it it brings us to the the
part that's not quite in here yet, but a
conversation and I'd be curious folks
thought. So one of the questions in the
survey is around is getting folks
opinion on how should what should be the
approach to enforcement like how would
you like to see rules enforced? Would
you like to see that done through
education? Would you like to see that
done through um some sort of penalty of
some sort of fine or penalty? Would you
like to see it done through um it's not
removal from parks? I'm trying to think
of the phrasing in there, but one of the
ways that the way that Kirkland is
approaching it is around um sort of
someone that's break that's committing
civil infractions. they get a verbal
warning and then they are asked to be to
not be at that park for I think it's
seven days and that is the first um sort
of level and then after that it's a
longer period of time and a little bit
of that is based on I believe in their
framework based on the severity of the
infraction civil infraction um is it a
gross misdemeanor um and then
individuals have the ability to petition
for that u to be dismissed for that Um,
again, it's not removal, but I've been
brain has been in a million places um
banning Cella essentially from her. And
so I I talked to um uh our parks ops
team um because I I was trying to get a
sense of like
how burdensome would this be or how many
people do we think this would actually
touch? Um, and their feeling was that
there are a few people that are known to
them, but that this isn't like you
wouldn't see dozens and dozens of people
being banned from parks. Um, and that
the biggest issues are
maybe unsurprisingly
off leash pets. Um, and that if you
actually look at Ranger Alex's
log, so he does keep a log of all of his
interactions with people in the tarps.
It is like
pet off leash. 90% of the interactions
are pet off leash, pet off leash, pet
off leash. Um, and yet he had no he has
no or had no recourse of any kind. Um,
besides saying, "Hey, we don't allow for
dogs to be off leash. We're opening a a
new dog off leash park soon. We hope
that you take your dog over there." Um,
but no, I guess team to that. Um, and so
we're considering I I think we're not
looking to go immediately to like let's
find someone because that's I don't
think productive, nor do I think we have
the staff capacity to like find people
every time a dog is off leash. But I
think it's the people that are the
habitual
um maybe rule breakers um being able to
have some sort of thing, some sort of
stick
to levy. And that was my next question
too which is is there enough city
personnel in terms of park and
recreation to be in the many places and
to make appropriate you know engagement.
>> Yeah.
>> And the answer is there not to catch
everyone not to catch everyone breaking
the rules. I mean not to out myself as a
rule breaker here on the record. I am a
live in the city of Seattle. I have a
dog. I have a park right next to my
house. I break this rule frequently.
There's a big sign that says don't do
this and I do it and I don't do it when
there are kids in the park. I like very
specifically do it before there's anyone
else around. And if a kid enters the
park with a soccer ball, my dog and I
leave.
>> It makes things.
>> And there are people in my neighborhood
that don't abide by that. And there are
people in my neighborhood who have
gotten caught by animal control and
fined and the whole the whole uh nine
yards. Um so it's like, you know, Ranger
Alex isn't going to be able to be
everywhere. Sure. But the hope is that
he's going to be able to engage enough
and have a little bit of something to
actually do that maybe change his
behavior correctly.
>> Sense.
>> So that that this is reminding me of
like not pet owners but other people who
might be really impacted by this kind of
rules or maybe unhoused people, tents,
camping.
finding them, you know, is not
>> going to do anyone any good,
>> right? So, how
I don't know if this is in the municipal
code, but what is there to help um make
sure that folks who can't afford who
have no options aren't just further
Yeah.
>> getting worse off through this kind of
>> Yeah, we're going to keep, you know,
human services is a big part of this
conversation. We're keeping our service
first approach. Okay, that has been the
approach so far. It will always be the
approach around any community members
who are experiencing homelessness, who
are unhoused or who just even if given
the opportunity don't want to move into
shelter. Um our team is going to
continue to work with them. So that that
will be just that will be the approach
there. Ah,
>> so maybe not I guess how do you work
around the fact that they may have
committed an infraction or whatever and
it might be what a level three fine or
something that's
>> $25 the first time and 50 then 75 like
how do you
>> for that not even just for that group I
would be very I'm going to say it here
I'd be very as the person that's
drafting this code be very surprised if
we go a directionally I'll
Um I just don't think that that will it
will get to that point. I think if you
then say like oh well what if what about
a person that's taking advantage of this
I think there like if you are banned
from a park and then you go to it or if
you're banned from a parking lot in a
park and then you go there anyways
you're then trespassing.
