CC_Minutes_2023_0522 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Regular City Council Meeting Monday,May 22, 2023 Page 5 HRIEC Commissioners present were: Chair Palmquist, Vice-Chair James and Commissioners Becker, Tidball, Hill, Gurung Vomhof and Macomber Chair Palmquist introduced the HRIEC Commissioners and presented the work the Commission did in 2022 along with the work plan for 2023. Commissioner Becker updated the City Council on the 2022 Rosefest Parade and invited the American Indian Community to walk with the Commissions. She indicated this year she reached out to the Karen Organization and was not able to connect. She indicated she is still trying to reach out to organizations but will not have another group walking with them. Chair Palmquist indicated the work continues with the proclamation updates as well as with the display cases. She noted there are two volunteers now to help with display cases. Community Outreach continues to be done in the community and in the schools. Chair Palmquist indicated 2023 work has started and the Commission is trying to rebrand itself with the motto Affirm, Amplify and Celebrate. Vice-Chair James updated the City Council on the 2023 work being done on the Essay Contest. He proposed to the City Council that the HRIEC maintain the Essay subgroup and would like to investigate with teachers, students, principals, what is going to work so it is worth the Commission's time to do this. He would like the subgroup to investigate this further and come back to the Council in 2024 to discuss what might work and move forward. He noted the Commission does not want to abandon the whole idea because it is an important way to engage middle school students. Mayor Roe thought that was talked about at the last joint meeting with the HRIEC and it made a lot of sense. He noted this gives the Commission experience in designing engagement effort and then actually going through it. This will help the Commission to identify stakeholders, work with them, and be a good educational experience for all involved on what works and what does not work. He thought that was a great idea and was supportive. Councilmember Etten explained that in living in the world of working with young people and watching people not apply to be student members of Commissions and speaking with the Police Chief about people being involved in new things and not, he thought this is a tough time right now to ask people for more and that is part of what the Commission has run into. He also thought this was a fantastic idea to stop, pause, and engage the folks who might be involved in this in the future. He noted the subgroup might consider approaching a school or a couple of teachers in a single