Human Relations Committee - Regular Meeting

Alright.

I call this meeting to order. Welcome everyone to the 03/05/2026 HRC meeting. I will now ask the principal management, Alan, to take attendance by roll call.

Thank you, chair. Committee member Lester here. Committee member McDonald's. Committee member Smith here. Committee member Webb. Here. Vice chair Chappell? Here. And chair

Here. Thank you. The minutes for the 02/05/2026 regular meeting have been delivered to the 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. Do I hear a motion? All. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Motion carries. Item four, oral communications from the public. 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. Failure prohibits the committee from acting on non agenda items.

For those attending the meeting via Zoom, please use the raise your hand function or press 9 on your phone to make comment. The committee will receive an in person comment first, seeing that we have no in person and any on Zoom.

No comments.

Okay. Seeing none, we'll move we'll close and move on to item five, unfinished business. Item 5.1, know your rights ad hoc committee. The know your rights ad hoc committee will now present an oral update. So, we are, seeing progression in the Know Your Right Ad Hoc Committee.

We had a committee member, Lester attend the youth adviser youth advisory committee, where we got a lot of information on what kind of, Know Your Right sessions that the youth would like to hear, mainly on, like, First Amendment rights. Right? So we'll be exploring, what kind of, community based organizations could possibly, lead those trainings and the kind of the timeline of when those would be hosted. We are still, communicating with their partners with respects to labor rights. Vice chair, Chadwell, will be, communicating with someone from the senior advisory committee with regards to senior rights as well.

So, any questions from the committee members with what the I know your rights committee is doing? K. Seeing none. We'll move to the Civic Participation Ad hoc Committee. The Civic Participation Ad hoc Committee will present an oral update. No action will be taken on this time. Committee member Lester.

Thank you, chair. We are we had to reschedule our working meeting today for where we were planning to analyze the data as a committee that we've collected. But just to remind the committee, we have collected 17 responses in English and 20 in Spanish, from our HRC Civic participation survey. We also do have, in person notes, and other responses reported earlier in this process from myself and former committee member Sylvester and, the other committees as well or committee members as well. And so it's

just a matter of,

doing that data analysis, and then we will be able to bring back those responses to the committee that will hopefully inform staff work and our work as a committee going forward.

Thank you, committee member. Lester, any questions for the committee member on this ad hoc committee? K. Seeing none. Moving on to the human library ad hoc committee. The human library ad hoc committee will present an oral update. No action will be taken on this item.

Thank you, chair. I'll be providing the update for the human library committee. And, unfortunately, I have to share with you that the human library has ceased providing, services in their operations in The United States at this time. They're an international organization based in Copenhagen, and they had, liaisons in The United States that were based, I believe, on a grant that was federally funded that was then pulled, the organization made the decision to seize operations in The US. So, unfortunately, we will be unable to hold that event.

Thank you for the update. Do any of the committee members have any questions with respects to this Ad hoc committee? Committee member, Lester.

Yeah. We don't. I believe that there were two reasons. One was a lack of funding support, and then the second, which was strongly implied by our in contact and was a sense of instability. Mhmm.

Do that

type of Thank

you for the question. Vice chair.

I have

a question for staff. How Just does this affect the work plan? Call it closed or complete? Or That's a great question.

Yeah. So for the updates to the work plan, that I typically bring to you in May when we begin conversations about the next work plan and future projects. And I'll note that the project's closed out and, you know, was no longer an option. And I will also note that staff did explore options for running the event ourselves, but the human library does have a long contact list and established relationships with people who've been trained and often volunteer to do these types of events, which can be intense. And the only option for us to work with them on it was to become trained to basically do the liaison role ourselves, which is not something we have the capacity to do at this time.

Any other questions from, the committee before we It's unfortunate. Maybe, hopefully, in the future, this is something that the HRC could visit. Moving on to item six, CDBG and home funding recommendations for fiscal year twenty twenty six and twenty seven annual action plan. The human relations committee will hold a public hearing to hear funding staff recommendations for fiscal year twenty twenty six to twenty seven annual action plan, new funding recommendation for the city council's consideration. Action will be taken on this item.

Alec Viberal Viberal, and a housing officer will present this item. Affordable housing manager, Julie Bernard, is also available to answer any questions. Please take it away.

