 So, good afternoon, community members, if we are waiting to get a quorum established here, we're almost there. So chair Cisco, it looks like we have a quorum now. So, whenever you're ready to start. We want me to go ahead and call to order, or we take Spanish translation. Yes, our host will make the announcement. Sandy, will you please make the announcement? Yes, thank you. For those just joining the meeting live translation in Spanish is available and members wishing to listen in Spanish can join the Spanish channel to do so click on the interpretation icon in the zoom toolbar. It looks like a globe. Once you join the Spanish channel, we recommend you shut off the main audio so you only hear the Spanish translation. Pablo, will you please restate this in Spanish. Thank you. Pablo, I'm going to put you into the Spanish channel while we wait for Charles. Would you like me to do roll call now? Chair Cisco. That's that's what we want to do. I'm going to go ahead and order tonight's meeting of the charter review committee and ask the local office. Thank you. Committee Member Weeks. Here. Committee Member Villalobos. Committee Member Walsh. Committee Member Walsh, we can't hear you. I can see you but I can't hear you so I'll come back to you. Committee Member Baden Ford. Here. Committee Member Pitts. Committee Member Oliveris. Here. Committee Member Miner. Committee Member Miller. Committee Member Mazia. Committee Member Mazia. I'll come back to you. Committee Member Martinez. Present. Committee Member Leung. Committee Member Close. Committee Member Boudinia. Committee Member Diaz. Committee Member Cunningham. Committee Member Condren. Here. Committee Member Bern. Present. Thank you. Committee Member Bartley. Here. Committee Member Barber. Committee Member Arizona. And Chair Cisco. Here. Committee Member Villalobos. I don't think we'll be attending today. Committee Member Pitts, have you joined us? I am here. Thank you. Committee Member Miner, have you joined us? Committee Member Miller, have you joined us? Committee Member Mazia, have you joined us? He's raising his hand. Let me see if he needs to be unmuted. He's on the call. I see him. Committee Member Leung, have you joined us? Committee Member Close, have you joined us? Committee Member Boudinia, have you joined us? Yes, I'm here. Thank you. Committee Member Diaz, have you joined us? Committee Member Cunningham, have you joined us? Committee Member Barber, have you joined us? Committee Member Boudinia, have you joined us? Committee Member Boudinia, have you joined us? Committee Member Barber, have you joined us? Committee Member Arizon, have you joined us? Okay, let the record show that all committee members are present with the exception of committee member Arizon, committee member Barber, committee member Cunningham, committee member Diaz, committee member Klaus, committee member Ling, committee member Miller, committee member Miner, and committee member Villalobos. So just a couple of housekeeping rules that we go over at each meeting. I just want to remind committee members to please keep your audio muted until you need to speak. This helps with any feedback during presentations. And also as members of the public join the meeting via Zoom, you'll be participating as an attendee. Your microphone and camera will be muted. If you're calling from a telephone and choose to speak during public comments portions of today's agenda for privacy concerns the host will be renaming your viewable phone number to residents and the last four numbers of your phone number. 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Advancing interpreter support will be afforded additional time for your public comment as required by the brown app. We ask that those listening on the Spanish channel but wishing to make a public comment to turn off the interpretation channel entirely at the time you hear your name called so you can join the main channel to make your public comment her and translated into Spanish. This icon may now look like a circle with an ES in the middle, and the word Spanish underneath. You can then rejoin the Spanish channel at the conclusion of your comment and continue listening to the meeting in Spanish. Thank you. Thank you miss Williams and with that we're going to move on to public comments on non agenda matters which is a time for any member of the public to address the committee on matters pertinent to the committee's business. If you wish to participate by zoom use a raise hand feature. If you're calling in dial star nine and I believe you get three minutes and I'm going to ask the host to let us know if there are any people wishing to speak under public comments. Chairs Cisco I'm not seeing any hands raised. Okay, great. Thank you. So with that, we will close public comments and move on. We have no minutes to approve. So we're going to go right to our schedule items and our first item is our equity principles items and I believe staff support shields will be getting the staff presentation from there. Good evening, everyone. Thank you for your time this evening and thank you for your dedication to our city in this very important work. I'd like to really begin this meeting by giving just a moment of appreciation to Vince Harper who we lost yesterday he's a strong was a strong community pillar. He's been investing in power and his life, life's work was around issues of equity and so I find it very fitting to acknowledge him before we begin. So, next slide please. So there are a couple outcomes for this presentation for you tonight from your request at the last meeting or just I'm going to like give you a view into where the city is doing the path the city is on in terms of this equity journey only so you will see the text of this charter review committee as well. Ideally and ideal times we would be done with the work but we'll be doing this together, which the universe gives us what it gives us. We're going to share with you some initial definitions so we're all using the same terms and language. I'm going to lift up some of the differences between the D the I the E and introduce you to the concept of belonging and show you where we've been doing so far and then end with what the most important part, really the considerations this group should take into account as you develop your equity principles there is an example in your packet of course of what the county did and I know members on this committee were actually part of that so you can hear those examples but I kind of want to give you the city context as we move forward next slide please. So, many of you may know this but the city has been on a DEI journey if you would and in December of last year the city hired an equity consultant the seed collaborative, and you can find more information about them on the webpage that's listed that the city does have an equity website as well that will tell you more about this, but from that selection process, there was a company selected the seed collaborative that would help the city produce three plans, an equity plan for the city in total, and then also kind of a sub plan for fire for diversity and police for community policing and equity and policing. At the same time the city also hired this position my position as diversity inclusion and equal opportunity officer, equal employment officer this is an inaugural proposition for the city it didn't exist before. And so this is kind of the snowballing of the equity process here in the city. Next please. So the, we are going through different phases with the consultant we went through a due diligence phase we went through a forming of these committees. Now we're really literally today we had our first meeting we're beginning this work and we'll be producing ideally by this summer a plan that will go before Council of the ideas that the city thinks are necessary to achieve these goals. This is just a little bit of the details again reminder there are three kind of plans in total, but we are looking forward to bringing something forward to Council hopefully by the summertime. Earlier, if possible, next. So again this is just a start of understanding the differences between diversity, inclusion and belonging and equity, and the city has a slightly different frame than the county and so I do, I will be lifting that up as well. And so, pardon me if you already know these definitions but again just to create a level playing field for all of us. Diversity is just the range of differences right some inherent some inquired, some about our skin color or our other about our life experiences, but it is the intentional act of kind of creating a space where there is all of this difference whether it's opinions, viewpoints, lived experiences, whether you're a veteran or not. All of those are taken into consideration in this broad definition of depth at some diversity. Thank you. The next is an inclusion and belonging so some of you may have heard kind of the metaphor about being invited to the table right. So, diversity is having different people at the table. Inclusion is being invited it's being brought in as part of whatever is happening. belonging is additionally, the inclusion of co creation right a sharing of power, a shifting of who's making the decision so in inclusion. They're set forms whatever's happening is happening, and many different people are invited to come along in belonging. It's now a culture where all of these people have part of a say in what's being created and how it's being created. The first one is equity, which is probably the squishiest one the hardest one to reckon with because it, it morphs in terms of how you achieve it at times I think one of the most important things to recognize. I think that it is both a process and an outcome. So you find equity throughout it is not a one time thing it is not a check of the box. It really is about kind of embed being embedded throughout what's going on, but it is about addressing issues of fairness and justice. It's about looking at systems and the change necessary so that outcomes across the board for whichever type of group are all prosperous and thriving. The, I do want to bring the county definition is there for a reference we are creating kind of a normative culture in our region which is beautiful where we are all kind of having these similar conversations so I do want you to understand kind of, again, the harmony around all of this and the different terms used. Are there any questions so far. Oh go. If you wouldn't mind doing the whole presentation and then we can do questions after so we're not going back and forth. I would appreciate that. Sure, I just don't want to get too far along and someone via have been lost very early so next slide please. I'm not going to do that, but I think it'll go better if we just do it this way. So this is one of the key differences between the city and the county kind of frame the city and choosing the seed collaborative has chosen a lens of targeted universalism, and this really is about creating conditions that we want everyone to achieve. So we're realizing as different groups have different opportunity and are placed closer are further from those success metrics that we have targeted strategies to meet their needs. It includes racial equity, but it's not limited to racial equity so anybody not achieving whatever that stated goal is. So you could use COVID vaccination experiences. Anybody not meeting that group, creating targeted solutions that meet the needs of those groups to get them to the universal goal that we've all identified. And then they're harmonious, but slightly different they both look at data. They both recognize the historical harm of race and ethnicity, language access, all of those things in our, in our country and in our region, both historical and current. But they, it's a slightly broader frame about bridging and belonging that is embedded in the targeted universalism. This is just another way of thinking again about these early fundamental definitions like diversity we're thinking a lot about our workforce we're thinking a lot about our community who are the people, and, and how do we ensure that it's varied in all play from age, just like this group from age to experiences, gender, ethnicity, all of those seen and unseen. Equity really is about decision making. Are we thinking about who has been harmed, who is not at the table, who will carry the greatest burden. Are we creating specific strategies that address that in our policy and our practices in our investments. Inclusion is making people feel included are at the table as I said earlier have been invited to dance. Belonging is a sharing of power and co creating together so it's, it's inclusion plus. It's more than simply just being at the table. It's being allowed to change what the table was brought there to do if you're sitting at the table, all of those things. Next please. So the city has been engaged in like the hard conversation was around what does this mean very similar to the county. The city has begun engaging in the American Rescue Plan Act or ARPA as you might hear it called, where these investment dollars are going to go you might have read about it this morning in the paper or in past