HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/1/2020 Item 1, Johnson
Council Agenda Correspondence
City of San Luis Obispo, Council Memorandum
DATE:August 28,2020
TO:City Council
FROM:Derek Johnson, City Manager DJ
SUBJECT:Appointments to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion TaskForce
LINKS:July 7, 2020-Diversity Equity Task Force Staff Report
RECOMMENDATION:As recommended by the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Steering
Committee of Mayor Heidi Harmon and Councilmember Erica A. Stewart, appoint 13members
to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Taskforceas listed in this report.
As statedin the Council Agenda Report for Item #1 –Appointments to the Diversity, Equity and
Inclusion Task Force (Task Force) for the September 1, 2020 City Council meeting, the City
received 95 applications.The application period was open from July 13 through August 3and
was advertised through social media, print ad and direct contact.
Any San Luis Obispo County residentover 18 years old with formal or informal experience (lived,
personal, educational, community, volunteerand/or professional)with strong connections withthe
City of San Luis Obispo was encouraged to apply.
The Task Force is part of an effort to help make the city an inclusive and safe community for
everyoneand the initial Task Force will be in place through January 2021. The specific charter of
the DEI-TF is as follows:
1.Focus on activities that support marginalized racial, ethnic, and cultural groups.
2.Collect information and insight about advancing DE& I in San Luis Obispo.
3.Develop a notice of funding availability (NOFA) to support the DE& I work ofproven
organizations and best practices for change.
4.Provide guidance and a foundation for creating a potential 21-23 DE& I focused Major
City Goal.
5.Strengthen the focus and role of the City’ s Human Relations Commission (HRC) to
support the City’s vision.
City Manager Derek Johnson, Mayor Heidi Harmon, Council Member Erica A. Stewart,Beya
Makekao, and Dale Mageehosted 12virtual interviewswith 42 applicants in groups of 3-4 in a
panel interview style.Based uponthe results of the interviews, the following community members
are being recommended forappointed to the Task Force:
Appointments to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion TaskForcePage 2
Task Force Recommended Appointees
1)Erica A. Stewart(Council representative)San Luis Obispo
2)Amman Fasil AsfawSan Luis Obispo
3)Dusty Colyer-WorthSan Luis Obispo
4)Jenell NavarroGrover Beach
5)Katherine SouleSan Luis Obispo
6)M’Lynn MartinGrover Beach
7)Matthew MelendrezSan Luis Obispo
8)Maxine Kozler Koven San Luis Obispo
9)Michael BoyerArroyo Grande
10)Oscar Velasco-Vargas San Luis Obispo
11)Noha Kolkailah Arroyo Grande
12)Renoda Campbell(HRC Representative)San Luis Obispo
13)Vanessa ParsonsSan Luis Obispo
Additionally, staff would like to address an error that was reflected in the original staff report.
Originally, the staff report stated that the Task Force would be led by Mayor Heidi Harmon and
Council Member Erica A. Stewart, however, this is incorrect. The Task Force will elect a
chairperson to represent the DEI-TF and as reflected above Council Member Stewart will be the
Council representative. Lastly, Mayor Harmon, City Manager Johnson, along with consultants
Dale Magee and Beya Montero-Makekao will bein attendance with Beya facilitating the DEI-TF
meetings.
AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW
All applications are available for public review, by request, in the Office of the City Clerk, which
can be reached at (805) 781-7100 or cityclerk@slocity.org during normal business hours.