Thank you. Hello. It's good to see you all again. Hope you're doing well. My name is Alec, housing officer. I'm joined by Julie Bernard, total housing manager. And today, I will be giving you a on fiscal year six two thousand twenty seven election plan grant funding recommendations. Staff will present the funding recommendations for the federal grants and city general funds and request that the HRC file the volunteering to receive input.

Is it not?

It's a little slow.

Okay. I can do it.

Okay. So this city is developing its fiscal year 02/2627 annual action plan, which is the second year, the city's 02/2030 consolidated plan that the HRC reviewed and provided input on at last year's meeting in April. The 02/2627 annual action plan covers the period of 07/01/2026 through 06/30/2027. The action plan is required by the US Department of Housing and Development in order to receive federal grant funding and identifies these specific projects and activities that will be administered over the fiscal year. The CDBG program provides funds to help address community needs.

A maximum of 15% can be used for public services, such as services for seniors and persons experiencing homelessness. A maximum of 20% can be used for program administration. The remaining funds can be used for other eligible activities such as capital projects, including the rehabilitation of affordable housing and minor home repairs for low and moderate income homeowners or economic economic development activities, including systems for small businesses. The home program provides funding to help fund the development of affordable housing and related program. Home funding allows a maximum of 10% to be used for program administration, while the remaining amount can be used for eligible activities such as site acquisition, construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing, and homebuyer assistance.

Before we get into the fiscal year twenty six twenty seven funding recommendations, we did wanna provide an update on current funding, which will help set the stage as we talk about next year's funding. In spring of last year, the HRC and council moved the fiscal year two thousand twenty five twenty six annual action plan. And when HUD sent the city its grant agreements, they included a new addendum that would impose new conditions requiring compliance with certain federal policy directives. Examples of the new policy conditions include prohibitions and restrictions on using funds to promote gender ideology, aborptions, or illegal immigration. The absence of clarity regarding federal agencies' interpretation and implementation of the condition has created a high degree of uncertainty for funding recipients, including the city.

Staff conducted an analysis and based on this analysis undertook the following actions. Don't litigation to challenge legality of the new policy conditions, submitted modified grant agreements to HUD that temporarily prevent the enforcement of the new policy conditions, and will only use prior year grant funds and program income, which were deemed not subject to the new policy conditions. The analysis that staff conducted was also used to inform the approach for the fiscal year twenty six twenty seven annual action plan. Staff are using scenario a as the plan as the primary planning assumption for the next fiscal year, which includes the submittal of modified grant agreements and prioritizing the use of prior year funds and program income deemed not subject to the agenda's policy conditions. Now that we've discussed the strategy, we can move on to the fiscal year twenty six twenty seven annual action plan.

The quarterly action plan consists of the annual entitlement funding allocation, anticipated program income, and prior year unexpended resources. The proposed CDBG funding allocations will be discussed in the following slides. The city's home funds will be used for affordable housing projects and will be directly allocated when projects are identified. The city is currently working off of funding estimates as HUD has not yet released the final CDBG and home entitlement allocations. If the final allocations differ from the estimates, then staff will adjust the recommendations portion.

Public service funding is administered on a two year cycle, and fiscal year twenty six twenty seven is the second year of the cycle. For this reason, the CDBG public service funding recommendations are the same as they were for last year, fiscal year twenty five twenty six, which was year one in the cycle. Due to anticipated funding limitations, there will not be enough CDBG funding to fully fund each organization at the same levels as year one. So staff are recommending that general housing funds be used to supplement each CDBG award to maintain full funding levels for year two of the cycle. You recommended CDBG funding allocation to nonprofit partners for fiscal year twenty six twenty seven.

Total is $373,831. Due to continued uncertainty about changing federal requirements for fiscal year twenty six twenty seven, staff are all also recommending one time contingency funding in this amount from general housing fund to support CBG funded nonprofit partners. This contingency funding will only be required if program income and prior year unexpended funds become unavailable. This approach will help us to continue to fully fund our nonprofit partners and therefore mitigate any potential service disruptions to our community. As mentioned, fiscal year twenty six twenty seven is the second year in the two year funding cycle, and therefore, the general fund public service funding recommendations are remaining the same as year one.

Sorry. I'm helping. The

funding recommendations from today's meeting will be brought to the city council at the meeting on April 28. And between now and then, there will be a thirty day comment period for members of the public to provide their feedback on the draft annual action plan. The final action plan will be submitted to HUD by May 15, pending the release of the city's final funding allocations. And this concludes staff presentation. Thank you for your time, and we're happy to answer any questions you have.