articles in the paper, whether about the county or city. So, as we talked about this, the city created a almost like a rubric document that gave all of these ideas there were lots of ideas that came in lots of people asking for ways to think about spending the money, and how we narrow down and prioritize that was thinking about the terms you're you'll see on your left. What, how does this contribute to environmental equity. How is this upstream and thinking about socio economics of our community. Does this advance inclusion, does this advance equity so you'll see that the city began has begun to struggle with what does that look like in action. Next please. We're also evolving language evolves and changes over time so while our ARPA discussions will be framed around the last document you saw. We have begun talking about potentially this has been brought before the economic development subcommittee ways to think about equity as the large frame and these pillars of climate justice, economic justice, social justice and internally procedural justice like we're actually doing things that reinforce all of these goals that we have. Next please, but this is a work in progress draft like we are just beginning this journey. So for you all, as you think about what does equity mean to you. I offer you these questions. How will you make decisions. Is this consensus is that majority, have you thought about that, because these are going to, these are going to be very challenging topics and this is a very rich room of ideas, thoughts and opinions. Because equity is both a process and an outcome. What will this mean for you how will that be both in how you have your discussions, and then in the recommendations you provide to counsel. We're monitoring amongst all of you where the discussion points are and the tension points are for, for these level of discussions, so that things aren't missed so that you catch the items you want to. And then of course what type of support do you need as, as Sue said very early on the staff is here to help you be successful in all of this work so naming the support you need is certainly your project. There are national organizations that frame equity work in the government. The county, I believe in November of last year adopted a racial equity toolkit, it came from this website that's government alliance on racial equity. The city is also now a recent member, and in their toolkit that they have for government employees to think about and internalize and contextualize their work around equity. These are the questions they pose they're done differently they're different types of forms and documents, but the at its core. These are the questions that they have people go through as they're thinking about the types of decisions that you'll be making. So, what is the proposal where did it come from what are the outcomes. Do you have data, do you know how this is affecting people either similarly or differently. How have you involved community. Who's burdened by what you're talking about. What are the remedies for that. Who isn't at the table. How does this contribute or mitigate racial inequity. And what are you doing proactively then of course an implementation plan and accountability how are you going to communicate this out. How do you make this public again this is the tool from gear, as it's called they've been around for five to 10 years they have a membership of over 400 municipalities and counties across the nation. Next please. So, and if you haven't seen this visual this is sometimes visuals work better than words. So, you know the idea of really understanding the difference between equity and equality, equity, the quality let me start there is everything's the same. Equity is understanding that you need to change things because people don't enter into this space with the same tools resources life experiences, for many reasons, including the systems that serve them. And then liberation is ultimately removing all the barriers and giving everybody what they need for the goals they are trying to achieve. But really this is my side for questions. Okay, thank you so much. Committee members. Do we have questions right now for miss the car. I just kind of want to set the table for what our task is tonight, our task in this particular agenda item is to formulate what kind of lens, we will be looking through. The questions will be entertaining as part of that lens as we look through the next agenda item of setting priorities or looking at any of the other items that we might be considering for the charter. So what we're not doing is deciding what goes into the charter right now and this number we're we're setting the table for how do we have this lens as we do our work. So with that any any questions right now miss the curl and what I would ask you to do is to use the raise hand feature. I will notice you eventually please don't just shout out because then I can't tell who's talking, or what's going on so if you wouldn't mind doing that is just do the raise hand teacher unmute and I'll call on you and ask your question. Any questions. Okay, Ernesto. Thank you madam chair. So, thank you thank you very much for this presentation very very informative, and I applaud the efforts of the city to number one bring you on board but also to embark on this journey. I think many many communities around this journey as well besides just the city and the city structure I think our community is also on a path on the journey as well. Thank you for working on the journey to you share with us a little bit more about I know you've been doing some work you're still in the process of doing work with our employees and different groups but what kind of discussions have been had so far, for example, with Council with other boards and commissions about how they can apply this to their, their own work. Actually, tomorrow morning we can send out a list of the times and the places that this has come up so you can see the different types of discussions that have taken place. I will say the, the most applied that we've done are those are for discussions where we use like a rubric to really talk about like how are we going to narrow from this to this. I feel it's dicey right still there's deep conversations to be had it's not clear cut. I think to for the city. Different groups have had different conversations up until this point and we are seeking to have a kind of a unified conversation on what this means and then what does it mean to us in our work and that is the hardest part just about the theoretical with the application to the work. So, so this is so our discussion and our inclusion of the principles here is kind of a new thing for boards and commissions that seems like right so just we're just starting. I think my point is that we're all on this learning journey to right we're all coming from different places in our lives different experiences of different understandings. So I think there's going to be an opportunity for us to learn because we'll be talking about this as far as how it applies to the charter itself later on to. So right now is how do we work with these principles and doing our work. I think there's an opportunity here to for the community to see it see it in action and how it's going to happen. And it may not be perfect. I will admit that it may not be perfect and I think we've not expect that because we are all learning I don't think anybody is really that true expert in doing this we're all learning, even those who are practicing it and teaching it. So I think I want to start with those comments because I am excited about how we're going to be making this happen, and having the opportunity to showcase some of the work that you've already done city has already done by how we implemented into this into this committee work. Thank you. I think all of you for recognizing this as a priority for this group in this work early on like before you even start that is brilliant and bold and like you said I think where places are going. Karen weeks. So, Carl and I were both on the county redistricting commission, and we came up with equity principles, and I pulled those out this afternoon to look at those in preparation for tonight. One of the things that really, I think we can start with now is the issue around norms that we established. And that was welcoming all comments and questions, and providing a diverse away array of channel, which the public can provide input. So that is something that I think we can start very beginning. Before we get into, you know, how do we look at any changes or revisions we want to make to the charter through that lens. Making sure that we have clear and open communication that we don't talk in a lot of government speak which I'm probably more guilty than a lot of people of doing. So please call me on that. So those are some things that I think we can start with. And I don't know, Sakura, if you have anything you want to add to that based upon our, our mutual experience. We did in the documents there is for everyone to view those equity principles which were publicly shown at the county meetings as well as some articles contributed again. We brought elevating the effect that these conversations are taking place everywhere and simply kind of using what other people have done in your context may not be the best fit, because you have a unique position you're in with unique content that will require you to figure it out as you go but the agreements that Karen lifted about kind of what how people want to interact, the basic things you are accepting about our community, and kind of how you will move through these, this decision making process is key vital decision making process for the future of our community is really important. And if I may chair Cisco I just wanted to emphasize as the shields mentioned on that document from the redistricting commission is was included on the agenda so it is accessible. Great. And any right now we're doing questions and then I'm going to do public comment and then we're going to have our discussion so I have Mark Walsh. Thank you very much chair Cisco. First I just wanted to thank the city's equity officer for the outstanding presentation, I loved it. Now if you walk through some of the slides I kept wanting to go back and to look more at them. Did a great job. And I really appreciate the fact that you're talking about this is an evolutionary process is going to change as humans get better and are unable to enjoy each other's gifts more. And I really like the government alliance for racial equity slide. I think that's a fairly simple slide for most people to understand. And if we're working with a lot of inputs. Some simplification may be better. Those are my only comments and thank you very much. Thank you. You know, I'm unmuted thank you so. Sure, still getting used to zoom. So I have my question is what strategies for something that you're experiencing and developing equity principles through the commission you participated in Michelle's what strategies were effective and developing them. And they were useful for that particular work. And then what some of what would you suggest some of those strategies could be for for us and doing, you know, also collaborative work but you know, obviously different. I can see points that Commissioner weeks brought up or committee person weeks, I'm not sure whatever this is that Karen brought up our key about just respect amongst this group and lifting voices there. This is diverse for a reason that was intentional so really honoring people, everybody in this group and getting people to participate because seeing all perspectives is going to be critical. So moving to one of the evolutions that's happening and I appreciate that language. Place based concerns ARPA values place based recognition of the difference so moving from the philosophical to literally seeing in our community, how lives are different by things and decisions we have made over time. And then what we want to do about it and I, I will make sure to send the meeting there was a study session on the 16th of this month. I think Karen was there too because it was with planning where the equity priority community maps were shared. And I think that everybody should deeply understand all the differences that are experienced in our community. And I think those maps create a visual database for you and we can always get you more data, but about kind of issues of language issues of access issues of poverty issues of missing our different infrastructure availability and all of that is important as you think about your decisions and I think those tools should be recognized and used. Sorry I have one more question. So, do you have a suggestion and this might fall within the equity principles but do you have a suggestion for sort of the norm of matching that data that's available. All things really impact people's everyday lives as it relates to the topics that we will be discussing right so like when we talk about, for example, citywide mayor mayor elections right. How do we know how this is going to affect people in the long run, you know, or how do we know how our current election system affects I'm like, anyway, just, those