>> Um and so that is a way to enforce but I
think we would like to not get to that
place. We'd like to connect people to
services who need to go to services, but
folks that are being bad actors, it also
a framework like that would also give us
the opportunity to trespass someone if
we needed to.
>> So, I think just going about this
process and writing out the code in a
way that's kind of respectful and
centers on people.
>> Yeah. And I think gives it gives both
clarity but also provides some frontline
discretion
for our team to make sure that we can
say like this is someone that needs
support and help. Um yeah,
>> you know, so I think going back to the
community input part, I think if it's
like something you can like bring to
like ESU's advisory board or I think the
highlights board um cuz a lot of members
there from like sixth grade to like
seniors are using the parks and many of
them may not see the surveys or things
like that, but I'm sure they have a lot
of input of like they don't know like
where they can ride their bike or like
what they can do.
So
>> may they've been inviting the very fast
emotives.
>> I'm also wondering if you can share this
with the summer camps and the summer
counselors. I always find educating kids
is the best way to educate adults. And
so I think the most the best way truly
if you can kind of tell all the kids who
are using the summer cams this summer
and just like saying, "Hey kids, you're
going to the park and by the way, here
are the rules of the park." You know,
something because you have so many
outdoor activities with them and the
summer camp counselors asking them to do
surveys that might get feedback for one
group and education for another group.
Because to me the key to this being a
successful and I'm biased here is about
educating the people about what the
rules are and I think my bigger wonder
and worry about this is how once we do
all of this how are we really sharing
this message
>> we're going to have a lot of people when
they get the rule they just want to know
what the rules of engagement and how to
use it and it's not with malice so like
ready to break I mean some people might
But I think just making sure that
everyone knows what rules are so they're
not caught unaware, especially since
this is so brand new. And I appreciate
the fact that Redmond and Kirkland are
doing the same thing so that it's a
bigger thing. But I just want to make
sure that we are being very thoughtful
on sharing and really pushing the fact
that this is new and it's happening and
here are the rules and multiple
opportunities to share that
no one's going to stand in front of a
sign in a park and read when you're at
the park. Yeah.
>> Well, let's hope.
>> Hope you're doing some fun.
>> Exactly.
Well, you almost anticipated my last
slide except that it's missing a little
bit at the end, which is the part that
Lauren just just uh asked about. Wow,
it's really small when it's on the
screen up there. I apologize. Um, so
we're in the process of gathering board
input specifically from this board and
the park board. And I'd like to add the
youth advisory board. So, I'll reach out
to Kathy and Katie um about making sure
we get input. Also, there's a public
survey that is running. So, it went out
in the park bench, which is the park's
newsletter, but I will also send it to
this group. Please share it um broadly.
I'll also follow up with some of the
groups that we just spoke about this
evening to make sure that we've got a
chance to get some more input over the
course of the next few months.
>> So, is that a group that self- selects
to get an email, but it's separate from
like the general one that the city sends
out? And I and I cannot tell you exactly
who opts into that list serve because I
don't personally know. I don't know if
it is something like these are email
contacts that we have in perfect mind
for anyone that's registered for summer
camps ever or this is just users of the
system who have had a touch point with
us renter folks that have rented you
know I can't tell you. I'm sure Jeff
Watling could tell us who's on there.
>> Is is there a reason why we wouldn't do
to the general population? You know, the
reason that this early survey is focused
on park users is, as I think you
probably just learned in a presentation
about community engagement, there's a
lot of surveying that's happening. Yeah.
