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Equity Board Auto captions

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

6:00 PM · 1h 46m
Topic tracked across meetings:
Cemetery 10-Year Capital Improvement Plan AB 9006 13/35
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
3a
Minutes of February 1st, 2023
packet pp.3–6
Staff report:
APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) 02-01-23 Equity Board Minutes Page [0000] CITY OF ISSAQUAH Equity Board 6:00 PM Steelhead Room, 235 1st Ave. February 1, 2023 MINUTES SE, Issaquah
4. AGENDA ITEMS
4a
Capital Improvement Plan Board Summit: Report Out, (I)
Monica Negrila, Human Services Manage · packet pp.11–14
Topics: Budget
Staff report:
This is an active document that will be updated with more specific timelines and details.
4c
Workplan Updates
Information · Monica Negrila, Human Services Manage
0:00 I guess I will call the meeting to order
0:03 at 604.
0:06 um let's see do we do start with a roll
0:07 call Sharp okay
0:12 I actually don't put that if you just
0:14 want another one
0:15 all right oh you have it in here yes
0:18 okay so first up Christina
0:24 Christina can you hear us yes I'm
0:27 present
0:29 and Elisa
0:32 present
0:34 okay Lorna present
0:37 Helen
0:39 uh Helen is not everybody Hurts from her
0:41 she's not able to join us tonight so
0:42 she's an excuse accent okay uh lucrecia
0:47 I haven't heard from lucrecia
0:49 okay ray here
0:53 uh Tony I have not heard from Tony other
0:56 than was planning on joining us okay and
1:00 Shea also she was planning on joining us
1:02 okay and then uh creepy I'm here and
1:06 Kelly
1:08 okay uh let's see next is uh public
1:13 comments yes we do have a couple of
1:15 public comments on one end we have our
1:17 community members from
1:20 um the Baha'is of Issaquah would like to
1:23 um share a few things with the board so
1:26 I'm gonna invite them
1:28 here
1:30 well good uh good evening good afternoon
1:33 everybody
1:34 and it's a pleasure to uh like we
1:37 promised we're planning another
1:39 Community social community building and
1:42 we have the inbox for you both hard copy
1:45 and of course electronic that we're
1:46 sending to Monica that kind of thing so
1:48 all of you out there
1:50 um actually Ray's been collaborating
1:52 actively with us kind of a support and
1:54 brainstorming on ideas and format so
1:57 it's very much a public invitation uh by
2:00 well it's public private it's for the
2:03 public for your friends your family
2:05 members your colleagues kind of and it
2:08 really is a great opportunity to just
2:10 engage in a very open uh welcoming way
2:14 all people of all ages I know we're
2:16 really working on teenagers joining us
2:19 as kids grandchildren whatever
2:21 nieces and nephews
2:24 um so please feel welcome the theme is
2:26 everyone has a role to play in community
2:29 building
2:30 share your thoughts and words in art and
2:32 music
2:33 we want we did that the first time
2:35 everybody enjoyed expressing their
2:37 thoughts uh in the painting or we're
2:39 thinking in a skit dialogue music play
2:42 something
2:43 not not required but entertaining and
2:46 kind of thoughtful and Soulful that kind
2:48 of thing Artful so we have who can hand
2:52 these out I'll leave them with Monica
2:54 but we could just because the idea is
2:56 take at least three each so you could
2:58 share with
3:00 friends family
3:03 that you'd like to invite
3:05 um Ray would you like to say anything
3:08 yes I certainly would can you hear me
3:10 okay yes okay
3:13 um I have the speaker that I've been
3:15 manipulating so uh Ted and Farah and
3:17 Saba I see you in the background
3:19 um I just wanted to share with my fellow
3:21 board members how what a tremendous
3:23 opportunity it's been to
3:25 um one get to know the three of you
3:27 better and even more important was
3:29 getting the opportunity to participate
3:31 in one of your community events I
3:33 thought it was um enlightening and
3:36 heartwarming experience and I hope to
3:38 mimic the same uh process for your next
3:41 meeting I know we're gonna get some time
3:43 together to collaborate on that but for
3:45 my fellow board members if you have the
3:47 opportunity to attend yourself or if you
3:50 can pass along the invite to fellow
3:53 community members or friends I highly
3:55 encourage it even it's a great way to
3:57 communicate and to really Express how we
4:01 not only feel individually but to have a
4:04 dialogue a thoughtful dialogue with
4:06 others around us on really important
4:08 topics
4:10 the movies our families our children so
4:13 again thank you to Ted saba and pharah
4:16 for the opportunity I look forward to
4:17 working with you closely
4:19 um a lot of encouragement out to the
4:21 board to
4:22 have you join us or get the message out
4:24 there for the events that they're
4:25 planning so thank you
4:30 great thank you
4:33 [Music]
4:35 most of these with you okay okay I'll
4:37 share with status
4:40 and then do we have anyone else
4:44 we had received via email
4:48 um feedback uh an email from a Community
4:50 member that was shared with uh with you
4:52 all and um I know that as a board you
4:55 did not have a chance to respond we had
4:58 an email response from Elisa what I'm
5:01 gonna do I'm just gonna summarize the
5:03 email that we received from the
5:05 Community member and then
5:07 um I know that perhaps U.S board members
5:09 would like to
5:10 um make a couple of comments as well so
5:14 um the the feedback came from a
5:16 Community member named Steve Pereira and
5:19 so he was sharing that after watching
5:22 the equity board meeting recently uh he
5:24 found himself bothered concerned and
5:26 disillusioned that the equity board
5:28 has opted to uh to choose the option of
5:32 meeting remotely
5:34 instead of meeting in person so he was
5:37 just disagreeing with the board's
5:39 decision and recommended nation and it
5:42 was sharing that he preferred to since
5:45 the board is serving the public was for
5:47 the public benefit and so he shared
5:50 additional thoughts um regarding that so
5:53 just the disagreements that the board
5:54 decided to meet virtually and so I was
5:58 asking the board to reconsider
6:00 and so you'll have that email
6:03 and as I was sharing typically public
6:07 comments you as a board can acknowledge
6:10 them and accept them it's usually it's
6:13 not a dialogue so you don't necessarily
6:15 need to respond however if you do have a
6:16 response you can certainly do that then
6:18 the meeting is recorded
6:20 um for sure so
6:22 um committee members can view it and see
6:25 it later
6:26 and so with that I don't know Lisa if
6:29 you would like to share your comments
6:31 that you had in the email or if other
6:33 board members have anything that you
6:35 would like to share again it's up to you
6:37 as important
6:50 yesterday
6:52 well I would just say that I think the
6:55 board had had some pretty vigorous
6:57 conversation about the topic last time
6:59 and
7:01 um if we get additional public comment
7:04 that it might be helpful
7:07 um if he's able to further explain his
7:09 comments I think that the board tried to
7:12 consider all aspects of inclusivity and
7:17 try to make sure that we while we are
7:21 meeting publicly and hosting the
7:24 recordings publicly and trying to make
7:26 sure that the public is 100 aware of
7:29 what we're doing whether we meet
7:30 virtually or in person and certainly
7:33 we're encouraging in-person meeting for
7:35 everyone who can do it so it might be
7:38 helpful if we if we could receive
7:40 additional feedback to understand if
7:42 there was
7:43 um more that you know that we should
7:46 consider
7:54 question to you as a board you all have
7:57 seen the email communication and uh
7:59 Elisa's draft would you all feel
8:01 comfortable with sharing that email with
8:04 the Community member
8:07 um or would you have a preference like a
8:11 support
8:11 I'm fine with it
8:13 I think Elisa's response uh summarized
8:17 our conversation and our feelings I
8:20 think there was a good discussion and
8:24 I know that I was questioning about
8:27 having remote or
8:31 remote meetings but I really listened
8:34 and listening to the other community
8:37 other board members I realized that we
8:40 do as an equity group we do need to have
8:43 options to make sure that other members
8:47 of community members are able to attend
8:50 because not everyone has the ability to
8:53 attend in person and I think covert has
8:56 taught us that that uh Zoom meetings or
8:59 people coming in remotely is a viable
9:02 way to work and in the business
9:04 community that is definitely something
9:06 that is ongoing practice
9:09 and unless it becomes a barrier and we
9:12 can demonstrate how it's a barrier there
9:13 is no reason to stop
9:16 and I see Ray hands has his hand up
9:20 right yes hi you know I was I was quite
9:23 honestly on the fence about this one
9:25 um and I have to say uh Elisa you
9:28 brought up some tremendously powerful
9:30 arguments um for keeping us where we are
9:33 but
9:35 at one point I would like to see you in
9:36 person
9:38 just just from a personal
9:40 um desire to do that so I I think we do
9:42 have the option but I think
9:44 um I I for one would appreciate having
9:47 you in front of me at a collaboration at
9:49 one point so if there's a chance to do
9:51 that and we have to realize how we were
9:53 established we were established um uh as
9:56 as the a board that can meet remotely so
9:59 we can't change that it's just our
10:01 personal choice but
10:02 um when it comes to real if you think
10:04 about our work environments we live in a
10:06 virtual world I've worked with virtual
10:08 team members every day
10:10 um we have the option of turning our
10:12 cameras off
10:14 um we have the options of of um uh
10:16 joining in person but just because of
10:18 the distance it's often challenging to
10:20 do that but it's it's our choice so I
10:23 agree that that it's an option but if at
10:24 one point um there's an opportunity for
10:26 you to come in person though I think I I
10:28 speak for the others and we would
10:29 greatly appreciate your presence
10:33 oops thanks Ray I would I would just say
10:36 that unfortunately yeah honestly if we
10:38 weren't doing these meetings remotely I
10:40 wouldn't have been able to participate
10:42 for the last year I literally stopped
10:44 working just minutes before the meeting
10:46 switched from one computer to the other
10:49 and
10:51 completely gotten up to to you know have
10:53 a drink of water so it I'm I've been I
10:57 personally have been really grateful to
10:59 have been able to participate and um I
11:02 know that's not the case for everyone
11:04 um but
11:06 um everybody has different circumstances
11:13 thank you board numbers yes thank you
11:15 that's what I was just gonna say would
11:17 you have someone who called in from a
11:19 phone number starting with 206 and the
11:21 last two digits are four zero I'm gonna
11:24 unmute you good evening do you mind
11:26 introducing yourself
11:29 hi can you hear me yes we can
11:33 okay this is this is Huma um my name is
11:37 I live in downtown Issaquah Monica I met
11:41 you the other day I came by your office
11:42 and thank you for sending me the link so
11:45 that I could attend this
11:47 oh you're very welcome so nice to have
11:50 you here thank you so much for joining
11:51 good evening uh we are right in the
11:55 public comment section of our meeting
11:57 would you like to address the the board
11:59 do you have a public comment or would
12:01 you like to just listen in it's a
12:03 conversation tonight
12:05 I will agree with the last person who
