September 19, 2023 — Human Relations Commission Regular Meeting

Transcript

Manually captioned by City of Boulder staff. All segments attributed to uploader — not individual speaker labels. [MM:SS] timestamps correspond to the YouTube recording.

[0:47] Thank you. And welcome to, September nineteenth. The Human Relations Commission meeting. Zoom Meeting that is being interpreted.

[1:00] So as Brenda share, please select the language of your choice. By clicking on the interpretation log icon below in your screen. For, meetings that are held. With this feature of interpretation, we ask of speakers to please speak slowly and clearly pronounce your words and breathe between sentences. To avoid interrupting this speaker And if you have your own headset with a microphone, especially for those who have signed up for public participation, we encourage you to please use it. And also once you select one channel, make sure that you only speak in that channel. Otherwise you buy, you may lose bits and pieces of the message. And please mute yourself when you're not speaking to limit any kind of background noise. Lastly, please, that we're, using, So just quick to turkey or be under the weather.

[2:11] As those are. More people to Before kicking us to the meeting, I would like to just go over the fully participation CD meeting guidelines. As we, use these guidelines, in every, in every city. Meeting. That is That includes, community members. So, as far as this effort. These guidelines were co-created to ensure that these meetings are meaningful, productive, and inclusive. His vision supports the physical emotional safety of community members, staff. Or commission members as well of the as well as democracy for people of all ages, identities, live experience and political perspectives.

[3:09] If you would like to learn more about the vision and community engagement process, there is a website that you can. It is the one that is shown on the screen and I can put it as well in the chat. Some of the roles of the car found in the older device code and other are the following. All remarks and testimony should be limited to matters related to city business. No participants should make threats or use any other forms of intimidation against any person. Obsenity, racial epithets. Others, or otherwise in kids the ability to conduct a meeting are prohibited. And participants are required to sign up.

[4:03] To speak using their name. Or the name that commonly known by. An individual small display their whole name before being allowed to speak online. With that, I'm gonna start sharing my screen and, ask the microphone to our culture. Good evening. Welcome to today's meeting. Today is using September nineteenth. In 6 15 we are registered for meeting. Let's see, and on number 2. Agenda adjustment. And. Just mentioned, The page.

[5:04] Okay. Oh, And if we do want, I don't . To No, the agenda adjustments is if you wanna make any changes in the agenda that was sent to you. Yeah, email. The agenda today includes these items. But, the call is for all the commissioners to share if there's any adjustments that you need to make to the agenda. I don't see any adjustment. Thank you. Thank you. So, Approval the minutes. From the retreat.

[6:12] How many? That we are here within the So you have any question? I need to command about the Okay, so we have 2 presenters today the old one. So. Yes. Do you have, we do have people who will be participating in the open comment? At 16 we're a little bit over time and that's fine. But right now, you all need to make a motion to approve the retreat minutes. Christine, I know you're joining us online. Please feel free to raise your hand or unmute yourself. To participate.

[7:07] Thanks, Ingrid. Since I, I wasn't at the retreat, I just don't know if I should be participating in. The approval or any of that but I suppose I'd be happy to vote for the approval if somebody else makes the motion since. Since I'm not able to. To comment about the retreat. Okay, They recorded notes. Today, how do we do that? You can just say I make a motion. Meeting of the 9 19 It would be, August.

[8:03] Make a motion to go through the last. In a on this 3, 3, right? 2120, 20. Who will second that motion? Okay, let's go. 2 one number 4. Open comments. After second in the motion everybody Okay, As your cameras here. Alright. Thank you.

[9:01] So we're ready for our quick comment. We do have 2 community members who have signed up in advance. To, So let me just to promote. Community member, and the community member is. Please accept the invitation to be promoted as panelists. And feel free to own it yourself. I'm gonna start the timer.

[10:00] Thanks, Ingrid. Stan, can you, can you begin with the background, please? Yes. Yeah, so. Basically, we're here to talk a little bit about the issue 300, and 2, which has been labeled as, as safe zones for kids. We oppose the measure and we hope that you might join us in doing so. The measure itself tries to or tends to amend existing city code. Which regulates the use of camping and propane tanks. But it adds to this is a specification of zones in which this would receive priority enforcement. Those zones would include 500 feet around any of the 26 schools. 50 feet around sidewalks and multi-use pass. It does not in any way mention kids nor does it in any way increase the safety of kids as it is written.

[11:00] Basically, the city already has a capability of enforcement of these issues. It also has the ability to prioritize certain areas which it has done in the past. In some ways, if we were to approve this ballot issues, it expands the zones so widely. But to make it almost impossible for the city to enforce it in less date, I loot the city's efforts to be able to pinpoint problem areas and enforce those areas there. If you think about the city as 26 schools, 500 feet around them, 50 feet around sidewalks, more to use pass. We've included almost all the public spaces that exist within the city. Would not be enforceable. And it does not in any sense in this way prioritize kids the focus And I'm so sorry to drop you, but can you please speak a little bit slower for the interpreters? Sure, sorry. Yeah, especially, yeah, they really need to. Get the full sentences. Thank you.

