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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEconomic Advisory Commission - Minutes - 05/19/2021 ECONOMIC ADVISORY COMMISSION TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR May 19, 2021 4:00 - 6:00 pm via Zoom 5/19/21 – MINUTES Page 1 1. CALL TO ORDER - 4:00 PM. 2. ROLL CALL • List of Board Members Present − George Grossman − Julie Stackhouse − Connor Barry − Braulio Rojas − Spencer Clark − Renee Walkup − Aric Light − John Parks • List of Board Members Absent – Excused or Unexcused; if no contact with Chair has been made − Ted Settle • List of Staff Members Present − Janet Freeman - Sr. Specialist, Social Sustainability − Angela Pena - Technician I, Parks • Guests - none 3. AGENDA REVIEW 4. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION a. None 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. There were a few revisions to the April minutes submitted by email. There being no further comments or changes, the April EAC minutes were approved as revised. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Review Memo to Council on Topics of interest − Josh pointed out the new City Council has not yet finalized their priorities and has ECONOMIC ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 5/19/21 – MINUTES Page 2 asked staff to give input on an initial list before it reconvenes later this summer to finalize its priorities list. After last month's discussion, Braulio wrote a draft memo to Council regarding items of interest to the EAC that the group would like Council to consider. The group discussed Braulio's memo. − Discussion − Julie - Suggested that, since Council priorities are in a two-year time frame, the items in the EAC memo be specific enough that they influence the strategy in that time frame. − George - Suggested the EAC's list be focused on the "economic" issues on the Council's list. − John - Our Climate Future does address economic issues and suggested it stay in the EAC's suggestions to Council. Julie - suggested noting "what is the cost" of the Our Climate Future plan to economic health. − Josh noted that the EAC has never commented on Council's priorities before. Sending a memo now during Council's prioritization process is more than the Commission has done in the past and might be helpful as members finalize their priorities. − The group reevaluated the suggested topics in the memo and how to present them as directives to Council. The group unanimously agreed that the EAC will send this memo to Council but it is not ready to send so the group will finalize it offline and send it to Council before Council's retreat at the end of June. Connor will place the document on a shared space for everyone's edits. 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Equity Indicators Report - Janet Freeman and Angela Pena. − Background and context − Equity Indicators assess and measure disparities of a topic area regarding different groups − The City is focusing on having an equity lens to be in alignment with Council priorities to mitigate institutional level and systemic outcomes, close any disparity gaps, track any inequality, have data-driven policy making, and have transparency and accountability. − Project Overview − The City commissioned the CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance to help the City with this equity work. ECONOMIC ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 5/19/21 – MINUTES Page 3 − The approach was to measure and understand inequities, explore the disparity landscape and identify equity indicators. − Efforts included background research, data diagnostics, City and county staff discussions, preliminary landscape analysis, community input and equity indicators. − Topic areas included civic engagement, criminal justice and public safety, economic opportunity, education, environmental justice, housing, public health, services, social inclusion and transportation. − High Level Findings − Some major issues among local non-white population include worry about affording nutritious meals, disability status, income disparity, business ownership and gender bias − Next Steps − Creating an equity dashboard that can be used as a tool for equity partners − Have a public forum to report findings − Create a benchmarking repot − Strengthen staff capacity for equity lens deployment including root cause analysis with those most directly impacted − Discussion − Renee - Q - Are you analyzing weaknesses right now? A - The City began evaluating equity issues in 2015 in the Social Sustainability Department. In 2019, the City made the decision to lead with equity and inclusion in alignment with Council priorities. We are now able to obtain and analyze data and integrate an equity lens into city planning and projects and to address any disparities. The City is currently setting up an Equity Office and hiring an Equity and Inclusion Officer. Once the office is set up, things will move forward more quickly. Data was collected before the pandemic and will most likely will change during and after recovery. − Renee is disturbed that things are as bad as they are for women business owners. − Braulio - Q - Is the data marked "perceptions" about the group's perception of itself, or others' perceptions of those people? Also, is there a way to split out disparities due to a person who has recently emigrated to here? A - Perception-based data points were based on how the person was feeling. Root cause analysis of disadvantages to a person newly arrived from another county ECONOMIC ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 5/19/21 – MINUTES Page 4 can be politically and racially based. Ways to help them at the state and local level need to be developed. The equity lens is designed to address this. − Connor - Q - This data is not surprising, but now how will it be used to move forward to impact policy decisions by City government? A - The City has prioritized three top areas to work on: education; economic opportunity; and housing. The data is very important to clarify opportunities here to address inequities. − John - Q - Who do you anticipate will be the audience for the Equity Dashboard? A - The audience is the general public so they can see progress and details of the program. The dashboard is slated to be launched in the fall. − George - Q - Economic opportunity for business ownership is important. Could some of this information be wrapped into the Strategic Economic Health Plan update to help make capital available and assist with economic disparity in the city? A - Josh - Yes, this data can be applied there and can help guide the Strategic Plan. The Economic Health Office is focusing on how to help small businesses, including minority-owned businesses. − Braulio - One challenge I see to your equity and inclusion plan is negative human behavior and I hope this can be changed. b. Bicycle Advisory Committee Liaison − Josh explained that the Bicycle Advisory Committee is not a Council board, but a subset of the Transportation Board comprised of volunteer representatives from other boards and commissions. He asked the group if anyone would like to volunteer to be the EAC liaison to the Bicycle Advisory Committee that meets the 4th Monday of the month at 6:00 pm. − Spencer volunteered to sit in on a meeting to see if he would like to volunteer to be the EAC representative on the bicycle Advisory Committee. 8. BOARD MEMBER AND STAFF REPORTS 9. OTHER BUSINESS a. 6-month Calendar review b. Agenda planning 10. ADJOURNMENT 5:30 pm.