08-11-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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10 • “Commissioners are selected by City Council, which itself does not represent the diversity of the community.” • “How we can be more intentional in incorporating equity principles and practices in our work; whether as a commission and even as a City, what internal work do we need to do ourselves to assess where we are at, be on the same page about equity definitions, goals and vision, while also creating systemic changes that are more equitable for the community.” • “The membership of commissions is appointed from the pool of those who are interested in working on City issues and then apply for membership on a commission. This is where an effort must be made to encourage more interest in working on a commission. Some Cities advertise widely for commission openings on a variety of City platforms (City newsletter, City website, Nextdoor, Facebook, etc.). There could be a way to reach folks who do not use any of these resources by advertising directly to certain groups.” • “We need more ethnic diversity representation. It is difficult to get other cultures involved.” • “Too many people are appointed to a board or commission for the sake of diversity, even though they have no expertise that is relevant to the board or commission.” This is a dissenting perspective and not supported by survey responses. • Conduct a survey of representative diverse communities for their input SUGGESTIONS FROM CURRENT COMMISSIONERS We heard that numerous aspects of commissions are working well and commissioners believe they are serving an important role. As with any group, there is room for continuous improvement. The following areas and resources are suggested for City Council discussion and possible action. • Appoint a City staff liaison member to all commissions. • Improve equitable representation by broadening recruitment to target and reach more diverse groups. Ideally, reach out to relevant groups in advance of openings to build relationships and inform community members about the commissions. • Develop an orientation / handbook and ensure training is conducted for all commissioners to provide a contextual understanding of the commission and City governance. • As soon as safely possible, consider a balance of online meetings using Zoom or similar tool and in-person meetings. While Zoom is convenient and can remove transportation and possibly childcare barriers, it may be less personal, making it more difficult to speak up and harder to get to know others. OTHER BEST PRACTICE RESOURCES • League of Minnesota Cities – Collaboration of commissioners with other City commissioners in similar situations often offers the best path to effectiveness and