12:08 said that they appreciate having these
12:10 remote options to attend like them I too
12:13 sometimes find it hard to find time to
12:15 get a drink of water
12:17 um so so yeah my only public comment is
12:21 affirming uh the need for remote
12:23 participation thank you for providing it
12:26 yes thank you so much and thank you for
12:28 being here so very nice meeting you last
12:30 week
12:32 thank you let me see Christina
12:37 please go ahead
12:39 yes he is
13:13 El video
13:19 online
13:22 so I agree with Alyssa I'd like more
13:25 information
13:27 um that's supporting Steve's arguments I
13:30 mean we're so used to technology the
13:33 meetings are all available on the
13:35 website I feel like if the person isn't
13:37 actually going to be here in person then
13:41 what does it matter if he watches the
13:44 video of it afterward or if we're online
13:47 or in person
13:52 thank you Christina and um let's see
13:55 lucrecia has joined us
13:57 would you like to come up with you
14:03 yeah so
14:06 um when I read the email from the the
14:09 person who sent it I believe his name is
14:12 Steve
14:13 um what I came away with was that maybe
14:16 there was a misunderstanding in that
14:18 maybe he interpreted to mean that we
14:21 were meeting outside in private and not
14:24 in the public eye
14:27 um and so I think that to appease that
14:30 concern my interpretation of the concern
14:32 is to emphasize the fact that even when
14:36 we are remote we do not meet unless the
14:41 public is notified and we
14:44 in this public forum which is uh
14:47 electronic and or in person there are
14:50 some people in in the room right now who
14:52 are in person and those of us who are at
14:54 home and so I I want to make sure that
14:57 the public understands that that even
14:59 though we are remote remote does not
15:02 mean we're meeting remote
15:04 outside of the public eye remote means
15:07 electronically and that our meetings are
15:11 announced ahead of time and if there are
15:13 meetings where
15:16 where we meet outside of the public eye
15:20 that there is never Quorum and that we
15:23 also adhere to the policies and
15:27 legislation that says that we can't
15:29 discuss shock and
15:31 um that issue came up on a different
15:35 um condition when I was part of the
15:38 commission with human services we had a
15:42 social Gathering where there could have
15:45 been Quorum but we are all adults we all
15:49 hold these positions the volunteer very
15:53 seriously and we do follow the law and
15:56 we all agreed to and adhered to not
15:58 talking shop so I just want to you know
16:01 bring that to the attention of anyone
16:03 who is watching and anyone who has that
16:05 sort of concern thank you
16:10 that's a great point lucrecia
16:12 and Elisa see your hands up again I I
16:16 just wanted to to add into a liquidity I
16:18 said great comments that licoricea made
16:20 in addition that there is always an
16:22 in-person component and so even if we
16:26 have members of the community who are
16:27 not comfortable with technology and who
16:30 would like to come from public and be
16:32 present in the room that that's
16:34 available to them it's not like we're um
16:36 now that we're not under the covet
16:38 restrictions it's not that we're having
16:40 a meeting that doesn't have an in-person
16:42 component that that people can't join
16:47 oh thank you
16:49 so I think um I know Monica had started
16:52 kicked off this uh part of our
16:55 conversation with one wondering if we
16:57 would just want to forward elise's email
17:00 to Steve or whether I'm hearing we may
17:03 want to add a little bit more uh based
17:06 on some of the craziest comments as well
17:08 just trying to clarify if there was a
17:10 misunderstanding around uh remote
17:13 equaling equally private versus public
17:17 so um
17:19 how would you propose yeah so I'm happy
17:22 to I took notes to summarize the
17:24 conversation and that to Elisa's draft
17:27 and then respond
17:29 um on behalf of the board if that's okay
17:31 with everyone including the board
17:35 yes okay
17:37 okay thank you so much board members and
17:40 that concludes the public comment
17:41 section we did not receive other public
17:43 comments or interests from public other
17:45 than you you must or resident who's on
17:48 the call
17:50 okay so moving on to the next stage of
17:54 the topic which is approval of minutes
17:55 from the last meeting and so it's in the
17:58 board packet uh do we want to take maybe
18:02 uh two minutes to do a quick review and
18:05 then we'll uh move to a group or ident
18:08 for edit
18:11 okay
18:48 thank you
18:58 okay this is feeling like a really long
19:01 two minutes
19:02 um it might have been one minute but I'm
19:04 hoping people had had uh enough time to
19:07 review does anyone need more time
19:13 okay
19:16 um and I want to I'm noticing something
19:18 I think we are we continue to have some
19:20 technical issues
19:22 um board members we cannot see you on
19:24 the big screen I can see on my computer
19:26 I know that all of your most of you have
19:28 your cameras on
19:29 um so it's just a little bit difficult
19:31 for those in the room to see you uh so
19:34 if you don't mind just uh either raising
19:36 your hands or acknowledging verbally
19:38 since we the room cannot really see our
19:40 head knots or head shakes
19:43 um thank you
19:48 yeah yes I I didn't hear anyone so I
19:51 think I I I reviewed it in Korea this is
19:54 right
20:01 perhaps also a question could be anyone
20:03 who has any edits to the minutes
20:08 Miss lucrecia
20:12 I'm so sorry I was just trying to give a
20:14 thumbs up and then
20:15 never mind
20:17 okay so if they've just been follow up
20:20 to Monica's question do you give anyone
20:22 um have any edits they would like to
20:24 make
20:26 yes
20:33 so the hearing none you can consider the
20:36 minutes approved okay I've been hearing
20:37 no changes uh requested let's approve
20:40 the minutes
20:43 okay
20:44 yeah okay so now we're moving on to the
20:48 next agenda item which is uh led by
20:51 Monica on the capital Improvement plan
20:54 board Summit report apps uh led by uh
20:58 Monica and the equity board members
21:00 about another side
21:04 so I think this is just a brief report
21:07 out for those members who were not able
21:10 to participate in the board Summit on
21:13 February 16
21:15 um as you may recall
21:17 um for that first time actually uh for
21:20 for the city on February 16th the city
21:22 organized uh a joint meaning between
21:24 four boards
21:26 um the equity board the environmental
21:28 board the park board and the
21:30 transportation Advisory Board met to
21:33 join me to discuss and provide input on
21:36 the city's Capital Improvement plan uh
21:39 for the 2020
21:41 for 2029
21:45 process and so
21:49 um the boards had a chance to listen to
21:53 a presentation on on the process of
21:57 creating uh the capital Improvement plan
22:00 and the board also had an opportunity to
22:03 provide feedback on the proposed
22:05 criteria that
22:07 was created by the city administrator
22:11 Ingress neither and our finance director
22:14 Robert hamoud
22:17 um and so that's just a brief overview
22:20 I'm not sure if board members have any
22:22 specific information that they would
22:26 like to share if not I'm happy to read
22:27 some of the comments that were provided
22:29 but uh from the equity board I know that
22:33 pretty was there Kelly was there Helen
22:36 was there the crazy I was there and
22:38 Christina
22:39 participated so when I see lucasia I see
22:44 your hand up would you like to jump in
22:47 I'm sure I'm not sure what your notes
22:50 State uh Monica but one of the things
22:53 that I walked away with
22:56 um that I felt was very powerful and if
22:59 people have time to watch the video that
23:01 was um recorded
23:04 was that when we were given an
23:07 assignment to to break up into our
23:10 groups and and process what we were
23:15 being tasked to do
23:18 um that we also discussed among our
23:20 group
23:22 um how some of the wording and some of
23:23 the other tasks were problematic and one
23:27 of the things that I walked away with
23:29 was just how relieved I was to see that
23:32 those groups could identify the
23:34 problematic language and could
23:38 redirect it in such a way that it was
23:41 obvious to me at least and from the
23:43 discussion that I recall it's obvious
23:46 that they were applying an equity lens
23:49 and or using the equity tool to actually
23:52 rethink and revamp the wording that we
23:57 are being asked to to implement and that
24:01 to me was a very hopeful result because
24:04 I feel like sometimes it can be very
24:07 easy to just kind of you know brush over
24:10 some of of
24:12 um the language that is used in a lot of
24:15 this policy making that we that we
24:17 influence thank you
24:20 I want to thank you lucrecia uh did
24:24 anyone else who was attending have any
24:27 um comments
24:28 to share
24:35 okay
24:36 um I can review some of the feedback you
24:38 gave I know Monica has some of the notes
24:41 as well but when we um met in our
24:43 smaller group and reviewed the criteria
24:47 um some some of the comments uh we noted
24:51 were that um there were several
24:53 categories of criteria to review of the
24:58 plants
24:59 um and I'm trying to find them right now
25:01 but
25:03 okay so some of the criteria and it's
25:06 it's in the board per meeting packet was
25:09 around
25:10 um like legal mandate Community
25:12 priorities Conformity to strategic plan
25:15 goals climate resiliency City Resource
25:19 Management replacement or Capital
25:21 maintenance of existing infrastructure
25:24 equity and long-standing commitments and
25:28 so one of the I think the main comment
25:31 that sticks with me is that Equity is a
25:35 component of each of the other criteria
25:37 and so while it's it's its own
25:39 Standalone criteria it's actually uh
25:43 should be in some way folded into all of
25:46 the criteria and how things are reviewed
25:49 so I think that was one one takeaway we
25:51 had as a group another one was the
25:54 criteria of long-standing commitment
25:56 felt a little problematic because
25:59 it's unclear how those commitments were
26:02 made but there's this commitment to
26:04 uphold those commitments and so um
26:07 uh we just I think we we requested that
26:11 it'd be uh more defined a little bit
26:13 more clearly
26:16 I think
26:17 um we wanted some reflection on some of
26:20 the longer term plans which were inputs
26:22 into the capital planning process and
26:25 whether they uh adequately factored in
26:28 equity considerations and Community
26:31 engagement and the impact of the coveted
26:33 pandemic
26:36 and there were some other items but I
26:39 feel like my notes aren't very good but
26:41 those are some comments
26:44 to be covered I think he talks a little
26:46 bit about some other ring language that
26:50 I was against it
26:52 um perhaps so just even just some some
26:54 of the language in in the equity
26:57 criteria
27:00 [Music]
27:02 and I'm sorry I was trying I was also a
27:05 little bit distracted because I heard
27:07 um back from shade but I'm not sure if
27:10 you touched on on the equity criteria
27:12 being a separate criteria just being
27:14 embedded enough that that's
27:21 Kelly do you have other things to add uh
27:24 not to this I have another thought which
27:27 I sent in an email and that is
27:29 particularly the last criteria I mean I
27:31 I completely agree that we should be
27:33 part of each not separate criteria but I
27:36 am extremely concerned about the
27:40 um added criteria that we weren't even
