HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.06.24 DEI Advisory Minutes City of Lansing DEI Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, August 6, 2024
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
4th Floor, City Hall
Lansing, MI
Call to Order: 5:44pm
Attendance: Florensio Hernandez (Interim Acting Chair) (MAL), Raquel Sparkman (3rd Ward)
(Acting Secretary), Randy Watkins (4th Ward), Terry Fraizer (1st Ward), Vacant (2nd Ward), and
Vacant (MAL)
City Staff Attendees: Kimberly Coleman, Michael Hopson, Joseph Abood
Approval of Agenda:
Randy (motion) / Terry (second)
Corrections: Jospeh Abood
Approval of Minutes:
Randy (motioned) / Terry (second) – Motion passed
Public Comment:
-No public comment
-Florensio noted that public comment is limited to two minutes, and board will follow-up
via email by DEI Officer any questions that are addressed.
Director’s Update:
-Welcome - Terry Frasier and Byron Haskins. Kim noted that the new two board
members are filling the vacant positions.
-Terry He/Him – Entrepreneur that serves on Lansing Community College Board of
Trustees who also has a background in higher education. Terry and his wife are
dedicated to Lansing and the community.
DEI Officer’s Update:
-Reviewing information from July’s meetings “Shifting DEI Culture” PowerPoint.
-Questions were addressed regarding marketing and funding coming to the DEI office.
Allow enough time for discussion and a decision to be made refer to the 10 questions
listed in the PowerPoint.
-Michael mentioned there was one more comment Randy mentioned during July’s
meeting to review.
Standing/Themes Committee Reports:
-Justice and Safety Committee
o Creating a survey and reviewing the surveys to see if there is a gap between
township police officers and city police officers.
o Kim mentioned we will sit down with everyone and see what our next steps are.
-Economic Empowerment
o Educational opportunities (skill trades and higher educations).
2
o Three recommendations – Create City of Lansing Toolbox (BIPOC) for small
business and partnering LEAP and Lansing Chamber of Commerce.
Question from Terry: Are we asking for those who already have a business or are
trying to build their business. Recommendation – start with those who don’t
have experience with starting a business and direct them to LEAP for example.
Asking the community why do you want to start a business and provide the
resources. Ensuring those who want to start a business to narrow down what
their business is and why.
-Community Sustainability
o Strengthening our relationships with the community and the city, Kim will be
providing a date for our first Townhall meeting.
Question from Terry: The townhall goes along with Justice committee and create
one survey vs multiple surveys. Engaging the community. Five questions max
and open-ended.
Unfinished Business:
-Ordinance Review Process – Human Rights Ordinance
o When reading a grant, we cannot utilize Google Doc because it is a violation of the open
meetings act.
o What is the intent? Review the questions for the foundation we should look at.
o Michael - Should anything be omitted or dated based on the 297.01 Intent section of the
Code of Ordinances Part?
o What person would not be excluded from this section.
o Florensio ask how we define national origin and consider undocumented.
o Jospeh clarified what ethnicity vs national origin. Citizenship is a legal term. If you think the
intent excludes certain populations.
o Michael – how will the recommendation be approve/addressed. Inquired if all our
definitions may not be inclusive.
o Joseph – re-write it to make it more inclusive. Explained what having a national origin is but
not have citizenship. Everyone is included equally. We are all about the even prosecution of
the law. We give the same deals to everyone regardless of the origin. Recommends reading
the whole document then go back and see if there is anything that may be included. Read
entire ordinance and then review for additional information. Review Elliot Larsson Civil
Rights Act – State of Michigan.
o Reviewed government layout – congress – state - local
o Terry – How are the international populations of Lansing being included?
Action steps: As a group read and highlight any questions and concerns.
o Randy: Requested to review this during a special meeting vs our normal committee to allow
time for thorough.
o Michael asked, will this be a special meeting?
o Joseph noted the board should pay close attention to the definitions specially.
o Terry – Recommends Racial Equity Impact Toolkit as a resource. This toolkit breaks down
3
-Motion to hold a special meeting to review Chapter 2 - Human Rights Ordnance.
Randy (motioned) / Terry (second)
-Amendment to motion: Prior to the meeting can we have guidance on how we should
approach this meeting?
-Joseph stated an amendment does not need to be completed.
-Florensio stated a date/time will need to be established. Recommends creating a
Doodle Poll, 6 pm – 8pm and date will be established later.
New Business:
-Discussed Board Appoints and Selection Process.
o Kim – hopefully 2 seats are filled and goes through a vetting process.
o Mayor officer and then counsels review.
o Florensio – do we have applications coming in?
o Joseph mentioned there are other boards the mayor may want someone on vs what the
applicant applies for.
o Kim - We have Rules of Procedures not Bylaws
Announcements:
-Michael – Update: Health and wellness fair on the capitol. Shared it was great turnout.
-Kim stated it was over 200 people
-Friday, August 23rd – Unity in the Community Event – free! Various sponsors.
-Kim – Parliamentary Procedures information session – great turn out
Adjournment: Randy (motioned) / Terry (second) – Motion approved.
Adjournment: 6:38pm