Press Alt + R to read the document text or Alt + P to download or print.
This document contains no pages.
HomeMy WebLinkAboutEquity Commission - 14 Jun 2022
AGENDA
EQUITY COMMISSION
5:00 PM -Tuesday, June 14, 2022
Council Chambers, 7th Floor, City Hall – 1055 S. Grady Way
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Committee Members are attending this meeting remotely through
Zoom. For those wishing to attend by Zoom, please (1) click this link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85082069790?pwd=QmlYVlJNc0x2OFF0cFB5Y01nTGFjQT09 Passcode
765688 (or copy the URL and paste into a web browser) or (2) call in to the Zoom meeting by dialing
253-215-8782 and enter Webinar ID: 850 8206 9790, Passcode 765688 or (3) call 425-430-7394 by 10
a.m. on the day of the meeting to request an invite with a link to the meeting.
The meeting may be attended in person at the Council Conference Room, 7th floor of City Hall, 1055
South Grady Way, Renton, 98057 or remotely through Zoom. Public comment is permitted in person,
via access using the above Zoom link, or may also be submitted in writing to
Lmoschetti@rentonwa.gov before 4 p.m. the day of the meeting.
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
Members of the audience wishing to give public comment will be permitted three (3) minutes
to speak.
5. CONSENT AGENDA
a) Approval of the May 10, 2022 Renton Equity Commission meeting minutes.
6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a) Equity Commission Draft Bylaws
Senior Assistant City Attorney Patrice Kent.
7. NEW BUSINESS
a) Migration to In-person Meetings
EHHS Administrative Assistant Linda Moschetti-Newing.
b) Foundational Inclusion Training
Equity and Inclusion Consultant Benita Horn.
Page 1 of 85
c) Renton Equity Lens Training
Equity and Inclusion Consultant Benita Horn.
8. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
9. COMMITTEE CHAIR COMMENTS
10. ADJOURNMENT
MEMBERS
Aleja Rubalcaba, Chair Nicole Hill, Vice Chair Cassandra Baddeley
Lisa Davis Manami Imaoka Celina Kershner
Morgan Kroeger Ashok Padhi Rueben Turk
Hearing assistance devices for use in the Council Chambers are available upon request.
For more information please email: Lmoschetti@rentonwa.gov
Page 2 of 85
May 10, 2022 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
MINUTES
EQUITY COMMISSION
5:30 pm -Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Council Chambers, 7th Floor, City Hall – 1055 S. Grady Way
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Rubalcaba called the meeting of the Renton Equity Commission to order at 5:35 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present:
Aleja Rubalcaba, Chair
Nicole Hill, Vice Chair
Cassandra Baddeley
Lisa Davis
Manami Imaoka
Ashok Padhi
Commissioners Absent:
Celina Kershner
Morgan Kroeger
Rueben Turk
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF PRESENT
Armondo Pavone, Mayor
Preeti Shridhar, Equity, Housing, and Human Services Administrator
Patrice Kent, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Brian Sandler, Senior Employee Relations Analyst
Linda Moschetti-Newing, Administrative Assistant
Benita Horn, Equity and Inclusion Consultant
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MAYOR PAVONE'S VISION OF THE EQUITY COMMISSION
Mayor Pavone provided an overview on his vision for the Renton Equity Commission and its
methods of functioning. He paralleled the process will be similar to the Planning Commission
whereas City Administration will submit work items using a system to created a "Docket."
The Docket will be reviewed by Council and, if desired, Council will have an opportunity to
Page 1 of 3
AGENDA ITEM #5. a)
Page 3 of 85
May 10, 2022 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
edit the proposed Docket. Council will approve the final Docket and staff will support the
Commission by providing necessary information to act on Docket items.
CONSENT AGENDA
Approval of the April 7, 2022 Renton Equity Commission meeting minutes.
MOVED BY HILL, SECONDED BY PADHI TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. CARRIED.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Equity Commission Draft Bylaws
Senior Assistant City Attorney Patrice Kent.
Senior Assistant City Attorney Patrice Kent reviewed the proposed Equity Commission Bylaws
as presented. The proposed revisions to the draft Bylaws are considered referred to our City
Attorney Department and will be reviewed. A revised version will be included in the next
meeting packet.
NEW BUSINESS
Extended meeting June 14, 2022 to conduct Inclusion Foundational training.
MOVED BY PADHI, SECONDED BY DAVIS TO APPROVE A SPECIAL MEETING TO BEGIN AT
5 P.M., JUNE 14 DURING WHICH THE COMMISSION WILL HOLD A BRIEF BUSINESS MEETING
AND RECEIVE THE FOUNDATIONAL INCLUSION AND EQUITY LENS TRAINIGS. CARRIED.
COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
Commissioner Baddeley notified the Commission she will be absent from the July 12 meeting.
COMMITTEE CHAIR COMMENTS
Chair Rubalcaba reminded the Commissioners to complete their required training on the
Open Public Meetings Act and Public Records Act.
ADJOURNMENT
COMMISSION ADJOURNED 7:33 P.M.
Page 2 of 3
AGENDA ITEM #5. a)
Page 4 of 85
May 10, 2022 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
MEMBERS
Aleja Rubalcaba, Chair Nicole Hill, Vice Chair Cassandra Baddeley
Lisa Davis Manami Imaoka Celina Kershner
Morgan Kroeger Ashok Padhi Rueben Turk
Hearing assistance devices for use in the Council Chambers are available upon request.
For more information please email: Lmoschetti@rentonwa.gov
Page 3 of 3
AGENDA ITEM #5. a)
Page 5 of 85
Page 6 of 85
RENTON EQUITY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING – June 14, 2022
SUBJECT/TITLE: Renton Equity Commission Bylaws
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Commission Concur
DEPARTMENT: Equity, Housing, and Human Services Department
STAFF CONTACT: Preeti Shridhar, Administrator
EXT.: 6569
SUMMARY OF ACTON:
On November 1, 2021 Council adopted Ordinance No. 6033 establishing the Renton Equity
Commission. The Commission’s primary duties are intended to advance equity and inclusion in
support of the city’s goal to build an inclusive, informed, and hate-free city with equitable outcomes
for all in support of social, economic, and racial justice. The Committee is comprised of nine
members, including one youth member, all of whom are appointed by the Mayor. Appointments to
the Commission were ratified by Council March 14. The terms are staggered into one, two, and
three-year terms.
The Commission reviewed the draft Bylaws during its April 7 meeting but proposed additional edits
to the Bylaws as outlined below:
Section 1.3.xi.: The Commission expressed an interest in adding term limits.
Section 1.4.iv.: The Commission expressed an interest in adding term limits of officers.
Section 3.2.i: Language clarifying when regular meetings will be held and in the event the regular
meeting falls on a holiday.
Section 3.5.: Equity Lens training timeline.
Section 3.9.i: The Commission desires more clarity of unexcused versus excused absence and a
reduction in the number of unexcused absences from three to two over a more specific time period.
Section 3.9.ii. The Commission would like to clarify an emergency situation and excused/unexcused
absences.
The Equity, Housing, and Human Services (EHHS) staff, in coordination with the City Attorney
Department, has drafted the revised set of Bylaws for the Commission’s review. These Bylaws will
assist in preserving function, process, and transparency of the Commission. The Commission may
choose to:
1. Approve the Bylaws as presented. If so, the Bylaws would then be submitted to Council for
adoption. If adopted by Council the Bylaws would take effect immediately and be filed with
the City Clerk Division.
2. Conduct further edits to the Bylaws. Based on input and discussion during a regular
Commission meeting the group may choose to make motions to edit the Bylaws as
presented. Motions will be approved by a simple majority of the group if a quorum is
present. Those edits approved via motion will be reviewed by the City Attorney Department
and EHHS staff to ensure they meet current city policies and procedures. Staff would then
update the document and present a revised set of Bylaws to the Commission for approval at
an upcoming meeting.
