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Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday, March 11,2024 <br /> Page 9 <br /> Councilmember Etten reviewed the proposed changes the subcommittee drafted for <br /> the Human Rights, Inclusion, and Engagement Commission (HRIEC). <br /> Ms. Olson indicated she has had some conversations with some past and current <br /> Commission members as well as talking with Culture Brokers briefly on this topic. <br /> Some of the feedback she has heard is there is a distinct disconnect between what <br /> the expectation is of joining the Commission and what the reality is. She has heard <br /> a lot of different viewpoints on various things but for the most part, she thought <br /> clear direction is most important. The Council has had conversations regarding the <br /> concept of human rights, whether that is something that should stay in the title. <br /> With Commission members and people she has spoken to, there was some <br /> confusion on that piece, because it is not a Commission that reports or does <br /> investigations. <br /> Ms. Olson explained when speaking with Culture Brokers,who helped the City get <br /> the strategic racial equity action plan up and running, they felt a good role for that <br /> would be helping the City maintain accountability and progress on the racial equity <br /> action plan. Some specific tasks are outlined in that. Culture Brokers also talked <br /> about aligning it with the governance of making sure the group is keeping diverse <br /> voices as a part of those decisions. There has also been discussion about the role of <br /> the Commission being a conduit for somebody who can connect them to different <br /> services. That is something staff has heard as well. <br /> Ms. Olson stated, as mentioned, the main theme of what she has heard is there has <br /> to be understanding and clear direction around the purpose of the group that is doing <br /> the work and to make sure that it is communicated clearly. She indicated that is the <br /> feedback she has heard so far. <br /> Councilmember Etten explained he had the opportunity to speak with several <br /> current members and a couple of past members and other diverse leaders in the city. <br /> Thinking about what their feedback was, he thought it absolutely echoed this and <br /> one of the biggest things is having that clear focus and what is important for the <br /> City. He noted he included that in his report. What he kept hearing was what is the <br /> City doing to keep moving forward with equity and inclusion and for him to start <br /> thinking about this, it was based on the feedback from Culture Brokers. <br /> Councilmember Etten noted that without an Equity and Inclusion Manager right <br /> now, the Council is not getting the updates and reviewing what the City wants to <br /> do in the next year or two and who would help usher that through. Thinking about <br /> that is a very specific target for the future and is critical for what the City is doing <br /> and for the interests of diverse members of the community. <br /> Mayor Roe thanked staff for the bench handout which included the existing Code <br /> as it stands right now for the HRIEC, as well as the language that was proposed by <br />