are the questions to uplift I think thinking about right all of those are strategies to what what is the goal you want and are these the right strategies to get there I think those are the types of discussions. You have to be thinking about because these are a means to an end to a more just democracy in our own city. So I think that's the rich discussions you'll have that I will watch every time. Thank you chair Cisco. And thank you on the shields for the presentation he was very informative. A question for you, since you were on the registry. I'm seeing we've got a chair Cisco alluded to we have two tasks here we have that we have the broader issue that will come in terms of how do we address any changes. We propose to the charter and how we measure them in terms of social equity but the immediate one is how do we create a document that guides us in that discussion because obviously with everybody doing the discussion right now. We don't have a luxury of time. And we were extremely limited on what we can do and we could have a philosophical discussion that would take 10 months like the city is having but then we would have no time to actually discuss the issues. So I guess my question is, how long did it take the committee, the county redistricting to come up with this, this guiding principle document. Was it, was it, you know, how was that created and how much time to take. So the choice by that committee was made and you, this committee will have to make its own decisions and that's what you're brought here to do, but that we had a subcommittee work on that and bring it back and that happened twice so there were two sub committees brought it back, brought it again and then move forward with it. Because we had actually a tighter timeframe and a tighter crunch. So I think that's a decision for your group I of course will support and facilitate whatever I can but those are the types of difficult decisions. You have to make about how you want to operate. Okay, so, so again going back to the redistricting. So you created this set of principles but how did you proceed with your tasks. I'm not sure I understand you have a subcommittee doing the principles, and they came back twice for the minute you were proceeding simultaneously with proceeding with your process, I assume and how do you proceed with the process without the principles in place beforehand so what are you evaluating, what's your guidance and evaluating it. I understand yours is yours was sort of restricted because of the redistricting has a pretty tightly defined thing we've got a pretty broad scope. And I just, I'm a little concerned that we'll, we'll, we'll end up in a crunch at the end where we miss things. You've talked about some norms, if you had some values I mean because then everybody's starting from a shared place, and then figured out whether you want to do it as a group as a whole or I don't want to, you know, you'll figure that out. And so these are the principles because because we had spoken that we agreed there was consensus, we will have equity principles, these are values we believe in, like, even as we were beginning and honestly in the early conversations, it's not as sharp the issues aren't as sharp because it's really like oh we want to learn more we want to know more. It's really not until something is in front of you that you're like whoa, whoa, whoa, as you've seen play out around the redistricting. I think that the only thing to do is simultaneously because they have to have meaning to you. I could write up a draft, but they would be what I feel and what I know and not, and part of this is about shared understanding. Again, so as this group makes incredibly different and difficult decisions complex. You're coming from the same space. It's not a tight and dry answer and I'm sorry. Yeah, no, I, yes, thank you. Silver paintbrush I mean let's remove the violence. Logan. Thanks Patty, thank you Sakura. I'm it's really great to see this getting integrated into the city's work. Is that the presentation that you're envisioning for other commissions and boards what you just did for us. Well, you're the first one to request it so I, I mean, I would, yes, I would love for this to be kind of something that commissions request or, or groups and we build this acknowledgement together, I think, I mean, in an ideal world where we are in an equity daily as a community. Yes, we would be making these norms and agreements and common definitions together, so that we're doing this together. Yes, absolutely. Although I would caveat asterisk language does evolve so perhaps a month ago I wouldn't have included but now belonging is an important consideration right so so I would absolutely recognize that this language around social justice around all of these issues is evolving in beautiful ways that empower and create the opportunity for change and difference. Okay. I one thing that I think would be helpful for me, and maybe for some folks that also look like me is the definition of micro aggressions and I think that would be good, probably in the inclusion section. And I think especially on a committee like this, where we're going to be having a lot of cross talk, and things can move quickly. So is that was sort of a quest leading to a question is, are you going to be showing examples of norms. If, if that is the request of this group again staff is here to support your journey in making it the strongest, most inclusive, like all the things we want process. I am at, I wouldn't say back in call but I am at your service. Great. Good to know. Thank you for your service. Anyone else have a question for Mr coral right now. I have a question but I think it's more for for you. What we're hearing is that this type of language or lens could evolve over time. How restricted are we because I would really like us to come up with some principles norms guiding principles whatever you know we want to do as far as the an initial lens. So will we be restricted as we move along and maybe begin to think of others can we include them in that lens or do we would that have to be another agenda item or how might that work, it would work at all. Certainly, you can develop an initial set of principles and protocols, and that can evolve throughout the process and I would anticipated that it would will evolve throughout the process, particularly as we look at different issues that are on our on our list of 12. There, there'll be some some ships in that language and again as shields mentioned to this is all evolving around us and so we'll want to be able to take advantage of that. We could, I mean a couple of different ways we could do it I think probably the best and easiest is to just incorporate it into our discussions. We could have each meeting with respect to whichever topics are on there. But if it's the committee's preference we could certainly have a standing item that would be for refinement of the principles. Okay. Any other one other quick question Patty. Yeah, pursue. Is this a required presentation or training for a commission. It is not at this time though. Okay, thank you. Any other questions before I go to public comment, and then we'll have an opportunity to discuss everything. So, looks like Lisa Vanden Ford has a question. Thank you chair Cisco thank you so coral so much for your presentation it was very helpful and I do also appreciate the city's kind of broader more inclusive lens. It's the first time locally I've kind of heard that zoomed out pretty far which I appreciate quite a bit. My question is throughout the redistricting process, which I know is still continuing. It's also for committee member weeks as well. How did these equity principles end up serving you through that process where there's some lessons learned. How did these, did these ends up end up working well as a practical document for you are there things that we can benefit from from from having essentially a base document to look at. Karen answer that first. I respect it promoted more public engagement. Then was previously planned by the county. And because and that had to do with going out to different communities. And then looking into where people were instead of waiting for them to come to us at the meetings we have very few people in attendance. And at the meetings. So that was part of it and then looking at the different neighborhoods together, looking at neighborhoods that have been underserved in the previous iterations of maps so I don't know if that helps or not Lisa but is that so to coral anything to add. I would say that at the most difficult times in our discussions where there was the most honest and authentic conversations, having that as our central kind of glue was critical. It really did influence and impact the map that was presented to the county. It was without that, without the document without the principles that we had all agreed to we all like, you know, raised our hand and agreed and that was important. And I think that we could, I would have been much harder to come to consensus, and we came to consensus, everybody agreed on that map. Not everybody loves it. I mean there's a there is a continuum, but everybody agreed on that map, and we could not reach consensus on others because of those principles so it's one of those things that when it's going good and it's light and it's like, you might not think you need it down to the most difficult part of the work we were assigned to do. It was critical to be able to make the types of decisions if we wanted equity as an outcome. We kept going back to that doesn't make it easier though. There were no conversations any less deep and and prolonged and I don't want to say painful but but it wasn't easy I will say it wasn't easy, but it was a beautiful experience and democracy event. That was one of the things I wanted to also bring up in relation to everything that Santa Rosa is doing in relation to the di and thank you so far for your presentation. I want to make sure as we're moving forward and we're doing this process in relation to our city council members. There are many members of our community that maybe down the line would like to run for city council. So in order for them to do that, we need to have again bringing that equity lens, but then we also need to hear from our community members in this process. And, and we want to make sure that they're being highlighted, and that they're, they feel like they're a part of the process. So for so many years, we were not at the table. And so as we're moving forward in this process, I want to make sure that the people in the community has an opportunity to look at what we're doing and have a little bit of input to that because that will guide us. And that would lead us into what we need the kind of decisions we need to make. If we're not in the room. The policies and procedures may not always be effective. So moving forward, I do want to request, making sure that people or the community may have some input in this process. I want to say to a to kind of put an explanation point next to events point data. It's important in an equity frame to recognize not only hard data, the quantitative data, but the qualitative data of lived experiences which frequently is not captured by hard data but the importance consideration about decisions being made and the impact of decisions. So however we if we're, if we agree, we need data with an equity lens, you need all types of data, and not just the easiest to get because sometimes that paints a narrative intentionally. Thank you. Any other questions before we go to public comment. I'm not seeing any. So, with that I'm going to open it up to the public comment again if you're a member of the public joining by zoom if you'll use your raise can feature that will give you opportunity for the host to call on you and have you unmute if you're dialing in by phone dial star nine. And with that I'm going to ask our host to let me know if there are any members of the public wishing to speak. I don't see any hands raised. Okay. So, with that we're going to come back to two. I'm, I'm sorry, we did, we do have a hand raised now one moment please do that. Good evening, my name is Gregory Farron. Thanks to Carl for a presentation it's, I'm a member of this of the county committee that's been wrestling with our plan we've, we've had almost two months of deep immersion and the same kinds of thoughts and the same kinds of decisions. I have to admit when I first started hearing your presentation so Carl I thought, wait a minute this is the city charter committee. What are they going to be. Why should they be thinking about the issues that you bring up. But as, as I heard your presentation and I heard the questions afterwards it was very clear to me that if the city charter is how we run the city. And we haven't really thought about it in terms of who's involved in the operating and who's involved and how do we, how do we engage everyone in the process, then all of the issues you're bringing up have to be the base upon which you try to figure out how to do the charter. If all you're really trying to do is twist a few things that we've been doing in in the operating manual, because they're practically in, you