27:43 supposed to talk about
27:46 um being just a way to override any type
27:49 of equity in anything right it's an
27:52 override cause for using a system that
27:55 they're a set of criteria that they're
27:57 using and then they add this criteria
27:59 where the board can put anything at a
28:01 higher priority
28:02 and so to me we should we should step up
28:06 anymore we should tell more we should
28:09 tell the council that this is concerning
28:15 thank you Kelly and pretty young board
28:17 members and the cressia I think
28:19 um I have a little bit of added
28:21 information about next steps and ways to
28:23 provide feedback uh and so then then
28:26 next you can decide as a board on on
28:28 what you would like to do as far as Next
28:30 Step so
28:32 um Deputy City administrators neither
28:34 has put together a memo to be sent out
28:38 to all of you on how uh that includes a
28:41 summary of of the feedback that
28:44 um you all provided and how they plan on
28:48 incorporating the feedback that he
28:49 received uh currently that's going to be
28:52 sent for translations and as soon as we
28:54 have the translations then we'll email
28:55 those to you
28:57 um and so in terms of Next Step the
29:00 administration will work with the
29:02 internal leadership team to incorporate
29:04 all of that and and create a draft for
29:06 the capital Improvement plan and then
29:09 they plan on returning to you all in
29:12 boards in April before going to city
29:15 council with a draft of the capital
29:17 Improvement plan so in terms of you
29:19 providing feedback at this point
29:21 probably the most helpful would be you
29:23 can certainly provide feedback and I can
29:26 take notes and we can do it via email or
29:28 you can do a more informal feedback
29:31 probably the best way though at this
29:33 point since it's the administration
29:35 working on it is to send the feedback
29:38 directly to the deputy City
29:40 administrator and the finance director
29:42 or to the mayor certainly you can send
29:45 it to city council also but the draft is
29:48 not
29:49 the city council will not see the draft
29:51 until after
29:53 um it will come back to you in April so
29:56 it might be a little bit too soon to to
29:58 send it to council I guess
30:01 but so certainly you do have options and
30:05 um Andrea called me this afternoon
30:07 actually and she's very open and if you
30:09 have additional feedback they would like
30:11 to hear from you for sure
30:13 um so that is
30:15 um and actually I do have uh I do have
30:18 the draft memo here with me and I want
30:23 to see if there is some language in the
30:25 in the memo that refers to the
30:28 long-standing commitment criteria that
30:30 you mentioned uh and with your
30:32 permission it's not too long can I just
30:35 read from that so it says we heard that
30:39 a couple of the boards thought this
30:41 Criterion was not qualifying and would
30:43 and could conflict with our equity and
30:45 transparency goals and that it would
30:48 interfere with efforts to hold ourselves
30:49 accountable to such goals we also heard
30:52 concerns about whether long-term
30:54 priorities still meet current needs in a
30:56 post-pandemic Issaquah a city council
30:58 wishes to Define this further the city
31:00 Administration has decided to make no
31:03 changes to this Criterion at this time
31:05 but we'll pass on the feedback of the
31:07 boards to city council
31:09 Subway's done so that
31:12 so that means we need to go to the city
31:14 council yes
31:16 that's that's what I'm hearing if we
31:18 want and it wouldn't be worthy of us to
31:20 reach out to the other committees or
31:23 boards because it was voiced at least by
31:26 one other if not all of them you know
31:28 I'm not remembering well enough but I
31:30 know other communities
31:32 also voice concerned because they also
31:35 see that their priorities that
31:37 priorities that were that are important
31:39 to the Parks and Rec Department is going
31:41 to also get moved you know so
31:47 yeah it's really I see your hand is up
31:50 would you like to kind of
31:55 [Music]
31:57 afraid we cannot hear you
32:00 a couple comments in the question so
32:03 thank you for um my fellow board members
32:05 for attending that meeting and I'm sorry
32:06 I wasn't able to join
32:08 um I guess my question is I when the
32:12 other comment is I have not gone over in
32:13 detail but I I trust you those of you
32:16 who were there was can you give some
32:18 specific examples of how an equity lens
32:21 was not applied to some of the
32:23 discussion uh just a little some a
32:25 little more precise examples of what
32:26 exactly was like hit a nerve with you
32:29 that didn't have an equity lens
32:34 on it I don't I'll answer that I don't
32:37 think that that's what I was saying
32:40 um if you're talking about this Italian
32:43 um I was trying to say that the criteria
32:45 for this added criteria a criteria for
32:49 long-standing
32:51 issues to get uh get inserted into the
32:55 capital Improvement plan was problematic
32:58 because it actually overrides the other
33:02 criteria in order to get theirs for
33:05 there's reasons why these
33:07 long-term goals have not been completed
33:10 and it's because the existing criteria
33:13 is knocking them out
33:15 So when you say I can bought the board
33:17 the council can then add it it becomes a
33:22 a single a single way to change the
33:24 priority list
33:27 okay and that's that's why it's
33:29 problematic from an equity perspective
33:34 and so if I I could add one other
33:37 example I think pray that addresses your
33:39 question and so one one of the prior or
33:42 criteria we're a community priority and
33:46 I think so there are examples given like
33:49 the supply climate action plan utility
33:51 rate study Mobility master plan so some
33:54 of those documents
33:55 um that were created in part from uh
34:00 Community engagement processes and so
34:03 part of so I think there's some Equity
34:07 considerations Upstream of that those
34:10 priority Community priority developments
34:12 and so there's an assumption that there
34:15 was robust representative diverse
34:19 Community engagement through those
34:20 processes
34:22 um which means that those Community
34:24 priorities
34:25 represent uh the full community but um
34:30 so so that's where you know we
34:34 we need to be assured I think that you
34:37 know tools such as the the equity
34:39 framework have been followed to ensure
34:41 that those priorities were established
34:44 and documented through uh a more mature
34:48 kind of equity uh oriented process so I
34:52 think that that's another example of how
34:55 Equity seems to feed into a lot of these
34:58 different criteria
35:00 and not just as its own Standalone
35:02 criteria
35:04 I see that's helpful pretty thank you
35:08 uh let's see did anyone else have
35:10 hands-free store uh want to comment
35:17 [Music]
35:19 I did but you did a great job pretty in
35:22 and covered what I wanted to say thank
35:24 you okay
35:28 um yes Christina
35:32 Elemento
35:57 um I I just wanted to mention that
35:59 afterwards I stuck around and spoke with
36:01 the director about when all of our
36:04 comments would actually be implemented
36:06 and she told me that it wouldn't be
36:08 until 2024 so I think that's important
36:12 to keep in mind as well
36:16 [Music]
36:18 thank you Christina so I think that's
36:21 when
36:22 yeah the selection criteria would start
36:25 to be implemented yeah
36:27 they've adopted yes so I think the hope
36:29 the hope is that the capital Improvement
36:32 plan will be adopted by July 1st and
36:35 then probably by adopting that then I
36:39 assume that those
36:40 um items will go through the budget
36:42 process to allocate money towards those
36:45 projects and then implementation will
36:46 begin in 2024 so it's the sixth year
36:50 plan
36:53 um so with that board members
36:57 my question to you is to seek some sort
37:00 of consensus from all of you in terms of
37:02 what would you like to see
37:05 as as next steps what should the next
37:08 steps be so
37:11 one option you will receive via email
37:14 the memo in the upcoming days most
37:18 likely yesterday's Wednesday most likely
37:20 next week to give us enough time for
37:22 translations
37:24 um you can take time to reflect upon
37:26 that and then we can either schedule a
37:29 special meeting or the next the next
37:32 scheduled meeting is a joint meeting
37:33 with the Human Services Commission so I
37:35 don't believe that that would be a good
37:36 time to do it but the regular next
37:38 regular meeting is not meeting the first
37:40 meeting in April which also might
37:42 coincides with
37:44 um the deputy director Snyder coming
37:46 actually to meet with you and further
37:48 discuss where then perhaps you can
37:50 provide feedback then and continue or
37:56 we can schedule special meeting if you
37:58 would like
38:01 be something
38:03 do something
38:04 before that
38:06 yeah and I believe we there was another
38:08 ask that we didn't have time for which
38:11 was maybe to uh revise the equity
38:15 criteria statement that's in here and I
38:18 know we didn't have time to get to that
38:19 right
38:22 um and so there there is some work that
38:25 could be done via email as long as you
38:27 don't reach consensus or just doing some
38:30 leg work done and then
38:33 um when you come back in the meeting
38:35 then just making it easier and quicker
38:37 so you don't end up worth sweating for
38:40 two hours in a meeting
38:45 sorry sorry what was Equity statement
38:52 so I'm um this was in the summit packet
38:55 I'm just passing it over to Lorna there
38:57 was a they had a little summary of each
39:01 of the criteria and so they were still I
39:04 think that the equity criteria the
39:06 particular was one of the new ones that
39:08 they hadn't uh finalized
39:11 what that would look like
39:13 explicitly
39:19 so with that would you like to wait and
39:21 read the memo and react to that in
39:25 providing additional feedback and then
39:27 have an opportunity to invite and have
39:30 um then the meeting in April
39:33 discuss that and provide further
39:36 feedback
39:37 does that sound like a good plan
39:39 since it still gives you time it sounds
39:42 like
39:42 prior to this going to city council and
39:46 then as you said Kelly if you still feel
39:49 after that that your feedback was not
39:51 incorporated or you feel like you would
39:52 like to take further action then you as
39:54 a board still can decide to perhaps uh
39:57 provide further feedback to city council
40:01 just as a
40:02 at the end of the what you read it said
40:06 they weren't going to work on the
40:07 long-standing commitment
40:09 did I am I hearing that correctly so
40:15 so they so they mentioned
40:18 [Music]
40:20 at the end as you said says so since
40:22 city council wishes so this is comes
40:25 from city council right we all reported
40:26 it so since city council wishes to
40:29 Define this further the city
40:31 Administration has decided to make no
40:33 changes to this Criterion at this time
40:35 but we'll pass on the feedback of the
40:38 boards to city council and I think again
40:40 I I think I understand that
40:43 perception if city council asked
40:46 um to further discuss and city council
40:49 wanted to make changes
40:52 um then I don't know that the
40:53 administration can't do anything about
40:54 it at this point other than providing
40:56 the feedback on your behalf
41:02 so I still think we can but yeah we'll
41:05 do that later is that okay well so I
41:07 think to summarize we we should plan you
41:11 know I I would move to agree to what