>> Um, and ultimately what comes out of
this survey is not going to be like
these are the rules. Um, and so we
didn't feel like at this stage we really
needed to to go broad. like if we got,
you know, 200 responses, that would
really help narrow the direction of the
drafting. Um because after this goes
back to the services, safety and parks
commission uh or excuse yeah committee
of the um
of the city council. Um we will also
need to start thinking about
implementation. So the rules once
they're adopted, we are going to think
about how are these being shared also.
Um, and so that will come back to this
board probably in September.
So those are kind of the next steps. I
guess my last question is like any
little bits and bobs here before we
switch. I know we're very close to eight
and I'd like to get uh these last three
items done
without keeping you too late into the
night.
Okay, awesome. Good stuff. Thank you.
>> Okay, Leslie, what's next?
>> Okay, so our next agenda item is the
2025 year end reports.
>> Awesome. Me again.
>> Yes.
>> Uh me me and me. Uh we looked at this
strength report. Gosh,
was it even this year? I can't even
remember. January, February. Um I think
it was January. I think it was our
January meeting. You all gave some very
minor tweaks and edits. Um I brought it
back because the group needs to vote. Um
everyone here is vote is a voting member
tonight. You're I mean including Chris.
Um because we have uh Heather is absent.
So you're voting on behalf of Heather.
Um and so I want to uh let Leslie go
ahead and lead our a and ns and
absentions here.
>> Okay. Fantastic. So, can I hear a motion
to approve the equity board two 2025
year in report um as reviewed and
discussed?
So,
>> I'll make a good
>> fantastic. There a second.
All right. And I forgot to do this and
it's terrible because I do this for a
living. Is there any discussion?
>> Okay. All in favor? I
>> I
>> I
>> Okay, great. Looks like our motion
carries.
>> Okay, motion on that carries. I will
make sure that that goes into an
upcoming packet for the city council and
I will let the board know when it is on
the schedule to be received.
>> Fantastic. Thank you.
>> Another item to vote on.
>> Yeah, looks like it's the 2026 work
plan. Back to Dale. So, we discussed
this work plan again many months ago at
this point. Um, one of the discussion
points that I wanted to return to
because it did not get added to the work
plan was a discussion of the this group
was interested um in having the equity
board provide feedback to the mayor and
council about the council vacancy
process. I brought that item to the
mayor for consideration and he said, "I
understand there needs to be feedback on
this. I am not interested right now in
having the equity board get feedback on
this particular item. There's other work
that I want the board to focus on. Um,
specifically, this group has been really
focused on a revision of the equity
framework. Um, the subcommittee is
making making moves, but that's not over
the finish line yet. Um, and is pretty
important work for our internal staff's
ongoing work. Um and so that is where he
would like us to continue to focus. Um
so that was not added to the work. Um if
you all want to write a letter, if you
want to talk to him, did you get a
chance to talk to him?
>> I talked to him. Okay. Um you are all
more than welcome as individual
community members to do so. Um,
if you as a board want to write a letter
as a board saying we don't agree and we
still want to consult on this, you guys
can write a letter about that, but it's
not being officially added to the work
plan from the mayor. So, I will present
that and that that way Leslie, we can
open for discussion, but um, I'll let
you make that. We'll do motion and
second and then you could discuss. So
that's that's the only update along with
the plan. Um work on culturefest was
added to the plan um per our
conversation. Um and I have a followup
item for Leslie uh making sure that uh
we figure out who potentially from the
board what one or two people would like
to participate in the planning group
that's working on that. And so they've
started they just had their first
meeting but they'll be meeting regularly
between now and the September event. So,
um, they were very excited to have
someone from the equity board, uh,
participate. So,
>> okay, good stuff.
>> So, those are the two updates on the
plan since we last talked to about it.
>> Good. Thank you, Dale. So, is there a
motion or can I hear a motion to approve
the 2026 work plan as previously
reviewed and modified and discussed this
evening?
Motion.
Is there a second?
Second.
>> Thank you. And any discussion?