know, difficult or it's a new idea. And we're not basing it in why we're doing it and what we're trying to accomplish on a longer term much like the general plan is, you know, looking out further and trying to figure out what kind of a city we have. The, the charter review has to look out both into the future and into our hearts. It has to be looking at how we engage people and that's not going to be done if all you're doing is taking a few ideas that people have picked around without this kind of background. So, thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? Yes, I'm, I'm going to promote our looks like a net Arnold. Okay. I don't know if this is the time to speak up for specific requests to be part of the program. But one thing I would like to see is that in future meetings we have a plan for people who work during the day to be able to be able to attend meetings. So maybe having a specific timeframe on the agenda that has to be kept to so that people can leave work and attend a meeting and get back to work if that's what they need to do. I think that would make it a more inclusive process. And the other thing I think would be great to have is a neighborhood contact or representative for every single neighborhood in the in the city. That way nobody gets left out. You, you know, have somebody who represents everybody. That's all I'd like to say. Thank you. Thank you, Annette. I don't see any other hands raised. Okay, great. Thanks. So, um, With that, let's go back to the committee. And just to address Miss Arnold's concern. That was definitely a concern for both the city attorney and I was to set a time that would enable people that work during the day to attend. That's why it's five to seven. Hopefully it will end at seven. We might not get there tonight. But that was the framework and it will be every other week on that. So, okay, so with that, we're going to go to our discussion. And again, let's let's keep in mind the questions that have been posed here. I would like to end up with tonight is at least an initial set of principles for our lens to begin understanding through Sue Gallagher that we will be able to allow that to evolve and add things. We need a starting point. So, that's what we're going to be tackling here. And as me, I'm going to kind of put you on the spot here and see what you think what, you know what what you make of what's been presented and what kind of ideas you may have to sort of start the framework for that lens, if any. Yeah, thank you. So as as we were going through the presentation discussion. You know, I was thinking that it we definitely might start the principles that the redistricting commission has and kind of workshop them to see, you know, how they work for this group. And we may do that through, you know, with this larger group, or we may want to consider creating a subcommittee we may do both like do a filtering through that of those principles and then, you know, take it and kind of do that work as we're also continuing on with the process of reviewing the charter. I'm not sure you know what what others think about how we do this process and of course you know the subcommittee would just kind of like take maybe take back the broader broader committee's suggestions and bring it back as you know an inclusive process for everyone to have a chance to weigh in. Okay, so start with the using the principles that the county came up with and then begin to rework them as necessary that that's what you're talking about. If other skill comfortable starting there might be a good place for us to start. Okay. Other other comments in response to that idea or add ideas or nesto. Thank you madam chair. I did agree with this with a good deal on where we start. This is very clearly by what support presented this is a very complex issue so it's going to be difficult to come up with something like immediately. And I agree that this needs to be an ongoing process is the old analogy of writing a bicycle while you while you build it kind of a thing right where to start someplace. I agree with keeping this as a standing agenda items that we can always check in every meeting will be able to check in on what needs to be tweaked how are we doing with our di efforts. Because again it's going to be a complex thing but it's also looking internally at us as individuals. You know we all come from different backgrounds, some of us have done this type of process before some have not, and some may still not feel comfortable or even feel. I would say maybe even welcome to speak up. So, how can we provide all of our committee members an opportunity to get more information if they won't get they needed, meaning, are there are the things that they need to feel more comfortable and participating and being open during these discussions as an example. And I would offer up support is that point of contact for example, if she can offer herself to be able to provide more information to the visual that they're looking for more in learning about the the process. So that's something that I would like to see. We're building this in front of the world, everybody's watching it could be 10 people after watching it could be 1000 I don't know right so sometimes to, we have a tendency to be worried about making a mistake, because here we are we're the public guy. So anything we can do to make it easier for our committee members to to learn what they want about this process and again as I said before we're all starting at different places. For me is what does it mean to me as an individual how we're bringing together for the group, but I'd like to place a start with what Jasmine mentioned. And again we may not finish the day there may be more things to add, but again if we can do two parallel things and still addressing our work of the committee but still keeping an eye on the di and looking at what else we can add along the way. Great thanks. Mark. I really appreciate the comments both by Jasmine and Ernesto, we need more people to participate in the process. And I think one of the challenges we will have is. First is how do we put everything through an equity filter and then know what does that mean. I have another question and I'd like maybe if the future city manager or a current city manager and the city attorney or you we all look at this is how much scope. Can we put into the charter concerning equity and how much scope should we put in there for instance, if we put something in it's locked in, are we locked in based on the language, are we locked in, are we not going to evolve for 10 years what does that mean. And maybe there's a broad method that that you know kind of keeps us safe so so one of the decisions will be how do we deal with the equity. And then as far as the county's input or the what the county used to be districting. I don't know what that is yet I just haven't seen that. I don't know if maybe somebody could send that to us and then we could decide, you know, does this work or not. And, and I'll just admit, and I appreciate especially Ernesto saying let's make it safe forever to participate. I don't really know how the county thinks they did or didn't affect it so with redistricting. What did they try to do that they try to put everything that they thought was a marginalized community in a one district. I always have somebody elected. So now that district is 24%. Minority population instead of 20 or maybe two different districts if they each had 20% would have substantial population that would affect the overall outcomes. So to normal citizens, we don't really know what it was that thereafter. Just just putting out there. I appreciate everybody's input. What I really think is great is listening to the Sharoko shields and member weeks say here's how we agreed to work together. And for instance, if we had a mentorship program so everybody could participate in a board and commission. I think that'd be great because I'm getting tired of doing it. I would potentially would like some but you know some other people come in. It's real exciting for me to see new people participate in government. I think that's, you know, that's one of the outcomes of this we can have is how do we get new people to participate in the decisions. That's my two cents. Thank you. Thanks for that mark and hold some of those questions because right now we're just working on the lens as to before we get to the discussion about the charter stuff but all of those are are good points. Karen weeks. Thank you. I wanted to mention and ask a question probably to Stephanie or Sandy around. And this cast to go back to Ms Arnold's questions about. Providing comments. So I know in the council items, you know, and then say planning commission we have area where in questions can be emailed and also recorded. Public comments can be recorded and then played back. Is that the case with the charter. With this committee. It is the case with email. But we did not set up a specific voicemail box for recorded voice messages, but a email address was set up for the charter review committee that people can send their emails to the committee as a whole. We also, I get that the city attorney's office gets that email. And if they relate it to an item on the agenda, we certainly will upload that as correspondence just like we do for city council. Great. So there are opportunities for people to comment on the work that we're going to be doing. In addition to joining the meeting, you zoom. Yes, they can email public comment to the charter review email address. Okay, thank you. And then I also, I don't want to hijack this meeting around the redistricting commission, but I probably shouldn't have even mentioned that at the beginning. But if you look at what was provided and I think it was in the packet that that was sent to everybody. There is a list of norms. And I think that's a good starting place. It's about welcoming all comments and questions. I think I already mentioned a few of these. But briefly, when you look through that, it's how we are going to interact with each other. And that might be a good place for us to start out. And then if it is an item that's on the agenda, every meeting, we can go to that and then start adding things as other things come up. Making sure we have clear and open communication that we have public input that we do reach out in different ways to the community, whether that be through the city connections newsletter, whether it be through the cab, whether it be through other groups. So that the public knows what's going on. Yeah, so I don't know if that confuses things more or not, but those that's my two cents for now. Or you wanted to say. Yes, that is thank you. Okay. Yes, I agree with Jasmine starting with these basic norms and then working our way out. There's no point in recreating the wheel when a lot of the information that's on the slides we just seen. I'm in favor of a lot of that information so working with that and then working our way out. I did have a question about Q&A sometimes when the public have Q&A, there's a running document that is put sometimes on a website where they can see the answer. So is that something that can be available to people that submit questions via email or wherever it may be, where they can go to the website and just read through what people have asked, because sometimes when we're in brainstorming we don't always get to think we think of things later and then when we read a document sometimes we'll see that. And then as far as the redistricting, I mean, city of Santa Rosa will be going through that same process next year so it's important that we have that discussion and delve into the equity lens in relation to redistricting and what that's going to look like. So this is a living document that we're presenting here and that we're going to be presenting back to our city council members so that is important for us to highlight that. And then more importantly, as far as the communication, someone stated let's put it on a website here in Santa Rosa, many people do not go to that website and get information from the website. I'm highly recommended that there's some community outreach with either the Community Engagement Office or people within this Zoom call to reach back to the community to get that information from the public, because not everybody will click on an agenda will go to a website. We need that direct conversation, listening session we need to continue that process and that's something that needs to be put into the document about being intentional with the work that we're doing. Scott, you have a comment. Yeah, I'm going to sort of chime in on Jasmine then and Ernesto and Karen I do think using the redistricting one as a template in terms of the norms is probably appropriate I mean we could we could spend. I'm concerned about the amount of time we spend creating this document before we got to the job we're at. Things like the norms make sense I think the values that they express at the front and sort of the overarching vision is sort of a universal, you know, comment that we can all identify. And I would say, say the principles to Karen's point. I think it should be on. I mean every item we look at all 1012 of them this is a question, and