Thank you, Alex, for your presentation. I now invite the committee to ask any clarifying questions that they have for staff. Discussion, and action on these items will take place after the public hearing. Does the committee have any clarifying questions? And I'll call on you once I see your hand.

Vice Chair Chattel?

I'm thinking about presentation. Can you help me better understand so I'm looking at on page nine, this CBDG public service lending recommendations. I I understand the the recommendation for supplementing the general quality. Can you help me understand, like, how did we determine how much needs to be supplemented versus how much how is it that we're still getting any funding from CDBG if it's kind of all?

Yes. So HUD did so CDBG funds are dependent on the federal budget. Federally, the government did budget CDBG funds for the next year at the same levels as the current year. So we're anticipating a a similar entitlement amount. What's different is we're estimating slightly less program income.

When calculating the amount that you can use for public services for CDBG, there's a formula that needs to be used that basically equates to 15% of your entitlement allocation and your anticipated program income. So since we're anticipating a little bit less program income, the amount that we are allowed to use for public services is slightly less than last year. Therefore, in order to maintain full funding levels, we are using, general housing fund to fill the gap. Does that help answer the question?

I think so. I guess just,

this the estimated funding that will be that will be received or is estimated to be received from CDBG, is it possible that that funding like, it's you know, we don't know how things are gonna shake out, litigation and with the modified grant agreements and things like that. Mhmm. Is it possible that we get to the time that this money needs to be awarded and it comes with those that addendum with strings attached? And then the city have to decide what do we do now?

Yeah. Absolutely. So part of the actions the city are taking in response to the addendum is prioritizing the use of prior year funds and which would, by CAO's analysis, to not be subject to the new policy requirements. Requirements. And, thankfully, due to large loan repayments we received over the past years, we have enough of a balance of program income to cover the items that we're presenting here today. Therefore, we will not have to use any of the next year's entitlement funding, which we assume will have the addendum attached to it.

Got it. So this is this is what would be estimated. If we were to use the entitlement funding, we might not even use it. And if we don't use it, then we do have a backup plan of how to cover it from the general.

More or less. Yeah.

Okay. Excellent. Thank you. Any other questions? Quick one. Oh, I mean, I'm gonna with

So if we are not using it this year, those funds, then we will wait to that same issue next year. Is that what you're saying? And then we'll have to go through that calculation again and then worry about the entire Is that correct?

Yeah. So for when we're back here at this time next year, it's gonna be a whole new ballgame. As things continue to change and evolve, the situation could be drastically different than is tonight. I would say, thankfully, the city has enough program income on hand, which is not subject to the redundant requirements that we are able to, for the most part, keep our CDBG subrecipients funded for another year. At this time next year, we'll have to, you know, based on how things may or may not play out with litigation, see things stand. Okay.

So quick question. There's, like, few really simple versions of this real quick. So, like, money a from previous situations that is not subjected even after things. Money a what if we just kept money a separate and then and then money b comes in with strings attached? We only give money b, easily away to anybody that does meet that, but then we keep money a to fill in those gaps of people that cannot meet those strings attached situations. Is that possible?

Yeah. I think that could be a potential scenario. Although we have had discussions with majority of our subrecipients, and they do not want to accept funds if we are applying those conditions

at all. Understandable. Yeah. I agree. And

this is and and to add, we joined in as a plaintiff, right, in just the Yeah. Case where we're we're going against

Yeah. We're we're filing lawsuits.

Right. Again, against, like, what they're saying, what we can't, support. Right? Support some of the subsidiaries. Okay.

I'm sorry. Is there a title of the case? Or, like, if I wanna look it up and learn more about it, like

It it's in the memorandum.

Oh, yeah. I see. So

It's I I have

Oh, I'll I'll works. It will follow-up on it later. Yeah. It's

Fresno versus. In the case. Any other committee with respects to item 6.1? I have a couple, then if you don't mind. So, yeah, I think you briefly touched on this, but, like, are we expecting

even further drops in program income in the years to come? So program income is the city received this program income largely from loan repayments from when the city has made CPG or home loans to developments in the past. Those loan repayments really fluctuate each year, and it's impossible to tell until the developments have completed their annual calendar year analysis of their finances. So, for example, you know, they will be submitting this analysis of their finances soon here in the spring, and that will tell us how much we we can expect to receive from program income for the next fiscal year. So it's certainly possible that there could be drops in program income, but, alternatively, it could also stay the same reaching.