AGENDA ITEM #6. a)
Page 7 of 85
H:\EHHS Admin\Admin Asst\2022\Equity Commission\Agendas\June\agenda bill equity commission bylaws.docx
The revised draft Bylaws have been reviewed by department administration and the City Attorney
Department.
EXHIBITS:
A. Renton Equity Commission Draft Bylaws
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt the Renton Equity Commission Bylaws as presented.
MOTIONS:
I MOVE TO ADOPT THE RENTON EQUITY COMMISSION BYLAWS AS PRESENTED AND DIRECT STAFF
TO PRESENT THE PRESENTED BYLAWS TO COUNCIL FOR ADOPTION.
Or
I MOVE TO AMEND THE RENTON EQUITY COMMISSION BYLAWS BY (NATURE OF AMENDMENT,
STAFF CAN ASSIST WITH MOTION VERBIAGE).
AGENDA ITEM #6. a)
Page 8 of 85
1 of 11
Rev. 02/16/2022
CITY OF RENTON
BYLAWS OF THE
RENTON EQUITY COMMISSION
The City of Renton (“City”) Equity Commission (“Commission”) has adopted the following as its Bylaws
setting forth the rules and procedures deemed necessary to carry out its duties established in chapter
2-7 of the Renton Municipal Code (“RMC”). After approval of these Bylaws by the Renton City Council,
the Commission will file a copy of these Bylaws with the City Clerk of Renton.
ARTICLE I – ORGANIZATION, PURPOSE, STRUCTURE, ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND DUTIES
1.1 ORGANIZATION:
i. The Commission serves the City as an instrument through which the employees and
officials of the City may obtain advice and assistance using the Renton Equity Lens to
identify and address inequities in order to eliminate racial, economic, and social barriers
identified in City programs, services and policies.
1.2 PURPOSE:
i. The Commission was established by adoption of City of Renton Ordinance No. 6033 on
November 1, 2021.
ii. Pursuant to RMC 2-7-3, the role of the Commission will be to act in an advisory
capacity by making recommendations to the Mayor and City Council on matters referred
to the Commission by the Mayor, City Council, and City staff. The primary duties and
powers of the Commission are intended to advance equity and inclusion in support of
the City’s goal to build an inclusive, informed, and hate-free city with equitable
outcomes for all in support of social, economic, and racial justice.
1.3 APPOINTMENTS, TERMS, MEMBERSHIP, AND VACANCIES:
i. The Commission will consist of nine members appointed by the Mayor, and confirmed
by City Council as follows:
ii. At the time of initial appointment three members shall be appointed for one year;
three members shall be appointed for two years; three members shall be appointed for
three years. At the expiration of the initial term, three members shall be appointed
each year for three-year terms.
iii. Terms shall be from January 1 of the appointment year, through December 31 of the
term expiration year.
iv. Membership should reflect the diversity of the City including but not limited to
ethnicity, race, age, gender, faith, gender identity and expression, and profession. Due
to the size of the Commission, it is understood it is possible not every group may be
represented.
v. Members shall, from the time of their appointment and confirmation through their
term, be a resident of, or business owner in, the City of Renton and able to attend
AGENDA ITEM #6. a)
Page 9 of 85
Bylaws
Renton Equity Commission
2 of 11
Rev. 06/08/2022
meetings as necessary. If they no longer reside or have a business in Renton, they
forfeit their membership in the Commission as of the date of their move.
vi. Applicants for appointment shall have a demonstrated commitment to equity.
vii. At least one member shall be a youth member between the ages of 18 and 25 at the
time the member is confirmed in their appointment.
viii. No sitting City Council member shall be a member of the Commission; if a
Commission member is elected or appointed to City Council, they shall forfeit their
membership on the Commission effective at the date of their swearing-in as a Council
member. Nothing in this section is intended to discourage former City Council members
from applying for appointment so long as they meet other appointment requirements.
ix. No current City employee or consultant shall be a member of the Commission; if a
Commission member becomes employed or contracted by the City, they shall forfeit
their membership on the Commission effective on their first day of employment or
contract with the City. Nothing in this section is intended to discourage former City
employees or consultants from applying for appointment so long as they meet other
appointment requirements.
x. Should a member need or wish to resign an appointed position prior to the expiration
of the term, they shall notify the Chairperson, Equity and Inclusion Consultant and
Administrative Assistant in writing. The member will receive a written
acknowledgement of the resignation. Upon receipt of applications, a recommendation
for an individual to fill the vacated position will be presented to the Mayor for
appointment and confirmation according to the process noted above. If appointed, the
individual will serve out the remaining time of the vacated term.
xi. Upon term expiration, Commission members who desire serving another term may
re-apply for their position by completing an application. The application will be
considered, along with others received, for a final recommendation to the Mayor. At
this time, term limits do not exist.
xii. Unless there is not a sufficient number of applicant candidates, Commission
members are limited to not more than two (2) consecutive full 3-year terms in order to
maintain diverse representation of the Commission.
1.4 ELECTION OF OFFICERS PROCESS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS
i. Officers shall be elected as set forth in RMC 2-7-3E. The Chairperson shall preside at
all meetings. The Chairperson cannot make motions but may vote on matters before
the Commission.
ii. The Commission may also elect a Vice Chairperson using the same election process as
set forth for the Chairperson. The Vice Chairperson shall, in the absence of the
AGENDA ITEM #6. a)
Page 10 of 85
Bylaws
Renton Equity Commission
3 of 11
Rev. 06/08/2022
Chairperson, perform the duties and possess the powers of the Chairperson, and, in
addition, perform other duties assigned by the Chairperson.
iii. The election process for the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson positions will occur
annually at the beginning of the Committee’s first meeting.
iv. The Chairperson will be elected first. The Vice Chairperson will then be elected.
v. The City’s Equity, Housing, and Human Services (EHHS) staff will facilitate the process
to elect the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson. The process shall be the same for both
positions and will be as follows with the election of the Chairperson taking place first.
vi. Nominations will be opened for election of a Chairperson first. Self-nominations will
be considered for all officer positions.
vii. Commission voting members may nominate up to one member per person for each
position. A nominee has the option to decline the nomination if they so choose.
viii. Once all nominations have been recognized, the staff member will close
nominations.
ix. Nominees may make a brief statement about their experience and why they would
like to serve as Chairperson.
x. The Commission will vote. Nominees will be voted upon in the order in which they
were nominated. Voting will be complete once a simple majority of the voting members
present at the meeting vote in favor of one of the nominees. Voting shall be conducted
by voice vote unless a show of hands is required for clarification.
xi. Steps v through x will be repeated for the process to elect a Vice Chairperson. All
parameters of the election shall be consistent with those used to elect the Chairperson.
xii. v. Unless there are not sufficient candidates, no Commission members shall serve as
elected officers for the Commission more than two (2) consecutive 1-year terms in order
to maintain diversity in Commission leadership.
ARTICLE II – RULES OF PROCEDURE
2.1 ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER:
i. Unless otherwise provided by law or modified by these rules, the procedure for
Commission meetings shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order.
ii. The Commission has an obligation to the public to be clear and simple in its
procedures and in the consideration of the questions coming before it. Therefore,
Commission members should avoid invoking the finer points of parliamentary procedure
AGENDA ITEM #6. a)
Page 11 of 85
Bylaws
Renton Equity Commission
4 of 11
Rev. 06/08/2022
when such points serve only to obscure the issues before the Commission as a whole,
and to confuse the audience at public meetings and the public in general.
