title
CC - ACTION ITEM: (1) Consideration of a Request by the Equity and Human Relations Advisory Committee to Amend its Workplan to Hold a Courageous Conversation Event (“Spark Healing through Conversation: How the Middle East Crisis Affects Me”); (2) Authorization to the City Manager and Human Resources Director, as Applicable, to Approve all Contracts Deemed Appropriate in Relation to the Event Planning, Facilitation and Production; and (3) Direction to the City Manager as Deemed Appropriate.
body
Meeting Date: January 13, 2025
Contact Person/Dept: Michelle Hamilton/Human Resources
Phone Number: (310) 253-5640
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (01/08/2025)
Department Approval: Dana Anderson, Human Resources Director (12/09/2024)
______________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council (1) consider a request by the Equity and Human Relations Advisory Committee (EHRAC) to amend its workplan to hold a Courageous Conversation Event (“Spark Healing through Conversation: How the Middle East Crisis Affects Me”); (2) authorize the City Manager and Human Resources Director, as applicable, to approve all contracts as deemed appropriate in relation to the Event planning, facilitation and production; and (3) provide direction to the City Manager as deemed appropriate.
BACKGROUND
EHRAC 2024-2025 Biannual Report and Workplan
At its June 25, 2024, EHRAC Special Meeting, EHRAC achieved consensus to submit to City Council the 2024-2025 Biannual Report (Attachment 1). On August 12, 2024, City Council approved EHRAC’s 2024-2025 biannual workplan. At its August 27, 2024, EHRAC Special Meeting, EHRAC achieved consensus to add an Indigenous Peoples’ Day Activity to the EHRAC Project/Event schedule.
On September 11, 2024, Staff received an email and draft Cease Fire Resolution from Chair Bano requesting a discussion regarding a Culver City Cease Fire Resolution be agendized for the September 17, 2024, EHRAC meeting. Staff informed Chair Bano a Cease Fire Resolution was not within EHRAC’s purview and there had been no direction provided by Council to pursue further discussion on this item.
At the September 17, 2024, EHRAC 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 push back the Race Relations Event and the Latino Heritage Month Speaker Event to October 22, 2024, due to a schedule conflict with the Culver City High School College/Career Fair to be held on the same date.
Also at the September 17, 2024, EHRAC Special Meeting, in response to public comments requesting that EHRAC urge the Council to agendize a discussion regarding an immediate and permanent cease fire resolution, EHRAC achieved consensus to agendize a discussion surrounding the potential and capacity for holding a Community Conversation to give the public a space to be heard. Staff advised that if a Community Conversation were to be planned, it may not develop into a discussion to inform nor produce a proposed Cease Fire Resolution. Resolutions are not within EHRAC’s purview to produce nor did the City Council provide direction to EHRAC regarding this topic.
At the October 22, 2024, EHRAC Special Meeting, despite staff’s recommendation to hold the Community Conversation event in February 2025, per the approved EHRAC workplan which included a general Community Conversation event for such date, which would have allowed for a careful and deliberate approach to the event format such as securing neutral professional facilitators well versed in conversations of a sensitive nature and ensuring proper messaging and marketing, EHRAC reached consensus to request to hold the event earlier than and independently of the Council approved February 2025 Community Conversation. (Attachment 2)
EHRAC was informed of the process to modify its workplan to include such an event and designated Member McBride to bring the request to City Council with an approved script at the October 28, 2024, City Council Meeting.
Request to City Council and Proposed Amendment to EHRAC Workplan
At the October 28, 2024, City Council Meeting, Member London McBride presented EHRAC’s request to agendize the request to amend EHRAC’s workplan. EHRAC’s intention was to hold the Community Conversation on November 19, 2024. With three (3) nodding heads, the City Council agreed to agendize the request for an amendment to the EHRAC workplan at a future date to be determined. It should be noted that Attachment 3, which Member McBride presented to City Council on behalf of EHRAC, was not discussed, reviewed nor approved by the full EHRAC body.
On November 8, 2024, staff relayed the contact information of Mara Landay and Rabbi Shapiro to the EHRAC members, as both individuals had expressed an interest to assist EHRAC in any needed capacity to ensure an equitable, safe, and productive conversation for the Culver City Community as a whole. The body was reminded of this outreach at the November 19, 2024, EHRAC meeting.
On November 15, 2024, staff informed EHRAC members in the emailed agenda notification that the City Council had agendized an amendment to the workplan for the January 13, 2025, Regular meeting of the City Council. Although this request to City Council is no longer to have the event earlier than stated in the approved workplan (given the timing of City Council consideration), it is still recommended that City Council provide input to EHRAC given the long history and sensitivity of this matter.