Okay. Okay.

We've seen we've seen pretty similar levels of program income consistently from sort of past, you know, two, three

Got it. Got it. And then, my second question was, with respects to the general housing fund. Was it selected as a pot to be pulled from because it was only we only see the full source of pull from, or was there other funding options considered to be able to supplement?

General housing fund was the sole funding still is considered in this scenario.

Was there

a reason why the other money? Yeah.

Hi. Good evening, everybody. I'm actually Lavana, an affordable housing manager. Well so our housing funds have some restrictions and some allowances.

Mhmm.

And it was found that our source of funding, like a general funded a general general fund is very precious. We have our own housing fund, and these were eligible expenses under our housing fund. And we just felt like it was the best fit for the funding and look at the sense of

our programs,

make sure that we can make our nonprofits whole where we can.

Which is great. I I think we're,

hold on.

Go with this too, which was, like, part of the, the memo was also mentioning potential impacts on some of the housing initiatives in future years.

Mhmm.

What were those housing initiatives that potentially could be impacted?

Lack of CDBG funding?

Or from being from the housing

Oh, I see. From utilizing our housing funds, what are we impacting? Yeah. In the short term, nothing. So right now, we do have some unencumbered balance, a sufficient amount to cover the amount that we're proposing to make sure profit partners hold.

So we're not in the immediate future taking anything away from our housing projects and programs. But just to share what we do in the housing, department, the lion's share of our funding goes to for, funding affordable housing developments such as the one across the street at Lot 12. You probably saw broke ground. Very exciting this week. So projects like that is what our housing funds, like, typically go for go towards, but we do also have some smaller programs. We're working on a small first time homebuyers assistance program, some of the acquisition preservation initiatives, and and that that sort of thing. So

Okay. Mhmm. And and then, my last question is, so pending litigation would I know there's gonna be a lot of back and forth of, like, what's gonna go to counsel. Is it feasible for some of the information to also come back to the HRC on updates on, federal litigation impacts to, like, the CDBG funds so we know, like, how that's gonna impact, future home CDBG outputs.

I yeah.

I think Or it she may come to us.

I don't think that will come through us. I think our city attorney Mhmm. Has been managing the litigation, and we don't really have anything to do with that. I think we'll just defer to staff to see if there's any updates we can provide you with if and when oh, when if and when we have any further updates than we wanna day.

Yeah. Perfect. Thank you. Any, further questions from the committee before we move on?

Okay.

So thank you for that. Uh-huh. Okay. And then so so now we'll we'll move forward towards the recusal of the committee. Is

it public comment?

Oh, is it hold? No. Recusal. Yeah. Yeah.

Before we begin the public hearing, the committee discussion on these items, the consideration of the funding recommendations for the community service agency requires a member of the committee to recuse themselves due to a potential conflict of interest. After making a statement of the committee, the committee member will be approved. I will then, I will then open a public hearing at which members of the public may comment on the community services agency funding recommendations. Following the the close of the public hearing, the committee will proceed to discuss and take action of the community services agency funding recommendations only. Following the committee, committee's action, the committee member will return to the meeting, and the committee will proceed to hold public hearing, discuss, and take action on the remainder of the staff recommendations.

Can the committee member with a conflict of interest please make your recusal statement?

Yes. Thank you, chair Clifford. I am vice chair Chappell, am recusing myself from discussion of the community services agency funding recommendations to use my position on the board of the community services agency. I have not participated and will not be participating in the recommendation to counsel regarding CSA funding in any way.

Alright. The committee will now proceed to discuss the community services agency funding recommendations. All other funding recommendations will be discussed when vice chair Chad will return. As a reminder, the staff recommendation is to fund the community service agency homelessness prevention and senior case management services from the combination of CDBG and supplemental funds totaling $64,878 and to fund the senior nutrition program for $18,489 with 64¢ from the city's general fund. I will now open the public hearing on the community services agency funding recommendations.

There will be an opportunity to comment on the rest of the funding recommendations when vice chair Chadwell returns. Would any member of the public like to comment on the community services agency funding recommendation? If so, please submit a blue card to staff. If you've not done so already, they're found in the front of the room noting that you'd like to speak on the CSA recommendation only. Each each speaker will receive three minutes if submitted. There's none?