41:14 Monica is proposing wait for the memo to
41:16 come out and then have some agenda times
41:18 in April to discuss and see if we want
41:22 to package up our feedback and maybe
41:24 have separate uh comments
41:27 to share both with um
41:32 the city staff City Administration staff
41:35 Administration and also with city
41:37 council who might be doing their own
41:39 revisions on that long-standing
41:41 commitment criteria
41:43 okay yeah that sounds great yes
41:47 thanks
41:50 okay with you also Christina and
41:52 lucrecia and Elisa
42:02 and with that I guess let me just do one
42:05 final check to see if anyone's got any
42:06 more comments
42:08 questions
42:10 I'm not seeing anything on Monica's
42:13 screen so um let's move to the next
42:16 topic which is a criteria for items
42:20 leading board input and brainstorming
42:22 ideas so discussion uh led by Monica
42:26 thank you board members thank you
42:29 guys I have a good night thank you for
42:30 being here
42:34 so this came up a couple of meetings ago
42:38 when as U.S board continued to develop
42:41 and look at how we structure meetings
42:43 and how we work together but also how
42:46 you provide input as we have more and
42:49 more requests coming from different
42:51 departments rightfully so I believe
42:53 Kelly brought it up at one of the
42:56 meetings on uh what should we ask for
43:02 from staff members when they bring an
43:04 item
43:05 for discussion and so on one end I know
43:09 that you discussed and you wanted to
43:10 implement the equity
43:12 um framework that we have on the other
43:15 end I wanted to take a few minutes with
43:17 you to brainstorm if there's anything
43:19 else that you would like City staff to
43:21 bring forward to you and I wanted to
43:23 share with your permission an example of
43:26 a report that we are now using when um
43:32 um when we put together reports and
43:33 memos for city council and wanted to use
43:37 that as a starting point
43:39 um give me just a moment to pull it up
43:42 and to see what you think if we wanted
43:45 if something like that could work if uh
43:48 you were thinking about something
43:49 totally different
43:54 sorry
43:58 I realized I have way too many things
44:00 alone here you can go
44:04 oh and you can see on the screen of
44:06 course it doesn't matter what I share
44:10 me I need to
44:12 um request some support from itm natural
44:15 why we are having this is the second
44:17 meeting in a row we are having technical
44:18 difficulties I'm gonna read it's not
44:21 extensive
44:22 um so every time a via City staff put
44:24 together a presentation and the report
44:26 to city council we have a certain
44:28 criteria that we use and follow and so
44:32 we always start with what's the
44:33 direction that's needed so what are
44:35 what's the goal what are we looking for
44:36 from input from City Council in this
44:38 case would be probably the board right
44:40 uh then the next the second one is what
44:43 is our recommendation as staff
44:46 um proposing that and then we Pro we
44:49 perceive the third item is to provide a
44:51 background on that item so provide you
44:54 the history and whatnot and then the
44:57 fourth item is to provide an analysis of
45:00 of that item right so whether if it's
45:02 the capital Improvement plan just go
45:04 through like a process of what are the
45:07 pros and cons
45:09 um and moving forward with the options
45:10 proposed with the recommendation
45:12 um and then to look for options like
45:15 um we can move in One Direction or in
45:18 another or
45:20 um most often we asked uh city council
45:23 to also say you can tell us maybe a
45:25 third option that we didn't think now
45:27 you can direct this in a different
45:29 direction
45:30 and then we also do
45:33 an impact on what's the financial policy
45:36 and Community impact
45:38 um if an item is being adopted or not
45:41 um and then we propose timing and next
45:44 steps
45:45 um so to me that is a comprehensive
45:48 report
45:50 um that also
45:52 exists already and we could
45:57 have the same request from City staff or
45:59 we can add something we can consider
46:01 adding uh an equity criteria if we
46:04 wanted in terms of thinking about what's
46:07 the impact on disadvantaged communities
46:12 um but I thought I would bring it up to
46:13 you for discussion
46:15 you can also ask them to
46:18 walk through the equity framework or you
46:22 can choose to do that when they present
46:25 so you have a few options would love to
46:27 hear from you
46:30 I'm gonna stop sharing because you can't
46:32 see anything there and I don't believe
46:33 that anyone online could see those
46:37 online were able to see what I was
46:38 sharing yes
46:41 oh okay
46:44 so Ray do you have any um comments yeah
46:48 um I thought that was really helpful to
46:50 kind of help us get our hands around how
46:52 we analyze something and and how we
46:54 respond to it so let's just take the the
46:58 um the capital Improvement plan as an
47:01 example because we talked about that for
47:02 30 minutes so we would use that
47:05 framework to get our thoughts together
47:07 so we would explain the background of of
47:13 was about but all those other items that
47:16 you had underneath that Monica we would
47:18 populate and work together to make to
47:20 come up with a recommendation for how we
47:22 would want to present it to the um
47:25 whatever audience that we're targeting
47:27 is that correct so actually that would
47:30 be a request that you would have in
47:31 advance from any staff who would want to
47:34 bring an item to the equity board so
47:37 let's
47:44 are there other or I mean other
47:46 departments coming to you asking for
47:49 feedback and so this would be a request
47:51 from you as a board uh for staff when
47:54 they prepare materials for you to go
47:56 through those items uh as they prepare
47:59 your material I see okay I
48:01 misinterpreted I thought it was us
48:02 reacting to something but it's us
48:04 requesting specific information for
48:06 those who want to bring something
48:07 forward to us okay
48:09 okay yes
48:13 thank you
48:15 I think my concerns and questions was
48:19 the same as right I was looking more
48:20 poor
48:21 the reaction yeah
48:26 so my my I I like that I think that's a
48:31 good start so I'm trying to think about
48:33 what what other specific Equity related
48:36 questions would we want them to focus on
48:38 and so I do think you know that impacts
48:41 category should be a little bit more
48:44 like
48:45 who who is most impacted positively or
48:48 negatively so wanting to have them
48:52 unpack the impact for different groups
48:55 you know uh I think and some of those
48:58 groups are named in the equity framework
49:01 and then
49:03 to me there's also this element around
49:05 process equity and like how how did they
49:09 think through their to make a
49:12 recommendation and did they involve
49:17 um different
49:19 um levels of City staff or different
49:23 community members in in
49:27 arriving at the recommendation or the
49:30 options that they're suggesting
49:32 so I'm not sure how how one
49:36 helps explain that you know so I mean I
49:39 think is the challenge here but I think
49:42 that's the background prior history of
49:44 the
49:46 off the recommendation because I think
49:48 Community engagement is important and so
49:51 I think somewhere in there would be nice
49:54 I think especially as they're presenting
49:55 to the equity board where we are really
49:58 concerned about
49:59 who all gave feedback and you know spoke
50:04 into this and so I would love to see
50:06 what was in community engagement and
50:08 what
50:09 not just who's going to be impacted and
50:12 saying them thinking who's going to be
50:15 impacted by it but also
50:17 before all of this was done did they
50:20 reach out to those communities of
50:21 different communities to see what they
50:24 thought about it right so and I love
50:27 what you said Lauren and I think that
50:29 that perhaps responds to your concern
50:32 and race because this could be then your
50:34 answer right if they follow they follow
50:37 that initial criteria with the script
50:39 and perhaps so this is an opportunity
50:42 for you as a board to educate and help
50:45 Implement an equity lens throughout the
50:48 the organization so perhaps staff are
50:50 not yet aware and so maybe in the
50:53 background they will tell you but maybe
50:54 they are you're gonna see that it's it's
50:57 they did not do a community engagement
51:00 so that could be your response and your
51:03 questions in educating them like have
51:05 you considered doing this when you did
51:07 Community engagement or are you doing
51:09 right because that's what I feel like
51:11 when they present to us that's where I
51:13 always I'm going towards and so it would
51:16 be nice for them to start but I also
51:18 recognize that sometimes they don't even
51:20 know who to go to to ask before they
51:24 even start enrollment right so I can see
51:26 that coming at either end yes but he's
51:31 um yeah thank you Lorna uh lucrecia
51:35 yes I think that um
51:37 well our ultimate goal going back to
51:40 when when this board was created
51:44 and when we've had discussions around
51:46 you know what the expectations are the
51:50 ultimate goal is for the various
51:53 departments the various committees the
51:56 various boards that exist
51:58 to be able to do all of this on their
52:00 own correct to be able to have
52:05 representation which is one of my
52:08 primary concerns representation on these
52:11 boards and these committees and these
52:13 commissions to ensure that various
52:16 voices are at the table and those who
52:18 are not at the table are taken into
52:20 consideration and so I just want to
52:22 remind us and remind
52:25 you know the council
52:27 of our charge which is to use this
52:30 Equity tool to hold ourselves
52:32 accountable and responsible
52:35 so that at some point you know in 2050
52:38 or whenever hopefully sooner
52:40 you know our board doesn't need to exist
52:43 because we exist within the different
52:45 commissions and Boards already thank you
52:52 with that I have a question for all of
52:54 you would you like us to ask any staff
52:58 or other departments to when they
53:01 prepare materials for you to go through
53:04 the equity framework prior to
53:07 um and perhaps in their packet in their
53:10 material to respond or to speak on how
53:14 they implemented or how they applied the
53:16 equity framework
53:19 and with that my question is if they
53:21 didn't
53:23 are they still welcome to come to you I
53:26 think the answer is both but I think if
53:28 I was presenting to a group I want to do
53:31 my homework and so knowing that they're
53:34 presenting to our group and we are going
53:36 to ask and I think very often without
53:39 even looking at this we're naturally
53:43 asking those kinds of questions so I
53:46 would before I present to someone I
53:47 would want to have my homework done and
53:49 be ready to answer those questions so if
53:52 they want to do a presentation they
53:54 should come prepared and if they don't
53:56 come prepare the answers we will be
53:59 asking so be ready to answer those
54:01 questions in either case
54:04 so I I don't think you could have before
54:08 someone to be prepared but it was a
54:10 strong recommendation that be ready that
54:13 the equity board will ask questions and
54:16 sometimes we might not go on script with
54:19 these questions
54:21 and sometimes their answer might be like
54:23 oh yeah we did this but it doesn't
54:25 actually
54:26 match and so it's as little Christian
