How do we give us a hug All right, good evening, everyone.

Welcome to the September 4th, 2025 Human Relations Committee.

Call this meeting to order.

Please be advised for those in attendance in person.

Agenda copies are at the front table.

I will now ask the principal management analyst to take attendance by roll call.

Thank you, Chair.

Committee member Lester.

Here.

Committee member McDonald.

Committee member Sylvester.

Here.

Committee member Webb.

Here.

Vice Chair Chadwell here.

And Chair Blake Bone.

Here.

Thank you.

And three minutes approval.

The minutes of the July 17, 2025 special meeting have been delivered to committee members and posted on the city hall bulletin board.

If there are no corrections or additions, a motion is in order to approve these minutes.

So moved.

Second.

All right.

All of them in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

All right.

Motion carries.

All right.

Moving to item four, oral communications.

This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons wishing to address the committee on any matter not on the agenda.

Each speaker has up to three minutes to make their comments.

State law prohibits the committee from acting online agenda items.

For those attending meeting the meeting via Zoom, please use the raise your hand function or press star nine on your phone to make a comment on any item not on the agenda.

The committee will receive in-person comments first, seeing none, no online.

Perfect.

We will move forward to item five, unfinished business.

After we've been working on updating the spreadsheet with times and dates of the organizations that we're targeting with our questions, um, gauging uh folks' existing levels of specific participation and how perhaps the city can improve its outreach.

We were able to uh share some of the um discussions that we had had with community members so far.

Um and then I I believe some of us still have to go in and update that spreadsheet to make sure that we're we all know where we're at, and then um we are going to give it another month because uh some of us wanted to do some follow-up and also had additional groups schedule that they were gonna talk to.

Um so hopefully in the next month we'll have a lot of good answers to share.

Um, yeah, is there anything that I'm missing?

That was awesome.

No, that's great.

Actually, any uh questions from the committee.

All right.

Seeing none, I now open it to the uh floor for public comment.

Uh, seeing that there's no one in attendance and there's no one on Zoom.

Uh, we'll continue moving forward with item six.

New business adoption of the human relations committee bylaws.

The committee will now receive a presentation on this item from principal management analyst James.

Action will be taken on this item.

Thank you, Chair, and thank you, committee members.

This is a brief oral on the bylaws adoption item.

Um, as noted in the cover memo for the draft bylaws, the establishing resolution from for the HRC that was re-approved by council in May of 2025, uh, required that the HRC adopt bylaws to uh reflect meeting times, the role of chair and vice chair, etc.

Um, the bylaws that were included in your packet and are presented to you for approval tonight, reflect the requirements of the resolution, uh, as well as incorporating existing council policies that address things like membership appointment terms and resignations, compensation, um, and attendance.

Additionally, there are sections that touch on the overall purpose of the bylaws, which is drawn in the HRC, which is drawn from that establishing resolution, um, on the officers that reflects current practice of the HRC.

Uh, article five talks about meetings again, reflecting the current practice of the HRC and formally establishing that the first Thursday of the month at 6 30 shall be the HRC's meeting time, um, as well as incorporating some requirements of the round act.

Article 7 addresses ad hoc committees, um, which again are the current practice of the HRC.

Um, and then sorry, circling back to items that reflect council policies.

Article eight establishes Rosenberg.

And then Article 10 provides for the amendment of the bylaws.

Um, can I be happy to take any questions from the committee members at this time?

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, oral.

Um, do I have any questions from the committee?

Okay, seeing none, I now open it.

Uh I open the floor for public comment.

There are NDNDs seeing none in person and online.

Um, we can uh move towards two discussion.

Um, I guess so.

For let's see, sorry, article seven point two.

I have committee members with such a chair for the ad hoc, please refer to the poll committee.

Um is was that would that apply upon adoption to existing ad hoc committees that a chair be selected?

Um it would be best to have existing committees comply with the bylaws, um, but then committee can decide collectively that existing committees could be exempt, and newly established committees would be subjected to the committee.

Any other questions?

Or discussion items.

Uh seeing none, I will entertain a motion.

So moved.

Okay.

Uh we have a first.

Do we have a second?

All second.

Thank you.

All right.

So the motion is to adopt the uh staff recommendation on the human uh committee bylaws.