Okay. And Oh, wait. Oh, didn't have online. Oh, good. Okay. Milton Cadena.

Perfect, Milton. You will have three minutes.

Thank you. Milton Carena here from Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County. Today is

the Hi, Milton. This is only for the community services agency over here. If you wanna wait a little bit, we'll then hear. Sorry. We're there. Thank you. Perfect. Thank you, Milton. Okay.

No other hands.

Alright. Thank you. So I will now close the public hearing and bring Adam back to the committee for deliberation and action on the community services agency funding recommendation. A motion is required to take action on this item. So I will now entertain a motion or we can discuss.

To advance the funding recommendation to council.

Okay. So committee member Lester motions to move the staffing recommendation to council. Do I hear a second?

Second.

I saw committee member McDonald. Second, is by all those in favor, say aye. Aye. Okay. Motion passes.

You can

call back Vice Chair Chattel. Thank you. Well,

that was very quick. You know?

Can I get you some?

That was weird. When when you said it, was like, oh, that's how you

I

was like, just the one.

Just the one.

And that's not the word.

Was good.

Okay. Bye. I will now open the public hearing on the rest of the funding recommendations. Would any member of the public like to comment on this item? If so, please submit a blue speaker card to the staff if you have not done so already. Alright. And seeing staff will have now in person, but one over Zoom. We have two. Alright. Each speaker will have three minutes.

First, we have Keith Ogden.

Go ahead, Keith.

Hi. Yes. Good evening, members of the Mountain View Human Relations Committee. My name is Keith Ogden, and I am a managing attorney with the housing tenants rights program at Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto. Can I confirm that you can hear me?

Yes. Yes.

Great. Wonderful. So I'd just like to thank you for including the Housing Help Center Eviction Defense, Housing Legal Services in the fiscal year twenty seven budget for public services. These services are sorely needed. To report back, Cluspa's housing team opened 77 cases for Mountain View households last year and sixty percent of them related to eviction, which is always the most sorely needed service.

Second, I just wanted to comment that we do, at CLSPA, applaud the city of Mountain View for joining the lawsuit that I've heard discussed tonight against administration to challenge the legality of new conditions attached to CDBG and other federal funding. So thank you for that. And, just thank you for your time and for receiving public comment on this matter.

Thank you.

Next, we have Georgia Basile.

Go ahead, Georgia. You got

Good three

evening. Georgia Basile. I'm the directing attorney of senior adults legal assistance, you know, as as as SALA. We provide free civil legal services to Mountain View residents 62 or older, targeting clients that are low income or at risk of abuse or loss of independence. Last year, seventy seven percent of the Mountain View seniors we served, were very low income.

They could not afford a private attorney, and sixty six percent were 75 or older, placing them at higher risk of isolation or loss of independence. We provide our services locally at appointments at Mountain View Senior Center and by phone for clients that can't leave their homes or with emergencies. We are a current CDBG grantee, and we thank you so sincerely. Your funding enables us to provide expanded availability of our services to your elderly residents. We're recommended for funding in the 2627 action plan memo on page seven that is before you, and we thank the staff for that recommendation.

We can't, charge fees or take fee generating cases to support our services. So the primary way that we can get support is through grants like CDBG. And in this current very uncertain funding climate, your funding is more critical than ever to help us provide the highest level of service possible to your elder residents. So we hope the commission will recommend approval of the twenty six twenty seven annual action plan funding recommendations. And thank you again so much, for your support and for the opportunity to comment this evening.

Thank you so much. Next,

we have Milton Catena.

Milton, go ahead.

Alright. Thank you. Good afternoon, and thank you so much for the opportunity to speak on behalf of our program. I'm the program director for the senior services of Catholic Charity Santa Clara County. And, today, specifically, I want to say thank you to this commission and the city of Mountain View for the recommendation of a second year cycle.

We just received information that, there was a recommendation to renew, 13589 for for a second year, and, we truly appreciate because we did that to sustain our program. The program specifically that we sustained with this funding is the Ombudsman program, which, solely purposes to investigate and resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents related to issues of quality of care and abuse in long term care facilities. I have to report that from the three skilled nurse facilities and four RCFEs that we visit in Mountain View, totaling, 340 beds. We have done 50 direct visits, of which 22 have been, investigation case case related, and, we have provided at least 45 income, incoming calls to provide information and assist. I appreciate the the the work and advocacy that you do for us for funding, and I truly appreciate that.