>> I have one discussion question. So,
yeah, I was looking at the minutes from
>> February maybe. Yeah. And so, just the
notes from our previous conversation
there. And so that second item, so you
the vacancy appointment process and then
it said the city's approach to
communication over social media was that
did that translate into the culture fest
work item?
>> It did not. It did not. Um and mostly it
was I brought it up and it was like I
really would like us to focus on.
So just was like where is it going to
fit in here? I think okay
>> my idea is similar to what we just
engaged in which is I would like as we
talk about individual items that this
group is consulting on to give feedback
on communication and engagement. So
social media is going to have to be part
of this park's rules roll out.
I
that's kind of where things are.
>> Okay. Okay. That's helpful. I just
wanted to know what where that landed.
>> Okay.
>> Okay. hearing discussion. Let's vote.
>> I I had a discussion and that is that I
do think that there are equity issues
with the way that we are appointing
within the city council and that um I
think that it's timelines, it's how we
do it, it's whether we video it, it's
it's there's a whole bunch. I am hoping
as Priy and I briefly talked about that
it is it is somehow we we put these
things within the equity framework right
that these are the this would be the
type of thing would benefit from it so
maybe that's the future plan and they
have a discussion off that too because I
did put my name in for
>> number three position I asked if there
were guidelines lines. There are no
guidelines. I feel that like um
the work is important but to have no
guidelines for what success looks like
which is it's a continuous conversation
from the January issue which is the
timeline. I saw that they extended it.
They it wasn't brief but there is
there's no way to determine what is a um
what does success look like for somebody
for a candidate. Um also executive
session what if the qualifications to
look at to go into the session with zero
input and no feedback. um about like I
think 50 or 60% of the folks that
applied in January were there again
>> and I watched their video and to me it
demonstrated that there was no feedback
and so the candidates kind of had a
similar focus point and then also it was
interesting because there was somebody
who focused more on their time of their
speech rather than the content of their
speech.
Um, so, so to me that just that just
like tells me as like somebody who went
through the process, I was a little bit
confused and I wasn't really sure what I
was going for and what what is somebody
envisioning and how you know um, and
also how people are reached out outside
of becoming a board member. Are you
close to somebody on the council and
they send you a text to like here's all
this. Um there was one opportunity for
the open house, but not everybody's
going to go and make it on a Saturday at
11 am. Um so those are just those are
some things that I definitely think that
it's work that does need to be reviewed
and if it can't make it on the 2026 work
plan, it still needs to be on
eventually. Um I think it's critical and
there is still a lack of representation
in terms of when you talk about equity,
when you talk about the work that we do.
I I just don't feel like it's a focus
and it was important enough to to make
it through. Um and the other piece was
there was a group of eight people who um
applied and only two people moved
forward which is I don't know the
assessment. I don't know like there's no
ballpark into how did you choose this
except for like the story was
compelling.
>> Yep.
>> So
>> so transparency is lacking.
>> Yeah. Um because if I think if people
were set up to know that um 80% was
actually your verbal presentation, but
then you also have no guidelines and
it's like go with what your heart
desires. And if you've never gone
through the process and you have very
limited like knowledge about how council
appointments work,
then you're just set up to fail. And so
then the end result is that there will
still be a lack of representation at
that table. So just thank you for
sharing your experience
>> and thank you for sharing. Also in
addition it's when there's no clear
guidelines and no metrics that are being
used to determine who moves forward.
It's it's impossible to kind of
determine if there was any bias being
used. I'm not saying there was, but then
there's like this cloud of, oh, so and
so knows X person on the council and
they could have given them tips and
tricks to kind of be ahead of someone
else and and people unconsciously might
do that, not on purpose. Um, we want to
always assume like that good intention
uh from the community members who are
with us, but it's human nature to kind
of do that. So it's it the lack of
transparency prompts those questions
even if they are not there. I don't know
if that makes sense.
>> It does makes complete sense but
>> I agree 100% just adding to the uh
discussion.
