 I do brief introductions. Name, Ward, Vicki Garrison, Ward 7. Your last name is? Mary Ann Ward, Ward 7. Mary Ann Ward, Ward 7. I think Prenski and Ward 4. Sarah Diaz, Ward 7. Ward 7 as well. Thank you. I'm just coming back together to look at the revisions that we talked about last meeting and updated to share ideas and perspectives. And I want to say, if I can just, I thought you did a noble schedule. The other meeting in between the 1st 1, and this 1. Presidents meeting and all of the other or President's holiday, I should say. Is that what it? Yeah, yeah, I thought you really, that was a no. Yes, so thank you for all your help with. Yeah, try I don't want to be in charge of scheduling meetings anymore after. Well, I could try I understand. Yeah, but it was challenging. Yeah, so. And maybe so this, I guess this would fit into any other additional items. We'll kind of go there. Maybe we could why we're at. Maybe find a couple of times that might work before we leave. Yeah, if we could get them to be. Thank you so many times before we leave and then see if. Has that availability didn't tell me her work schedule, which I was not aware of before that that. Schedule now, I know so do we have people actually online? Not as. Okay, and if they learn, we'll be able to see them and they'll be coming out of the speakers. And so we're fully recording right now. Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for your effort. I'd like to ask how you would like. What would be most helpful would it be helpful if we read through it together? Any questions emerge? Because it sounds like some folks. Yeah, I think so. And maybe we start with. You know, your, your take 7. The 1. I mentioned in my email was when we had talked with the. NPA about taking this on was that we would track changes so. Yeah, but since this is such a wholesale really revision, it really is. Hard, it's messy. Yeah. So this is 1 of the things we were finding it that we had to extract that messiness and try to clean it up so that we could have something. That wasn't so into disrupted today. Right. I do want to say for the record that. What's on this take 7 our diamonds issue. Um, so neighborhood planning assemblies and PAs are diverse and inclusive. Neighborhood organizations established to represent each of Burlington's 8 wards. In order to participate in city city government. Working as neighborhood advocacy groups. To improve communication between the residents of Burlington and city government for regular meeting. Ward 4 and ward 7 and PAs meet together as a single group, but retain the right to meet separate issues pertaining solely to their ward as members being necessary. And appropriate guiding principles as organizations. Wards for value diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging and adhere to the following. We recognize diversity as both the strength and opportunity. All met by a diverse spectrum of community members through active outreach and by eliminating bear. We operate by democratic principles. Do not engage in partisan politics when conducting business related to the assembly. Safe and welcoming forum where residents can share their voices about issues that matter to them. We operate in a manner that models respectful, inclusive and culturally practices. We acknowledge the barriers to accessing, excuse me, Sink decision making and work to include those who have been previously excluded from non roles and processes. And we strive to create a fun creative environment that provides value to the diverse perspective shared. Just a quick question. In the second line of the next to last part. Excluded from non decision making roles. Okay, I heard you. I thought I heard him. Great. I know this kind of dry. I think we can switch out. That's what I'd like you to do. Right. You might get tired. So no, I actually switch out. And so at this point, I'd like to ask if there's. Any thoughts about any of this that come up for folks. No, I think that's all good. I'm just positive. I think just like a good flushing out of all the kind of ask. What the, what the NPA is what we. All to be right. Right. That's a full and complete model of what we'd. Yeah. I would. The one I'm thinking. I'm thinking. We recognize diversity as both. A strength and an opportunity. Is great. And I wonder about. You know, when we speak of diversity. I think we should be also be including diversity of thought. Because. Honest with you. Versity of thought. Because. You know, I don't know what the NPA is like anymore. But. I wonder if there is diversity of thought. I mean, there's been some indications to me that. That might not be so. I'm