DON Letter Proposed legislation and revised letter Recap
- Slides: 7
DON Letter Proposed legislation and revised letter
Recap • Original intent: provide DON with letter that voiced general support for new approach to community engagement and recommend specific elements to consider • Brought draft to Sept. 22 Commission meeting • Legislation sent with Mayor’s budget to Council on Sept. 29
Legislation Resolution repeals previous resolutions regarding the function of the DON and focuses on community involvement citywide. and Council Bill codifies changes to the mission of the department and creates a new “Community Involvement Commission. ”
Resolution • Supersedes previous resolutions, many of which are out of date • Requests DON to lead all City departments in development of community engagement plans • Requests Office for Civil Rights to support the work of DON and other City departments be developing framework that assists City staff in understanding impact on institutional practices on racial equity • Requests Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs to develop an updated citywide language access strategy • Adopts principles related to outreach and engagement
Council Bill • Updates purpose of the DON by simplifying language and removing references to the “Neighborhood Planning and Assistance Program” • Rewrites code related to the functions of DON • Creates new Community Involvement Commission
Overall • Facilitates shift in DON towards acting as City’s community involvement experts. • Strong focus on helping marginalized and underrepresented communities engage with City. • Would end practice of providing dedicated staff and funding to City Neighborhood Council and Neighborhood District Councils
Commission Discussion • Current draft: Addressed to DON • • Written that assumes passing of legislation Generally supports the intent of legislation Supports DON’s role as a leader in implementing new framework/approach Focuses on specific implementation of legislation in regards to community engagement • Options for moving forward • Keep original intent, and send after legislation adopted • voice general support for legislation/Mayor’s initiative, and provide recommendations to DON for implementation; or • Revise to present tense and include support for legislation • may require more in-depth analysis and additional meetings. • Provide additional letter/testimony/meet with Councilmembers • recommend specific changes to language, or support legislation