Um as a written um, all those.

Do we have to take an uh we see I vote or do we have to take a word?

Okay, I will call it only be necessary for vertical.

Perfect.

All right.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say nay.

All right, seeing that the motion passes.

Thank you.

Uh moving on to items.

Thank you.

Uh item 6.2, fiscal year 2020-2024, human relations committee work plan and ad hoc committee appointments.

The committee will now receive a presentation on this item from principal management analyst James.

No action will be taken on this item.

Thank you again, Chair, and thank you again, committee members.

This purpose of this discussion is to determine interest in ad hoc committees for the fiscal year 25-26 HRC work plan, which as a reminder at the July 17th meeting, the committee shared a recommended fiscal year 25-26 work plan to forward to council.

And those uh the work plans of all committees, commissions and boards will be reviewed by council for potential approval on September 23rd.

Um, then as a reminder, the HRC typically forms working groups or committees at how committees to complete work plan projects, and those groups must be viewered than or equal to three commissioners, less than a quorum for Brown Act compliance.

As we have in previous years, though the council has not yet formally approved the HRC's work plan, we're going to be having a discussion to gauge interest in uh forming ad hoc committees on the work plan project so that we don't lose time in getting the work underway once this is approved by council.

So, as a again, as a reminder, the carry forward projects include a climate change outreach project that entails working with sustainability division staff to reach out to the community regarding resiliency strategies and climate change vulnerability assessment.

This project has been on the work plan for two years.

It is carrying forward to this third year when it should be completed, or uh the committee should consider removing it from the work plan.

The delays have been due to uh staffing challenges on the city side, as well as project relays delays rather um related to the scope of the project.

Uh, in fact, at the next HRC meeting at the same time, there will be a council sustainability committee meeting, which will determine the next steps for this project, which may entail HRC participation or pivoting to a different uh conclusion to the project.

Additionally, the human library event is a carry forward project from the previous work plan.

This project is underway, and there are some um logistical hurdles that it needs to clear internal to city business processes to proceed.

Um, so it is continuing and is in stasis on the HRC side at the moment.

Uh, and then finally, carrying forward from last year's work plan is a civic participation project about which we just received an update.

That project is anticipated to be concluded by the end of the calendar year at last update, and that may vary depending on the continued progress of the committee, ad hoc committee, which is doing a great job, and we'll be sure to do thorough um exploration of this topic of the community.

Again, to recap the fiscal year 25-26 items in addition to those carry-forward items, includes some ongoing items and some new items.

Um, so this year, a representative from the HRC will be attending the November 10th Youth Advisory Committee meeting to uh talk about the HRC's role in the work the HRC does and potentially explore possibilities for partnership between the two committees.

Um additionally, we will again have this year the multicultural festival.

Uh the HRC is ongoing projects include attending council neighborhood committee meetings as scheduled.

The next council neighborhood committee meeting is on September 11th at Bub Elementary for the Springer Questa Phyllis area.

The two remaining council neighborhood committee meetings for this fiscal year have yet to be scheduled and can be announced in the spring.

The two one-time projects that were recommended for this work plan that'll be going to council are no your rights workshops, which would entail identifying partners and organizing events around various new year rights topics, potentially including seniors right.

So I'm working with the senior advisory committee.

And then finally, an LGBTQ plus community outreach project and event, which would entail planning an event focused on the LGBTQ plus community and tabling get Mount Compute Pride to help inform the content and structure of that event.

Now, the existing work plan assignments are reflected on this chart, as well as the vacancies for future work plan projects.

And I want to note that in the past we've had two slots for CNC meetings, but additional HRC, but to commit to having at least one person and an alternate attend so that we can ensure that there is someone from the HRC in attendance.

However, everyone on the HRC is welcome to attend any of the CNC meetings.

Additionally, at the YAC meeting, youth advisory committee meeting rather, we've confirmed that they would like to hear from the chair of the HRC, but obviously an additional member or two could attend if there's interest.

And then finally, historically, one HRC member has been part of the multicultural festival planning committee.

So with that, I will hand it back to the chair and say thank you to the committee for the continued discussion of work plan assignments.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, Laurel.

So now I will open it up for questions from the committee.

Okay, seeing none, I opened the floor for public comment.