not really sure. But I don't know. I don't know what. I don't know. Give us an example of what diversity of thought might entail. Well, we're not given the politics. No, we're not getting into politics. And, and, you know, in the. You know, that free of politics, partisan politics. Is, is there even diversity. On the committees. Of thought. I think diversity of thought is a part of diversity. We're all human beings. We don't even. Dear committee. I didn't. We haven't had the opportunity. To get to know each other. We started with seven members. Then there were nine. And now there's. Soon to be 11 or 12. And. I think diversity of thought is a part of diversity. We're all human beings. We don't even. Dear committee. I didn't. In here but they're doing it differently. I mean, I don't think that we're doing it too soon to be a 11 or 12. And we, we've never. We're on an ongoing basis. There. I did hear. You know, I'll say I watch this on. But I did hear someone in one meeting say that. She thought. We're not inclusive. Why that. boring. I don't know what word she is. Did you do eco? I mean, that was like, you know, before the new steering committee took over, I think. Year, you know, the first meeting that I was at recently was in November. And that's like a in a row and people didn't necessarily introduce themselves as a steering committee. We were working on. Taking those notes and. You know, diversity in all of these different ways. You know, I don't want to call you out, Vicki, but on the steering committee suggested that everybody. At our meeting and so last week, you know, everybody had a chance to at least speak at the meeting and. What word they were in and I think part of. As we're all saying, kind of getting to know each other and getting to know what the neighborhood. For our meetings. Including more of that as we go along. As we go. Yeah, I would like it to be specific, but I'll let it go for now. When you go first. I think there's no reason not to be. You know, I think I should probably just listen and. What I'm hearing you say is that. What I'm hearing you say is you won't. There's. Diverse perspectives of willing. Face. I think that's our goal. And I think that's why we put. Diversity and all its forms in here. And I think it's important. Oh, that was in the prior one. Yeah. Cause I added that one, but I think it's gone. I think that. In that 1st. As. And we can add it back. I think I don't remember where it was, but I do remember. Well, it started here. And I think that's where it came from. So I put in our NPAs are. An inclusive embracing and supporting diversity and all its forms. You want to put it back in. And it's here to the following principles. And then it ended and it said, we adhere to the following principles. So that's right here under. Yeah, it was the 1st sentence under guiding principles. Different than the 1st sentence under any principles of. The reason. It's different because I think that it. I think belong. It's not about imposing. But yeah, sure. Well, maybe we can combine them somehow. Yeah. Yeah. We can talk about. So. Cause. Okay. So what if we said, for example. Our NPAs are welcoming any. Embracing and supporting. I really like value. I really like value. I really like value. I really like value. I really like value. I really like value. I really like value. Yeah, I was just going to say the words. Yeah. I think. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah, right. I think that's why I changed that piece there. To be that this is the core of who we are. Okay. How we want to be. I thought the language was more consistent. When how we've presented this. Embracing. Okay. So maybe we just stay with this. And say. We've said it's diverse and inclusive. A piece. Paragraph. Right. Well, could we. Writing principles. Could we just shorten the intro to say a. Instead of as organized. No, no, no. Could we just say our NPAs. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, with the words for and seven NPAs. Was part of the feedback that. Separate. Yeah. Right. Okay. Meet together. As organizations to really formalize this section. I'm. Yeah, I'm trying to. Okay. All right. I go. Don't want to spend all day on this. Right. I think diversity of that. I don't think it needs to be. In there. I think diversity is inclusive. We can take a vote on it right now out of the. No. And move forward. Are you okay with that? No. Two. But. I think. Maybe saying something in. With what you're saying about valuing diversity. Equity inclusion. And. Can I just ask a question? Hey. Sarah. Um. Deb. Mary Ann. We have a recommendation to include diversity of thought. With