2.2 PRESIDING OFFICER:
i. The Chairperson, or in the Chairperson’s absence the Vice Chairperson, shall serve as
the Presiding Officer for purposes of running a Commission meeting. The Presiding
Officer cannot make motions but may vote on matters before the Commission.
ii. In the absence of both the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson at a Commission
meeting, the staff liaison shall solicit nominations for and manage election of a Presiding
Officer in the same manner as the election of the Officers as set out in Article 1.4. The
Presiding Officer so elected may vote on any matter before the Commission.
2.3. ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER ASSISTANCE:
i. A City representative may provide guidance and support to the Presiding Officer on
any questions of order.
ARTICLE III – MEETINGS AND TRAININGS
3.1 QUORUM:
i. The Commission has 9 voting members. More than 50% of the seated voting
members shall constitute a quorum at any given meeting.
ii. If less than a quorum is present at any meeting, the meeting may continue, however
no action can be taken, only informational items may be presented. Current items will
be carried over to the next regular meeting.
iii. A meeting may be canceled if needed (e.g., weather, local, state, or national
emergency). Current items will be carried over to the next meeting.
3.2 REGULAR MEETINGS:
i. The Commission shall meet second Tuesday of every month at 5:30 p.m. [regular
day/time to be determined by Commission and indicated here] and in person to the
greatest extent possible. The Commission shall have the authority to change a regular
meeting date and time, if necessary, by action of a majority of the Commission at a
regular Commission meeting. If a regularly scheduled meeting falls on a city holiday, it
shall be held on the next business day for which there is not conflict in meeting
locations. [the next day, the following same day of the week to be determined by
Commission and indicated here].
ii. A meeting schedule for the following year shall be proposed by staff and placed on
the New Business portion of the agenda for the final meeting of the current year. The
Commission may approve or amend the proposed meeting schedule by simple majority
vote of those in attendance.
iii. The Chairperson may change, cancel, or alter the date of a meeting on an emergency
basis as needed.
AGENDA ITEM #6. a)
Page 12 of 85
Bylaws
Renton Equity Commission
5 of 11
Rev. 06/08/2022
3.3 SPECIAL MEETINGS:
i. The Chairperson may call special meetings, work sessions and Commission meetings
when proper and as necessary with notice to Commission members and the public.
Work sessions shall be noticed as public meetings and all Commission members may
participate.
3.4. OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT AND PUBLIC RECORDS ACT:
i. The Commission shall comply with the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA). In
accordance with RCW 42.30.205, RCW 42.56.150, and RCW 42.56.152, members are
required to complete OPMA and Public Records Act training within 90 days of their
appointment. These trainings will be conducted during the Commission’s inaugural
meeting.
ii. Thereafter, the Commission will receive refresher sessions on the Acts every two
years. New Commissioners will also be required to take the OPMA and Public Records
Act trainings within the first 90 days following their appointment. Upon completion of
the trainings, members shall submit a Certificate of Completion to the City Clerk Division
documenting attendance of initial training and subsequent trainings for public officers.
3.5. RENTON EQUITY LENS TRAINING:
i. Commission members will receive training on how to use the Renton Equity Lens
within 120 days for initial formation, and then 90 days of their appointment on
confirmation and every two years thereafter.
3.6. SUBCOMMITTEES:
i. A majority of the members of the Commission may name such subcommittee or
subcommittees, as in its judgment, will aid in effectuating the purpose of this Chapter
and may empower any such subcommittee to review policies, practices, and procedures
and advise the full Commission regarding its findings on equity issues for the
Commission to take action within the purview of this Chapter.
3.7. VIRTUAL MEETINGS AND REMOTE ATTENDANCE:
3.7.1. Virtual Meetings:
i. Although the Commission shall have a standard practice of meeting in person at a site
determined by city staff, if needed, or directed to do so because of an emergency
situation, the Commission will be permitted to conduct business via a virtual platform if
allowed by law. Regardless of how the meeting is conducted, members will be invited
to attend and participate as outlined in Article I.3.
3.7.2. Remote Attendance:
i. Any member may attend a meeting remotely if (1) by telephonic access, or by other
electronic, internet or other means of remote access acceptable to and arranged with
city staff, and (2) if all persons attending the meeting can hear and be heard by the
member attending remotely. This paragraph will be interpreted to comply with
AGENDA ITEM #6. a)
Page 13 of 85
Bylaws
Renton Equity Commission
6 of 11
Rev. 06/08/2022
Washington State requirements for the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA), and may be
subject to change to comply with those requirements.
3.8. NOTICE:
i. All meetings will be noticed by the City Clerk Division at least 24 hours in advance of
the meeting. Each meeting notice shall include the date, time, location, and primary
agenda topics.
ii. In addition, an email notice may be sent to all interested persons providing a link to
the City’s website on which the meeting agenda and supporting materials will be
posted. If the website is not available at the time of the notification, meeting materials
may be sent as attachments to the email.
AGENDA ITEM #6. a)
Page 14 of 85
Bylaws
Renton Equity Commission
7 of 11
Rev. 06/08/2022
3.9. ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
i. Commission members are expected to attend all Commission meetings within a
calendar year. Occasional absence is excused with notification submitted to the EHHS
Administrative Assistant and Chairperson. Twohree unexcused absences from
Commission meetings in a calendar year may result in the Commission submitting a
removal recommendation to the Mayor. The Commission will vote on all absences to
determine if they are excused or unexcused following the roll call portion of their
meeting.
ii. If the cause of absence is not of an excusable and temporary nature, including, but
not limited to, illness, vacation or work necessity, staff shall work with the Chairperson
to contact the member and remind the member that attendance is a key responsibility
of membership. A Commissioner who does not attend, and does not provide advance
notice of their absence may be presumed to have an unexcused absence; the absence
may be excused by the Commission at a later meeting.
iii. Members who have more than three two unexcused absences in a calendar year may
be removed by action of the Mayor. Vacant positions may be refilled for the unexpired
portion of the term according to the process outlined in Section 1.3 above.
3.10. GENERAL DECORUM:
3.10.1. Presiding Officer:
i. The Presiding Officer shall preserve decorum and decide all points of order, subject to
appeal to the Commission.
3.10.2. Members:
i. While the Commission is in session, all members must preserve order, decency and
decorum, and no member shall delay or interrupt the proceedings of the Commission or
disturb any member while speaking or refuse to obey the order of the Presiding Officer.
Discussion by members of the Committee shall relate to the subject matter at hand and
shall be relevant and pertinent to allow for the expeditious disposition and resolution of
the business before the Commission.
3.10.3. Staff:
i. Members of the administrative staff, employees of the City and other representatives
attending Commission meetings shall observe the same rules of procedure, decorum,
and good conduct applicable to the members of the Commission.
3.10.4. Public Addressing Commission:
i. There will be a public comment period on the regular agenda of the Commission, any
time limits on comments will be clearly identified on the published agenda.
ii. Any person whose conduct disrupts a Commission meeting from going forward may
be barred from that meeting by the Presiding Officer.
AGENDA ITEM #6. a)
Page 15 of 85
Bylaws
Renton Equity Commission
8 of 11
Rev. 06/08/2022
iii. Disruptive conduct that continues after a notice and warning from the Presiding
Officer may result in the removal of the individual from that meeting, or a clearing of
the room, or the meeting may be adjourned.
iv. An individual may not return for the remainder of the disrupted meeting unless
permission is granted by a majority vote of the Commission quorum in attendance.
3.10.5. Use of Email:
i. Email may be used to distribute information to the Commission.
ii. In compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA), responses to the full group
which stimulate dialogue, discussion of pending action items are prohibited; such
responses should be made during the next Commission meeting during which a quorum
is present.
iii. All communications related to the business of the Commission may be subject to the
Public Records Act (PRA).