And I would like to support the the the recommendations for this year.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Alright. I will now close public hearing and bring the item back to the committee for deliberation.

Have a question.

Real quick. An action funding recommendations excluding the community services agency recommendation. Motion is required to take action on this item. Committee member McDonald.

Well, I don't think that tonight we can get this information. But, subsequently, I think it would be very helpful for us to know how many clients each of these groups actually works with or had worked with in the previous year one year, ongoing year so that we have a sense of success numbers, number one, and also whether the need is increasing, staying on a level playing field, or decreasing.

So, committee member and please correct me, staff, I'm in saying this. So we're just renewing from the previous year. So these are the previous applicants from, the ones we already approved for Yeah. From, 2025 to '26.

Right.

We're renewing this for the recommended amount with a little bit less based off what was already up what we can allot given the current circumstances. I think for the following year, based off the the new applicants, we'll be able to assess what the impact for that community has been for for Mountain View residents.

I figured it was important to say it now Yeah. Rather than next year when it's sort of a fate of complete.

Yeah. No. Definitely. Definitely. And I think they'll definitely take note of that.

Yeah. Absolutely. I can provide some additional comment as well. Yeah. So this upcoming fall, we'll we'll come back or actually next spring, we'll come back to you with funding recommendations for the next two year cycle. At that time, we'll include all the information that we gave to you last year, which includes information about each organization, their programs, and how many people they aim to serve. Additionally, if you are interested in looking at the accomplishment data for each of the CDBG funded subrecipients, we complete an annual report for HUD called the CAPER, Stands for consolidated annual performance and evaluation report. It's due to HUD by September 30 each year. So around that time in the fall, you can find drafts online for public comment. And then once it's finalized, that final version will be available online as well.

But that provides a summary of what the city and our nonprofit partners were able to accomplish over the prior fiscal year using the grant fund.

Thanks, Alex. Val? Number eight.

This is not here, but they have the info. Yeah.

Yeah. Okay.

Quick question. Does does that CAPER report go to any committees or just directly to counsel?

Or It usually goes directly to

No. I'll bring it back. A motion is, required for this item. I do wanna ask a principal management analyst, Laurel, on a previous question I had on the if it's appropriate for, HRC to get updates on a federal litigation impacts, would that be a motion to Yeah.

Thank you, chair. That wouldn't need to be a motion. We can just do that at the staff level, and I'm happy to provide updates.

Okay. Alright.

So would anyone want the motion, for this item?

I'd like the

motion.

Okay. What's your motion?

Have access to the updates of the pending case. Fresno Turner.

No. No. No. No. No. Okay.

I'll do the motion. Motion to go forward with that.

To move that recommendation?

Yeah. Okay. What you told me?

Okay. Do I hear a second?

We will talk about two different things. The motion

to I hear a second. Bye bye, mister Karen Shatta. All those in favor, say aye.

Aye. All

those in favor, say aye.

Aye. Aye.

Okay. Motion passes. Thank you so much, Chad.

Back to the other one.

So much for being here tonight.

No. Want to

settle that. We gotta

get access to it. Y'all.

We gotta get updates.

Alright. Alright,

y'all. She can't do it unless we Alright.

I'm a bring you back. Moving on to new business. Election of the committee chair and vice chair. The committee will act on this item. The principal management analyst will now explain the chair and vice chair roles and responsibilities as well as the election process.

Thank you, chair. As you may recall, annually, we elect a new chair and vice chair for the HRC. The chair and the vice chair role entail meeting with me before every meeting to review the agenda. They entail chairing the meetings, obviously, and the vice chair in the absence of the chair chairing the meetings. They can also include public facing activities such as providing an interview or a presentation for the annual celebration of service awards.

Additionally, they can include, again, some ceremonial duties related to things like the multicultural festival or HRC events, welcomes, etcetera. In addition to that, in in the upcoming year, we'll be introducing chair and vice chair training for all boards, commissions, and committees. So that will be part of the duties, as well as taking an active role in managing the committee's affairs and working with members if there

is a conversation and accommodations.

Would the chair or vice chair like to add additional information about the role of.

No. I I I think it's pretty straightforward. Much you are as you see me do, hopefully, to the extent that I have been able to, you ensure, there's structure in the meeting and that we move forward with it at a reasonable pace so we can get through all of the items at a fast enough pace, as well as meet, consistently with, staff on any on the agenda items that we present in y'all, to, on our meeting dates. But, yeah, it's been, honestly an honor to be able to share with you this past year. So looking forward to, under the new chair and vice chair, being a regular committee member.