If there are attendees, if there are no members of the public present.

There's none.

None and person.

Okay.

So uh before we move to discussion, I did want to say, uh, as we're moving into the subcommittee appointments, I want to highlight how important this uh is as a committee, as committee members.

Uh the real work really happens uh for the HRC at the uh ad hoc committee level.

And this is what we hear essentially, we take action on things we hear from the community, not just from our own perspectives, um, in order to shape uh them into efforts that truly serve uh the pe the residents and potentially become uh recommendations for the city council.

If you propose a work plan item and you have capacity, it is important to also uh commit the time to help carry that work forward.

Um so I encourage each of you to select work items where your interest and strengths align and where you can commit the time needed to work to uh move forward uh the work.

Uh if there are gaps, I would I may step in.

Uh traditionally that hasn't happened, uh, because we've been pretty good at self-selecting for ourselves.

Uh but if it does uh come to pass, um I I would just step in to help things uh balance things out, uh taking into consideration everyone's capacity.

Um at the end of the day, we're here to support the council and uh the stronger and more community-rooted our subcommittees are, I believe the stronger the impact we will be making.

So uh with that being said, would any of the committee members uh like to state their interest with any of the work items presented in front of us?

I have a question.

Uh Vice Chair Chadwell.

For the um the know your rights uh event, do we have a proposed timeline on that?

Or is it just the goal is to get it done to have the event by the end of this fiscal year?

Okay, just sometimes.

In practice of what I just said, I will uh put myself up for the uh know your rights.

Yeah.

Um, each of this I'll have to stop sharing and go back and forth.

Um, just so you know I'm not going to take it down permanently.

Thank you.

Well, while you're in there, throw me under the LGBTQ event.

Thank you, committee member Webb.

I um would like to express interest in the know your rights and the um LGBTQ event.

Um I was interested in know your rights and the YAC meeting.

So we need to leave room for uh committee member uh well McDonald and so I'll be able to go.

So are we gonna go back to it?

So we should just pick one.

So, I can actually say something more.

Yes, thank you, Chair.

Um, I will note that committee member Smith is already assigned to three committees, and while I and I do also would like to know, would also like to note these are preliminary assignments um that the work plan hasn't been approved by council, and there could be an opportunity to read shuffle as well.

That was the other question.

Like, so she's already on three assignments, but what if she wants to drop off of one of those?

Right, so that we don't know right, we don't know.

So we want to be able to because I may want to jump on one that she's she wants to decommit from.

So that kind of makes us a challenge from today, unless there's unless we communicate outside of here.

That is absolutely correct, committee member webb.

And for example, when committee member Smith did need to step down, um due to going on parental leave, it was possible to find someone who had expressed interest in the project and plug them into the project.

Um so that's definitely something that we can consider and can handle even in HRC meetings during um news and announcements since this item doesn't require action or intensive discussion.

If there's a desire to switch assignments or to reshuffle, that's certainly an option.

I would also like to note that um I uh appreciate the the flexibility in light of we're not quite sure where the sustainability project is going.

Um because like I'm currently on four.

We're assuming that this stays, which of course is preliminary.

Um and if the Brazilian Mountain View Um project ends up being very um very time consuming, then I might need to look at you know rebalancing my priorities.

Um so I guess just making a note on that that this is kind of assuming that we don't quite know how involved resilient that view is gonna be.

Right.

And I mean, we're we definitely want to take it to consideration like everyone's capacity at the end of the day.

We have things that we're doing outside the HRC.

So um I guess that's what I said because I always wanted to have this candid conversation with y'all, um, but also you know, noting that like a lot of these efforts were based off a lot of things we heard from community, and I want to ensure that we do our due diligence on their behalf as well.

So um if a scenario does come that like someone wants to drop off, um, please feel free to talk to me as well.

Um kind of that's the whole what we just approved in the bylaws, uh, can help me reorient y'all uh depending on what your interests are.

Um is that correct?

Thank you.

Um so yeah, so we don't have committee members, Smith or McDonald present with us.

I will reach out to them uh to see on their capacity.

Uh Laura mentioned this isn't the final version.

Uh we'll all find out on September 23rd uh where we're at, but um is everyone comfortable or would like to add their name into uh a work uh uh work uh plan item.