54:29 said it was it's going to be our
54:30 educating and guiding them so that they
54:33 are automatically those groups are
54:35 asking those questions on their own
54:38 so Lorna you are looking that way but
54:40 you got a lot of thumbs up the Wi-Fi
54:42 says you were talking
54:44 yeah I I think there's some some merging
54:47 what I'm hearing is kind of as they
54:50 write the memo to be bringing in the
54:52 reflections from the equity framework
54:54 questions maybe into those sections like
54:58 it should be integrated into how they
55:01 respond to those prompts
55:04 okay
55:06 any other uh comments or thoughts I
55:09 don't know if we're being covering that
55:11 too quickly or not but no I think this
55:14 is very helpful I see Christy yeah
55:15 Christina
55:17 foreign
55:22 [Music]
55:39 I think that perhaps we should have like
55:43 a checklist of the things that they have
55:46 done and followed and the things they've
55:49 done to follow through uh to implement
55:52 things that have to do with the frame of
55:54 equity I think that would be very
55:57 helpful for us too
56:09 let's see honey any any other comments
56:12 in the room or
56:14 remote
56:20 okay thank you board members I think I'm
56:23 just gonna
56:24 um use that
56:26 um example of report that we are already
56:28 using incorporate the equity framework
56:30 and then perhaps a final
56:34 um document so then we can share with
56:36 staff coming to you
56:38 um does that sound good for everyone
56:39 that sounds good
56:42 awesome thank you and Christina do you
56:44 still do you have another uh comment I
56:47 thought your hand from before
56:51 okay
56:53 okay and with that
56:55 um I think we're ready to move on to the
56:58 next agenda item which is work plan
57:00 updates
57:01 will be presented by Monica
57:05 thank you again it's a it's a different
57:07 type of meaning I think we had so many
57:09 meetings back to back when we had guests
57:11 from outside so this is the first
57:12 meeting in a while when we don't have
57:13 guests from outside so
57:16 um so I wanted to follow up with you
57:19 um as promised I I am putting the active
57:21 document on uh
57:23 um online uh with our work plan items
57:26 but in particular I wanted to touch base
57:28 a little bit with you
57:30 um about the equity board proposed work
57:34 plan items the four large work plan
57:36 items that we have scheduled for this
57:39 year uh you should have received from me
57:41 an email earlier this week about
57:43 inviting you to
57:48 inviting you to sign up to serve on a
57:52 subcommittee for one of those
57:58 items
58:02 I just got kicked out of
58:05 a SharePoint here I was I had the
58:08 SharePoint document pulled up and it
58:10 just kicked me out so and now it does
58:12 not recognize my password apparently
58:15 I know that I checked the list earlier
58:18 today and I had
58:19 um pretty and Elisa signed up for an
58:23 item I just wanted to remind you all if
58:25 you have time and capacity please let me
58:28 know I think the next step once we have
58:30 board members signed up
58:33 um to serve on a committee then we will
58:34 start scheduling meetings internally for
58:37 with the economic development staff with
58:40 the police department
58:42 um also for for those who don't
58:45 necessarily need input from other
58:46 departments we will just schedule a
58:48 separate meeting to start doing research
58:50 on the bias for example and so forth so
58:55 I'm excited to start working on that and
58:57 then if if you feel that it's absolutely
59:00 you don't need to serve on a
59:01 subcommittee if you don't have capacity
59:02 just let me know so then we don't wait
59:06 um thinking that assuming wrongfully
59:08 that oh maybe you didn't have time to
59:10 sign up so either way would love to have
59:13 your participation but completely
59:15 understand already attending meetings
59:17 it's a pretty big commitment
59:21 so I think that's what I had for that I
59:23 don't know if anyone has any questions
59:25 about the work plan items
59:28 or any other comments feedback
59:34 so I'm hearing a reminder to go to
59:36 Monica's email and go to the link to
59:39 sign up if you have capacity to pick up
59:41 one of these uh work plan projects
59:48 and okay
59:51 and I'm not seeing anyone with work plan
59:54 related questions
59:58 okay no me neither so I just don't want
1:00:03 um well I wanted to talk about next
1:00:05 meetings really quick and it's still
1:00:08 related to work plan items if I may
1:00:11 um so just a reminder we do have
1:00:13 scheduled a joint meeting with the Human
1:00:16 Services Commission for March 15. does
1:00:19 that confirmed
1:00:21 um it is confirmed as a meeting I have
1:00:24 not heard I'm waiting to hear from all
1:00:26 of you uh on who can make it in person
1:00:29 and who can make it virtually
1:00:32 um last time when we checked we did have
1:00:34 quorum to have that happen but I I have
1:00:38 not heard back from everyone after my
1:00:41 last Outreach to all of you so if we
1:00:44 don't have Quorum then then we won't
1:00:47 have it
1:00:48 um but right now we have it scheduled
1:00:50 for March 15.
1:00:52 um and so that's also another reminder
1:00:54 if you didn't have a chance to get back
1:00:56 with me on that please do so otherwise I
1:00:59 will start probably calling you and
1:01:00 texting you individual in the next
1:01:02 couple of days
1:01:02 [Music]
1:01:04 so the the goal of that meeting really
1:01:07 would be to really cover it's going to
1:01:09 be in all human services focused meaning
1:01:12 cover everything and providing updates
1:01:15 and what the human services staff are
1:01:17 doing and Human Services Commission so
1:01:19 it's focused on Human Services
1:01:22 um then the next meeting the next
1:01:23 regular meeting for you it can be April
1:01:26 5th that's the first Wednesday in April
1:01:28 and um that will be focused on
1:01:32 um if you recall you had
1:01:35 um invited we wanted to hear from our
1:01:37 human resources department to see how
1:01:39 the equity framework implementation is
1:01:41 going on internally so updates from the
1:01:43 internal Equity work so we had confirmed
1:01:48 the HR department there we also I think
1:01:52 we are going to start on the
1:01:54 um we should have hear back as we talked
1:01:56 earlier today from the capital
1:01:58 improvement process
1:02:01 um but also the comprehensive plan for
1:02:05 the city that it's up
1:02:07 for Renewal this year
1:02:09 um you should
1:02:11 probably hear from them as well in terms
1:02:14 of next steps for the comprehensive plan
1:02:18 so pretty big items all from
1:02:21 other departments coming up in April
1:02:30 so the lady should confirm our
1:02:34 participation attendance yes
1:02:38 yes can that would be great thank you
1:02:42 any other questions or comments for me
1:02:53 do you think there's going to be a
1:02:54 meeting in mid-april I don't foresee I
1:02:58 don't think so we should hopefully get
1:03:00 back to just monthly meetings
1:03:03 um I have not had any requests for
1:03:08 now I think if if we do not have Quorum
1:03:11 for the meeting on March 15 then
1:03:12 probably we can look at rescheduling
1:03:15 that meeting if you're still interested
1:03:17 in having a joy meeting with the Human
1:03:18 Services Commission so then we can look
1:03:20 at other dates at that time
1:03:24 I think I've already said no that I
1:03:26 couldn't attend March 15 because I
1:03:27 haven't invent that day so I'm just
1:03:32 sure if you can let me know now yeah I
1:03:36 I can't find one
1:03:39 so for folks
1:03:41 um on the remote
1:03:46 I've heard it go to meeting yeah when um
1:03:49 or can you uh let us know if you're able
1:03:53 to attend the March 15 joint meeting
1:03:56 with the Human Services Commission right
1:04:00 so when Christina can
1:04:03 yes I can Ray can okay
1:04:07 at least you can okay
1:04:12 how about you Christina I need to check
1:04:15 and confirm thank you
1:04:18 okay and you put it and I can again yes
1:04:21 do you want to do it or attendance check
1:04:23 for April 5th as well sure okay can we
1:04:27 go around and do April 5th are folks
1:04:29 available April 5th
1:04:32 okay lucrecia is Kelly Lorna
1:04:39 Elisa
1:04:45 and Christina do you need to check on
1:04:47 that one as well
1:04:56 I will get some chicken okay thanks
1:05:01 and then pretty you're not able on a
1:05:03 April 5th but yes for March 15th
1:05:06 okay so we do have Quorum for April 5th
1:05:09 right now I um might don't have Quorum
1:05:12 for uh March 15 because I only have four
1:05:15 yeses but we also don't have everyone
1:05:17 present
1:05:18 um so I will Circle back with folks and
1:05:22 then I'll
1:05:23 um send out an email either way
1:05:29 um one thing I'm
1:05:32 remembering if we were to go back to
1:05:35 that the criteria for item seating board
1:05:37 input
1:05:39 um when when you were first talking I
1:05:40 was actually thinking about it a
1:05:42 different way and I think it was
1:05:43 something that Kelly had mentioned
1:05:44 before and
1:05:47 um it reminded me when we were talking
1:05:48 about uh the board meeting like the
1:05:52 criteria for having hybrid meetings and
1:05:54 setting up those rules
1:05:56 um it seemed like there was an
1:05:57 opportunity for the equity board to
1:06:01 weigh in on policies like broadly or the
1:06:04 city and those things like we could make
1:06:06 recommendations about what is a more
1:06:08 Equitable policy for board and
1:06:10 commission meetings and then
1:06:13 and then pass it on to the other
1:06:15 boarding commissions to for them to
1:06:18 customize kind of based on their
1:06:20 interests so I was I was originally
1:06:22 thinking it was going to be about that
1:06:24 topic and I don't know if that's
1:06:26 something we want to talk about maybe
1:06:27 bring back at a later date
1:06:30 um and help me understand for the policy
1:06:32 on the virtual attendance or just policy
1:06:34 in general or yeah not like the virtual
1:06:36 attendance with that well that was the
1:06:38 example I was thinking of like you know
1:06:40 if we have an opportunity to rethink the
1:06:42 way the city is doing something based on
1:06:45 something that could be more inclusive
1:06:47 we those it seems like those would be
1:06:50 good opportunities for us to participate
1:06:53 on and
1:06:58 and so I know that one of the feedbacks
1:07:01 that he provided at that time was that
1:07:04 perhaps the policy could come to you
1:07:06 before being sent to all the other
1:07:08 boards and commissions right so is that
1:07:10 what you were thinking about
1:07:12 creating
1:07:14 a a checklist or a criteria or providing
1:07:19 just that feedback or I'm trying to
1:07:21 understand what are we so that those
1:07:25 would be some of the types of items that
1:07:28 I could see coming to the equity board
1:07:32 you know so so I know right now it feels
1:07:35 more like oh there was a community
1:07:37 Korean engagement toolkit that came out
1:07:39 so they weren't you know which is great
1:07:41 like yeah we want the equity to board to
1:07:43 you know provide input but I think
1:07:45 there's some you know broader policy
1:07:47 discussions that might be um that could
1:07:50 benefit from having some deeper Equity
1:07:53 conversations ahead of A Big World about
1:07:56 oh before creating the draft and coming
1:07:58 to you right yes
1:08:01 yes absolutely and how would you like to
1:08:03 go about that or what would you like to
1:08:05 do as a board
1:08:08 I think my question would be how do we
1:08:10 identify which ones come to us because
1:08:12 when you say that it makes me a bit
1:08:14 nervous because I'm like whoa we could
