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1) Approval of the Presentation on the Civil Discourse Guidelines from the Civil Discourse Workshop Ad Hoc Subcommittee; 2) (if desired) Appoint and Authorize Liaisons to Make Presentations to Commissions, Boards, and Committees in coordination with the City Clerk’s Office; 3) Determine Next Steps; and 4) Provide Direction to Staff as Deemed Appropriate
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Meeting Date: December 13, 2022
Contact Person/Dept: Helen Chin/Human Resources Department
Phone Number: 310-253-5640
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: []
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (12/09/2022); (E-Email) Meetings and Agendas - Equity and Human Relations Advisory Committee (12/09/2022); (E-Mail) All City Staff (12/09/2022)
Department Approval: Dana Anderson, Human Resources Director (12/09/2022)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Equity and Human Relations Advisory Committee (EHRAC) 1) approve the presentation on the Civil Discourse Guidelines from the Civil Discourse Workshop Ad Hoc Subcommittee; 2) if desired, appoint and authorize liaisons to make presentations to Commissions, Boards, and Committees in coordination with the City Clerk’s Office; 3) determine next steps; and 4) provide direction to staff as deemed appropriate.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
On December 4, 2021, the EHRAC held a Civil Discourse Workshop for committee members, City staff, and members of the public. The Workshop was facilitated by the Institute for Civility in Government (ICG). The purpose of the Workshop was to train participants in Civil Discourse and to create recommended civil discourse guidelines for the City of Culver City.
The Civil Discourse Ad Hoc Subcommittee subsequently prepared a draft document of Civil Discourse Guidelines for the City of Culver City from the suggestions provided by both workshop participants and the recommended guidelines submitted by the Institute for Civility in Government (ICG). During the April 26, 2022, regular meeting, the EHRAC approved the draft version of the Civil Discourse Guidelines and requested that staff distribute to the public for comment. The draft Civil Discourse Guidelines were made available to the public during the Juneteenth 2022 event. The draft Civil Discourse Guidelines were also available on the City’s website so that the public could provide input during the EHRAC July 26, 2022, regular meeting.
During the July 26, 2022, regular meeting, the EHRAC received public input regarding the draft Civil Discourse Guidelines. The public input received was considered by the EHRAC, and the Civil Discourse Workshop Ad Hoc Subcommittee prepared a final recommendation of the draft Civil Discourse Guidelines. The Civil Discourse Workshop Ad Hoc Subcommittee also presented a recommended implementation plan of the approved Civil Discourse Guidelines to the entire EHRAC; the implementation plan included recommending to City Council that the Civil Discourse Guidelines be adopted by the Council for use at Council meetings and all City Commission, Board and Committee meetings. The EHRAC approved the draft Civil Discourse Guidelines and recommended implementation plan during the August 23, 2022 regular meeting.
The City Council approved the Civil Discourse Guidelines at its September 19, 2022 City Council meeting and provided suggestions of ways to implement the Civil Discourse Guidelines.
During the September 27, 2022 EHRAC meeting, the EHRAC discussed the suggestions provided by City Council and authorized members of the subcommittee to create a standard brief presentation (talking-points) on the guidelines and provide the presentation and guidelines to each City Commission, Board, and Committee, preparing a plan for distributing the guidelines to organizations and to the public, and agendizing a discussion of incorporating the guidelines into the annual Brown Act Review at the January 24, 2023 regular EHRAC meeting. During the December 13, 2022 special meeting, the EHRAC will discuss approving the presentation based on the guidelines, appointing and authorizing liaisons to make presentations to Commission, Boards, and Commissions in coordination with the City Clerk’s Office, and determine the next steps in implementing the distribution plan.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There is no fiscal impact associated with this agenda item.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Report from the Civil Discourse Ad Hoc Subcommittee
2. Draft Presentation on Civil Discourse Guidelines
3. Recommended Civil Discourse Guidelines
MOTION
That the Equity and Human Relations Advisory Committee:
1. Approve the presentation on the Civil Discourse Guidelines from the Civil Discourse Workshops Ad Hoc Subcommittee;
2. (if desired), appoint and authorize liaisons to make presentations to Commissions, Boards, and Committees in coordination with the City Clerk’s Office;
3. Determine next steps; and
4. Provide direction to staff as deemed appropriate.