I think we'll end up filling in the principles because each item has such a. It's a different set of parameters around paying the mayor the salary for council members or these other topics, and that will will visit that every time and fill this out. And so that I can see that when this is done. It sort of becomes the guide. This is sort of the defense of why we made all the recommendations we did. But I think it's a good place to start I don't think we need to go back and revisit everything again because I think we'd end up pretty much in terms of the overarching vision and the norms in the same spot. Thank you. You have more to say. Yeah, I just wanted to point where to where if people haven't accessed the advisory redistricting committee principles, it's I believe the second attachment. If you open the committee agenda for today. It's a second attachment under the equity principles item 4.1 and for everybody watching at home as well you can find it. So what I wanted to do just a time check is, you know, past the hour, and we have another item. So I'd like to propose that as you know, others have mentioned we work off of the, or we don't necessarily review all each principle, but we set set this out. And perhaps start a subcommittee so because I do think that since the city does have an extra element of belonging that, you know, it'd be worth to at least take some time to review it and and see if, you know, maybe bring a little bit of a finer tooth comb to it and have to like, look at it and and a thoughtful process of how we apply these principles to our work. The principles of course of engaging with each other and not necessarily like, you know, applying them at the subcommittee. Yeah, like to propose that we consider starting a subcommittee so we can do the work of reviewing and have, you know, proposals to the committee during, you know, our next meeting if it's going to be a standing item. One of the reasons why I really don't want to do subcommittees is kind of in keeping with diversity, equity and inclusion so that we're all looking at it at the same time. But I'm wondering if you'd be willing to consider if the committee would be willing to consider that again in the interest of saving time that we just accept that we'll start with the lens being this particular document understanding that, you know, we're going to be reading material every couple of weeks that each committee member can begin to take a look at it themselves and then we'll have it as a standing agenda item, and, you know, revise it as we need to, as we move along if that sounds okay to you, I think it will be evolving. And I think what I'm hearing from everybody is this is a good starting point not reinventing the wheel for the lens, you know, that's that's different than, than what we might be doing if we look at it, you know, as a charter amendment so how, how's the committee feeling about that? How are you feeling about that? That sounds good. That sounds good. I think having as a standing item gives us the opportunity to bring our own thoughts, you know, as to, you know, if there's any changes and also, you know, work together any things will come up so I think that's that's a good happy medium. Mark, did you have something more to say your hand is still up. Just really quick. Thank you, Karen. I did see the document. I love it. And under the norms, it says humble and approach. So I missed it. Thanks for putting me on back on track and it's great. Christine. I really, really appreciate everyone that presented also discussion so far. I guess I would like to add that, or I guess I have a request, which is I personally am totally on board with this document. I think the value is the perspective of everything. And I also imagine that each of us has a slightly different perspective or interpretation of the values, the statements that are on there. So I guess what my request would be is either Sakura, or maybe Karen's actually at some point in time doesn't necessarily needs to be now, but actually go over and explain. Like, kind of go over the definitions like you did previously so coral so that we are all on the same page with how we are interpreting and also internalizing these diversity equity inclusion principles. That's a common request we can make that happen. Okay. Any other discussion. So I think what I'm hearing in. We can raise our hands if anybody objects to it but I think the committee is ready to just take, take a look at this county document and allow ourselves to let it evolve bringing our own perspectives again to each each thing so anybody have any objection to that. I, I, I agree with burn. I think that's a great idea to have like a explanation and wondering what people think about having maybe either corner so grow, kind of go through them at our next meeting if it's going to be a standing item. You know, not take too long on it but just kind of an explanation or maybe through the first part of the document if you know however time allows for it. I also think that Logan you were asking for a definition of micro oppression or some information about that so that might be an opportunity for us to get that through Sepuro as well. She's willing to do that. Yeah, if just expand expanding on I'm thinking what would apply particularly to a committee like this using the DEI lens, and that was just the first thing that came to mind. Great. And then do anything else. Before we end this item that you need or wanted. I think I think that's very helpful and I am very supportive of the approach and of starting with the statement of principles from the, from the redistricting committee and also very much appreciate if so course available and willing that she come back next to talk about the principles and perhaps also a discussion of micro aggressions. I think that both of those will be very important for us as we as we move forward. So appreciate the discussion very much and appreciate the presentation very much. Okay, so that concludes this item and we're going to go ahead and move on to 4.2 which is the summary of council topics and I believe to go to Rob Jackson are going to be. Yes, thanks I'll go ahead and start and Rob certainly feel free to jump in at any, at any time. You know, our time is limited or do want to try to keep these meetings to end at seven so we'll see how, how quickly we can go through this and how far we get. I do think that the, the discussion that we had just had was so important and really helpful. Also, timing is great because this starts to lay some of the framework for for this for this next discussion so again thank you. Thank you to Coro and to the full committee for for that discussion. So, this, what we're going to do now is just to walk through as you know that council recommended 12 topics for consideration by this committee and so we're going to walk through. Those topics, just to give a little more explanation of what they are. And what our sense of Council's direction. Some you'll see that some are clearer than others. And then hopefully we can begin the discussion as to how we're going to go about how the committee is going to go about prioritizing. So next slide. The Council proposed 12 topics, and they recognized and emphasize that these are 12 possible topics for the committee's consideration, and that they are just recommendations and a caution and caution this was given by the Council itself. So pursuing all 12 items would be a tremendous amount of work Council recognize that, and they were also sensitive to the issue of voter fatigue so really we're going to be looking at how do we select and prioritize among these topics. Next August 17 meeting, the Council had an extensive discussion as to the nature of the various topics they walked through the 12 items and then have a very robust discussion. Uniformly that Council agreed that that items that would require a charter amendment should be at least looked at at least considered by the committee, and then they had a fair amount of discussion as to whether items that might be done by ordinance or commission, some Council members suggested that those be taken off the list other Council members wanted them on some Council members suggested that in some some of those areas, for example and climate change. That might just be a statement of value and principles that gets incorporated into the into the charter. In the discussion though they did leave all 12 items intact and left to this committee the task of evaluating all of those items. Again, caution. We'll, we have a limited time we have limited resources, and we have a limited capacity on the part of the voters. We want to avoid voter fatigue if we place 12 charter amendments on to the onto the ballot that could doom doom all all of them so we want to focus in on what's most important, and what could be most impactful. And I appreciated one of the statements that Sakura mentioned in her presentation is looking at items in terms of. So what's the goal. And is the Charter Amendment the right strategy. Are there other options. How do we best use our resources committees resources, and also the, the, the communities forces. And Scott I think you're not on mute. Very good. Next slide. Thank you. So I'm going to walk through the 12 items I'll try to do it quickly I know our time is is short. What on each of these. I'll talk about what it is what is the proposal. Any insight that I got from the I did re listen to the council's discussion from the, from the August 17 meeting. Give any heads, you know, any indications that they gave and then I'll also mention on each of these is a Charter Amendment required for this item, or might the item be done by ordinance or resolution. So directly elected at large mayor, currently, the Charter provides for the election of seven council members by citywide vote at large council members, and then shorter section 15 currently provides that once seated, the Charter selects one of its own to serve as mayor and one of its own to service vice mayor so it's the council that is selecting the mayor and vice mayor. So two year term vice mayor one year term. And next slide. So the Charter says, we elect our council members at large, but in fact we have moved to direct to district based elections. This was the result of litigation that was filed in 2017. And that following year after we had, we had regained our footing after 2017 fires. The council evaluated the litigation, determine that state law preempted the Charter's provision for at large council elections, and the council adopted an ordinance to establish a district based elections. And then defined the seven council districts that we now have the process for the council's selection of the mayor and the vice mayor, however, that remained unchanged. Next slide. So at this point we have seven district based council members. And this proposal would ship the structure of the council to a six council members elected by district, and one mayor elected citywide vote by a citywide vote. And this proposal would require a charter amendment. Next slide. So let's move to the next topic, which is ranked choice voting. So currently in each council district, each voter votes for one candidate and the candidate with the most win, most votes wins the council seat with a ranked choice voting each voter will rank the candidates in order of preference. So one candidate receives a majority of the first choice of votes. Then there's a process of elimination is used to select the winner. Next slide. In my review of different jurisdictions that have adopted ranked choice voting, the details of the procedure does vary. But the most common procedure is that if no candidate receives a majority of the first choice of vote, then the candidate with the fewest number of first choice votes is eliminated. And then the ballots that for that eliminated candidate, then shift to the second choice identified on those ballots. Next slide. And then that process continues until one candidate receives a majority of the votes cast. There are a few cities California cities with ranked choice voting include San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley and San Leandro and then there are I think three or four other cities in northern California that are intending to start ranked choice voting in 2022. And if we if the, if the community wants to move to a ranked choice voting system, this proposal would require a charter amendment. Next slide. The third item is the police auditor or citizen oversight commission. The independent police auditor is a professional who provides independent oversight of police policies and practices. The police auditor may review and investigate police operations may observe and participate in disciplinary proceedings and reports its findings to the city manager or to the council. Next slide. The oversight commission is is different. It's a commission of private citizens who perform the responsibilities comparable to the independent police auditor but again, it's not a, it's not necessarily a professional consultant. It's citizens from the community that are reviewing police practices and procedures. The scope of responsibilities and powers of the independent auditor or the