Um I see possibly two paths here. I
think Juan is absolutely correct that
maybe this is a future work plan item
which is focusing an equity lens on the
appointment process and what that looks
like with clear metrics and a process so
someone can understand
what it does look like to be successful
as a candidate and exactly what that
looks like. Um I think that given that
the city I'm sure in good faith wants to
have the appearance of openness of
transparency and of inclusiveness in
this process would be very open by the
sheer fact that the equity board exists
for kind of a focus on this particular
issue. Um I did have issues that I've
shared with uh many members and also
Dale on uh this board with respect to
how the first appointment was handled
and I don't believe that there was
intention. I always assume good faith
because if I can't start from there then
I don't think I can really have a
trusting conversation with people that
need to be engaged. So I think there was
a second opportunity with the second
appointment to kind of make right what
was not entirely clear and there was a
missed opportunity there. So I think we
as equity board members are very well
positioned to bring this conversation to
the four because I think it's necessary
to remove any possibility any cloud of
uh lack of transparency and lack of
inclusiveness in the individuals that
are that are that are essentially that
they're representing us as members of
this city. So that's one part. The
second part is a question to everyone
which is would there would there be any
I guess any desire to have us either as
a a board or subcommittee to draft a
letter to the uh to to the mayor and to
the council. Um acknowledging that this
is not part of our our 2026 work plan,
but what we'd like to see going forward
in the future. um indicating what our
concerns are with the current process
and perhaps offering a plan forward from
our perspective. So I think that's a a
talking statement and a question which
is what do you all think in terms of us
as a board or as a subcommittee of a
board I vote for board of writing a
letter kind of with that framework.
>> I think that's a great idea. I think
it's important because as this year
there is two turnover positions and so
you know as much as you want things to
be long term and I know general
elections are coming up too but like we
should be prepared for any anytime
someone leaves a vacancy like midterm.
>> Yeah.
>> And how that works. The other barriers
were finding the link. I had to go
search through my emails instead of
going on to the council website and have
that and be like where do I apply?
Secondly, I don't think a lot of people
are set up for success in a way knowing
that any I do understand that city
government everything is public
disclosure like in the public but didn't
realize it was going to be on the docket
attached into the like for public
viewing I guess and so things like that
maybe like would frame it differently in
the ways that you submit your items. Um,
so just there's just a lot of areas that
um through the experience of like
wanting to see what that looked like and
what like success looked like. I did not
find success as a candidate. So um I
think that would be a great idea. I'm on
board to answer your question very well
very long. I'm in support as well for
all the reasons stated and in full
agreement with Juan who brings a very uh
clear perspective as someone that was
interested in the process and found it
wanting for some troublesome and issues
to be considered in terms of equity that
can be brought to this process. So I'm
in agreement. I support
>> I support too because I do believe our
board exists to give feedback to city
council and the mayor regarding
inequities
um that we or lack of transparency even
just things that we feel like not
everyone in the city the community
members have access to. So, the lack of
guidelines concerns me and
I feel like this is a topic we should be
talking about because quite honestly,
it's more important than the park
guidelines because it really shapes and
impacts all community members. So if we
don't have time in a regularly scheduled
meeting, I hope we can make time at a
separate special meeting or as a
subcommittee that many people can join.
>> Okay.
>> So are we able to
>> Well, it brings us to the next topic
which is around subcommittee work,
right? because we haven't voted. So we
are we're so we have a live motion
that's been discussed
>> which we can't add to this meeting
because it's a special thing.
>> Okay. Okay.
>> So what I'm going to propose is that we
make it an agenda item at our May
meeting right
>> for the letter to be written.
>> Okay.
We can't add a new Yeah. Yeah. Open
records. Got it. open meeting rather.
Okay.
>> But I will add it to our May agenda for
a letter to be written. But isn't it a
part of the 2026 work plan?
>> No. Now we
>> was
>> but they took
>> but this this action. So the the 2020
work plan there's an action to approve
or not approve work
>> which is separate from this newly
proposed action.
>> Yeah.
>> And we can't add that action because
this is a not regular.