3.10.6. SETTING THE MEETING AGENDA:
i. City staff will create a draft meeting agenda prior to each meeting.
ii. Staff will provide the draft meeting agenda to the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson
to review and finalize the agenda before the meeting documents are distributed to the
Commission members and published.
3.10.7. ORDER OF BUSINESS:
i. The order of business for all regular Commission meetings shall be as follows,
provided, however when it appears to be in the best interest of the public, the order of
business may be changed for any single meeting by majority vote:
• Call to Order
• Roll Call
• Consent Agenda (including approval of previous meeting minutes)
• Special Presentations and Reports
• Equity, Housing, and Human Services Administrator’s Report
• Staff Report
• Chairperson’s Report
• Committee Member Comments
• Public Comment
• Unfinished Business
• New Business
• General Business Discussion Items
• Action Items
• Debate of Items as needed
• Adjournment
AGENDA ITEM #6. a)
Page 16 of 85
Bylaws
Renton Equity Commission
9 of 11
Rev. 06/08/2022
AGENDA ITEM #6. a)
Page 17 of 85
Bylaws
Renton Equity Commission
10 of 11
Rev. 06/08/2022
ARTICLE IV – ETHICS
4.1. STATE AND CITY ETHICS CODE/OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT:
i. Members shall follow the City’s Code of Ethics Policy 100-07. A copy of this policy is
included in the Commission handbooks distributed to members upon appointment.
4.2. CONFLICTS:
i. Commission members are required to indicate whether they have a conflict of interest
concerning action items on the Commission agenda. They must recuse themselves from
voting and discussion on action items if they have a direct conflict.
4.3. GIFTS:
i. Members shall not accept gifts from any person having an interest in the work of the
Committee.
ARTICLE V – SUSPENSION AND AMENDING THE BYLAWS
5.1. SUSPENSION:
i. Any provision of these Bylaws may be temporarily suspended for a single meeting by a
majority vote of the Commission members present. The vote on any such suspension
shall be taken by voice vote unless a show of hands is required for clarification. The
temporary suspension shall remain in effect for the remainder of the meeting.
ii. Any actions taken under a suspension must be ratified at the next regular meeting.
5.2. AMENDMENT:
i. These Bylaws may be amended or repealed, and new Bylaws may be adopted at any
meeting of the Commission by a vote of more than 50% of the seated voting
membership, provided such changes are submitted to all members by the EHHS
Administrative Assistant in writing at least four days prior to such meeting.
ii. A special meeting may be called for such purposes.
iii. All amendments to the Bylaws adopted by the Commission shall be provided in
writing to the office of the Mayor and City Council for approval. Such Bylaws shall not
be effective until approved by the City Council.
PASSED BY THE RENTON EQUITY COMMISSION THIS XX DAY OF XX 2022, AND EFFECTIVE ON THE DATE
APPROVED BY THE RENTON CITY COUNCIL XX XX, 2022.
Linda S. Moschetti-Newing
Equity, Housing, and Human Services
Administrative Assistant
AGENDA ITEM #6. a)
Page 18 of 85
Bylaws
Renton Equity Commission
11 of 11
Rev. 06/08/2022
Preeti Shridhar
Chairperson Administrator
Renton Equity Commission Equity, Housing, and Human Services
Approved as to form:
Shane Moloney
City Attorney
AGENDA ITEM #6. a)
Page 19 of 85
Page 20 of 85
1 of 9
Rev. 02/16/2022
CITY OF RENTON
BYLAWS OF THE
RENTON EQUITY COMMISSION
The City of Renton (“City”) Equity Commission (“Commission”) has adopted the following as its Bylaws
setting forth the rules and procedures deemed necessary to carry out its duties established in chapter
2-7 of the Renton Municipal Code (“RMC”). After approval of these Bylaws by the Renton City Council,
the Commission will file a copy of these Bylaws with the City Clerk of Renton.
ARTICLE I – ORGANIZATION, PURPOSE, STRUCTURE, ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND DUTIES
1.1 ORGANIZATION:
i. The Commission serves the City as an instrument through which the employees and
officials of the City may obtain advice and assistance using the Renton Equity Lens to
identify and address inequities in order to eliminate racial, economic, and social barriers
identified in City programs, services and policies.
1.2 PURPOSE:
i. The Commission was established by adoption of City of Renton Ordinance No. 6033 on
November 1, 2021.
ii. Pursuant to RMC 2-7-3, the role of the Commission will be to act in an advisory
capacity by making recommendations to the Mayor and City Council on matters referred
to the Commission by the Mayor, City Council, and City staff. The primary duties and
powers of the Commission are intended to advance equity and inclusion in support of
the City’s goal to build an inclusive, informed, and hate-free city with equitable
outcomes for all in support of social, economic, and racial justice.
1.3 APPOINTMENTS, TERMS, MEMBERSHIP, AND VACANCIES:
i. The Commission will consist of nine members appointed by the Mayor, and confirmed
by City Council as follows:
ii. At the time of initial appointment three members shall be appointed for one year;
three members shall be appointed for two years; three members shall be appointed for
three years. At the expiration of the initial term, three members shall be appointed
each year for three-year terms.
iii. Terms shall be from January 1 of the appointment year, through December 31 of the
term expiration year.
iv. Membership should reflect the diversity of the City including but not limited to
ethnicity, race, age, gender, faith, gender identity and expression, and profession. Due
to the size of the Commission, it is understood it is possible not every group may be
represented.
v. Members shall, from the time of their appointment and confirmation through their
term, be a resident of, or business owner in, the City of Renton and able to attend
AGENDA ITEM #6. a)
Page 21 of 85
Bylaws
Renton Equity Commission
2 of 9
Rev. 06/08/2022
meetings as necessary. If they no longer reside or have a business in Renton, they
forfeit their membership in the Commission as of the date of their move.
vi. Applicants for appointment shall have a demonstrated commitment to equity.
vii. At least one member shall be a youth member between the ages of 18 and 25 at the
time the member is confirmed in their appointment.
viii. No sitting City Council member shall be a member of the Commission; if a
Commission member is elected or appointed to City Council, they shall forfeit their
membership on the Commission effective at the date of their swearing-in as a Council
member. Nothing in this section is intended to discourage former City Council members
from applying for appointment so long as they meet other appointment requirements.
ix. No current City employee or consultant shall be a member of the Commission; if a
Commission member becomes employed or contracted by the City, they shall forfeit
their membership on the Commission effective on their first day of employment or
contract with the City. Nothing in this section is intended to discourage former City
employees or consultants from applying for appointment so long as they meet other
appointment requirements.
x. Should a member need or wish to resign an appointed position prior to the expiration
of the term, they shall notify the Chairperson, Equity and Inclusion Consultant and
Administrative Assistant in writing. The member will receive a written
acknowledgement of the resignation. Upon receipt of applications, a recommendation
for an individual to fill the vacated position will be presented to the Mayor for
appointment and confirmation according to the process noted above. If appointed, the
individual will serve out the remaining time of the vacated term.
xi. Upon term expiration, Commission members who desire serving another term may
re-apply for their position by completing an application. The application will be
considered, along with others received, for a final recommendation to the Mayor. At
this time, term limits do not exist.
xii. Unless there is not a sufficient number of applicant candidates, Commission
members are limited to not more than two (2) consecutive full 3-year terms in order to
maintain diverse representation of the Commission.