Thank you, chair. I do want to mention, as you have access to me as a committee member, anytime you want to chat about something or learn more about the city's offerings or discuss committee business as chair or vice chair, you will also have access to me to all the same things and then discussing any chair or vice chair issues. So with that, I would like to review the election process that we complete annually. First, the chair will ask for nominations. Any committee member may nominate themselves or another committee committee member to serve as chair.

And if the chair isn't renominated, they may continue to facilitate the election process. A second is not necessary to put someone up for the office of chair to nominate someone for the office of chair, but it is also an option if you would like to second the nomination of the. The chair will ask nominees if they're willing to serve in that capacity just to make sure that only those who are

willing are selected as chair.

And then we will repeat that as necessary until there are no further nominations. We'll the chair will close the nomination, and then

I will do a roll call

vote for each nomination. They will be voted upon in the order that they are made, and then the nominee receiving a majority of the vote will be elected. Then that chair elect will facilitate the same process for the selection of vice chair. Any questions? Alright. Thank you, Chair.

Do you have any questions?

I have a question. I don't know what age this is. Where? The counseling and support services for you, Cassie. I'm just curious.

Committee member McDonald, we're on item seven l. Oh. Yeah. We're on the new fifth for the election of the new chair.

So Okay. I'm out of order. We'll come back. No. No. You're okay. You're okay. We'll come back to Yeah. Okay.

So we are okay. So, would any member of the split on the line like to provide any comment on this item? Being not in person.

So that's Perfect.

Alright. I will open it I will now open it up for nominations. Are there nominations for the office of the chair? And I'll

wait just a second. So

alright. Are there nominations for the office of the chair? And I'll start it off at vice chair Chagwell. Would you I nominate you to be, chair for the human relations committee. Would you like to do the honors?

Yes. I would be willing to serve in this capacity. Second. Give me two seconds. This is the option. She's off. Alright.

Alright. Would anyone else like to nominate for this position?

No. But I'll third it. That's my vote.

Only we don't have to vote. It's already

Alright.

Alright. And then

roll call vote?

Yes, sir. Committee member Lester. Yes. Committee member McDonald's to vote on the selection.

Gonna vote for this year. K? Well, they need you to say yes or no if you want it. You good?

Got it.

Okay. Let's

go. So committee member McDonald, will you vote yes for okay. Thank you. I'm just clarifying. Committee member Smith? Yes. Committee member what? Yes. Chair. Thank you.

Okay.

Your turn.

Twenty five.

Alright.

Oh, too late. At this point, I would like to move forward with the vice chair nominations. Are there any nominations for the office of vice chair? I I can get it started. I'd like to nominate Elise's vice chair. Elise, are you would you be willing to serve in this capacity? Yes. Any other nominations for the role of vice chair? No. But I'll second.

Alright. It's not obligatory.

Wasn't in this. This ball, though. We just because we're

all doing it. They're just

Alright. I'm

very supportive of that.

Let's get the vote.

Okay. I

need to go take a nap.

Take a roll call vote. Thank

you, chair elect. Committee member Lester? Yes. Committee member McDonald voting on committee member Lester's vice chair. Committee member McConnell?

Yes.

Committee member Smith? Yes. Committee Member Webb?

Yes. Chair Chadwick?

Yes.

Okay. We will now move on to item eight on the agenda, committee and staff comments, questions, and committee reports. No 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 non agenda items. Are there any comments, questions, announcements from the committee?

Yes. Oh, committee member what? There we go. I looking at that. I keep forgetting. Committee member what?

Multicultural day is still happening. We've got 12 applications for performers. We've got seven or so members of the community that are gonna display their items. We still need more, people in booths. So we have South Asian, Mexican, We don't have a lot of representation from, like, Eastern or Western Europe yet.

So if you guys know anyone out in the community, you can encourage them to either have performers, bring in some of their items from their that they display at home that are cultural. That would be great. And they can find it out on the city web page under events for multicultural day for twenty seconds. Or I ask Laura to give you the the actual link. That's it. Four hours long. Block your calendars so that we can emcee together. Then we'll next next week, I'll come back or next month, I'll come back with we'll have a schedule for time slots.

Can you remind us of the date again?