>> So we cannot approve the work plan. You
could alote to not approve. It worked
great.
>> But it just to make sure I'm following
what we mentioned at the very beginning
of the conversation or rather at one
point of your conversation with Mayor
Mullet. Um he declined to have the
equity board add this item to the 2026
work plan.
>> Yep. So, if we were to vote on the work
plan as submitted this evening, we'd be
able to wrap up that piece of work and
then have an agenda item in May to talk
specifically about the drafting of the
letter from what I'm getting from the
full equity board. And I foresee
hopefully within that conversation
um the recommendation, the suggestion,
whatever you may want to call it, that
this item be added to the 2026 work plan
because we're giving the support for it
being added to our our work plan.
>> And let's be very clear, the work plan
changes all the time. Things get added
to it. I think you could vote and say we
don't accept the work plan. That's
totally an action. I it will eventually
it'll keep coming back until it gets
approved at some point. You also can
vote to approve it and then also we can
you can spend an agenda item next
meeting drafting a letter
saying that you still you heard loud and
clear that this wasn't getting added and
you still think that this is a
problematic. So,
>> so process.
>> So, here's So, I'm I'm trying to sort
through. I did not understand ever that
when we wrote our work plan that the
mayor would or the city council would
not approve an item in it.
>> Well, you So, you don't write your work
plan.
>> You write.
>> The plan comes from
>> city council and the mayor.
>> Um, that's the way this works. It's not
actually like the board proposes we do
this. It's the mayor says this is what I
want you to give me input on this year.
And so it is a little bit of a going
through the the administrative motion of
like this is what you're going to work
on. Is there anything else you want to
add?
And that gets proposed back to the mayor
and then the mayor can say yes or no
because we are you are an advisory board
to the mayor and city council. I'm
wondering if you can hold off on
approving of the work plan because it
feels weird to approve it, but at the
same time you're saying, "Hey, we're not
really happy about it and we're going to
have a meeting to write a letter to say
that we're not happy about something
that we wanted to do, not be in it." So,
can we just hold off on approving it and
then maybe
>> talk more at our next meeting and then
go from there? I recognize that our work
plan is fluid.
>> Yeah.
>> But it feels like this is an important
thing and so if it's an important thing
we want to put on our work plan, it
can't be something that's like
>> as a secondhand thought,
>> you know, like it needs to I think the
idea is this is an important topic.
>> Yeah.
>> There was passion about last meeting.
>> Yeah.
>> And it's got revisited and there's still
interest. What in terms of the May 13th
meeting which will be the next time this
group is together? Absolutely. We can
have an agenda item that is focused on
you all writing a letter. I think we'll
it will be it will happen on the record
unless you'd like a subcommittee to
draft a letter prior to the meeting
which is also an option. Um though I
will say the the item we're not going to
get to tonight indicates we've not had a
ton of success and our subcommittee like
really making the work happen between
meetings. And so which my proposal in
that next item was going to be that we
save part of our aotted meeting time
every month for subcommittees to meet.
Um so we actually short shorten the
regular business and then break off into
groups that are smaller than to do that
work. Um, or if you want, you can start
the conversation um, at the upcoming
meeting.
However, I I mean, I guess you could
also vote on it the same night, but we
would need to decide that you were going
to do that and put it on the agenda.
I'm just getting into the very the big
old logistics.
>> That's too rushed.
>> Okay. So, do you want to would you like
to put just have the next meeting be
about drafting this letter?
a discussion, right? Like
>> yeah, it would be labeled as a
discussion, but the
>> Oh, would you would you like to actively
draft I mean like
>> maybe have a discussion, talk about key
things and then we have a committee.
>> Okay.
>> To draft the
>> Okay.
>> Everything to me right now I'm feeling
fresh.
>> And I have written a letter to the
mayor. Yeah.
>> From me that I am very happy to share.
>> Yes. that kind of outlines from my
perspective because I couldn't speak for
us.
>> Are you interested in also having
do you want to just meet as a board and
get all of your thoughts out? Are you
interested in my inviting the mayor to
come and answer questions?