1.4 ELECTION OF OFFICERS PROCESS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS
i. Officers shall be elected as set forth in RMC 2-7-3E. The Chairperson shall preside at
all meetings. The Chairperson cannot make motions but may vote on matters before
the Commission.
ii. The Commission may also elect a Vice Chairperson using the same election process as
set forth for the Chairperson. The Vice Chairperson shall, in the absence of the
AGENDA ITEM #6. a)
Page 22 of 85
Bylaws
Renton Equity Commission
3 of 9
Rev. 06/08/2022
Chairperson, perform the duties and possess the powers of the Chairperson, and, in
addition, perform other duties assigned by the Chairperson.
iii. The election process for the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson positions will occur
annually at the beginning of the Committee’s first meeting.
iv. The Chairperson will be elected first. The Vice Chairperson will then be elected.
v. The City’s Equity, Housing, and Human Services (EHHS) staff will facilitate the process
to elect the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson. The process shall be the same for both
positions and will be as follows with the election of the Chairperson taking place first.
vi. Nominations will be opened for election of a Chairperson first. Self-nominations will
be considered for all officer positions.
vii. Commission voting members may nominate up to one member per person for each
position. A nominee has the option to decline the nomination if they so choose.
viii. Once all nominations have been recognized, the staff member will close
nominations.
ix. Nominees may make a brief statement about their experience and why they would
like to serve as Chairperson.
x. The Commission will vote. Nominees will be voted upon in the order in which they
were nominated. Voting will be complete once a simple majority of the voting members
present at the meeting vote in favor of one of the nominees. Voting shall be conducted
by voice vote unless a show of hands is required for clarification.
xi. Steps v through x will be repeated for the process to elect a Vice Chairperson. All
parameters of the election shall be consistent with those used to elect the Chairperson.
xii. v. Unless there are not sufficient candidates, no Commission members shall serve as
elected officers for the Commission more than two (2) consecutive 1-year terms in order
to maintain diversity in Commission leadership.
ARTICLE II – RULES OF PROCEDURE
2.1 ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER:
i. Unless otherwise provided by law or modified by these rules, the procedure for
Commission meetings shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order.
ii. The Commission has an obligation to the public to be clear and simple in its
procedures and in the consideration of the questions coming before it. Therefore,
Commission members should avoid invoking the finer points of parliamentary procedure
AGENDA ITEM #6. a)
Page 23 of 85
Bylaws
Renton Equity Commission
4 of 9
Rev. 06/08/2022
when such points serve only to obscure the issues before the Commission as a whole,
and to confuse the audience at public meetings and the public in general.
2.2 PRESIDING OFFICER:
i. The Chairperson, or in the Chairperson’s absence the Vice Chairperson, shall serve as
the Presiding Officer for purposes of running a Commission meeting. The Presiding
Officer cannot make motions but may vote on matters before the Commission.
ii. In the absence of both the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson at a Commission
meeting, the staff liaison shall solicit nominations for and manage election of a Presiding
Officer in the same manner as the election of the Officers as set out in Article 1.4. The
Presiding Officer so elected may vote on any matter before the Commission.
2.3. ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER ASSISTANCE:
i. A City representative may provide guidance and support to the Presiding Officer on
any questions of order.
ARTICLE III – MEETINGS AND TRAININGS
3.1 QUORUM:
i. The Commission has 9 voting members. More than 50% of the seated voting
members shall constitute a quorum at any given meeting.
ii. If less than a quorum is present at any meeting, the meeting may continue, however
no action can be taken, only informational items may be presented. Current items will
be carried over to the next regular meeting.
iii. A meeting may be canceled if needed (e.g., weather, local, state, or national
emergency). Current items will be carried over to the next meeting.
3.2 REGULAR MEETINGS:
i. The Commission shall meet second Tuesday of every month at 5:30 p.m. and in person
to the greatest extent possible. The Commission shall have the authority to change a
regular meeting date and time, if necessary, by action of a majority of the Commission
at a regular Commission meeting. If a regularly scheduled meeting falls on a city
holiday, it shall be held on the next business day for which there is not conflict in
meeting locations.
ii. A meeting schedule for the following year shall be proposed by staff and placed on
the New Business portion of the agenda for the final meeting of the current year. The
Commission may approve or amend the proposed meeting schedule by simple majority
vote of those in attendance.
iii. The Chairperson may change, cancel, or alter the date of a meeting on an emergency
basis as needed.
3.3 SPECIAL MEETINGS:
AGENDA ITEM #6. a)
Page 24 of 85
Bylaws
Renton Equity Commission
5 of 9
Rev. 06/08/2022
i. The Chairperson may call special meetings, work sessions and Commission meetings
when proper and as necessary with notice to Commission members and the public.
Work sessions shall be noticed as public meetings and all Commission members may
participate.
3.4. OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT AND PUBLIC RECORDS ACT:
i. The Commission shall comply with the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA). In
accordance with RCW 42.30.205, RCW 42.56.150, and RCW 42.56.152, members are
required to complete OPMA and Public Records Act training within 90 days of their
appointment. These trainings will be conducted during the Commission’s inaugural
meeting.
ii. Thereafter, the Commission will receive refresher sessions on the Acts every two
years. New Commissioners will also be required to take the OPMA and Public Records
Act trainings within the first 90 days following their appointment. Upon completion of
the trainings, members shall submit a Certificate of Completion to the City Clerk Division
documenting attendance of initial training and subsequent trainings for public officers.
3.5. RENTON EQUITY LENS TRAINING:
i. Commission members will receive training on how to use the Renton Equity Lens
within 120 days for initial formation, and then 90 days of their appointment on
confirmation and every two years thereafter.
3.6. SUBCOMMITTEES:
i. A majority of the members of the Commission may name such subcommittee or
subcommittees, as in its judgment, will aid in effectuating the purpose of this Chapter
and may empower any such subcommittee to review policies, practices, and procedures
and advise the full Commission regarding its findings on equity issues for the
Commission to take action within the purview of this Chapter.
3.7. VIRTUAL MEETINGS AND REMOTE ATTENDANCE:
3.7.1. Virtual Meetings:
i. Although the Commission shall have a standard practice of meeting in person at a site
determined by city staff, if needed, or directed to do so because of an emergency
situation, the Commission will be permitted to conduct business via a virtual platform if
allowed by law. Regardless of how the meeting is conducted, members will be invited
to attend and participate as outlined in Article I.3.
3.7.2. Remote Attendance:
i. Any member may attend a meeting remotely if (1) by telephonic access, or by other
electronic, internet or other means of remote access acceptable to and arranged with
city staff, and (2) if all persons attending the meeting can hear and be heard by the
member attending remotely. This paragraph will be interpreted to comply with
Washington State requirements for the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA), and may be
subject to change to comply with those requirements.
AGENDA ITEM #6. a)
Page 25 of 85
Bylaws
Renton Equity Commission
6 of 9
Rev. 06/08/2022
3.8. NOTICE:
i. All meetings will be noticed by the City Clerk Division at least 24 hours in advance of
the meeting. Each meeting notice shall include the date, time, location, and primary
agenda topics.
ii. In addition, an email notice may be sent to all interested persons providing a link to
the City’s website on which the meeting agenda and supporting materials will be
posted. If the website is not available at the time of the notification, meeting materials
may be sent as attachments to the email.
3.9. ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
i. Commission members are expected to attend all Commission meetings within a
calendar year. Occasional absence is excused with notification submitted to the EHHS
Administrative Assistant and Chairperson. Two unexcused absences from Commission
meetings in a calendar year may result in the Commission submitting a removal
recommendation to the Mayor. The Commission will vote on all absences to determine
if they are excused or unexcused following the roll call portion of their meeting.
ii. If the cause of absence is not of an excusable and temporary nature, including, but
not limited to, illness, vacation or work necessity, staff shall work with the Chairperson
to contact the member and remind the member that attendance is a key responsibility
of membership. A Commissioner who does not attend, and does not provide advance
notice of their absence may be presumed to have an unexcused absence; the absence
may be excused by the Commission at a later meeting.
iii. Members who have more than two unexcused absences in a calendar year may be
removed by action of the Mayor. Vacant positions may be refilled for the unexpired
portion of the term according to the process outlined in Section 1.3 above.