Uh before we close this uh second meeting multiple room fest.

Yeah, yeah.

I was like, coming along, um, then the suspense bill.

Yeah, I know you had me wearing it.

You didn't say yes, it's gonna be a little worrisome.

Who would say yes?

Yeah, it's you.

I think those guys are expecting me to keep going.

Oh, that's cool.

I can add my name as um an alternate or just on the options for the neighborhood meetings, um, given that we don't know the dates, but it's a really hard.

That's the challenge with that.

Right.

So I would probably go.

Like, I don't see why I wouldn't.

The only one we know of is September 11th.

Yeah, and I'll be out of town.

So can't do that one, but I I wouldn't mind doing the other ones.

With the caveat that someone announces that I'm coming.

Understood.

Yeah.

Make that happen.

Like with the microphone walking.

So you guys too make us entourage.

It's to clear the record.

Um, so then for the CNC item, we'll have vice chair.

Um, why did I just forget your Chadwell?

And um committee member when changed it.

On the uh item, correct?

Actually, I feel like um for the we should probably decide in this meeting who's gonna go to the September 11th meeting, since that's I was like, I was like looking at my available, like that's next week, yeah.

Um, I guess I can go.

Awesome.

So yeah, Bob Elementary.

Thank you, Vice Chair.

Um, can um uh can you staff staff member James?

Can you please um remind me of what the expectations are for my for me to represent HRC there?

Absolutely, committee member Chadwell, or pardon me, vice chair Chadwell.

Um simply to attend the meeting, okay.

And and potentially be recognized as an HRC member or no, not potentially.

You might have to speak up for yourself, it sounds like uh committee members uh staff will make every effort to remind those running the meeting that that would be um appreciated by the HRC.

Thank you, Laurel.

All right.

Uh can we are the updated?

Can we bring it up one more time?

Okay, all right.

So this is the current iteration of the work plan items.

Is there anyone else of the committee that would like to add their name uh to the to the work plan uh before we move on?

Okay, you know what?

Can you take me off the CNC meetings just so that when they see it, it doesn't look like they're all taken.

So we're showing it.

I was holding off on the LGBTQ for that reason.

Just so she doesn't say, oh, everything's taked.

No, thank you for doing that, committee member web.

Um we can also repeat that it's flexible.

And yeah, and we it's flexible and we can attend both any days.

Yeah, we can have it right, but it's just that visual.

That's true.

Yeah, does feel like a very solid feeling?

Yeah, yeah, please.

All right.

Uh principal analysts or okay, tell us about the next steps.

Uh, absolutely, Chair.

Thank you.

So I will share these assignments uh via email with all members of the HRC.

Um, and I will make sure that it's clear that there is still opportunities um to express interest in any of the committee assignments or or other um opportunities and um we can revisit when the council work plan, excuse me, the advisory body work plans go before council um after September 23rd, and then finally for those that do end up attending the council neighborhood committee meetings.

Uh the schedule of meetings should be approved in early 2025, and I'll be able to provide that to you once that happens.

Thank you so much.

All right, and thank you so much, committee members, for your flexibility and wait.

You said in early 2025.

Thank you.

2026.

I was confused.

I'm like, we went back in time.

Thank you, committee number one.

I wasn't calling you out, I was just a little confused.

Thank you.

I appreciate it.

But I lost some time, thank you all so much.

All right.

Moving along, we'll move to item number seven, committee member staff comments, questions, and committee member reports.

No discussion or action will be taken on any questions raised by the committee at this time.

State law prohibits the committee from discussing or acting on substantive substantive non-agenda items.

So would any committee member like to be recognized?

Committee member Sylvester.

This is a little bit of an ad hoc tribute to long time, very long time Mountain View community member Roy Hader.

He, along with Joe McDonald and Sue Russell started the first housing justice advocacy work in the city of Mountain View.

And he just died a couple months ago at the age of like 96.

So I just want to he uh he is he was featured in my interview on the history of housing.

So if you want to go learn a little bit more write from his mouth about the work he did and why he did it, uh it's just even just search his name, Roy Hader Mountain View.

It'll be the first thing that pops up.

Um he was my neighbor and I just found out today, so I'm pretty sad, but we stand on the shoulders of giants.

So how do you spell the name?