1:08:16 be here all day for a couple days if
1:08:19 we're looking at different policies
1:08:21 coming up so how do we narrow and
1:08:24 identify which ones we'd like to review
1:08:27 so is it just like a list of ones and
1:08:30 we're gonna scan them and say hey Monica
1:08:32 can we look at this next time and so
1:08:35 you're going to send it to us in a draft
1:08:37 form and
1:08:38 we mentioned like say let's talk more
1:08:41 about this
1:08:42 and and this actually makes me think of
1:08:45 creating the work plan so for the first
1:08:47 time this year what we try to do was or
1:08:51 what I want to say what I try to do as
1:08:53 staff as the city created the city-wide
1:08:56 budget and work plan
1:08:58 um then I tried to check in with
1:08:59 different departments and say that this
1:09:02 was back in October November right and
1:09:04 say hey I'm starting to work on the
1:09:06 equity boards work plan for 2023 what
1:09:09 are some of the items that you are you
1:09:11 have on your work plan for next year and
1:09:13 where is their interest in in coming so
1:09:16 that was kind of like a first attempt of
1:09:18 saying hey collaboratively lowers the
1:09:20 interest so that's how we head right
1:09:22 from the Ada in transportation and
1:09:25 environmental and the comprehensive plan
1:09:27 so those were things that got added to
1:09:29 our list and then we as a board came up
1:09:32 with our own I think this is a good time
1:09:34 for us to start thinking about it then
1:09:36 for next year as the upcoming months I
1:09:39 can't believe we're already talking
1:09:40 about April so it's uh uh June July
1:09:44 August are I think really good times for
1:09:46 us to think start thinking for next year
1:09:49 on how do we want to do we want to just
1:09:52 review the work plan for 2024 Citywide
1:09:55 and U.S board start selecting what you
1:09:58 would like to do and prioritize
1:10:00 again this time it was just a
1:10:03 transitional let's start somewhere
1:10:07 I think having like a list and then we
1:10:10 can identify saying hey what's going on
1:10:12 with this my
1:10:15 might help us because I don't think some
1:10:18 people might always think that
1:10:20 we should like right and then it's like
1:10:23 hey no this is something really that
1:10:26 should have been addressed and analyzed
1:10:29 with the lens of equity
1:10:39 [Music]
1:10:40 uh in terms of equity or how are things
1:10:43 done how yes how are the work I guess
1:10:46 maybe it's not for today but I think
1:10:48 that what I would like to know is how
1:10:51 does a policy become a pause yeah the
1:10:54 question is organization that's what I
1:10:57 and then we can talk about where did we
1:11:02 right what's the review process yes
1:11:05 it could we automatically be slated in
1:11:08 it yes that's a great question so I can
1:11:11 go back to the administration and ask
1:11:13 and see who might be a great
1:11:17 staff person to come and present and
1:11:19 educate us on that and then once you
1:11:21 understand what the current process is
1:11:23 then you can help inform where you can
1:11:26 I'm also they could they could make a
1:11:28 recommendation you know it would be good
1:11:30 if they put that into it
1:11:33 that's great
1:11:37 yeah I'm just thinking like this is some
1:11:39 of that
1:11:40 the hidden system or like the way things
1:11:43 are that no one ever thinks about or
1:11:45 revisits and so how do we
1:11:49 make those things bubbles so they're
1:11:51 visible and can be examined some yeah
1:11:54 that would be yeah
1:11:56 cool it's a great question I'm gonna do
1:11:58 my homework I know that from my
1:12:00 perspective I think like it's I think
1:12:01 it's in each department okay we need a
1:12:05 policy on this or we go to city council
1:12:07 for a policy but you're right I'm not
1:12:08 sure exactly like
1:12:10 what's the is there a streamline process
1:12:13 for everything for every single policy
1:12:15 and is it consistent is it the same
1:12:19 yeah we know that city council announced
1:12:21 policy they are the policy makers and
1:12:24 media City Administration we go and
1:12:25 propose draft policies but how and where
1:12:30 it starts
1:12:31 and if it's the same for every
1:12:33 department and every section and sector
1:12:35 that we touch I'm not sure
1:12:39 it's a great question
1:12:42 um any comments or questions from both
1:12:44 cine go to meeting
1:12:52 I see Christina shaking her hand okay no
1:12:57 um I think are we ready to move on to
1:12:59 the next agenda topic which is the staff
1:13:01 report yes
1:13:05 thank you so first half report I just
1:13:09 um we already actually talked I wanted
1:13:11 to talk to you about the joint meeting
1:13:12 in March
1:13:14 um and
1:13:17 um just a quick reminder and you have
1:13:21 heard from me already this time but just
1:13:23 one quick reminder about the board terms
1:13:27 expiring at the end of April so all the
1:13:32 um the terms expiring they expire at the
1:13:35 end of April new terms begin in May so
1:13:39 if you're one of the members that your
1:13:41 your term expires and if you didn't have
1:13:43 a chance get to resubmit your
1:13:45 application and you're interested in in
1:13:47 continuing on the board please do so
1:13:50 um also if you are a board member who
1:13:52 may not find themselves able to continue
1:13:55 next year please do let me know
1:13:58 um and so that's the second reminder
1:14:01 that I had in the third and last is just
1:14:03 a brief update uh as human services
1:14:06 staff we recently went to uh the city
1:14:09 council committee uh for services safety
1:14:12 and parks to request additional uh
1:14:14 rental assistance funds a one-time
1:14:17 allocation for those who are still
1:14:21 um uh have
1:14:24 impacts from the post pandemic
1:14:28 we learned from the community that we
1:14:31 still have quite a few
1:14:32 residents who are behind in rent
1:14:35 especially those who have been on
1:14:37 payment plans not only they had the
1:14:40 regular rents that they needed to pay
1:14:41 but they had the extra and some they
1:14:44 still struggle with that and then some
1:14:46 of our non-profits
1:14:48 um have not some all of them actually
1:14:51 have seen a decrease significant
1:14:53 decrease in donations that they receive
1:14:55 from private entities typically so with
1:15:00 all of that needs we we want
1:15:02 um with a proposal to request additional
1:15:04 funds for those impacted especially low
1:15:08 income residents and we will go back to
1:15:12 the larger city council
1:15:14 for approval on March 20th Monica how
1:15:19 has the low do you collect data on uh
1:15:23 what what how how many low-income
1:15:26 families and how is that number changed
1:15:29 over the past four years uh on how a
1:15:32 number of low-income families change we
1:15:35 don't have necessarily that a granule
1:15:37 level data yet usually we just use
1:15:40 census level data for the number where
1:15:43 we have some numbers is we um are in
1:15:47 contact
1:15:48 UM on an ongoing basis with landlords
1:15:50 and the different multi-family sold a
1:15:54 rental complexes and they give us data
1:15:57 on how many total units they have and
1:16:00 from the total units how many of those
1:16:01 are still behind in rent and how many
1:16:04 are low income so for example we learned
1:16:09 um the largest one of the largest
1:16:10 low-income multi-family unit up in the
1:16:13 highlands the YWCA Family Village 42 of
1:16:18 their units are still behind in rent so
1:16:20 that's how we learn 100 42 percent of
1:16:24 the units are still behind in rent and
1:16:26 the average
1:16:27 a number of friends that they are behind
1:16:29 it's about five
1:16:31 so that's how we learned but we don't
1:16:34 like at the population level from the 40
1:16:38 000 so how do we get that kind of data
1:16:40 because you're saying that donations are
1:16:43 low but this funding needed but how do
1:16:46 we find out
1:16:47 is the need has a need
1:16:51 low income need increased yes yes post
1:16:54 pandemic how do we get that data to show
1:16:58 I just want to know another great
1:17:00 question yes thank you for that another
1:17:01 great question so we we know that from
1:17:04 our nonprofit Partners who who provide
1:17:07 emergency financial assistance so they
1:17:09 provide this data we contract with them
1:17:11 we give them grants and they
1:17:14 provide reports for us on how many
1:17:17 number how many people they serve each
1:17:19 quarter and each month and how much room
1:17:23 how many more people are requesting help
1:17:26 from them
1:17:27 compare
1:17:30 like from 2018-19 versus
1:17:34 I mean we really can still come compared
1:17:37 to last year we're just
1:17:40 another great one so then we did so
1:17:43 they've seen an increase during the
1:17:45 pandemic and then the pandemic years and
1:17:47 then now out they don't see at the
1:17:49 decrease actually it continues to
1:17:51 increase
1:17:53 so so before the pandemic it was already
1:17:55 on the rise it didn't grow substantially
1:17:58 most likely so let's say if we have the
1:18:00 pre-pandemic years as the Baseline there
1:18:02 was always a need right but perhaps
1:18:04 there was a baseline then it increased
1:18:06 during the pandemic and now at post
1:18:08 pandemic it's not decreasing it
1:18:11 continues to increase
1:18:13 so for example the most recent data and
1:18:15 I think actually I have it here from my
1:18:17 Council presentation but Saint Vincent
1:18:20 Nepal one of the two non-profits here
1:18:22 locally uh just in the first in the in
1:18:25 the last of two weeks in February
1:18:29 um the the need that they saw it was
1:18:33 equivalent to the past six months that
1:18:35 they have
1:18:36 so um
1:18:38 just growing needs which I think also we
1:18:42 we presented some more information to
1:18:43 city council but it seems like it's a
1:18:45 combination of inflation that is just
1:18:48 now starting to again as people
1:18:51 initially had less buying power then
1:18:54 inflation caused rents to increase and
1:18:56 so the now people are just staying more
1:18:59 and more behind because they had already
1:19:01 the payment plans that inflation then
1:19:04 raises so they just can't keep up
1:19:10 um Ray I know you had your hand up a
1:19:13 moment ago did you still have a question
1:19:15 or comment
1:19:16 I want to minimize that conversation
1:19:18 conversation so
1:19:19 um if the other question is more
1:19:22 appropriate I had a question about our
1:19:24 terms and membership so
1:19:27 if it's okay to ask that I can but I
1:19:29 wanted
1:19:30 to have a question to come up first you
1:19:33 know okay
1:19:35 um well let's put a pause for I have
1:19:38 your question for a second to see if
1:19:39 Elisa had a wanted to continue on where
1:19:42 we're going sure just a quick question
1:19:44 about the statistics so Monica you said
1:19:48 42 of the YMCA and Highlands are behind
1:19:51 in rent and I think what you said is
1:19:53 that the average delinquency is five
1:19:55 months is that correct
1:19:58 yes that's what we are told and so we
1:20:01 know that number as of today do we and
1:20:03 it kind of goes back kind of um
1:20:05 dovetails with the questions that were
1:20:06 being asked in the room is do we have
1:20:09 those numbers from the same Source over
1:20:13 okay because what I heard you talking
1:20:16 about were the non-profits and how
1:20:18 they're having more people come to them
1:20:20 but it wasn't really clear if we're
1:20:22 tracking those percentages from the
1:20:25 landlords over time
1:20:27 yes so we do have thank you Alyssa for
1:20:30 that question so we do have the
1:20:31 information from the non-profits who