May 2.

I'd like to add that I totally agree. And I also think and this isn't I'm not self serving, but I think that it's wise for any city citizens group to represent not only the cultural and the racial divide or the I shouldn't say divide, but diversity. And also the age groups because I firmly believe young people with old kids and young people with very young kids as well as elderly need to have a way to have a voice with the city. So Connection. I'm serving the nineties.

Since I just turned 96. You

don't look a day over, Lenny?

It's true. Like to wish, committee member McDonald a happy belated birthday.

Can we second that?

Yeah. Full author. Are there Commissioner Coycohn.

Thank you, chair. So, yeah, last month, I had the privilege of attending, translating, prior to the the, city council meeting, with respect to block, where residents were were raising their concerns about the system in place. We already know what kind of took the steps that were taken after with respect to the shutdown of block and the end of the contract of a of a just to be aware, like, that the residents were concerned that, like, systems put in place, do despite used for a sense of security, do continue to raise a sense of concern for many many of the residents, and were deeply conveyed, to chief Kentville sergeant. So, I think it's worth noting, and I think future discussions Yeah. Were, to happen.

And I think as we, will get the report back in the later months with respect to the fleet part of the noting for the APRC to possibly wonder if this is, like, something worth doing outreach for as a a project with our community members in in a as a work plan item in the future. Guess worth consideration Mhmm. Place with what we're hearing on. So other than that,

assist. Thank you for that. Moving on quickly. Any other ready

announcements?

Just a quick question, actually. With our loss of, the human library, do we have any wiggle room to throw something in? Or

Not at this time. Thank you for the question. And I also do recommend it as we're headed into the work plan process to get approval from the council for a new work plan item would probably take us on

as to

perhaps not quite as long, but would it'd be equivalent. And we did have an extra work plan project this year so we can get started on the one that was waiting for the completion of the project, which is an LGBTQ plus event for the community. Working with the community to understand what they would like to hold and then, hosting the event. That could be the next step.

And if I can pass, through the chair. I know earlier it was mentioned, like, the vice chair and the chair have access to Laurel a lot, but we as committee members are have also access to Laurel. So please take advantage of that, especially when it comes to work work items so that they're fleshed out and that we can have, like, fruitful conversations, in the near future, about this, especially if you have a plan about that. Like

The the free job. Yeah. Yeah. The cancel. Mhmm.

Thank you. Now open it up to staff. Do you have any comments,

announcements, questions? Thank you, chair. I do, as you may recall, related to the work plan, the HRC is committed to attending council neighborhood committee meetings, and representing the HRC essentially. Remainder of the or excuse me. In this fiscal year, there are two council neighborhood committee meetings that have been scheduled for May 28 and June 25. These are both Thursdays. You can meet May 14. May 14. That's well, twenty fourteenth or twenty eighth. They're not confirmed to you.

That's true.

They'll hold the dates. That's a good part. The fourteenth or twenty eighth. So there's one meeting that will be held either of those dates. The confirmed date by the committee is the twenty eighth or vice versa.

And then for Westwood, Sullivan Park. Depending on venue of And then June 25 will be the San Antonio Range Del Medio neighborhood meeting, and that one is confirmed and will be out of the community center. The fall meetings have also been scheduled, but I will bring those up as we get further along in the when we're talking about next year's. And those are always Thursdays at six usually till eight.

They're early for party.

True. Good

to know.

Orchestra. Yeah. Stuff. Do we

need to, like, decide on somebody to attend each of these meetings, or you're kind of putting it making us aware of it and as it approaches? Because, basically, we wanna have coverage of these meetings by at least one representative HRC. Do we usually assign that?

That's correct. We typically assign it at the beginning of the fiscal year, which is in September or October when we're talking about work plan project assignments. In my recollection, I think that you may have been the volunteer at that time. And if that doesn't work for your schedule, that's certainly something that we can work out in this part of the agenda.

Okay. I know I went to one. I can't remember if I volunteered for all of them.

You're also welcome to attend more than one, or more than one of you is welcome to attend. There are not quorum rules unless you're standing around talking about HRC business. Not do that.

Brilliant. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Moving on to anything else for item eight? No. Alright. Moving on to item nine, adjournment. I do I need to move for this? Or Adjourn to the next regular meeting of the human relations committee scheduled for 04/02/2026 at 06:30PM in

the Conference Room at Mountain

View City Hall. Thank you for