On November 19, 2024, the City Council, City Manager, City Clerk’s Office, staff and the EHRAC members received 22 pages of correspondence entered into the record and several more emails that were submitted beyond the deadline, voicing concerns over the troubling atmosphere at the October 28, 2024, EHRAC meeting. Correspondence touched on conduct of members, lack of neutrality, and the perpetuation of hate speech espoused by members and the public. The emails also voiced concerns over the language and expressed the necessity of having neutral facilitators to present a safe space for all residents to commune and converse.
At the November 19, 2024, meeting, EHRAC received public comment commending the desire to hold a Community Conversation regarding residents’ thoughts and feelings on events in the Middle East, but the public also highlighted the need for great care in the selection of the messaging, format, security, and the importance of neutral, unbiased facilitators who could create a safe space for all Culver City community members to feel safe and welcome.
EHRAC Ad Hoc Subcommittee
EHRAC achieved consensus to create an Ad Hoc Subcommittee for the event and elected Chair Bano and members McBride and Rona to serve on the Ad Hoc Subcommittee. Chair Bano reviewed Attachment 3 with EHRAC, and concerns were raised as to the potential lack of neutrality of the two (2) proposed speakers. EHRAC approved general event details as further described below.
On December 3, 2024, EHRAC members and staff received a follow up email from Mara Landay of the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles. Ms. Landay reiterated, as she mentioned during her public comment on November 19, 2024, that the event’s success will be inextricably tied to the community’s trust that the conversation can be facilitated in a supportive and unbiased manner and offered her support and a list of facilitators well versed in neutrality and the handling of sensitive topics and asked as to the next steps to ensure adequate community input before going to Council.
With no response from the EHRAC Chair and/or the remainder of the Community Conversation Ad Hoc Subcommittee, staff responded to Ms. Landay thanking her for reaching out and for taking the time to provide recommendations for facilitators, along with their websites, for review. Staff included the Community Conversations Ad Hoc Subcommittee in its response so that Chair Bano and the other Community Conversations Ad Hoc Subcommittee Members could respond to Ms. Landay’s inquiries with their current plan.
DISCUSSION
Due to EHRAC’s original intent to hold the Community Conversation in November which would have been a departure from its workplan as events have progressed, and with the formation of the Ad Hoc Subcommittee, it appears the event will have to take place in February or potentially later, should all recommendations brought before EHRAC by both staff and the public be explored.
As such, due to the sensitive nature of this topic, EHRAC has provided the following general information for the event, and staff respectively requests that the City Council provide feedback and/or direction as deemed appropriate to assist in informing and shaping the event.
Event Outline
Ø Theme: “Spark Healing through Conversation: How the Middle East Crisis Affects Me.”
Ø Purpose/Take Aways: Purpose is to give community members the tools to have a productive interactive discussion using “I” statements and active listening skills.
Ø Intended Audience: Community at Large comprised of Culver City Residents across the spectrum of diversity.
Ø Planning Team: Chair Bano, Member Rebecca Rona-Tuttle, and Member London McBride.
Ø Fiscal Impact: Currently, the exact fiscal impact of the event is unknown; however, EHRAC is anticipating fees for securing professional neutral facilitators in an amount not to exceed $3,000.
In light of recent events and feedback, staff respectfully requests that the City Council direct EHRAC to conduct community outreach and utilize community input from all interested parties in the selection of the facilitators for the event.
To reaffirm the importance of being neutral and unbiased in their position, it should be noted the EHRAC was formed in 2020 to “recommend programs, policies, and activities that promote positive human relations and equitable outcomes and opportunities in all aspects of community life”, as stated in its bylaws, and as City Council appointed members of EHRAC, staff also recommends that EHRAC be required to attend training relevant to and in support of these principles as related to being representatives of Culver City.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 includes sufficient funding in the amount of $3,000 to cover the cost of professional neutral facilitator services in Account No. 10122100.517000 (Human Resources - City Commission Expenses) which can be found on page 196 of the budget book. Additional costs associated with hosting the event are unknown at this time but are anticipated to be within the Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2025-01-13_ATT1_EHRAC Biannual Report - July 2024_FINAL_07172024
2. 2025-01-13_ATT2_Staff Report 25-348_10222024
3. 2025-01-13_ATT3_Unofficial Event Overview_11192024
MOTION
That the City Council:
1. Approve the modification of the EHRAC Workplan to hold a Courageous Conversation Event (“Spark Healing through Conversation: How the Middle East Crisis Affects Me”);
2. Authorize the City Manager and Human Resources Director, as applicable, to approve all contracts as deemed appropriate in relation to the Event planning, facilitation, and production; and
3. Authorize the City Attorney to review/prepare the necessary documents; and
4. Authorize the City Manager to execute such documents on behalf of the City; and
5. Provide other direction to the City Manager as deemed appropriate.