title
EHRAC - ACTION ITEM: (1) Discuss the Logistics of a Potential Community Conversation to Give Individuals of All Backgrounds a Safe Space to Speak and Be Heard on the Topic of Events Occurring Overseas; and (2) Determine Next Steps as Deemed Appropriate.
body
Meeting Date: November 19, 2024
Contact Person/Dept: Michelle Hamilton/Human Resources
Phone Number: (310) 253-5640
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (11/13/2024); (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - Equity & Human Relations Advisory Committee (11/13/2024); (E-Mail) All City Staff (11/13/2024)
Department Approval: Dana Anderson, Human Resources Director (11/13/2024)
______________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Equity and Human Relations Advisory Committee (EHRAC) (1) discuss the logistics of a potential community conversation to give individuals of all backgrounds a safe space to speak and be heard on the topic of events occurring overseas; and (2) determine next steps as deemed appropriate.
BACKGROUND
EHRAC 2024-2025 Biannual Report and Workplan
At its April 23, 2024, Regular Meeting, EHRAC achieved consensus to approve the attached Public Events and Budget for the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year provided by the Public Events and Budget Ad Hoc Subcommittee (Attachment 1). The events were as follows:
2024
• July Committee meeting
• September: Extended (perhaps three-hour) program on Race Relations
• October: Committee meeting to include a Latino Heritage Month Speaker
• November: Transgender Day of Remembrance program
2025
• January: Committee meeting
• February: Community Conversation
• April: Committee meeting
• May: Diversity Awareness Projects program to launch the projects publicly.
At its June 25, 2024, Special Meeting, EHRAC achieved consensus to submit to City Council the 2024-2025 Biannual Report (Attachment 2), which was based on the Proposed Events and Budget for the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year and the Public Events and Budget Ad Hoc Subcommittee Report.
On August 12, 2024, City Council approved EHRAC’s 2024-2025 biannual workplan.
At its August 27, 2024, Special Meeting, EHRAC achieved consensus to add an Indigenous Peoples’ Day Activity to the EHRAC Project/Event schedule, slated for October 2024 and to move the Race Relations event to a later date to accommodate an event that was scheduled for the same evening at Culver City High School.
At the September 17, 2024, Special Meeting, EHRAC achieved consensus to remove the Transgender Day of Remembrance Program from the workplan due to the lack of member capacity to produce the event, and to move the Race Relations Event and the Latino Heritage Month Speaker Event to October 22, 2024. It is also noted that an additional EHRAC-driven proposed commemoration of Indigenous Peoples Day has not garnered the support from the committee members despite it being added to the EHRAC Event/Project Schedule.
At the September 17, 2024, Special Meeting, in response to public comments received, EHRAC achieved consensus to agendize a discussion surrounding the potential and capacity for holding a Community Conversation to provide a safe space for all community members to voice feelings about the current state of events in the world, with a particular focus on the war in Gaza and the feelings it has infused in the Culver City Community. Staff recommended that should consensus for a Community Conversation be achieved, that the Community Conversation be held in February 2025 due to several factors such as contained in Staff Report #25-348 (Attachment 3).
At the October 22, 2024, Special Meeting, EHRAC achieved consensus to potentially hold the event earlier than, and independently of, the council approved February 2025, Community Conversation, by making a request to the City Council to amend their workplan. Further, EHRAC achieved consensus to designate Member London McBride to bring the request to agendize a discussion to amend the ERHAC workplan to include the event to City Council with the approved script at the October 28, 2024, City Council Meeting.
At the October 28, 2024, City Council Meeting, Member London McBride read a script and presented a document that had not been discussed nor formally approved by EHRAC, provided by Chair Bano on behalf of EHRAC. With three (3) nodding heads, the City Council agreed to agendize the item for a discussion at a future date to be determined.
DISCUSSION
Staff has had inquiries from several members of the public not included in the initial discussions that would like to take part in this potential community conversation. Staff strongly recommends that in the spirit of having a public conversation centered around civil discourse and in consideration of the many facets and widespread impacts of events in the Middle East and beyond on the Culver City Community, that EHRAC employ the expertise of professional services to facilitate an equitable and inclusive community healing conversation designed to give the entire community a safe space to converse, express their feelings and thoughts, and convene.
In addition, to help provide direction to ensure a seamless event, the items on the attached Event Checklist (Attachment 4) should be addressed, reviewed, discussed, and approved as a Committee at the November 19, 2024, EHRAC Special Meeting. Alternatively, EHRAC may decide that it would be in the best interest of the event to create an Ad Hoc Subcommittee to continue to address the event planning during the time when ERHAC is not scheduled to meet as a body, and subsequently bring back a report for approval of the event by EHRAC. Ultimately, EHRAC, as a whole, must approve event details during a publicly noticed meeting.
It should also be noted that while the feelings generated around the request for a ceasefire may be addressed in the community conversation, a ceasefire in and of itself and/or the recommendation related thereto does not fall within the jurisdiction of this body as it has not been authorized for EHRAC’s workplan by the City Council. The City Council, in its sole discretion, would need to direct EHRAC with such ceasefire task.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There is no reported associated fiscal impact with this agenda item at this time. However, there could be anticipated fees incurred for professional facilitators.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2024-10-22_ATT 1_ Public Events and Budget Ad Hoc Subcommittee Report_04112024
2. 2024-10-22_ATT2_EHRAC Biannual Report - July 2024_FINAL_07172024
3. 2024-11-19_ATT3_Staff Report 25-348_10222024
4. 2024-11-19_ATT4_ Event Checklist
MOTION
That the Equity and Human Relations Advisory Committee:
1. Discuss the logistics of a potential community conversation to give individuals of all backgrounds a safe space to speak and be heard on the topic of events occurring overseas;
2. Determine next steps as deemed appropriate.