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.