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City of Lakewood Commission for an Inclusive Community
Commission Meeting - Minutes
July 9, 2008
Minutes are not a verbatim transcription but rather an attempt to capture the intent of the speaker.
ITEM 1 - CALL TO ORDER: 6:30 p.m.
ITEM 2 - Commissioners Present: Little, Brockwell, Cohn, Arai, Gaffney-Kindig,
Evans, J. Fox, Harrison, L. Fox, Creswell, Kinney, Kreienkanp, Varnes, Slabe,
Spicer, Roybal, Witkin, Baca, Bradburn, Murray, McNeill, Carr, Cozart, Spriggs,
Taylor, Schneider, Herron,Trujillo, Wieberg. 29 present. A quorum declared.
Honored Guests: Council Representatives: Debbie Koop and Cindy Baroway and Sue
King.
ITEM 3 - PUBLIC COMMENT: Council Representative King commented that she appreciated the Executive Committee's presentation on status of the Commission at the City Council Study Session on July 14th. She wanted Commissioners to know that Council is happy with the progress the Commission has made thus far and that the Mayor and Council thank Commissioners for their contribution to the city..
ITEM 4 - APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes were approved.
ITEM 5 - CORRESPONDENCE: No correspondence.
ITEM 6 - Introduction of new members:
Newly appointed Commissioners Kane Mc Neill (Environmental Committee) and Brian
Wieberg (Youth Committee) were welcomed.
ITEM 7 -Report on Survey Results
Erma Steck presented a Power Point review of the results of the survey prepared
by Commissioners Tom Slabe and Reed Larsen. 53 surveys were mailed out; 18 were
returned for a response rate of 34%. However, 2 surveys were incomplete and
not used for statistical tabulations. Copies of the Power Point Slides were
provided to commissioners. In general, respondents indicated that the Commission
is productive and worthwhile. They feel pride in serving and are satisfied with
their individual committees which they feel are productive. Surveys indicated
that the Executive Committee needs improvement to adjust some cumbersome processes.
In general, commissioners were satisfied with the length and frequency of both
Committee and Commission meetings. They feel their experience is worthwhile,
fulfilling and benefits the community. They are satisfied with the Commission,
the City staff and City Council However, survey results indicated that communication
at all levels needs improvement.
Ms. Steck asked what could be done in future to improve response rate for surveys. Suggestions included sending the survey with an indication that response is time-sensitive, enclosing a return envelope, and preparing the survey so that e-mail response would be possible.
Discussion of absentee Commissioners followed. Suggestion made that the Coordinator send a letter to all Commissioners who have been identified by their respective committee chair as absent from meetings and inactive. The letter should encourage the member to participate or consider resignation. The process for removing Commissioners was also mentioned as a solution for those members not fully participating.
ITEM 8 - COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. PARKS, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE: A new assignment from Council requests PT&OS
investigate the possibility of adding a specific parkland zoning to the City
Zoning Ordinance.
2. PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE: No Report.
3. HISTORICAL LANDMARKS COMMITTEE:
3 committee meetings since the June ACIC meeting - highlight was 7/2.
Guest speakers: Paul Ditson on Eiber Neighborhood history and Christian van
der Werken about his proposed historic preservation Eagle Scout project.
Two ACIC Commissioners attended this meeting: Bill Spriggs and Richard Creswell.
Final proposal on Landmark Designation Process will be presented to the Executive
Committee and ACIC in August.
Upcoming meetings: (All at Carmody Rec Center)
• Next Regular Meeting Wed, 8/6 - 7pm to discuss final proposal.
• September Regular Meeting Wed, 9/3 - 7pm Guests: Rob Smetana, AICP -
Principal Planner - Planning Dept; Michelle Nierling - Heritage Culture &
Arts Manager - Dept of Community Resource
• October RegularMeeting Wed, 10/1 - 7pm. Guest: Richard Creswell - ACIC
Commissioner - Environmental Committee
4. YOUTH COMMITTEE: Two assignments. 1) Study graffiti prevention methods, including
education of youth. Ongoing. 2) Research other communities to see if they have
committees with a youth focus; work/projects they currently are doing. Completed
and preparing report.
5. SENIOR COMMITTEE: Assignment to research other cites to see if they have
a Senior Committee and what work they currently undertake in the community.
Due date is 9/17/08. In process.
6. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE: Two current projects (Increasing Recycling and Building
Green). The reports have been updated to include comments from last month's
meeting and are ready to go on to City Council.
7. NEIGHBORHOOD LIAISON COMMITTEE: The committee will present that report on
Neighborhood Cleanup at the August ACIC meeting. Report on improving communications
between the city and neighborhood groups and among neighborhood groups with
each other is delayed.
8. BUSINESS COMMITTEE: Current assignment is to review current information distributed
to small businesses in the city. Met with Becky Clark and Michelle Hardwiger
of the Lakewood Economic Development Department and were happy to learn that
this project was completed and the information is ready for distribution. They
will present a report at the August meeting. Next Committee meeting - 7/23,
location to be determined.
9. DIVERSITY COMMITTEE: Mission Statement to be presented to the Executive Committee
and then to the full Commission in August. Continue to network with other community
groups dealing with diversity and inclusiveness issues. They will present a
proposal for the seminar under Old Business.
ITEM 9- OLD BUSINESS:
Diversity Committee Report. Maxie Witkin presented the proposal for Diversity
education Outreach and why it is important for all Commissioners to participate-as
well as why it is important to the Community as a whole. She cited a Minnesota
study which outlined reasons for looking at issues of diversity and inclusiveness
and discussed the need for "Cultural Competence." The seminar will
be presented for a half day in September or October. It will be open to ACIC
members, City Council and some guests, depending upon space availability.
Commissioner Evans suggested setting a date as soon as possible so members could determine it they could attend. Commissioner Harrison suggested first checking with Council for available dates.
ITEM 10-NEW BUSINESS:
• Communications Team report delayed.
• Chairman Little asked that members encourage new applications for the commission in view of the fact that some of the inactive members will be asked to resign at some point soon. We currently have 58 members, including two new appointments to be made at the next City Council meeting.
• Discussion of what constitutes a quorum for our Commission. Commissioner Cohn moved that we adopt 35% of membership as a quorum. Commissioner Harrison seconded the motion. Discussion: Attendance has not been full; lower number would prevent delay in completing business. Question of whether change is needed in view of the fact that we will be encouraging inactive members to either fully participate or consider resigning; we have thus far always had 50 % present for a quorum so why change now? Why not wait to see what our real numbers are. A motion was made and seconded to postpone action on this motion until the next ACIC meeting. Motion passed.
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 pm.
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