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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026.03.05 SERJAC minutes ASHLAND SOCIAL EQUITY AND RACIAL JUSTICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Marc~ 5' 2026 4:30-6:OOPM - SiGkiVOU ROOnl - 51 VViDbUrn Way 1. Call toOrder The mneedng was co|led to order ot4.34 p.m. Present were committee mnernbmna John Tyler,Sean Smith,Catherine Greenspan,Allison Mendel,and Emily Simon. Also present was staff liaison KeniokGooden. i. Land Acknowledgment'We acknowledge and honor the aboriginal people on whose anoeotna| home|ands we vvod+the |kinakutsum Band of the Ghaobs Netion' aovxe|/ 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 peet, present and future indigenous inhabitants of the Sheste. Take|rna and fdhobaekan people. We also recognize and acknowledge the Shasta village of Kvvakhakho ' "Where the Crow Lights" -that is now the Ashland City Plaza Smith 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, foroed, 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 deooendanta, we acknowledge their indelible mark on the space in which we gather today. It is our collective reoponoibi|ity to critically examine these historieo, to repair harm, and to honor, proteot, and sustain their contribution to our society. Tyler read the labor acknowledgment. 11. Approval of Minutes from 2.5.2026 Meeting 1. Approval of minutes from 2.5.2026 meeting Tyler moved to a pprmwe the minutes.Smith seconded the motion.All ayes.motion passed' Ill. Public Forum none IV. Unfinished Business 1. Regional ICE activity-should SERJAC issue recommendation to Council? (Tyler'5 min.) Gooden shored DuQuemme's council liaison update as requested because she could not attend in peroom:State leg io|otoraon*deboting HIS 4138to restrict po|ice omdot her law emfomzernentfnorn vveorim8 f ace cove rovvhIle lntoroctlnQ wit t he pub|io ond requ Ire off ioero to show t heir no me,badge munuagency.omd agency. Several community rn�rnbersattended Ashland City Council on March 3nu to ask what 4oh|ond I dolnQ. OuQuemme off enad tosup port o requeotfor SERJAC to present to the CIty Counol| regarding the issue if/when it is ready. Tyler presented his research into suggested updates for the |rnnni8rotlon Resources page on the City'm webolte.The oornmnitteedleoussed the Ash|omd.Nemnortlo|e by Mayor Gpohonn omd con sidened the Portland Immigration Rights Coalition (P|RK) website000 good example ofo resource.Greenspan offered to consolidate recommendations as discussed and will provide to working group ahead of A. Current resources from City of Ashland weboite 2. Committee recruitment and liaison assignments(15 min.) The committee discussed the draft SERJAC recruitment letter brought by the working group. Suggested edits included adding the age requirement.Gooden advised to make sure it has Counci|'s blessing oait isooniimQf rornSERJ4C rather thononind IviduoLTheoornrnittee asked Good entooemdit toSERJAC's Council Uolsono and City Manager for dinaotiom/oonnlderotion. The committee discussed liaison assignments:Tyler will move to the Transportation Advisory Committee instead cf attending CEP4C. V. Liaison Updates and Reports i. Update from current liaison assignments: Greonepan— P|onningCornmiaoion Tyler— Climate and Energy Policy Advisory Committee Simon— Public Arts Advisory Committee Mendel — Housing and Human Services Advisory Committee (5min.) Srnith— Porko Mende|—CoCoConvo (1Dmin.) Greenspan reported on having attended that lost Planning Commission meeting.Discussion included concern over the definition of affordable units related to a proposed development on Nursery Street. Concerns included small / impractical units being described as affordable due to size alone.This may beof ongoing interest to SERJAC related to social equity. Tyler reported on having attended the lost CEPAC meeting where discussion included home energy evaluations and rebates for electrification. Simon reported that PAAC discussed the Playwright's Walk plaques and how suggested additions are reviewed with consideration to the rest of the public art collection. PAAC membership has changed. Discussion also included the status of theBuUer- Perozzlfoumtoimrestorodonomdthoneedforrepolrto the boumoimgbo|[oou|pture.ArtontheE|k'sbul|dln8i000hedu|edto8oupimJu|y.TheP|oyvvri8ht'oVvo|k plaque that Includes o quote frorn Lorraine Homoberryot railroad park will be featured im the playbill nf DSF'nA Roioinim the Sun. Mende| nsported that HH SAC reviewed 000io|service 8nzntopp|ioot[on sonddidoterrlfio job frorno social equity and racial justice perspective. Mendel also reported that the CoCoComvo (regular meeting ofoornrnittee/oornnnlsoiom chairs) included discussion about the But|er-Perozzlfountain reato ratio m project omd the TromoportodonGysternP|onbeinglD yea rs out of date(potemtio| intereot fronnSERJ AC related toom8oingADAoomoiderot[on n\. M Ica hB|oc kLlQht's sou|pture'AnoeotornFuture: Crysto||izim8(]urCo|| may be ready for imoto||otlon in Septernbec Other d[aouooion imo|uded the22OO Aoh|ond St.4dHoo'sna port toCoumol|omdoomoiderotiomsreQondim8the hlstoryondfutureofCityHo|i 2. Update on panel held 2.19.28 (Booden -5min.) Here is a link to the recording of the panel discussion. Gooden gave a brief synopsis of the panel discussion,and shared the recording link. 3. Ashland Sunrise Project- Getting Into Action (Tyler 5min.) Here is a link to the Ashland Sunrise Tyler a hared that the Ash|omdSun rise Project vvi||beookingreoidentatn ref|eotonvorlous locations im Aeh|omd with thequeotiom of be|omBinQ I rnind. V1. New Business Vill. Ongoing or Future Items for Consideration 1. ELEA Working Group (Simon and Smith) Nothing to report at this time. 2. Belonging Survey- Results, analysis, etc. (Smith-30 ran inutes) Smith provided an update on his progress in reviewing the Belonging Survey results. He ran an Initial a no lysi s Frith a focus ors the open-en ed questioner a s the other questions are easier to interpret. Hip. eight-page summary included initial reflections that the respondents were mostly female over 55, there was an apparent polarization regarding the issue of homelessness,and a desire for more diverse representation in local government.The committee discussed that results should focus on recommendations and would need to get back to Council. 3. Equitable Housing Plan Working Group Nothing to report. Vill. Announcements and Events The committee discussed a nd decided to move the next meeting f romp April to April ,2 026 at Pioneer Hall9 1 Choosing Courage Wednesday, prill 8, 2026 @ 6:30-8:00pm SOU Recital Hall 450 S. Mountain Ave. Here is more information from Ashland Together IX. Adjournment to April 2, 2026 Meeting SERJAC's next regular meeting will be on April 9,2026 from 4:30-6:OOPM at Pioneer Hall. The meeting adjourned at 5.58pm.