system oversight commission varies significantly from jurisdiction jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Next slide. And that variation, I mean that's something that once we get into looking at this as a topic. We'll dive more deeply into what are variations that we've seen across different jurisdictions will bring that all to you. So the city currently has an independent police auditor position position, the position had been vacant for several years but actually a council adopted. I'm sorry council appointed a new independent police auditor last evening at its council meeting. The city does not currently have a citizen oversight commission, as I think the, everyone on the committee knows the county does. That's the isle arrow that was put in place by vote last year 2020 in the 2020 election. The city's oversight commission, only oversees the work of the sheriff and does not oversee the work of the centers of police department. Next slide. The police auditor position does not require a charter amendment. In fact, it's already in place by ordinance and by resolution, we adopted the council appointed the police auditor last evening. The enforcement of the citizen oversight commission also does not require a charter amendment that it can be done also by ordinance and or, or by resolution really would require an ordinance to establish that citizen oversight commission. Next slide. So let me go back to the oversight commission for just a minute. Thank you. And I'll, I'll mention here, as members of the committee may be aware, after the adoption of measure P, and the placement of I'll narrow the revisions to I'll narrow the county was sued. Meet and confer the judge determined that there should have been a meet and confer with the police union before it was adopted. So it did have to go through a process. One of the advantage of doing it by ordinance is that those that the ordinance can evolve over time. Once something is placed before the voters and placed in the, in the charter itself. It is frozen in time until a subsequent vote is taken. There was in the discussion in the council's discussion on the 17th, a suggestion from at least one council member, if not more is that you know this might be an area that's appropriate for a statement of principle in the charter with the details to be worked out by ordinance. Next slide. Council compensation charter section four currently allows for the council to establish their own compensation in accordance with formula set forth and state law formulas are very prescriptive so for cities with population between 150 and 250,000 people. State law allows council member salary of $800 per month. That is what our council members currently receive. Next slide. But state law does allow the city voters to approve a higher salary and in fact the voters have previously approved a higher salary for the mayor currently receives 1200 per month. Next slide. State law also permits an annual increase of 5%. And the increase can be made by ordinance can be done each year annually so you get a 40, the council members would receive a $40 increase each year, or it can be done periodically so the example I gave is $200 increase after five years. The council has not taken advantage of that provision for many, many years. So it's their compensation still remains at 800 and 1200 for the mayor. Next slide. To increase council compensation beyond the state formula a charter member amendment will be required, and state law does allow for a charter to provide for additional compensation of whatever amount the the voters appropriate. Next slide. Climate change. Very broad topic, obviously, the council did not provide detailed direction. The definition of the proposal was left to this committee. There was some discussion again on August 17 of perhaps it may be maybe be most appropriate simply for a value statement. There were some council members suggested that it's not appropriate for details are certainly not appropriate for a charter given that you want to have flexibility climate change obviously is a very evolving situation, and to be able to respond quickly that ability to respond quickly is is better set in an ordinance which can be changed by the council at any time. Next slide. The council did not though give specifics other than suggesting that maybe it would be a general value statement. If we're going to get into individual climate change policies programs or initiatives the council did not give us any specific direction as to what those might be. As I mentioned on the slide here most of the climate change policies programs and initiatives to date have been done by ordinance, some by resolution most primarily by ordinance. And there are a lot of efforts going on at the city in on in the climate change realm climate change is a tier one priority for the council. Diversity, equity and inclusion is similarly a very broad topic. Council did not provide detailed direction and left the substance of the proposal to this committee. Next slide. And the equity inclusion is a little bit different in that there are charter provisions that, at least to some extent, attempt to address some of these issues or section 10, which is a task force to recommend approaches to greatly increase citizen and neighborhood participation and responsibility. And section 10 also establishes the community advisory board gap to provide representation by district. Next slide. Charter 11 directs the city to undertake, excuse me all reasonable efforts to encourage participation by all citizens. I put that in quote because I know the references to citizens in both of these sections will be troubling to many people. Section 11 also directs the council to undertake all reasonable efforts to ensure that appointment to appointments to boards commissions and committees reflect Santa Rosa's diversity, including geographic and diversity. Next slide. So, if we want to see any revision or refinement to these provisions that will require a charter amendment. Other proposals could range from a general vision statement to individual programs or initiatives or policies. Many of those programs initiatives or policies could be and are being adopted through ordinance or through resolution. Next slide. Next up the. This is the topic seven excise taxes excise taxes or taxes that are imposed at the time of manufacturing of a good or the rendering of a service, rather than at the time of sale. And so they are imposed on the manufacturer on the service provider and they're incorporated into the original price of the glitter service. Next slide. And contrast with sales tax imposed at the time of the sale and added on to the price of the litter service excise taxes are commonly used to provide revenues to address negative consequences of the litter service this is for example the gasoline and fuel taxes used to help fund roads and road repairs. And excise taxes are also often used to discourage use of the good or service for example, an excise tax on sodas on cigarettes and and other similar products. Next slide. All new taxes including excise taxes do require voter approval. The need for the charter amendment at this point is a little uncertain. Did we did a fair amount of research and trying to find whether, given our general statement in our charter that state law will apply in the absence of something to the contrary in the charter, whether that gives the council the authority to adopt excise taxes, but we're still looking into that so. Next slide. Regulation of rental housing this is another broad topic again one that the council did not provide detailed direction and leaving the details to this committee next slide. Again, in the discussion on August 17 there were suggestions that maybe this related to rent control or tenant protections short term rentals or have other housing matters. And all of these issues, none of them require a charter amendment and all can be addressed through ordinances. Next slide. Procurement policy again a broad topic again council didn't provide detailed direction and the definition was left to this committee. Next slide. Again, a range of possibilities it could be used to provide for procurement flexibility could be used to include a provision for local preferences project labor agreements or to address other procurement issues. These issues do not require a charter amendment, but can be done by ordinance. The one exception is, there are certain elements of procurement flexibility that would require a charter amendment. Those are fairly technical provisions that will that could help us streamline our procurement city procurement process. You know, aren't particularly controversial when we get to if we get to a deep dive on this issue will provide you all that detail that those provisions to provide for procurement for flexibility. I would see those potentially being incorporated into an under this valid measure. Next slide. Again, that this is just what I explained if we want to go beyond what state law requires will need a charter amendment. Next slide. Board and commission forums. This item is to address the difficulty of ensuring forums for various city boards and commissions. The solution on this really is a little uncertain and options will need to explore those options solutions may or may not require a charter amendment. A charter does not currently set forth what the forums will be for boards and commissions, but relies on general, a general law that it is a majority of the Board of Commission that constitutes a form. Next slide. Removal of a mayor or council member for misconduct does require would require a charter amendment under current law no member of the council can be removed from the council except for by a vote of the electorate. The mayor though, pointed by vote of the council currently and can be removed from the mayor ship by a vote of the council serves at the pleasure of the council. Council removes the mayor, the from the mayor ship, the mayor loses that position but remains as a member of the council. Next slide. This proposal would would provide for a charter amendment to allow the council to remove one of its own members in the event of misconduct would require a due process provisions and some complications there but it can be done by charter amendment it would require a charter amendment. Next slide. 12 is the last item recommended by the council to your budget process charter section 28 sets forth a pretty detailed process and schedule for the annual budget. Council has suggested the committee consider whether to your budget cycle might be advantageous. Next slide. The committee could consider whether to shift the city to a two year budget cycle, kind of permanently, or could propose an amendment to provide flexibility so the city manager, or alternatively the council itself could propose a two year budget. An allowance for two year budget would require a charter amendment given the details that are provided for the annual budget. Next slide. So this is the full list of charter review topics and if we go to the next slide. I've sorted them by amendments that are where a charter amendment would be required, and ones that might be able to be done by ordinance. I hope this from after listening again to the council's August 17 meeting. A lot of the discussion was focused on what is what requires a charter amendment, what could be left to the council to undertake through ordinance. So they, I have five items listed under the amendment is required the direct elect mayor rank choice voting council compensation removal of the mayor council member for misconduct and the two year budget. Under the ordinance, the police auditor citizens oversight committee the excise tax again I need to confirm that that can be done by ordinance rental housing regulations procurement reform forums, climate change and diversity equity and inclusion. The items that were mentioned by the council for possible. A new statement in the charter and details and an ordinance included the police auditor citizen oversight commission procurement reform climate change and diversity equity and inclusion. Just some discussion that by having a value or statement of value or principle in the charter would help to set that framework and emphasize the importance of these elements, but would then allow the. Allow the council to address these issues in detail in an ordinance, allowing some flexibility for learning, allowing some flexibility for evolving circumstances. So that was what what we heard from the council. And I think what we did is just for questions and discussions. So I don't know I'll ask the chair if you'd like to leave that last slide up as we talk about priorities and I realize I haven't left a lot of time for for the discussion. I think it would be helpful to have that. So what we're looking for really is, is for the committee to start talking about how to how it wants to start prioritizing. Whether it's wants to start narrowing down this list of 12. I believe all 12 on the table but focus to start with on a few of the items open to whatever the obviously open to whatever the committee would like to direct. Great. Thanks. Sorry for talking over you committee