that in mind. I would. Can we look at the language again? And then just ask. If we want to stay with the language. Or change it. Um. At this point. Because I think. Concludes that. Of different thoughts. And. I would also say that that second bullet. I mean. I mean saying, um. Involvement by a diverse. Members. Also speaks to. A lot of. Kind. Um, in terms of. Our own experience. Experience as community members. Diversity that comes from just being individuals. And I think that that ties it. I'm not. As feeling like it, um, encompasses. What you're thinking about Mary Ann. When you brought that up and I, and I read. Um, Um, Number five. Culturally and economically aware practices. I mean, if you're going to. Um, You know, articulate there. Why not articulate. To be a folk. I see. And. Yeah. And, you know, something else that makes me uncomfortable. I'm maybe, maybe. Um, just. I'm going to bring this to the rest of the group and. We on it or not. Okay. I'm out there. The five people should be. Decided. No way. Also. Yeah. Yeah. And it's never been. And this is open to the community. We're going to do the best job that we. You know, It's not, you know, One of the reasons I'm interested in being here tonight is like. As a facilitator. Looking at our current bylaws from 2008. Taking in all. Revisions that have gone into where we are now and who we want to be now. So sort of articulate how we got here as well. Um, so I don't know. We'll talk. Hank and Vicky and some other steering committee members. That agenda point for next. Um, but I think that's a good. Um, an important thing that we'll do when we present the work that. On the bylaws, because of course we want. Even folks who are. One. Maybe you're not willing to show up to still know. You know, how we got here and to where we're going. Yeah, and I mean, to that point. It's true. I mean, we're just drafting these for other people too. And for the whole NBA. But I get your point because when people read that. We recognize diverse diversity is. Yeah. I think that. Well, let me suggest one thing here. If you look down to the 4th bullet point. Um, we provide a safe and welcoming forum where residents can share. About issues. That matter to them. Maybe that's a. Place where we can make that. That point very clear. Where. Um. And welcoming forum where. Residents voices. Um, About. To them. Um, where diversity of thought is welcome. Valued. Appreciate it. Yeah, or something like that. And there's and where diversity of thought is. And what did you say, Vicki? Appreciate it. Would that work there? Yeah. Okay. Cause I was thinking that might fit right in there. Yeah. Where the voices are. Yeah. Okay. So that we would keep it. The comma and say. And where. Diversity. Of thought. Is welcome and. Appreciate it. Correct. Okay. Okay. Everybody comfortable with that. See. Are you typing that into the document? That's where you're a lot. The document. I was going to turn notes, but I can also. So. I wonder, could I, should I. Doing that or maybe we don't. Yeah. I think it's a good idea. I just want to save the record. I still don't think it's necessary. I think that. Says that. And it's very worthy. So we can keep having dialogue about it. And you're saying welcome twice. I mean, I get you that. It. It can be part of that. But just to reinforce it. And. I think it's a good idea. I just want to save the record. I still don't think it's necessary. I think that. I think that's a good idea. I just want to. I just want to. To reinforce it. And. You know. To what end. To what end to address. And. Feeling is, and I think it's a good. You. You know. I don't understand how it's different from. Where residents can share their voices about issues. missing? Yeah, I guess I'm just saying some people that and Mary Ann's raised in this point. I might be missing. You know, I think some people look at diversity as a set of people, adjectives that apply to people, you know, race, ethnicity, you know, they don't think outside the box of anything beyond that. That would be that. Okay. And they kind of stop there. And so, and I think the fourth bullet point can leave it alone and stand alone to include that. That's what I'm saying. I think it would, but I, but what I was asking is, I think what you're talking about is perspective. And so, wait, one, two, three, because perspectives are the result of experience, right? Everyone has perspective. Doesn't seem clear enough to me because on the tip of my what do you mean by that? You know, so just show their perspectives and voices about to them. Let's do it instead of the perspective or is it the phrase diversity of thought that