Like what would the what would you would
you find any of that helpful
>> in this process or
>> Oh yeah, go ahead. Oh my gosh, Chris, I
I know you're here, but you're speaking
from the ceiling like a tiny god. Um,
>> I I would recommend we don't invite the
mayor until we kind of like have a
unified message to give him. Um, that's
my only input. So, I'd like for us to
kind of have some talking points at
least and then I don't know if it ends
up being drafted into a letter or not,
but at least we need to be aligned on
what we're talking to him about before
we kind of just invite him because I
don't have a question for him yet. Um,
and that's kind of why I'm like I I
would like to think on it a bit.
>> Sounds good.
>> Do others agree, disagree?
>> I agree. I agree.
>> I agree. But regarding the work plan,
>> if I look across the items on the work
plan, this is something I feel has
higher priority than other things on the
work plan. So that's where I'm like a
little hesitant to approve a work plan
today when I think this is more
important
>> and I would rather dep prioritize
something else.
>> Okay. And I know that work plan goes
back to the mayor, but I think that's
>> we want to advise on what feels like the
highest priority y
>> things to tackle.
>> Y'all, it's it's your decision. I don't
>> Yeah.
>> I You don't have to convince me.
>> So
>> So go with what we're saying, which is
postpon.
>> Well, no. I think we're not and we're
going to discuss and meet. I think you
have to not approve. I think you have to
vote against approval.
>> We have the motion.
>> Yeah. So, we withdraw the motion that
was on the floor because it it it's
basically going to die for lack of a
>> quarrel.
>> So, um can I hear?
>> Yeah. Well, you actually you need to
vote on it. It's still you have enough
people and you you have to vote on
whether to approve or not.
>> Yeah. Discussion. So, now I get it's the
vote. So, um,
>> what's the phrasing? I'm losing the
phrasing.
>> Well, it's all in favor of Thank you.
That's what I was losing. Sorry, it's
getting late. Um,
>> who is in favor or um, please vote to
indicate if you are in favor of
approving the 2026 work plan?
>> Okay, you have to you have to ask the
other one. So let me ask the so the
other question in reverse who is in who
is not in favor
>> in favor and then you say any um
say opposed those opposed
>> okay so who so who's in favor no hands
um who is opposed to approving the 2026
work plan
>> I
>> any abstensions
okay
The motion does not carry unanimously.
>> I jumped ahead to the last item. I'm
just going to mention it briefly for
consideration. Um, we've had some
struggles getting work done in
subcommittee. Um I am proposing that
moving forward if we do move things to
subcommittee that we if there is
subcommittee ongoing subcommittee work
we actually carve out a portion of that
we shorten the meeting um so that that
subcommittee can meet during our
allotted board time. Um I think that
that will enable some activation of
stuff that's been difficult to
coordinate over email. Um we do not have
time tonight but moving forward. So, for
example, uh Oh, Chris, go ahead.
>> Oh, no.
Even better. I I
>> I was just supporting you from the air.
>> From the air. I love it. Um, so we'll do
that moving forward. We will, it sounds
like likely form a subcommittee at the
next meeting. Um, and so that group, uh,
potentially even at the next meeting, we
could adjourn early and give that group
some ordination time, uh, so that you're
not done in the the no man's land of
email exchange. Sounds like folks are
supportive of that idea.
>> Absolutely.
>> So, I'm in support.
>> Great. Okay, Leslie, back to you to
close us out.
agenda
items.
>> All right. No more agenda items.
Absolutely, Dale. So, with that being
said, no closing um uh comments or
questions other than thank you all for
your hard and thoughtful work. Um I um
think that we're going to do some really
good work on our uh May agenda item in
regards to our uh feature engagement
with uh the mayor um on the uh
appointment process. I agree 100% with
all of the sentiments tonight in terms
of prioritizing this as an item that is
very equity focused and that's the work
we do. So with that being said um we can
adjourn the equity board meeting of um
April 8th at 8:19 p.m.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you guys.