members. This is just a time for questions will be our discussion after I take public. So, lovin you have a question. Yeah. So I don't see slide 37 and what was put on our agenda. Can you get that out to all the committee members or have the staff. Sure. This last slide is not in our packet. It's in the packet I have it. Right. It was updated if you have access to the website but I can also just send it to the love of it. Okay. That must have been an old agenda that I clicked on the link. Well it was just updated today so I will see. I can share this with the group. I don't know if I, I don't have Stephanie do you have a. A group. Set up for a group email group email. I do. I, if you want, you want me to send this one slide. Would you like the justice slide. There was only one other slide that was added which was that first one I can send the whole presentation to the committee. Okay, that would be great. Thank you. Thank you. A few questions Patty and I promise these are questions, not leading questions. For what needs to go on the ballot. So can you put if it requires a two thirds voter majority or not. I think that'd be helpful for us. Yeah, none of these. None of these would require a two thirds majority, all would be a simple majority, including the excise tax. If the adopting is an authorization for excise tax, you would not be adopting an excise tax itself, once an excise was put on the ballot, yes it would have to go by two thirds vote. Got it. That's helpful. And if you could also keep us updated on the council's work on any of these issues. I think that would be helpful, you know, if they're about to start on it. In January, then we might not need to. That might make us more efficient. And then this is maybe a later question so you can save this one if you if you if you need to. Is there any legal precedent that if something is passed via the council or via the voters that it's, it can withstand a legal challenge going so I'm thinking about what the legal challenge to the high olero issue at the county is there any difference there. Just wondering. No, the, any, any amendment can be challenged. And what it'll be challenged against is against state law. In general, state or federal law that would preempt. Great. Thank you. Brian. One question and maybe it gets to legal ease and I don't need a long explanation but I still don't totally understand how the council determined, they could effectively change the charter and go to district elections. And so that leads me to ask, do we need to memorialize what they did with district collections through this process and essentially vote on what's already been done. And then if we do a direct elect mayor, it's going to change it again. I know it just feels like we're changing something that's not in the charter. Therefore, that shouldn't be in the charter either. I'm just, I'm confused on the whole process. Sure and I'll, I'll, I'll try to avoid the legal ease kind of inevitable a little bit. We were, we were challenged by by a lawsuit. The Justice Act on both federal and state have certain requirements in terms of racial equity in in establishment of districts or in a stop in voting. And it was when we looked at it we did some research and there were suggestions. There was evidence that actually let me take a step back the idea. What's on these lawsuits is that if you have a majority white population, and you have an at large election, that majority white population will prevail over other groups consistently. And that is where you run afoul of the voting rights act. And we evaluated it and determine that the data was there to indicate that we had racial bias in our prior elections. And that our at large provision was then violated the voting rights act and therefore could not continue to be implemented. And that it was a long, you know, there's a longer explanation for that and I'm happy to provide at any time but I could do that offline. So that was why we, the council determined to go forward with establishing the district based elections. Next, we need to clean that element up by having a ballot measure that would provide for district elections. I will note that the voters had voted that down in the past. If it were voted down again we have some legal issues to address. At the same time there's a ballot measure to provide for a direct elect mayor with a shift to six district based council members. We can have both of those measures be on the ballot at the same time. And that would include a provision in each one that the ballot measure that we see the most votes would be the one that would go into effect. So hopefully that answers answers your question. Much thank you. Karen, you have a question. Thanks, Sue. And I'm not sure if this is actually for Patty or for Sue, but at what point does the committee weigh in on some things that are currently in the charter that they would like changed, or that they think should be addressed, not that they personally would like changed, but that they think should be addressed. Would that be in a future meeting or should I say it now or We can do that. This is really focused was just to help folks help us start narrowing down on what the council recommended but I think you're exactly right and that was in my mind as well. So at what point do we take on additional items. And we'll have to kind of rearrange priorities again, both ideas from the committee itself. If there are ideas that are floated by members of the public that the committee finds interesting. And also the council urged us to reach out to staff to unions to others that work with the charter all the time for their suggestions so I already have some of those will have us will have a separate agenda item for those that are coming from from staff so. And. Okay, thank you. Yeah, I Karen sort of asked the question I was just wondering how we work in obviously there's gonna be a whole series of cleanup. Things that have to come through and in terms of how are we, how are you anticipating the timing for incorporating these things into into those that that that we can do, you know, so some will have standalone I assume some can be grouped together. I think you mentioned it, you know, that with the direct elect mayor. I'm just curious about the timing on that I assume you're proceeding internally with a lot of the cleanup stuff. And certainly when we, when we address the direct elect mayor will also talk about the cleanup that's needed. And whether that past or not and whether or not you decide as the committee to move that proposal forward for the direct elect mayor. Yes, and in terms of how we move forward. We'll, you know, some of the items will have to look at how we agendize these items. Some can be grouped in one agenda item. Some could be, you know, on maybe on one meeting we can address several of them. And others will take probably, you know, a couple of meetings to get through so. Thank you. Yes, thank you. My question was, Gallagher, you mentioned at the end of the presentation. A suggestion for having some of these be like value statements that would be incorporated into the charter and also provide the flexibility for the council to create ordinances around them. I know one of them was climate change and then DEI and then what were the others that you mentioned that could be considered that way. Sure, and I, and I want to emphasize that that these were suggestions that came from council members. I agree that that allowing some to be done by ordinance gives that flexibility and that that ability to evolve, which I think is very important. But I also want to emphasize that the members of the council also were, were talking about this as well. So the areas where the police auditor is an oversight committee, for example, you could have a, you could add a provision in the charter that there will be either either and or auditor or oversight committee. The climate change diversity equity inclusion, although again, there's some language in the charter that we may still want to be doing some some changes to I think those are the primary ones. The rental housing regulation could be one but the council really is addressing many of those issues through ordinance already so I'm not sure that that one was as strong. Again, there was not unanimity among the council members on that approach, but that was echoed by a number of the council members. Okay. And then, is there an established process for our committee to guys at the very you know. Yeah, some of the. Yeah, some of the items on the ones that are required for amendment or just any of the items. Do we do we have a process established by the charter or this is very open to the committee establishing its own process and criteria for prioritizing or narrowing this list. Again, these are just recommendations from the council for your consideration. You could decide you could decide you want to look at all of them you could decide you don't want to look at any of them that you have other options that you think are more important. And, you know, or you can be selective you can decide which ones you think are important to move forward which ones you want to spend time on as a committee. And then the process of prioritization the process of selections that is up up to the committee. Thank you and then I just had one last question in terms of agendizing you know, I imagine we can do it several ways you know, all of our meetings or just a few of our meetings but I do have a question for you what would be helpful for staff in terms of helping us prepare for helping us prepare for the meeting to discuss each item like how far in advance, would it be appropriate to agendize an item you know few meetings or what was the optimal timeline of agendizing items. Sure, thank you. The, we are moving forward on gathering information and materials on on, you know, at least a few of these items already will continue that process. It would be helpful for us to get a sense of which are your top priorities, because we will, we will put our initial in our first priority efforts into those. We are trying to get materials out a week in advance. The agenda is published the Wednesday before the meeting. And so those are pretty quick turnaround time for us. Once we know your priorities will be reaching out on most of these items will be having speakers we won't be the ones leading it will be having speakers. And so part of it will depend on when speakers are available. But we will start scheduling things out. As soon as we know kind of where your, where your priorities are, Danny. Thank you. You know, I'm looking at the, the topics that are suggested by the council members and I think they are doing a phenomenal job and I think we definitely need to start with the council compensation. And the time that they devote to the, to the community, I think they need to be compensated correctly. But looking at it from a, for the community, I think that one of the things that are definitely our hot subject, especially since yesterday. During the council meeting, I know they discussed the police auditor or that they just signed on. So I think that we need to start talking about the police auditor citizens and oversight committee rental housing regulation. Climate change. The first hop three that I see as something that we can start discussing to make an impact towards our community, especially for our BIPOC community who deals with some of these issues and lower income communities as well. Okay. Hold those thoughts Danny for our discussion time. Lisa, do you have a question disappeared. Yeah, there's a question and a comment in it so I can wait. No problem. Okay. Okay, great. Any other questions before I move to public comment. Okay, I'm not seeing any so I'm going to go ahead and move to public comment which again is the time for members of the public to comment on this particular item. I'm going to by zoom, use your raised hand feature so that the host can allow you to speak if you're calling in by phone dial star nine, and you'll have three minutes to speak. And I'm going to ask our host if we have anybody wishing to speak. We do. Joe, lead them let them. I'm going to start the timer. Are you. Please go ahead. Hello everyone thank you for letting me speak. I was the author of the memo that went out to all of you, probably before this event. And as I look at your agenda you've got a lot of things to cover. So I feel a little bit bad mentioning that I'd like to propose you add another item. But I think it's so important that I do want to add it and that is, I think for Santa Rosa, if it could become more of a democracy. I would serve as a foundation for everything else you're doing. And so what I'm proposing is you take a really good look at maybe trying to make that happen by looking at the rules for referendums and initiatives that are in place. Currently, it is very hard for people to execute referendum or initiative, because the signature requirements are so high. They're very high compared to other countries that do this. If you lower those requirements, you basically be empowering people to have more participation, which is really what the is the inclusiveness you're looking for. So I'm proposing you maybe