you're really I want. I really want thought in there because I mean, I don't feel safe at this meeting tonight because I do have a different opinion on, you know, express it. And I'm not going to express it in this setting. So I feel it's very important that diversity of thought be allowed. Okay. I agree. Yeah. Hey, how about thoughts and voices? Right? Share their thoughts and voices. Isn't sharing your voice, sharing your thoughts? That's what I'm confused at. Well, I mean, diversity of thought is best. It goes outside of identity and is more inclusive than voices and perspectives. Yeah. Yeah. I'm trying to go with that. I really am. And I don't, I mean, I, you know, I think it's redundant and it may be, but it does reinforce it. There's in my mind nothing wrong with reinforcing it. Other thoughts? Can I hear what your line edited line was? Well, I just said it and again, it repeats the word welcome. Where diversity of thought is welcome and appreciated. Okay. You just tack, tack at the end of it. Yeah. Change one word. I would change appreciated to encourage. Okay. Encourage anywhere else? I'm not sure. Because I like encouraged. Or encouraged. Encouraged will do. Or we don't even have to say welcome and encourage. We just say encourage. We have to have a welcome. Is encouraged. Welcome was redundant. Yeah. That was what was redundant. Thought is encouraged. Where diversity of thought is encouraged. How about that? I love that. That then we, okay, and you're okay with that, Mary Ann. Thank you. I, I mean, I, I do appreciate what you're saying. I read that. Yeah. Okay. Glad that we could have that conversation. Any other feedback from the guiding principles? So, we are taking the X sentence. Our NPAs are welcoming rather. No, we're keeping this way. It is, I think. Right. We're keeping it. Word 4 and 7 NPAs value diversity and belonging and adhere to the following principles. I think 6 is too wordy and I, I, I can't. Well, we can always put it in two sentences. A period after belonging and then just start. We adhere to the following principles. She's the first sentence under guiding principles. She's referring to the 6th. I'm sorry. I thought barriers to excessive decision making and work to the previous. I think that I. We acknowledge the barriers. I see that. What did you find? Oh, this one. Yeah. What do you find wordy about that? The repetition of decision making. I think it seems to me too much. It's doesn't it doesn't seem to. I think that's a really important one. In terms of acknowledging the. The fact that we do vote things and that not everybody. Is in. Was even when they're affected by decisions that are being made. And I think. To points to that direct success for folks who. Yeah, as it states have previously been excluded from decisions. I don't know. I guess I think it's it for it. You know, those were I mean. So, who's those it's everyone. That's the point I think. It's the folks who may be managers in spaces or who may. You know, in spaces where they're only taking direct they're affected by decisions that are being made. We're you know, I don't I'm not. Connected to people's working life or whatever, but I think this speaks to be on them. Because that could also include. You know, maybe other people are making decisions for them and this space is 1 that. The acknowledgement is that everybody here has a chance to. Has a chance to be in part of the decision to be a decision maker. Couldn't just say that specifically that everyone has the right, you know, included in a vote that affects them. Seems very worried to me, but besides Jesus, such a. It needs to be cut down by at least a third. I haven't been sitting here reading you've read this whole thing since we've been sitting here talking. I don't see your purpose in challenging. I can ask you a question. You haven't read it as a challenge. Well, you can hear it as a challenge. That's fine with me. Much longer than our original document because I think. Yeah, bring back up and we were required by the city to add components to it. Did they require the statement like that? Well, these. Part of their original draft that we're just we added a few words that are not, you know, and. And that we, I think that was this was added in this one. Right. So I believe maybe it was. I don't know if you know. But, but how would. What would you say that everybody has the right to vote. On everything that affects them. That's a very word sentence. Yeah, I think there's other purposes for that sentence. I don't know anything about. I don't know what your history is with diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. How you have yours. But