3.10. GENERAL DECORUM:
3.10.1. Presiding Officer:
i. The Presiding Officer shall preserve decorum and decide all points of order, subject to
appeal to the Commission.
3.10.2. Members:
i. While the Commission is in session, all members must preserve order, decency and
decorum, and no member shall delay or interrupt the proceedings of the Commission or
disturb any member while speaking or refuse to obey the order of the Presiding Officer.
Discussion by members of the Committee shall relate to the subject matter at hand and
shall be relevant and pertinent to allow for the expeditious disposition and resolution of
the business before the Commission.
3.10.3. Staff:
i. Members of the administrative staff, employees of the City and other representatives
attending Commission meetings shall observe the same rules of procedure, decorum,
and good conduct applicable to the members of the Commission.
AGENDA ITEM #6. a)
Page 26 of 85
Bylaws
Renton Equity Commission
7 of 9
Rev. 06/08/2022
3.10.4. Public Addressing Commission:
i. There will be a public comment period on the regular agenda of the Commission, any
time limits on comments will be clearly identified on the published agenda.
ii. Any person whose conduct disrupts a Commission meeting from going forward may
be barred from that meeting by the Presiding Officer.
iii. Disruptive conduct that continues after a notice and warning from the Presiding
Officer may result in the removal of the individual from that meeting, or a clearing of
the room, or the meeting may be adjourned.
iv. An individual may not return for the remainder of the disrupted meeting unless
permission is granted by a majority vote of the Commission quorum in attendance.
3.10.5. Use of Email:
i. Email may be used to distribute information to the Commission.
ii. In compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA), responses to the full group
which stimulate dialogue, discussion of pending action items are prohibited; such
responses should be made during the next Commission meeting during which a quorum
is present.
iii. All communications related to the business of the Commission may be subject to the
Public Records Act (PRA).
3.10.6. SETTING THE MEETING AGENDA:
i. City staff will create a draft meeting agenda prior to each meeting.
ii. Staff will provide the draft meeting agenda to the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson
to review and finalize the agenda before the meeting documents are distributed to the
Commission members and published.
3.10.7. ORDER OF BUSINESS:
i. The order of business for all regular Commission meetings shall be as follows,
provided, however when it appears to be in the best interest of the public, the order of
business may be changed for any single meeting by majority vote:
• Call to Order
• Roll Call
• Consent Agenda (including approval of previous meeting minutes)
• Special Presentations and Reports
• Equity, Housing, and Human Services Administrator’s Report
• Staff Report
• Chairperson’s Report
AGENDA ITEM #6. a)
Page 27 of 85
Bylaws
Renton Equity Commission
8 of 9
Rev. 06/08/2022
• Committee Member Comments
• Public Comment
• Unfinished Business
• New Business
• General Business Discussion Items
• Action Items
• Debate of Items as needed
• Adjournment
ARTICLE IV – ETHICS
4.1. STATE AND CITY ETHICS CODE/OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT:
i. Members shall follow the City’s Code of Ethics Policy 100-07. A copy of this policy is
included in the Commission handbooks distributed to members upon appointment.
4.2. CONFLICTS:
i. Commission members are required to indicate whether they have a conflict of interest
concerning action items on the Commission agenda. They must recuse themselves from
voting and discussion on action items if they have a direct conflict.
4.3. GIFTS:
i. Members shall not accept gifts from any person having an interest in the work of the
Committee.
ARTICLE V – SUSPENSION AND AMENDING THE BYLAWS
5.1. SUSPENSION:
i. Any provision of these Bylaws may be temporarily suspended for a single meeting by a
majority vote of the Commission members present. The vote on any such suspension
shall be taken by voice vote unless a show of hands is required for clarification. The
temporary suspension shall remain in effect for the remainder of the meeting.
ii. Any actions taken under a suspension must be ratified at the next regular meeting.
5.2. AMENDMENT:
i. These Bylaws may be amended or repealed, and new Bylaws may be adopted at any
meeting of the Commission by a vote of more than 50% of the seated voting
membership, provided such changes are submitted to all members by the EHHS
Administrative Assistant in writing at least four days prior to such meeting.
ii. A special meeting may be called for such purposes.
iii. All amendments to the Bylaws adopted by the Commission shall be provided in
writing to the office of the Mayor and City Council for approval. Such Bylaws shall not
be effective until approved by the City Council.
AGENDA ITEM #6. a)
Page 28 of 85
Bylaws
Renton Equity Commission
9 of 9
Rev. 06/08/2022
PASSED BY THE RENTON EQUITY COMMISSION THIS XX DAY OF XX 2022, AND EFFECTIVE ON THE DATE
APPROVED BY THE RENTON CITY COUNCIL XX XX, 2022.
Linda S. Moschetti-Newing
Equity, Housing, and Human Services
Administrative Assistant
Preeti Shridhar
Chairperson Administrator
Renton Equity Commission Equity, Housing, and Human Services
Approved as to form:
Shane Moloney
City Attorney
AGENDA ITEM #6. a)
Page 29 of 85
Page 30 of 85
RENTON INCLUSION
FOUNDATION WORKSHOP
OVERVIEW for
EQUITY COMMISSION
FACILITATOR: BENITA RODRIGUEZ HORN AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 31 of 85
TOPICS COVERED IN THIS SESSION
•Highlights of the historical evolution of
institutional racism and its legacy today
•Exploring how systems of oppression impact
experiences and outcomes
•Exploring how implicit bias impacts systemic
decisions
•Reviewing tools available to us that support
equitable outcomes
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 32 of 85
FRAMING THIS DIALOGUE
•Stay engaged (with webcams on as much as
possible)
•Listen for understanding
•Embrace discomfort (but resist shame!)
•Speak personally, for yourself as an individual
•Share what you learned, leave behind the stories of
others
•Expect and accept non-closure
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 33 of 85
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
AND GRATITUDE
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates
Resource for identifying Indigenous Lands
https://native-land.ca/AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 34 of 85
ASSUMPTIONS UNDERLYING THIS
WORKSHOP
•Assumption 1: We live in a highly racialized society –
i.e. race matters.
•Assumption 2: We’re all part of the picture.
•Assumption 3: None of us asked for this. None of us
are responsible for the past; but all of us are
responsible for the present and to some extent, the
future.
•Assumption 4: Even as we talk about racial equity,
racism is playing out.
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 35 of 85
DIFFERING IMPACTS OF THIS WORKSHOP
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 36 of 85
As we move through this workshop, think about
one thing you are hoping will be discussed in
this workshop that will support your work as a
Commission?
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 37 of 85
WHY DISCUSS RACISM TO ACHIEVE EQUITY
& INCLUSION?
•Racism in the U.S. has left a legacy of disparities and inequities in health, education, housing, employment, income, wealth & other areas that impact achievement and quality of life.
•When people face barriers to achieving their full potential, it is a burden not only for them, but for communities, businesses, governments and the economy as a whole.
•Racism is only one of the barriers to achieving our goal of Inclusion, as we better understand racism, we better understand all forms of oppression.
8Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 38 of 85
HISTORY OF GOVERNMENT AND RACE
Government
explicitly creates
and maintains
racial inequity.
Initially explicit
Discrimination
illegal, but “race-
neutral” policies
and practices
perpetuate
inequity.
Became implicit
Proactive policies,
practices and
procedures that
advance racial
equity.
Government for
racial equity
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 39 of 85
structural
institutional
individual
Institutional racism:
•Policies, practices and procedures that
work better for white people than for
people of color, often unintentionally or
inadvertently.