put that on the list of possible things to address. I know you've got a lot of things you're looking at, but there's another one. Thank you for considering it. Thank you Mr. let them. I don't see any other public commenters hands raised. Okay, great. Thank you. Okay, so now I'm going to bring it back to the committee. And again, for us tonight to at least begin to do some prioritization so that staff can begin to have speakers present for our meetings. So we heard some from Danny. And I'm going to open that discussion up if somebody wants to make a suggestion or a comment as to their desire for prioritizing what we have in front of this. How about you former mayor Scott Barley. Okay, thank you. I'm just, I just, in the interest of giving staff some direction so they can come back to us at the next meeting, and we can make progress I would, I would be supportive of starting with council compensation question. I think in general we should be focusing on first the items that require a charter amendment should be our priorities. And acknowledging the diversity equity inclusion is going to be wrapped into everything we do on those. I think those are the ones and whether we tackle all of them or not. I think a little. I think starting with those but a good starting point. And the other ones, you know, things can be done by ordinance. The place we want to memorialize things that requires the vote of the people we've seen that in with the state constitution that that's problematic, because there's always unintended consequences. And council is capable of doing a lot of that so I'd say start with those I'd be happy to say start with council compensation as the first one I think that's a good discussion and actually will tap in. I think a lot into the diversity equity and inclusion question. Logan. Thanks, Patty. I'm with Scott but I think it's logical to start with what requires a vote of of the voters that can only be done via a ballot measure I think that's just the efficient way to get some of these. And if none of us we can't find a majority to do any of those and we move on. So I think that that's sufficient and I think my personal top priority would be directly elected mayor, although council pay is a is a close second. I think those are going to be to. I think those are going to involve a lot of conversation and then a third one that I think will take probably just a good amount of time to even understand and study is ranked choice voting. I would recommend that we do that early on to make sure we have the time as well. I'll also suggest early on just one other one real quick Patty is because it requires also the vote is removal of council members I think that's probably pretty, pretty clear cut for a lot of folks. So yeah, just again the ones that require the ballot measures first. Thanks. Thank you. Karen. I think we should really focus on the amendment required list and not the option ordinance list. And that probably my top two would be council compensation and ranked choice voting. Okay. Thank you. I wanted to also, before I state what my preferences are, if we could have some time to explain what the difference is adopting something in the charter, I mean, we may have done this in the beginning in the first meeting. But you know, a lot of us have experience participating in government and some of us don't. So maybe an explanation of what the difference is between adopting something by ordinance and you know, whether it's voter past or council past and having something in the charter and why that matters. That'd be great I think and then my preferences for discussion also are those that require an amendment. Which I think it'd be helpful maybe to start with three of them and agendize those and then take on three more. I don't know how the committee feels. I think the election of a mayor ranked voice or ranked choice voting and then council compensation are major and I think we should discuss those first. And then I also think that at some point, maybe combining a principle statement in the charter about climate change and DEI would be helpful in supporting, you know, not being specific enough to create legal problems per se or hurdles, but something that supports council members and implementing these in an ordinance in the future. Great. Thanks. Dan. Yes, I'd like I agree with Karen's comments. I think that the five issues that require the charter amendment should be our top priority and to start with, and the two that I'm the most interested in would be council compensation and rank choice voting. Thank you. Right. Thank you. Jen close. Thanks. First of all, I'm apologies for being late. I'm kind of a plus one to all this I'll try to be quick I think focusing on the things that require charter amendment is important focusing on the ones that are complicated and might take some time like ranked choice voting. I would like to. I mean I'm the elected elected elected mayor mayor, maybe but and I would say my number one priorities counts compensation. And, and in terms of statements of values, I do think that that would be a good conversation to have. Once we're through those, but on those topics that are kind of broad values like climate change and DEI. So, kind of plus one to everything that's been said. Thank you very much. I agree. We should first focus on what requires charter amendment. And what the topic that I would want to focus on first would be council compensation. I think that has a lot to do with inclusion. Might hit those goals. I would be skeptical of the, the item for removal of mayor or city council, because we don't know what that means yet. I think that's a good idea. I think that's a good idea. I think that may have, that may have an opposite impact on inclusion goals. Thank you. Thank you. Lisa, I thought I saw your hand up. Did you take it down? Oh, there you are. Okay. Yeah. Lisa. Well, my fellow committee members. I'm a plus one with, with all of them as well. I guess my priorities would be. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But I just, I wanted to also dovetail quickly. Logan brought up a good point. There are several of the, especially the ones that just need an ordinance. Where the council is either, you know, has been working on them, has proposals in front of them currently in the past couple of years and the next. In the, in the decisions coming in the next year. So I think that. You know, I think it's important to decide what is a priority and how to decide what we focus on. You know, the charter is really about the bylaws of the city, right? The framework of good governments and how do we engage and how do we organize ourselves? And there's things in this list that are very clearly that. The things that also end up being what's required by charter, the elected mayor. The city charter. The city charter. The city charter. The city charter. The city charter. The city charter. The city charter. Removal of mayor. But those things. I guess the way I see it are very clearly in the bounds of what a city charter is. When we travel into. Ordinances and legislative decisions that then get ingrained into a 10 year. Charter. It almost seems like a legislative function that. That. That isn't quite seated for here. I'm just trying to figure out how do we think about this list? I mean, it's, it's from A to Z, right? With everything of big things and little things and things that change the entire way that the city works. To smaller things. How do we count a quorum and ensure that our boards and commissions can function? So thanks very much. Danny, did you want to say something more? No, I'm fine. Thank you. Okay, thank you. Okay. Okay. Anybody else have a comment? So what, what I think I'm hearing is that for the most. Excuse me. Christine has her hand raised. Oh, Christine. Sure. Yeah, I can keep it quick. I am very much on board with what many of you said. And for me, priorities are. That was a conversation direct selects mayor and range choice voting. So. And on board with the process moving forward. Great. So I think what I'm hearing is that for the most part of the committee is on board with. Our beginning list should go with the ones where an amendment is actually required. There's a lot of support for starting first with council compensation. So I think that the range choice voting. Is complicated. That may take some time. So, you know, I don't know if it's interchangeable in people's minds with dealing with the direct elected mayor or what, if we maybe need more time for that. What do you think about that? So in terms of staff and what, what's going to be required to give us those presentations. Yes. And I, I appreciate that. I appreciate that. And I think that's one of the, I think that's one of the, I think that's one of the, that same thing is that those three seem to be. The top. Of many people's lists. So what I would suggest is to let us. Focus on, on these three to start. And the order in which we bring them to you. May depend on. How available our speakers. Obviously the first one, whichever one we take first, we're going to have to have those materials, at least initially prepared by next Wednesday. So it's a very short turnaround. At least for this first meeting, I would ask your patients in that we will get as much material as we can to you the week in advance, but it may take more than one meeting. So we'll do our best. As we move forward and have more lead time. We'll, we'll be able to be a more comprehensive. In the weekend advance. So. It may take more than one meeting too. Yes. Many of these may take more than one meeting. It may need some evolution. And then to just means request. Could we at our next meeting. Another. Sort of primer on what the differences are between the charter and the ordinances, because I think that would just be helpful for us to really understand that and have that in mind. As we work through this. Yeah. Very happy to do that. So. I had a question, Patty, sort of a process question. If we're going to, if we do decide to do resolutions like on, on climate change rather than a ballot measure. Well, let me ask two questions. If we do a resolution to it. Is that also going to the ballot? Anything the, any proposals that this committee has. We'll go to the council and the council will then decide what goes on to the ballot. So. Okay. Would we be, I guess this is up to them. Ultimately the council. Would we be expected to write that resolution? Or just say in principle, what we'd want. No, we'll be writing the actual language. The actual proposed ballot language will, will always work with you in developing that language. So, you know, I would anticipate on some of the more complicated ones. We'll probably have a meeting where the committee discusses it and lets us know, you know, it's like a study session at the council where you would give us direction as to what you would want to have included in a ballot measure. We'll then draft that proposed language, bring that to you, and then you can, you can modify it, revise it as you, as you wish. Okay. Thank you. And then Miss Gallagher, you and I had that this discussion earlier today about this closest request that we have examples of what a ballot measure looked like the last time. And I know you're collecting that and we'll get that to us. So. That hasn't been for example of what those, that language ultimately looked like from the last charter for the ballot measures that were presented at that time. Yes. And thank you for, for that. I had meant to mention that earlier, but yes, we are pulling those prior ballot measures together. That came out of prior committees. So. So if the committee is comfortable with that approach that we're starting with those three staff is going to be figuring out. The order depending on what, what they need time wise and we'll be getting us the materials. You know, as quickly as possible. And there may be materials that come later if it takes more than one meeting. To do that. So. Yeah. I'm sure we're all in agreement that it would be only one thing that we would be looking at. With these heavy lifters. For meeting. So, okay. Okay. Any other questions or comments before we. Move on. I'm not seeing any. I'm just trying to get to the back to my end of. I don't believe we don't have any subcommittee reports or we don't have any written or electronic communications. And. Just did the future agenda items. So with that, I think we can close our meeting and agenda. Sure. Cisco, may I just confirm. So next. Our next meeting we will have an item for the. Principles. The equity principles. We will, I will do a primer on. Char ordinances or resolutions. And then we will choose between these three, these three items. As to which one goes forward in that first week, at least to start the discussion on that item. That sounds good to me. Very good. Did I miss anything? Okay. We're really sure it's okay. Great. Thank you. All right. Thanks again for all your time and your participation. And we'll see you on December 15th. Thank you. Thank you, chair Cisco. Bye. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you for your time and your participation. And we'll see you on the summer 15th. Thank you. Thank you, chair Cisco. Bye.