this sentence also. For people who. Sometimes the typical voting process may. And therefore trying to be conscious of that. And me. About how we can support people, whether it. A youth. Or anyone. Be able to have space to share their experience with the larger. And to. Whatever you need to do, if you'll come. Present this to the larger group. Are they going to have the. To. Edited if they choose. Sure. People can question it. And everyone's invited to these meetings. Yeah, I mean. Yeah. I mean, this is all just. I mean, I look at this. At this stage. As. You know, if there's a very rough. It's a rough. Also. As. If there's something that I. The uncomfortable with. I mean, this is where I'm looking at it anyway. I'll bring it up. Time. Even if I'm literally like. And we're a little. Perspective. I'm not saying it should be yours. And I'll leave it alone. Because. It's going to happen with it. Yeah. 10 steps down the line. You know what I mean? But if. Comfortable with something. I think it's, I think it's. You, you. But, you know. Yeah, I know. I know. I agree. I like to cut things down to. You know. We've been cutting and cutting. Right. Yeah. I mean, I think that there is. A lot more cutting to, to do, to that statement. To, to acknowledge. Our barriers for a lot of folks. And the NPA has been to be a space that. Yeah. Even if they. Enable for whatever reason to perhaps vote yesterday. You know, or, or. In other sort of more traditional decision-making processes. The NPA. So anything when you come in the door, just what your name is and what your ward is, because it's really. Folks who live here. Are. Part of the decision-making. And so. I, I, I apparently, I have one. I have some, I have one here. That is. And all the one. And all the. You know, and it's. Sights. Yeah. Are you looking at the original bylaws for us? Super. Insight. Yeah. I don't even think there's guiding principles on there though. The four components that are required from city hall are not in there. Yeah. And it doesn't create. Things we talked about doing with our bylaws is creating. What we want to cultivate in the NPA so that people can come and feel. Valued. Yeah. And a personality that might be different from other NPAs. I mean. Yeah. And I think, Mary Ann. I look at this. In, in the past. Right. Hopefully not now, but we know it exists. Hopefully not in our NPA. But, um, I don't know. You know, there would be the people in power. Right. And they would say. Way that there were barriers. Right. And they might structure it in a way so that the people who were. Lower. Lower class minorities, whatever, you know. They're. In the role. To make a decision. Is that true? I mean, that actually happened. Yeah. Speak to it. It happens everywhere and everything. Pretty. Even just like knowing when it happens. Even something we're working on improving attendance so that. Folks who aren't just. NPA is or have maybe gone to a meeting before. But, or maybe a new to the area. It needs the country. Have a chance to know that it's happening. Know that. That they don't even necessarily have to stay for the meeting, but they're still welcome to meet their neighbors. Have a, have the bill. And so all of these different parts of making that except. And again, especially for those folks who may be. Feeling included. Or maybe a new to the area. New to the country. Have a chance to know that it's happening. Know that. That they don't even necessarily have to stay for the meeting, but they're still welcome to meet their neighbors. Have a chance to know that it's happening. So. Included or having access to things, whether it's. Are years old, those different. I mean, I'm sure. But I mean, I. That happened. In the past. Right. And I can't speak to whether. But no doubt. But I do see the community mail. Intentional. Component of the meetings now. And it's a school night. I can't come to this meeting and bring. Yeah, you know. So this opens the door to them to come in. Now it's not it's. But it's kind of a first step to get here, right? So. That's the way I see that being, you know, we acknowledge that there have been barriers. To really getting in here and we're trying to remove those. That's what it means to me. Okay. Sorry. Yeah. Okay. So. Article one. Is. From. The regular. Original. Yeah. So I just wanted to stay. But do we have to. Capitalize state, federal and city. No, I just copied and pasted. I know, I know, I know, I know. No. No. No. We don't. We don't. Good. Lower case. I love that. Okay. Good city. Just because it's a city doesn't mean it's. Take eight. Maybe we could post take eight. I know. I get. Yeah. People I say people