1:20:33 provide
1:20:34 um rental assistance and emergency
1:20:36 financial assistance for the past
1:20:38 several years
1:20:39 um and then from the landlords directly
1:20:43 we started
1:20:45 um reaching out to them every six months
1:20:47 or so during the pandemic so it's it's
1:20:50 not as long as going back to 2018 but we
1:20:54 have that from landlords for the just
1:20:56 the past couple of years
1:21:00 thank you for that question
1:21:04 how do you share this data with
1:21:07 with non-profits for the school district
1:21:11 is that something that we share
1:21:13 we don't share it with
1:21:15 um the school district we have it
1:21:19 so we have the data available from the
1:21:21 nonprofits
1:21:23 but we don't share it with the school
1:21:24 district
1:21:26 we certainly can if it's helpful
1:21:33 this is where we miss we need a local
1:21:36 paper right this is a story that's not
1:21:39 being told but that's what I'm thinking
1:21:42 because it feels like I wish I had known
1:21:44 I think I'm struggling in
1:21:47 and this is cross work now
1:21:50 and so
1:21:52 it's something that we need to talk
1:21:54 about as a community
1:21:55 and that would help have a better
1:21:58 understanding of what our need is and we
1:22:01 talked about Equity we're Equity board
1:22:03 but this information is lacking in the
1:22:05 general Community as to what's going on
1:22:07 because
1:22:09 there's this general idea that Issaquah
1:22:11 is very affluent community and we need
1:22:14 to retell the story that is changing and
1:22:18 we can't hide from that there's I think
1:22:21 some shame
1:22:22 associated with that that it's changing
1:22:25 but it shouldn't be because that really
1:22:27 is part of growth because if numbers are
1:22:30 going down in like
1:22:33 an enrollment part of it is because cost
1:22:36 of living is so much higher than people
1:22:38 can afford to move in but in between
1:22:40 there there's a fact that people can
1:22:42 afford their rents and in some areas
1:22:45 like is there a connection between all
1:22:47 of that and so there's definitely a
1:22:49 story and I didn't think about the lack
1:22:51 of newspaper but yeah then who tells the
1:22:53 story so that
1:22:55 I think that's one of the things we've
1:22:57 also talked about as a job in equity is
1:23:00 having these conversations
1:23:03 to help people understand what's going
1:23:06 on so that when decisions are made
1:23:08 there's an understanding and not a bias
1:23:11 and perspective perspective
1:23:14 thank you and I think even that's how I
1:23:16 think and I wish you were there like the
1:23:18 the meaning The Joint meaning with the
1:23:20 Human Services Commission I think we
1:23:21 would focus all on like just informing
1:23:24 you and all the other things and
1:23:26 everything else that we are doing in
1:23:27 human services and sometimes as a staff
1:23:30 who is uh liaison to both boards the
1:23:34 Human Services Commission and the equity
1:23:36 board I feel like sometimes there's on
1:23:38 your end there's missing information
1:23:40 that you have that it's to me sometimes
1:23:42 it would be so valuable to
1:23:45 to to be more connected
1:23:48 um because in human services that's all
1:23:50 we do we do work with with folks who are
1:23:55 uh you know low income
1:23:58 unhoused and yes sometimes it's
1:24:01 surprising and it's hard like we have
1:24:03 data saying okay 7.8 percent of the
1:24:06 population is is a politics in poverty
1:24:08 and I say that it's a pretty high number
1:24:12 to me and then when you bring it down to
1:24:14 actually numbers of people those are
1:24:18 quite a few thousands of people who who
1:24:21 live in poverty in our community
1:24:24 um so anyway I'm gonna talk about
1:24:26 another question at least I have their
1:24:28 hands up yeah I think Elisa had her hand
1:24:31 up first very very quickly I just wanted
1:24:33 to say in addition to the report was
1:24:35 brought up about how do we communicate
1:24:37 that to the community that and how and
1:24:41 also communicate how does the community
1:24:45 so I hear those numbers but then I don't
1:24:48 personally know where to go what to do
1:24:51 in order to to help with that problem so
1:24:55 I think it's communicating in both the
1:24:57 problem and also suggestions for ways
1:25:00 that we can help
1:25:03 so that comment and lucrecia
1:25:09 um I would like to know if Monica if
1:25:12 there is a way where
1:25:15 um when issues do come up that you feel
1:25:19 um need more of a across uh
1:25:23 uh committees commission board
1:25:30 participation
1:25:31 if there's a form some some way that we
1:25:34 can formalize so that when you identify
1:25:37 that or anyone else identifies that that
1:25:40 there that communication starts to
1:25:42 happen between
1:25:44 the the board and the commissions right
1:25:47 because we we I mean obviously we can't
1:25:51 attend every commission or other board
1:25:54 meetings but it would be nice
1:25:57 um like you were identifying when you
1:26:00 see something or hear something is it
1:26:03 possible for you to let us know
1:26:06 well thank you look crazy and I think
1:26:09 that's why I like proposing the joint
1:26:11 meeting was for me like a first step and
1:26:14 almost like laying the foundation and
1:26:17 really just even just trying to hear
1:26:19 from both boards to see if there's
1:26:21 interest in continuing that
1:26:23 collaboration and partnership and we'll
1:26:25 see how that grows organically and we
1:26:29 can certainly I think there will be like
1:26:31 times that we can predict there are
1:26:33 sometimes things that come up very fast
1:26:36 and it's harder to predict them plan but
1:26:40 perhaps we could just have
1:26:42 some regular joint meetings maybe once a
1:26:46 quarter
1:26:47 to begin with OR
1:26:49 something like that but I I would I
1:26:51 would love that and I do see that
1:26:52 valuable I did find myself quite a few
1:26:55 times when I went to victim and Services
1:26:57 Commission with one thing and I thought
1:26:59 oh it would be great for the equity
1:27:01 board or you know the other way around
1:27:03 but especially yes since we have a Human
1:27:06 Services Commission we try to keep Human
1:27:08 Services specific items for them but I
1:27:12 think it would be valuable
1:27:13 to have
1:27:15 you there as well
1:27:19 so great great input and suggestions
1:27:23 yeah I'm still I'm reflecting on your
1:27:26 comment around you know does the school
1:27:27 district know this data because
1:27:30 when we know there's like Financial
1:27:32 insecurity and stressors like with money
1:27:36 that contributes to like abuse and other
1:27:41 behaviors in the household which impacts
1:27:43 students uh partners and things like
1:27:46 that and so it just has all these
1:27:48 spillover consequences and
1:27:51 by having
1:27:53 siled boards and commissions we don't
1:27:56 necessarily think across those things
1:27:58 very well or we're not designed to
1:28:00 address those things more across those
1:28:03 lines
1:28:04 and thank you for that and both of you
1:28:08 at a granular level I can tell you again
1:28:10 in human services as we have now a
1:28:12 behavioral health and homeless Outreach
1:28:14 and Community Court program we do see
1:28:17 often individual at a very confidential
1:28:21 or very granular level we see families
1:28:24 for in the school district that either
1:28:25 they they just like you said now they
1:28:29 are involved with the with the law
1:28:30 because there was a domestic violence
1:28:32 situation that was just increased
1:28:35 because of often just lack of money and
1:28:38 we see that full circle coming up we
1:28:42 work directly with
1:28:43 um with unhoused families uh in the
1:28:46 Strip District
1:28:51 we it's is there any collaboration is
1:28:55 there any monthly or quarterly meeting
1:28:59 with agencies like we're talking about
1:29:02 in the city of Israel so the school
1:29:05 district does meet with human services
1:29:07 every three months but not on the level
1:29:09 of sharing names
1:29:13 and so I don't know
1:29:16 I know recently there is we did not have
1:29:20 yet a first meeting
1:29:23 but there is some first meeting
1:29:25 scheduled between
1:29:27 some of the city staff and some of the
1:29:30 school districts have from the middle
1:29:32 school and high school I don't think
1:29:34 that we are there yet as far as me
1:29:38 sharing names right but then just trying
1:29:41 to address some common thread
1:29:44 trends that we have seen we'll see where
1:29:47 that's gonna go but I think that's also
1:29:49 the challenges in the school district
1:29:51 can match your names into confidential
1:29:52 there are certain things that you cannot
1:29:54 but then we should be able to find ways
1:29:56 to work with one another because it
1:29:58 feels like both sides are seeing issues
1:30:01 and they're like
1:30:02 and so how do we get to that happy maybe
1:30:04 more we're sharing and coordinating and
1:30:08 coordinating support strategies
1:30:11 because it's not about blaming it's just
1:30:14 about both sides are trying to find ways
1:30:16 to find Solutions but we're not
1:30:19 connecting
1:30:22 so I was thinking like a hire where
1:30:25 you're sharing that overall data right
1:30:27 like you were sharing you know so that
1:30:29 that it it spreads more through Issaquah
1:30:32 through people who care about that right
1:30:35 so for example and maybe I'm using it
1:30:37 I'm not going to use the right name but
1:30:39 Bellevue has a coalition on itself like
1:30:43 name of groups that are working towards
1:30:46 equity and better education in
1:30:49 value and it has a massive amount of
1:30:53 groups that have been active I don't
1:30:55 know if it's still active or not I used
1:30:57 to be a part of it with the job
1:31:01 do it do you know if that is effective
1:31:05 in communicating out information are you
1:31:08 aware of this because I I'm a little out
1:31:11 of date four years out of date and so
1:31:14 but if if that's what it means
1:31:17 that's not impossible to do yeah and
1:31:20 there are local there are local groups
1:31:22 we do meet with uh organizations on a
1:31:25 regular basis the so-called nourishing
1:31:27 our sport okay but it's not in the same
1:31:29 level as the value organization you're
1:31:31 talking about because about the
1:31:32 organization included Bellevue School
1:31:34 Foundation yes the city included a lot
1:31:37 more so the nourishing network is the
1:31:39 food bank a whole bunch of Faith
1:31:41 organizations and different
1:31:44 um support service organization but it's
1:31:47 at a different level than what Bell do
1:31:49 you have because I tell you one of the
1:31:50 well-view meetings
1:31:52 and yeah and I know that during the
1:31:56 pandemic we had quite a few
1:31:57 collaborative meetings uh that were
1:32:00 focused on paid food and those were very
1:32:02 very effective and powerful and we did
1:32:05 say that we wanted to continue those and
1:32:07 just even just having one focused on
1:32:09 Behavioral Health and food and other
1:32:11 items we just did not have the Staffing
1:32:13 but I think that is an opportunity for
1:32:16 the future hopefully now being fully
1:32:19 staffed to to convene as that can be a
1:32:23 role for us as a city we can convene
1:32:25 those
1:32:26 um and and
1:32:28 be more active in coordinating and
1:32:30 collaborating trying to share that data
1:32:38 Christina
1:33:02 um progresa
1:33:08 okay so
1:33:12 um as far as databases I've had a lot of
1:33:16 experienced
1:33:17 um coordinating databases and the
1:33:21 important point is what Baseline you're
1:33:24 using to determine for example if we're
