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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025.11.06 SERJAC minutes ASHLAND SOCIAL EQUITY AND RACIAL JUSTICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES November 6, 2025 4-30-6.00 PM - 51 Winburn Way - Siskiyou Room I. Call to Order and Welcome The meeting was called to order at 4:34pm. Present were Committee Members Cassie Preskenis, Sean Smith, Catherine Greenspan,Allison Mendel, and Emily Simon (by zoom). Also present were Council Liaison Gina DuQuenne, Staff Liaison Kerrick Gooden, HHSAC Staff Liaison and Housing Program Manager Linda Reid, and HHSAC Committee Chair Echo Fields. 1. Land Acknowledgment-We acknowledge and honor the aboriginal people on whose ancestral homelands we work-the Ikirakutsum Band of the Shasta Nation, as well as the diverse and vibrant Native communities who make their home here today. We denounce the egregious acts of the colonizers and government and recognize the horrific impacts that still exist today. We honor the first stewards in the Rogue Valley and the lands we love and depend on: Tribes with ancestral lands in and surrounding the geography of the Ashland Watershed include the original past, present and future indigenous inhabitants of the Shasta, Takelma and Athabaskan people. We also recognize and acknowledge the Shasta village of K'wakhakha -"Where the Crow Lights" -that is now the Ashland City Plaza Presekins read the land acknowledgment. 2. Labor Acknowledgment-We also pause to recognize and acknowledge the labor upon which our country, state, and institutions are built. We remember that our country is built on the labor of enslaved people who were kidnapped and brought to the U.S. from the African continent and recognize the continued contribution of their survivors. We also acknowledge all immigrant labor, including voluntary, involuntary, trafficked, forced, and undocumented peoples who contributed to the building of the country and continue to serve within our labor force. We acknowledge all unpaid care-giving labor. To the people who contributed this immeasurable work and their descendants, we acknowledge their indelible mark on the space in which we gather today. It is our collective responsibility to critically examine these histories, to repair harm, and to honor, protect, and sustain their contribution to our society. Greenspan read the Labor Acknowledgment. II. Approval of Minutes from 10.9.2025 Meeting 1. Approval of minutes from the 10.9.2025 regular meeting Preskenis moved to approve the minutes. Greenspan seconded the motion. All ayes. Motion passed. III. Special Presentations 1. Linda Reid - Housing Program Manager and Staff Liaison to the Housing and Human Services Advisory Committee - Equitable Housing Plan Development Reid provided a presentation and invited SERJAC to collaborate as HHSAC develops its Equitable Housing Plan (see packet). Equitable housing plans aim to address the disparities and inequalities in housing access, affordability, and quality- particularly for marginalized communities. Over the past few decades, the conversation surrounding housing equity has evolved, focusing on the need to mitigate racial,socioeconomic, and geographic disparities. Equitable housing plans often focus on a few key components, including affordability, anti-displacement measures, access to resources and infrastructure, and recognizing and mitigating the impacts of structural inequities. The purpose of this project will be to create a decision-making framework that addresses these key components. will be specifically applied to the City's housing and grant decision-making processes, and which incorporates and aligns with the city's values, policies and investment goals.To ensure that this framework incorporates the voices of marginalized communities and considers the impacts to quality-of-life issues, HHSAC seeks input from members of the community that are often overlooked or experience barriers to providing public input. That is why the HHSAC is reaching out to SERJAC for input on how best to collaborate to accomplish these goals and how best to encourage involvement from a variety of community stakeholders who are not generally engaged in policy processes. Reid discussed that many communities do something similar, but are often focused on a specific project with limited scope. Others include a city-wide look, but are more of a housing production strategy, whereas the vision for Ashland is more like Eugene's triple-bottom-line as a framework for examining future project decisions. There is not a prescribed process for this and Reid suggested a preference for a process that is done correctly rather than rushed. The committee discussed forming a working group of two SERJAC members to work with two members from HHSAC. Mendel volunteered to serve as one SERJAC member and another volunteer will be selected at the next regular meeting. Gooden will send the committee a version of the slide from the presentation that includes the links as presented. IV. Public Forum none V. Unfinished Business 1. Belonging Survey- Status update, discussion, and next steps The committee discussed Mendel's experience with administering the Belonging Survey at the HHSAC Resource Fair,and the idea for a quarter sheet flyer for the Belonging Survey that includes the QR link to the survey for posting in various locations in the community, and instructions for those that complete a paper survey for how to submit it to the committee. Smith will work on the quarter sheet flyer with QR code that Gooden can print and distribute to SERJAC members as requested. Gooden will notify committee members when this is ready with instructions on how to arrange for printing and pick-up. Gooden can also update the printed survey with instructions on how to drop off at City Hall. The committee also discussed requesting a mid-survey advertising push of the survey through the City's Communications Officer after Thanksgiving and discussed keeping the survey live until after the Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. event in January. A. The Belonging Survey is Live - Here is the link VI. Liaison Updates and Reports 1. Update from current liaison assignments: Greenspan —Planning Commission Tyler—Climate and Energy Policy Advisory Committee Preskenis—Transportation Advisory Committee Simon —Public Arts Advisory Committee Mendel— Housing and Human Services Advisory Committee Smith -- Parks Greenspan- Planning Commission discussed affordable housing at a development on Clay street qualifying at 80% ami -commissioners asked and confirmed that affordable ones will be same size and seem to have an eye for blending them in --committee discussed what goes into qualifications for affordable housing. Preskenis- reported that the TAC opened its meeting with an update that SERJAC's Belonging Survey is live. Their meeting included how they are processing SeeClickFix reports and specifically a report that not all crosswalks include audible beacons. PAAC is considering how to handle some of the painted ODOT boxes and some that are on the docket to paint that need to be replaced and discussed how to repurpose-The public art installation 'Velocity' was vandalized again. BlackLight's Ancestors Future: Crystallizing Our Call has been fully funded. Mendel-attended the HHSAC Resource Fair and discussed her experience administering the Belonging Survey. The committee discussed creating a 1/4 sheet with a QR code link for use in advertising the survey and posting around town. OHRA is expected to present an expanded scope of service. VII. New Business 1. Enhanced Law Enforcement Area - Review of updated ordinance and discussion The committee discussed whether it should take up discussion regarding the ELEA as it has changed over time. The committee decided to form a working group to explore the ordinance and how it might relate to the 2200 Ashland Street discussion that will have regional partners. Members were encouraged to read it through and consider if they would like to serve on the working group to explore this topic. Simon volunteered to serve on the working group and another member will be selected at the next meeting. DuQuenne offered to support this process. 2. SERJAC Committee Structure - review and discussion Mendel asked committee members to reflect on how the new SERJAC structure is going, especially since new liaison assignments—committee members were in favor of leaving things how they are. 3. SERJAC Social Event- ideas for discussion and planning The committee discussed the idea of holding a social event and planted ideas for discussion at December's regular meeting. Vill. Announcements and Events In addition to these events, Gooden announced the date for the Committee Appreciation and 2025 Accomplishments and 2026 Workplan presentations to City Council is scheduled for December 15th. Gooden will work with Mendel and Smith to compile the committee's accomplishments and workplan for the presentation (due to the City Manager's Office by December 3 for inclusion in the Council Packet), and will send out the formal invitation to committee members when it comes out. 1. Native American Heritage Month Celebration Saturday, November 15, 2025 - 11:00am-4:OOPM Southern Oregon University Stevenson Union 2. Aidan Ellison Vigil Sunday, November 23, 2025 Mountain Ave (from Iowa to East Main) 2-4pm IX. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 5:58PM