Structural racism:
•A history and current reality of
institutional racism across all institutions,
combining to create a system that
negatively impacts communities of color.
USING RACISM TO UNDERSTAND OPPRESSION
Individual racism:
•Pre-judgment, bias, or discrimination by an individual based on
race.
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 40 of 85
RACIAL WEALTH GAP EXPLAINED
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mqrhn8khGLM
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates 11
What stood our for you
in this video?AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 41 of 85
OUR LEGACY TODAY: THE WEALTH GAP
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 42 of 85
EXPLORING SOCIAL IDENTITY GROUPS AND
OPPRESSION
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 43 of 85
THE ESSENCE OF OPPRESSION IS
POWER
X
XXXXX
hierarchy
economic/resource access
Who Decides
who gets what or
who doesn’t get
what?
© SCOTT WINN, 2016
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 44 of 85
KEY DEFINITIONS
PREJUDICE
•Pre-judgment or bias based on a particular identity (race, gender, class, religion, etc.).
DISCRIMINATION
•Prejudice + Action (when we act on our prejudices). Among other things, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes it illegal to discriminate based on race, color, sex, religion or national origin. Any human can discriminate and any human can be the target of discrimination.
OPPRESSION
•A system of advantage or disadvantage based on a particular identity. Only those who DO carry systemic power are part of the oppressor group (i.e. white, non-trans male, able-bodied, Christian, wealthy, straight, etc.) and only those who DO NOT carry systemic power can be targets of oppression (i.e., people of color, female and trans, people with disabilities, non-Christian, poor/working class, LGBTQIA, etc.).
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 45 of 85
ELEMENTS OF OPPRESSION
Agent
group:
Greater
access to
social
power.
Target
group:
Limited or
denied
access to
social
power.
•Social power: Access to resources to enhance one’s chances
of getting what one needs or influencing others in order to lead
a safe, productive, fulfilling life.
•Privilege (agent group): Unearned access to resources (social
power) available only to some people as a result of their social
group membership.
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 46 of 85
EXPLORING OPPRESSION APPLICATION
•Instructions:
–First, complete the Social Identity Groups and
Oppression worksheet as instructed.
–Then we will discuss:
–What you learned from this activity?
–At what points in life do we move from target to
agent groups or vice versa?
–What impact does intersectionality have?
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 47 of 85
IN SUMMARY
•Institutional racism reinforces and sustains multiple
forms of oppression
•Achieving inclusion means analyzing systems,
policies and procedures that may contain
unintentional or inadvertent barriers
•To improve outcomes, we need to focus on
institutional and structural oppression to make
changes to systems that affect many people in the
community
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 48 of 85
IMPLICIT BIAS
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 49 of 85
“Ultimately we believe our
decisions are consistent with our
conscious beliefs, when in fact,
our unconscious is running the
show.”
Howard Ross, author
Everyday Bias: Identifying & Navigating Unconscious Judgments in Our
Daily Lives
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 50 of 85
•Only about 2% of cognition is available to us consciously
at any given moment
•Our conscious mind can only process 40 of the 11 million
pieces of information that we process at any given
moment
•We constantly draw on the 98% of our cognition that is
unconscious-we fill in the blanks with the millions of pieces
not consciously available to us when we perceive the
moment we are in.
•We are easily susceptible to being primed-our minds look
for short cuts
We unconsciously
think about biases
even when we do
not explicitly
discuss them.
HOW OUR MIND WORKS
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 51 of 85
DEFINITION OF BIAS
•The evaluation of one group and its members
relative to another.
•We all carry bias or prejudgment.
•It is only when we act on our biases that we
can create negative outcomes for particular
individuals or groups.
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 52 of 85
Source: Unconscious (Implicit) Bias and Health Disparities: Where Do We Go from Here?
https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html
Explicit Bias
Expressed directly
Aware of bias
Operates consciously
Example --“I trust women more than men.”
Implicit Bias
Expressed indirectly
Unaware of bias
Operates sub-consciously
Example --sitting further away from a man than a
woman.
TWO
FORMS
OF BIAS
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 53 of 85
HOW IMPLICIT BIAS CAUSES US TO MISS OUR GOALS
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 54 of 85
•When conductors
were placed
behind a screen,
the percentage
of female new
hires for
orchestral jobs
increased 25% –
46%.
IMPLICIT BIAS IN HIRING
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 55 of 85
IMPLICIT BIAS IN SAFETY
•Researchers analyzed over 6 decades (1950 to 2012)
of death rates from U.S. hurricanes and found:
•Feminine-named hurricanes (vs. masculine-named
hurricanes) cause significantly more deaths,
apparently because they lead to a lower perceived
risk and consequently less preparedness.
–Average deaths for feminine-named hurricanes 45
–Average deaths for masculine-named hurricanes
23
Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, June 17, 2014
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 56 of 85
IMPLICIT BIAS IN COMMUNICATION
2014 RED CROSS POSTER
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 57 of 85
HOW IMPLICIT BIASES ARE HARMFUL
•They influence our perceptions, judgments, decisions,
actions and can predict behavior.
•They can lead to discriminatory actions in a wide
range of human interactions (education, hiring,
programs, service delivery, medical care, finance,
housing, criminal justice, etc.)
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 58 of 85
THE CHALLENGE OF ADRESSING IMPLICIT BIAS
•Suppressing or denying biased thoughts
can actually increase prejudice rather
than eradicate it.
•Research has confirmed that if we
openly acknowledge and directly
challenge our biases, we can make
more progress.
•How can we openly acknowledge and
directly challenge what we do not
consciously know?
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 59 of 85
TOOLS TO ADDRESS IMPLICIT BIAS
•Feedback Mechanisms
•Raising Awareness
•Use Strategies to Reduce Implicit Bias
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 60 of 85
FEEDBACK MECHANISMS
•Seek feedback from trusted sources, family, friends,
community.
•Seek feedback through consulting with people from
backgrounds different than yours, ask for feedback
from colleagues, supervisors and others regarding
past performance.
•Consistently acknowledge and thank people when
you receive feedback –keep the channels open.
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 61 of 85
RAISING AWARENESS
•Participate in trainings and other educational programs aimed
at raising awareness about implicit biases and their impact.
•Continuously self-monitor your perceptions, judgments, behavior,
decisions, and actions for the influence of implicit biases.
•Hold yourself responsible for the negative influence that implicit biases have on your perceptions, judgments, behavior,
decisions, and actions. Do not dismiss your accountability simply
because implicit biases are triggered automatically without our
conscious awareness.
•Take an Implicit Association Test:
https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 62 of 85
IMPLICIT ASSOCIATION TEST
Discuss the following:
•How did it feel to take an
Implicit Association Test?
•What did you learn?
•What questions did taking a
test raise for you?
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 63 of 85
STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS IMPLICIT BIAS
•Refer to the handout: Strategies to Address Implicit
Bias
•Select one of the Individual Strategies that you can
commit to adopting;
•Think about which of the Institutional Strategies
would help address implicit biases in the work of
your Board or Commission.
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 64 of 85
RESOURCES FOR EQUITABLE OUTCOMES
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 65 of 85
RENTON BUSINESS PLAN 2022-2027
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 66 of 85
RESOLUTION NO. 4414 –A LANDMARK
DOCUMENT
•Introduced by Mayor Armondo Pavone and
adopted by City Council on August 3, 2020
•Resolution 4414: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF
RENTON, WASHINGTON, ADOPTING THE 2021-2026
BUSINESS PLAN TO STRENGTHEN ITS STAND AGAINST
RACISM AND IN SUPPORT OF RACIAL EQUITY
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 67 of 85
RESOLUTION 4414 HIGHLIGHTS
•Acknowledges Renton as the ancestral land
of the Duwamish People and other Coast
Salish Nations until their forceful relocation
•Reaffirms commitment to review ordinances,
pursue policies and take action
•Reaffirms commitment to eradicating
historical and current effects of institutional
racism
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 68 of 85
RESOLUTION 4414 HIGHLIGHTS (cont.)