1:33:26 talking about poverty level what exactly
1:33:29 are we talking about when we're talking
1:33:31 about families in poverty Adelante
1:33:54 because it may be the one Foundation is
1:33:57 analyzing three points for determining a
1:34:00 poverty level where another Foundation
1:34:02 is analyzing four points or five points
1:34:05 so what is the common ground uh for
1:34:08 determining poverty for example and
1:34:11 Adelante
1:34:14 El punto is
1:34:18 [Music]
1:34:26 so my point is
1:34:28 um if we as far as the data that we're
1:34:32 focusing on if we don't have the data
1:34:35 clearly in mind there's never going to
1:34:37 be progress made I mean it's it's a sad
1:34:39 reality but it's the reality
1:34:44 Negro
1:34:47 you know we're just we're just trying to
1:34:50 get through Darkness Blackness we can't
1:34:52 see where we're going if we don't know
1:34:53 what we're talking about in common
1:34:57 gracias Christina thank you so much for
1:35:00 that and actually your comments and
1:35:02 suggestion
1:35:04 um gave me some great ideas for how to
1:35:09 um help inform some of the information
1:35:11 that we'll be presenting at the Joint
1:35:13 meeting
1:35:15 um uh because yes we do gather the same
1:35:18 set of data from all our non-profit
1:35:20 organizations but would love that
1:35:22 opportunity to like inform you a little
1:35:24 bit more on what kind of contract and
1:35:26 what are the the pros in in some of the
1:35:29 data that we gather and then also what
1:35:31 are some of the cons and frustrations
1:35:33 that I personally have uh so a point
1:35:37 well made and you're absolutely right
1:35:39 you need to have consistent data
1:35:40 throughout to be able to
1:35:43 to make sure that we
1:35:45 compare apples to apples and not apples
1:35:49 apples oranges for sure so thank you for
1:35:53 well said
1:35:57 okay to any other comments I would like
1:36:01 to say something
1:36:04 I was
1:36:07 maybe it can go with you some days
1:36:11 when my child's around the school maybe
1:36:13 I can go with you I don't know if it is
1:36:15 okay but just I'm busy on March but I'll
1:36:18 be free in April so I am I am open to go
1:36:27 I'll be there
1:36:30 thank you Christina so you're not going
1:36:32 to be able to make the March 15 meeting
1:36:34 right that's what you're saying
1:36:38 right okay yes I see you I think okay
1:36:44 I wanted to ask Lorna for clarification
1:36:47 with regards to the to being able to
1:36:50 identify our families who who may be
1:36:53 struggling financially and I want to
1:36:56 know if the free reduced program data uh
1:37:01 free reduced food program data is that
1:37:04 not something that could be used to
1:37:06 identify the families internally no
1:37:08 that's exactly what we use but it hasn't
1:37:10 changed and so that's something that's
1:37:12 been confusing me
1:37:14 because I'm having I personally am
1:37:17 having a disconnect because I thought
1:37:20 the numbers would have increased or have
1:37:22 been increasing in the past couple years
1:37:25 but the free and reduced data since 2018
1:37:28 has stayed flat and so that's what I'm
1:37:32 very confused about and I'm trying to
1:37:34 find out
1:37:36 how that compares with the city and like
1:37:39 what am I missing because I feel like
1:37:41 I'm missing some oh I feel like
1:37:44 not me I mean I feel like something's
1:37:47 wrong but I don't know what it is
1:37:48 because what my feeling is based on who
1:37:51 I'm working with is not matching the
1:37:54 data and so I don't know why right now
1:37:57 that you point that out it is alarming
1:38:00 I'm glad I asked the question
1:38:03 um because it does beg to to ask
1:38:07 um the only thing that I can think of is
1:38:11 where people may
1:38:13 have difficulty paying their rent they
1:38:16 may still not qualify because like if if
1:38:19 we're being really honest
1:38:21 some of these poverty guidelines they're
1:38:24 based on on poverty levels of the 70s
1:38:26 right and so even if you're struggling
1:38:29 financially in today's world if we're
1:38:32 using you know uh criteria where people
1:38:36 are not being caught then then that
1:38:39 probably explains why right meaning like
1:38:41 you can't pay rent but you don't qualify
1:38:44 for free and reduced lunch and that goes
1:38:46 to Christina's point right like what
1:38:48 points are they using for the criteria
1:38:50 so being poor in Issaquah is or has
1:38:54 struggling financially in Issaquah is
1:38:56 maybe different than struggling
1:38:57 financially in let's say federalia
1:38:59 Auburn whether price or rent prices are
1:39:04 different so is that a factor like what
1:39:08 are some of the factors where I hear
1:39:12 about so many families struggling or
1:39:14 feel like I'm seeing more in the past
1:39:16 few years but the data is not showing
1:39:19 them so are we not breaking what where
1:39:22 is it where's the discrepancy is my
1:39:24 question right thank you
1:39:31 a question
1:39:33 um the free and reduced data we're
1:39:34 talking about is
1:39:36 um oh so question I guess I have not had
1:39:39 a child go through the Washington state
1:39:42 public schools so I'm not 100 sure how
1:39:45 they're free and reduced lunch data gets
1:39:47 collected in
1:39:50 um New Jersey where my child wins the
1:39:54 paperwork was optional for parents to
1:39:57 fill out and oftentimes didn't get
1:40:00 filled out
1:40:02 um either because they were complex or
1:40:04 because people didn't think that they
1:40:06 would qualify or maybe think that it was
1:40:08 worth it so I'm curious whether the data
1:40:11 is collected in a similar way whether
1:40:13 it's optional for parents to fill that
1:40:15 information out
1:40:17 and on
1:40:22 top because it was free for two years I
1:40:25 don't know if everyone filled it out
1:40:27 this year and if that's the case so it's
1:40:31 that's what I'm suspecting but I have no
1:40:34 data because there's no data for two
1:40:36 years and then this year
1:40:39 it's showing no change
1:40:43 and then to adding to what Elisa was
1:40:45 saying I was wondering if the stigma
1:40:48 might be also higher especially in a
1:40:50 school setting
1:40:52 um where kids
1:40:54 are so affluent are so affluent if very
1:40:58 right
1:40:59 um and also what Lisa said Is in talking
1:41:01 to people families they didn't know that
1:41:04 they should even apply they didn't know
1:41:06 that they could qualify so there's a lot
1:41:09 of unknown so I don't know I don't know
1:41:14 could I mean I can't go out to the
1:41:15 person and say hey I don't know you
1:41:19 might qualify can you please fill this
1:41:20 out like yeah yeah and yes as all of you
1:41:24 had said I think in a family who's
1:41:26 struggling I think they probably might
1:41:29 be more likely to
1:41:32 reach out for rental assistance or for
1:41:35 other ways before reaching out to the
1:41:37 school for assistance or realizing
1:41:41 because at some point
1:41:45 great conversation from Members thank
1:41:48 you for all of those
1:41:50 comments
1:41:52 so I know we're uh near the end of our
1:41:56 meeting we've got other business and
1:41:58 announcements yeah and I'm not seeing
1:42:01 anything from Monica does anyone else
1:42:02 have um other things to bring up
1:42:07 I had that question about the membership
1:42:09 because that was one of the ones that
1:42:10 Monica brought up earlier so I'm looking
1:42:13 at the um the roster
1:42:15 um and we lost uh Megan and we don't
1:42:18 have Jacob anymore as as junior members
1:42:21 I think I vote before has there been
1:42:23 attempts to get that because I think
1:42:24 it's really important to have that lens
1:42:26 in our committee the youth the youth
1:42:28 lens and um
1:42:31 Lorna I thought that at some point there
1:42:33 was a relationship that you might have
1:42:35 had with the school that we can make
1:42:36 this position visible maybe get interest
1:42:38 from there if not I was gonna maybe ask
1:42:42 my daughter yeah
1:42:45 and I think there are a couple groups so
1:42:47 there's like an equity board group and
1:42:52 um and then there was some reasons why
1:42:54 we hadn't approached them but there's
1:42:57 also the Issaquah High School Care Group
1:42:59 that I can approach but I'm wondering
1:43:01 actually
1:43:02 in listening and hearing about the
1:43:06 garage have we asked Kenny in the garage
1:43:10 to share that information with the
1:43:13 students in the garage it's a great
1:43:15 thought we didn't share with the garage
1:43:16 other than just sharing broadly but that
1:43:19 is something that definitely I can
1:43:21 follow up with other kids because I
1:43:24 think the garage would be one place
1:43:26 because
1:43:28 um yeah they've been the students have
1:43:31 been very active and leaders in some of
1:43:34 their work and so I think the garage
1:43:36 should be a great place and the Esquire
1:43:39 High School could also be and I can
1:43:41 reach out to them and ask yeah as a
1:43:43 parent you know I get announcements from
1:43:45 them all the time if there's a way that
1:43:47 they can incorporate the the there's a
1:43:49 there's this position that's open for
1:43:50 those who have interest in this area
1:43:51 with Equity
1:43:53 um maybe reach out to you or Monica and
1:43:56 and go from there to to spreading the
1:44:00 message broaden the message yeah
1:44:06 oh I just wanted to jump in and say that
1:44:08 I would like to also ask that we do a
1:44:11 consorted effort to reach out to the
1:44:13 students who participate in the running
1:44:15 Start program
1:44:18 um because
1:44:20 students who are already kind of like
1:44:23 seeking something different are
1:44:25 self-motivated in my mind and might be
1:44:28 interested in something like what we're
1:44:29 offering
1:44:31 mm-hmm
1:44:33 thank you lucrecia Monica if you have
1:44:36 some kind of blurb or something written
1:44:39 you know share with me I can send it to
1:44:41 it's about high school
1:44:44 Care Organization
1:44:47 thank you I'll follow up with you with
1:44:49 an email right now
1:44:51 thank you
1:44:53 okay so testing thank you so a follow-up
1:44:55 question I I was thinking the
1:44:58 applications closed uh February 28th so
1:45:01 do you felt snow that they're still able
1:45:03 to apply me on that date yes we can
1:45:05 search on the AI checked in with the
1:45:07 chief of staff oh we can certainly and
1:45:08 that's why I wanted to Circle back with
1:45:10 the chief of staff who was coordinating
1:45:12 all the recruitments to see how many
1:45:14 applications we had for youth members
1:45:16 and if we did not have enough
1:45:17 applications then we can certainly uh
1:45:20 request and that that goes just also for
1:45:23 regular board members but especially
1:45:25 with youth if we didn't have applicants
1:45:27 or we didn't have enough applicants then
1:45:29 we can there's that flexibility
1:45:32 so okay again we have between now and
1:45:34 the end mid-mar well that's already
1:45:38 mid-march oh I want to say April when
1:45:40 they go to city council
1:45:42 um to continue recruitment okay
1:45:46 great and then any anything else for the
1:45:50 good of the order
1:45:56 okay so I guess this is when we adjourn
1:46:00 yeah I don't know
1:46:01 I raised my hand at the last minute oh
1:46:05 sorry yeah I just wanted to to thank you
1:46:08 and commend you for a great job
1:46:10 um meeting our meeting tonight thank you
1:46:12 for that
1:46:16 okay and with that thank you lucrecia
1:46:25 the meeting at 7 50. thank you all and
1:46:28 have a great evening thank you thank you
1:46:31 all thank you good evening everybody
1:46:33 remembers
1:46:36 thank you so much everybody