just. It's a capital letter. Anyway. That's just. Word. We capitalize all through here. I cannot. I think that I would move to. Next meeting time. Wow. Are we done? Yeah. Meeting. Only have. Yeah. It was originally five to six. Okay. Wow. Okay. Do we want to. Determine a time. And maybe a larger block of time. Yeah. I don't. An hour twice. Yeah. And it's. They. These wonderful people work. So. I think it would be better if we do like it to be longer. Just be careful about the data. Select. Okay. Yes. For you. It's easy for us to do that. I can say that. Okay. The first. Is not as good as all. It's always free for you. It's always. Always open. Okay. But for folks here. What is the earliest you. With work schedules. I'm retired now. Yeah. It depends for me. I'm kind of. I'm five was a little. Tight, but I made it. Five 15. But. But it's not. So it depends on. I brought my planner. So that we can. Find a good day. In the mail. And see if we can determine the time. Is Wednesday. For everyone. Well, we vote. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. Well, we've all. It's not. We've said that the fourth Wednesday is our NPA meeting and the first ones that. Is our steering committee. Yeah. Yeah, but we're talking about trying to find a time for the by-law's meeting. Instead of the steering committee. No, not instead of. And. A larger chunk of time to kind of. Yeah. Yeah. We chunk off like. Four hours. Somewhere. Two. Right. I mean, really. I'm in for four. You're in for four. There's a day like this. Yeah. Yeah. Right. Charlie. Charlie wants the floor. And close. First and third Wednesday. First. Okay. I'm going to. I'm going to. Email to me. On those days, like, like. Much earlier. Can you do. A class at five. So I. Oh, you have a class at five. You. I had no class today. The rest. I think we'll have to communicate by email and include Fosca. Or in the next meeting. Well, you know how that happened. I understand. But you may be. Yeah. We. Yeah. I think we'll have to communicate by email and include Fosca. Or in the next meeting. We know how that happened. I understand. I. But you may be. Yeah. We. I don't know what the alternative is in this moment. Yeah, let me see. She did tell me. So anything else for the rest of respect to. Minutes. I think so. What keeps the email list. Okay. The notes. I can only. Oh, we just have a thread. I think. We don't, I don't think I have your email yet. So. I will. No, these, these meetings. That. Well, these meeting. Civil. Clerk. Civic clerk. Because we were in the meeting. Finds by law. Someone actually. It's a step to me, but I didn't find the spine. These files. Let me give him that. Okay. Yeah. We have a piece of paper there. And what are the no. No days for people. No days. You can't do Wednesdays. Could you put your email. Sign in as if you're. At that meeting, but I'll. Yeah. I'm supposed to be. Yeah. I think. Another thing I think I volunteered for is to people. Of all the people who've. Signed in and attended our meetings. I am. I have all the sign-in sheets from both meetings. I better put seven on those. Thank you. And. Yeah. What? No, no, no. I thought that Mary and put her email there, but she's writing on a piece of paper. Thank you. Okay. Do you record things like. Yeah. No, no, no. I thought that Mary and put her email there, but she's writing on a piece of paper. Wednesdays you say are always good for you. What things are the next. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Do you record things like. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Right. Sure. Sure. Okay. That's true. Meaning. Okay. So who. What other days. The third. To do. Wednesdays. At five. You know. I mean. I would like it, but I'm. That's going to be very exciting. Yeah. Right. Sure. Sure. Okay. That's true. But I don't think that's going to be very exciting. I would like it, but I'm. That's going to be very exciting. So third Wednesday at six 30. Would work. Earlier one. Well, earlier would work as well. Earlier. Earlier. Okay. Yeah. Earlier. I'm meeting. Five. Yeah, this is five. Yeah, this is five. Okay, what if we did. Three on a Wednesday, three on a Wednesday. Wednesday, do I hear three on the Wednesday? No, she's working. Yeah. And you're working. Okay. I'm working. And she's working. Yeah. Okay, schedule, but yeah, I'm sorry. Okay, but I had said, these bylaws meetings aren't normally recorded. The other guy that was, yeah, they're recorded. He said was the one who does it. So do we want to adjourn our meeting and we can join the meeting is adjourned. Okay. Yes, I can. Okay. But these meetings have to be taped. Yes. Yeah, but apparently.