•Rejects prejudice and bigotry
•Condemns the actions, speech and attitudes
of those who promote hate
•Defines institutional racism and structural
racism
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 69 of 85
RESOLUTION 4414 HIGHLIGHTS (cont.)
•Confirms commitment to join the Government
Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE)
•Declares Renton an anti-racist city that strives to use
the Renton Equity Lens
•Commits to ongoing community forums throughout
the city to engage all communities
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 70 of 85
RENTON EQUITY LENS OVERVIEW
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 71 of 85
WHAT IS A RACIAL EQUITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT
OR EQUITY LENS?
•A systematic examination of how different racial and
ethnic groups will likely be affected by a proposed
action or decision
•Used to eliminate and prevent adverse
consequences
•Vital for preventing institutional racism and
remedying social injustices
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 72 of 85
WHAT THESE ASSESSMENTS DO
•Proactively seek to eliminate inequities and advance equity
•Prioritize transformational change (decision-making processes) over merely relying on transactional change (products of decisions)
•Center those most impacted by inequities in decision-making processes to achieve equity for all.
•Document inequities to establish baseline to measure progress
•Identify clear goals and objectives, measurable equity outcomes
•Develop mechanisms for successful implementation
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 73 of 85
A DECISION-MAKING TOOL FOR RENTON
BOARDS/COMMISSIONS
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates
City Council Retreat, March
20, 2021
ACTION ITEMS:
•Directing all boards and commissions to use an equity lens when developing
recommendations for Council
AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 74 of 85
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates
RENTON EQUITY
LENS PROCESS
AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 75 of 85
•Engaging
stakeholders most impacted.
•What you hope to
see in the community / organization?
Desired
Outcome
•Gather and analyze Community/organiza
tion baseline indicators
Data •What decision /
policy/practice are you going to enact?
Action
•What impact did it have? Did it get you
closer to desired outcome?
•Reporting back to
stakeholders.
Outcome
Evaluation
EQUITY LENS DECISION-MAKING
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 76 of 85
EQUITY LENS OUTCOMES
•Identify barriers to access
•Identify barriers to information
•Develop trust with the community
•Build authentic relationships with the community
•Change the power structure within institutions (like
City of Renton) to center community voices
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 77 of 85
APPLYING THE RENTON EQUITY LENS
Policy on Considering Internal Candidates (NOT A RENTON POLICY)
•Our city values opportunities to hire from within the current staff. For any employee position expected to last for more than one year (whether a new or continuing position), the city will first consider any internal candidates before external candidates.
•Internal candidates will be offered a window of at least one week to apply for the position.
•Internal candidates will be reviewed prior to the position being publicly announced.
•The process for consideration of internal candidates shall be determined on a case-by-case basis by the hiring manager.
•As is the case in an open hire, the final decision making authority regarding hiring rests with the Administrator.
•Internal candidates who are not offered a position via the process of consideration of internal candidates are welcome to apply for the position in the open hiring process.
•Short-term employees are not eligible for consideration in the internal candidate process.
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 78 of 85
APPLYING THE RENTON EQUITY LENS
1.What result does this policy seek to accomplish?
2.Which social identify groups (stakeholders) are most affected and/or concerned about this policy? How are they informed
about and involved in decision-making now?
3.What factors may be producing and/or perpetuating
inequities associated with this policy?
4.Are there unintended adverse impacts from this policy? How
might they be mitigated?
5.How will outcomes be evaluated?
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 79 of 85
RESOURCES:
•Driving Toward Equity: Racial Equity Tools (video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4yOV8apmlw
•RaceForward: Racial Equity Impact Assessment Toolkit https://www.raceforward.org/practice/tools/racial-equity-
impact-assessment-toolkit
•Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE): Tools and
Resources https://www.racialequityalliance.org/tools-
resources/
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 80 of 85
QUESTIONS
Developed by Benita R. Horn & Associates AGENDA ITEM #7. b)Page 81 of 85
Page 82 of 85
Updated 10-5-2020
Renton Equity Lens
What is an equity lens?
A systematic examination of how different social identity groups will likely be affected by a
proposed action or decision. An equity lens is used to minimize unanticipated adverse
consequences in a variety of contexts, including the analysis of proposed policies, institutional
practices, programs, plans and budgetary decisions. The equity lens is a vital tool for preventing
adverse and / or disparate outcomes and for identifying new options to remedy long-standing
inequities. An equity lens process is an analysis conducted by a decision-making group.
Why is an equity lens needed?
Equity lens are used to reduce, eliminate and prevent discrimination and inequities. The
persistence of deep disparities and divisions across social identity groups is the routine, often
invisible and unintentional, production of inequitable social opportunities and outcomes.
What are social identity groups?
A social identity is the portion of an individual's self-concept derived from perceived
membership in a relevant social group. Examples of social identity groups include but are not
limited to: gender identification, class, language, sexual orientation, religion / spiritual beliefs,
physical / developmental / mental abilities, race, ethnicity, age, etc.
When should an equity lens be used?
An equity lens analysis is best conducted during the decision-making process, by the decision-
making group, prior to enacting new proposals. It is used to inform decisions, much like
environmental impact statements, fiscal impact reports and workplace risk assessments.
AGENDA ITEM #7. c)
Page 83 of 85
Updated 10-5-2020
Renton Equity Lens Process
Set Outcomes
Involve Stake-holders
Gather & Analyze Data
Take Action
EvaluateOutcomes
Report back to Stake-holders
AGENDA ITEM #7. c)
Page 84 of 85
Updated 10-5-2020
Renton Equity Lens Process
1. Set Outcomes (Clarifying the Purpose)
a. What does this policy / program analysis seek to accomplish? Will it reduce
disparities or discrimination? Will it advance equity and inclusion?
2. Identify and Involve Stakeholders
a. Which social identity groups may be most affected by and concerned with the policy
/ program being analyzed? Have stakeholders from different social identity groups –
especially those most adversely impacted – been informed, meaningfully involved
and authentically represented in this analysis? Who is missing and how can they be
engaged?
3. Determine Benefit and / or Burden (Data Analysis)
a. Gather and analyze data: Which social identity groups are currently most
advantaged and most disadvantaged by the policy / program this analysis seeks to
address? How are they affected differently? What quantitative and qualitative
evidence of inequity exists? What evidence is missing or needed?
b. Examining the Causes: What factors may be producing and perpetuating inequities
associated with this policy / program? How did the inequities arise? Are they
expanding or narrowing? Does this analysis address root causes? If not, how could
it?
4. Advance Opportunity or Minimize Harm (Policy, Program or Decision Analysis and/or
Action)
a. Advance Opportunity: What positive impacts on equity and inclusion, if any, could
result from this policy / program? Which social identity groups could benefit?
b. Minimize Harm: What adverse impacts or unintended consequences could result
from this policy? How could adverse impacts be prevented or minimized? Are there
better ways to reduce disparities and advance opportunity?
c. What action will be taken to prevent or minimize adverse impact?
5. Evaluate. Raise Equity Awareness. Be Accountable.
a. What are the success indicators and progress benchmarks? How will impacts be
documented and evaluated? How will the level, diversity and quality of ongoing
stakeholder engagement be assessed? How will unresolved issues be documented?
6. Report Back
a. At what point in time should an evaluation and report take place? What will be
reported? To whom? How will we act on the report information?
AGENDA ITEM #7. c)
Page 85 of 85