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City of Lakewood Advisory Commission for an Inclusive Community
Commission Meeting - Minutes
October 15, 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. by Vice Chair Jim Bradburn
ITEM 2 - Commissioners Present: Arai; Bradburn; Brockwell; Creswell; Fox J; Fox L; Harrison; Herron; Kinney; Kreienkamp; Larsen; McNeil; Mesch; Smedes; Taylor; Trapino; Wicht. 17 present. No quorum.
ITEM 3 - PUBLIC COMMENT: Karen Harrison spoke about the upcoming Presidential election and the importance of casting a vote. Whichever candidate is elected, we will have new leadership. Karen urged everyone to remain involved in the ongoing discussion and find new ways to support the new leadership. She stated that continuing polarization in the country is not productive.
ITEM 4 - APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes were approved.
ITEM 5 - CORRESPONDENCE: Letters read from Carolyn Evans (Public Art); Pete Roybal (Youth) and Gerard Spicer (environment) submitting resignations from the Commission. In addition, verbal resignations were received from Deb Jones (Neighborhood) and Nancy Murray (Diversity Education). Resignations were accepted with regret.
A letter read from Joe Beaver commenting on the recent Diversity Education Seminar and thanking the Commission for inviting and welcoming him. He mentioned lack of sidewalk access on major streets in Lakewood as a remaining problem for people with disabilities and cited this as a barrier to participating in an inclusive community.
ITEM 6 -UPDATE ON CURRENT LEADERSHIP/ NEXT STEPS
Jim Bradburn was elected Vice Chair at the Executive Committee meeting of October
8th and is acting in the absence of Johann Cohn, who has assumed the Chair position
following resignation of Randy Little.
Committees are asked to elect Chairs for the coming year by November 1 and e-mail
that information to Erma Steck as soon as received..
The Nominating Committee was introduced. They will contact Committee Chairs
for officer positions after November 1st. They are asked to present a slate
of officer candidates to the Executive Committee at the meeting on November
12th. The slate will be presented to the Commission at the regular November
19th meeting with elections held at the December 17th meeting.
ITEM 7 - COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. PARKS, TRAILS AND OPEN SPACE: PT&OS did not meet in October. No report.
2. PUBLIC ART COMMITTEE: Did not meet in October. No report.
3. HISTORICAL LANDMARKS COMMITTEE: One meeting held in October. Executive Summary
on Preservation of Historical Landmarks was submitted to Erma Steck for Council
review. Ms. Brockwell reported that she attended the Council Study Session 10/6/08
at the Permit Department. The constituent contact for concerns regarding Permits
is Bill Clayton. Council meeting of 10/13/08 discussed, among other things,
the City's financial status.
4. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE: Regularly scheduled meetings are held the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 5 p.m. in the City Manager's Training Room prior to the Commission meeting. They will prepare a report to submit to Council with comments on the Parkland Zoning issue as a supplement to the PT&OS report.
5. YOUTH COMMITTEE: One meeting held. Need more members.
6. SENIOR COMMITTEE: Next month they plan to present their proposal regarding Senior Commissions/committees in other communities.
7. BUSINESS COMMITTEE: Welcomed Jim Kinney as a new member of that committee.
They are working on the project concerning campaign financing and have met with
City Clerk, Margy Greer to obtain information on Lakewood rules. They have begun
to compare rules for campaign financing in other communities. Plan to have a
first report at the November meeting. Next meeting,10/28/08.
8. DIVERSITY EDUCATION COMMITTEE: Seminar which was conducted 9/20/08 was well
attended and very successful. Thanks to Mayor Murphy and Council members Quinn
and Paul who attended. Thanks also to all those who volunteered to help. Evaluations
from the seminar are being assessed. They have discussed ideas for the City's
40th anniversary celebration. A summary of those ideas was presented to the
Executive Committee on 10/8/08. Next meeting, Thursday 11/6/08 at 6 p.m. at
Charles Whitlock Recreation Center.
9. NEIGHBORHOOD LIASON COMMITTEE: Neighborhood cleanup project has support from
Council and will probably be scheduled for the fall of 2009. Report on improving
communications between the city and neighborhoods was presented to Council officers
and was well received. The idea of a neighborhood forum will be an item for
further action. Currently working on the issue of parking recreational vehicles
on city streets to obtain feedback and determine if a change in the current
ordinance is needed. Next meeting,Wednesday 11/5/08 at the Lakewood Link at
6:30 p.m.
ITEM 8 -UNFINISHED BUSINESS: No Unfinished Business.
ITEM 9 - NEW BUSINESS:
Jim Bradburn outlined challenges for filling officer positions for the next
year. The Commission is required to select officers from among elected representatives
of each Committee. These representatives are currently Committee Chairs. Chair
responsibilities can be rather heavy and Officer positions require a time commitment
and additional duties that are also time consuming.
In an attempt to address this issue, the Executive Committee presented a draft
request that Council amend Resolutions 2008-48 and 2008-49 to allow for three
officer positions in addition to nine committee representatives so that officers
are not simultaneously serving as committee chairs and officers. Lengthy discussion
ensued with some of the main concerns being:
• Would both representatives from three of the committees have voting rights?
• How heavy are the responsibilities of the officers? How much time does
it now require? Are all three positions overwhelmed?
• If three positions are added to the Executive Committee it will be an
even number, causing problems in case of a tie vote.
• What issues does the executive Committee now vote on?
• What is the actual role of the Executive Committee?
• Would this proposed change serve to take better care of volunteers who
do not have unlimited time to contribute?
• If this proposal is adopted, will the Nominating Committee be able to
solicit officer nominations from the Commission as a whole?
This proposal originated in the executive Committee and thus requires a vote
by the full Commission to move forward. Since a quorum was not present, no vote
was possible.
The issue will be brought back for discussion at the next meeting.
(NOTE: A question as to whether an e-mail vote by the full Commission on this
proposal would be possible. It was subsequently determined that this could not
be done since all votes must be taken at a public meeting after proper public
notice.)
In view of the hour and the lack of a quorum, it was also decided to delay discussion of suggestions for the City of Lakewood 40th Anniversary Celebration.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 pm.
Lorna Fox, Secretary
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