Roy R O Y Hater H A Y T E R.

Thank you so much, committee member Sylvester and our condolences to the family.

Yeah.

With any of the other mental mountain view.

Yeah, into mountain view.

Oh my gosh, we lost a big one.

Um would any other committee member like to uh share anything in the comment.

Oh, like we've been apart for a long time.

And to go back and think about all the things that have happened since then, and to express them.

Yeah.

Um, sir.

Yeah, I think you know, one of one of the big things that I've seen uh that I want to commemorate is um commissioner Sylvester's work local organizing of community members last weekend.

Um there's a lot of scary things going on right now, and I think we creating that space for folks to find solidarity is really important.

I felt a lot of joy from seeing it, and I know a lot of other folks did as well.

So thank you for your work on that.

Thank you so much.

Thank you so much for this.

I really appreciate that second that comment.

That's awesome.

Thank you.

Gives me some fuel for the tank.

Thank you so much.

On the lighter note, uh this weekend is the Art and Wine Festival.

Yeah.

Uh several of us are involved in a volunteer capacity.

Um so I guess come on down, especially if you have to, because you signed up for it.

Thank you to our trash queen.

But that is the title she's been given and acceptance.

Yeah, this is called.

My golf cart is labeled.

You have a golf card.

Shoot, I know.

We've got to get it before I am too good.

Yeah.

All right.

Um, principal management analyst Laurel James.

Thank you, Chair.

I do have a several announcements to share with the committee.

First of all, as a reminder that the celebration of service will be held at the community center in the Redwood Hall on September 30th, which is a Tuesday from 5 30 pm to 7 p.m.

You should have received a virtual invitation in your email from Evite.

Uh, please, RSVP by September 16th if you plan to attend.

If you haven't received that invitation, please email me so that I can correct that for you.

Yes, community.

It's always been confusing in the past if a plus one was welcome or not.

My understanding is that plus ones are not invited just from a capacity perspective.

Um, unfortunately.

It's the policy's gone back and forth over the understanding.

Thank you.

Um, I will double check that information, but that is my understanding for this.

Um, mine for sure.

All right.

Then my next uh announcement is one that we've touched on during this meeting.

Next Thursday, the 11th at Bub Elementary, will be the Council Neighborhoods Comedian meeting, which you're all invited to.

Um, and that is for the Springer Quest of Phyllis area.

Um, the next announcement that I have is that the city has been working on updating its Americans with Disabilities Act self-evaluation and transition plan.

This is a document that's required by Title II of the ADA and applies to local governments and other jurisdictions.

And one of the components of completing the plan is community outreach to understand what barriers individuals with disabilities face in Mountain View.

And so that will be underway this month.

There will be two community meetings, which are at which community members can learn more about and share their um feedback on the plan, although the survey is a really great way to do that if you don't want to attend a community meeting, which will essentially be a presentation and QA.

I will send the uh flyers for those meetings to you.

Um that again will be taking place at the end of September on the virtual meeting and then in person.

And then finally, um, since we're entering into a new fiscal year and have reconvened following the summer recess, I do want to remind all of you that I'm available to meet with you.

Should you have questions, should you want to get coffee, should you want to discuss anything related to the HRC or the city, um, you can always email me.

Um several of you when I came on to the HRC meet we did that more regularly, or I at least did that as a touch point when you joined the HRC yourself, but I do want to remind you that that's always available to you.

And with that, that is the conclusion of my announcements.

Thank you, Chair and Committee.

Thank you so much.

And yeah, I guess to get a, I mean, it was very helpful for me as a uh not only as an incoming uh commissioner then, but also right now to meet with our principal management analyst on a regular just to understand what's going on and also how to move forward, uh, or be more effective as a member so I can be a better uh colleague with all of y'all.

So please uh take the time to schedule a meeting with uh Laurel whenever you have a chance.

She's very much available and uh truly helpful, so can't emphasize that enough.

Um if nothing else, um that concludes our meeting.

I adjourn to the next regular meeting of the Human Relations Committee scheduled for November 6th, 2025 at 6 30 p.m.

in the plaza conference room.

So there is a change of location, so we will be meeting in the plaza conference room.

Uh, and virtually on Zoom.

Thank you all so much for attending.

Fi.