[12:01] Okay. And also I'm sorry, to interrupt Ingrid, we can't see the timer online. So. I'm concerned that, Stan won't know when. Your time is up. Okay. Yeah, timer going. I have right. 2 min of used. So. Right. I'll let you know. If. And so, you know, basically what our concerns are one is it to expand things so much that nothing is prioritized. The existing city ordinances allowed prioritization both of the spaces that are being enforced and the use of the various ways of sweeping to enforce those spaces. This would tie the city's hands. Not only did it tie the city's hands in terms of the priorities themselves and the means of enforcement, but the only way this ever could be revoked is a by a ballot issue. So this is in perpetuity. Unless there is another valid issue passed. It also harms in 2 different ways. One, it tends to destabilize the homeless populations. Are pushing them into areas of the city and open spaces and other places that are hard to both connect with.

[13:09] Use public resources to help and to of course protect those members of the citizens themselves. It also diverts tremendous amounts of resources away from what evidence has demonstrated as being more viable ways of in fact dealing with the problem of homelessness and promoting public safety. Similar turn it over to Lindsey for specific ask that we might present to you. Thanks, Dan. Hi, everyone. Nice to see you. So thank you for having us. The in light of the background that Stan has just shared is what we'd like to ask you all. As a commission is to consider sending a letter to council. Urging, urging them to use their station.

[14:02] So you using your station as an advisory board. To support evidence-based solutions to the homelessness problem. Specifically, as an alternative to this ballot measure, 300, and 2, which is called safe zone for for kids, for the reasons that Stan just made clear. And, like, I think as a mechanism, like what we want to do is, is like make clear the thing that we're asking. What we're asking you to do is something analogous to what we did in October of 22 with ballot measure to E. So I think you all have an example of that at least everybody who's been on the commission for a while. We realized capacity is limited. In fact, we've gotten an email about that. So we can share with you talking points and we can even draft something that you can suggest edits for until you feel good about like actually sitting on to it if that is a helpful thing.

[15:04] By we, I, I mean, me, Stan, other members of this counter campaign, called Solutions, not safe zones. And then as individuals, we ask you to consider joining the counter campaign. Talking to your networks about the valid measure, voting no on measure 300, and 2. And then also, you can public publicly endorse the counter campaign. And we can share the link. To do that with you after after the link to endorse the campaign as an individual. We can also hang around. For responses or questions if you have them. I think we're about at time. Thank you everyone and thanks for thanks for coordinating with us. Ingrid.

[16:02] Thank you very much. May I take a few words? I know this hybrid situation is a little bit awkward, so I don't. I can only see tiny little dots for those of you who are in the room, so. Nobody stopping me, so I'm going to go ahead and talk. First of all, Stan and Lindsey, thank you very much for coming. I think most of you know Anna, I'm not sure if you're aware both Stan and Lindsey are former members of the HRC. So, fairly recently with in the last, well, I think I took Stan's seat. I think Stan rolled off as I was coming on and Lindsey just rolled off last year. So thank you for coming.

[17:09] I just wanted to say, individually I support what you were doing. I do think that this measure that's being proposed, I think it's it's an attempt to deal with a situation that, does, you know, I want to acknowledge that there are problems, but I feel that the solutions being proposed have far ranging implications that would actually, not be beneficial for the city of Boulder. So I do, I do support what you're doing. I just wanted to say to the other commissioners. You know, at the moment, unfortunately, I have very limited personal capacity, but if any of you are interested in taking a lead and having the HRC craft something I would be happy to help.

[18:03] But if that is not, you know, that is not something that other people. Want to know I would say now is a really good opportunity to ask questions of Lindsey and Stan that you have about the measure. And, that's, that's just what I wanted to offer up right now. Thank you. It's Christine. Did you know we're able to hear the question?

[19:04] Do you mind speaking up again and sharing it? Yeah, my question about What, from school are you proposing to have? For people. Yeah. So right now the city is able to prioritize schools, particularly the problem has been at Boulder High School. And it's able in its prioritization to, in fact, identify. Places of concern around safety, places where instances may have occurred and so forth. The ballot measure, what it does is to spread this concept of a zone throughout the city. Which makes the priority for the city council instead of having the city council use their own matrix for making. That does those decisions. And it also preferences the idea sweeping rather than other ways in which the unhoused are put into situations that are less problematic to the public.

[20:04] We all agree that there's a serious problem in the city. The question really is what are the best ways forward, whether using Consul's capacity to prioritize or passing a ballot measure that specifies a very blanket form of prioritization. Does that help? Okay. I've seen, this is very interesting. We are going to talk between us. What we can do and to help you if we We can, do that later that you are asking. And send it to the See the council? Let's see what we can do. We are going to talk about that.

[21:05] Let's see what we can do. Because yeah, I understand that the problem that is a big problem that have a This kind of people in your schools. And, and not only in their schools is Bye. And the stores that are there are complaining about the This kind of people too. Yeah, so. We are going to talk about what we can do. To help you in this. Mark. We appreciate your consideration and you know we really are focusing on what is the best way to provide the safety.

[22:01] Not, no, we're not disagreeing with the need for promoting greater needs of safety. Yeah. We're, we're agreeing that too. Thanks, Carlos. Thank you, Let's see. Any other question or comment that you have? Hi, I do. Safety is. Yes. Well, thank you for to be here. And we are going to be in contact with you. Thank you so much for your time. Thank you. Thank you, we appreciate that. Have a nice rest of your meeting. Thank you, Welcome, take care. Hi everyone, I'm so sorry I'm late. Okay.

[23:16] Hey. Miss. Go on. Let's go to point 5. Action icons. You know. We need. Thank you. Last time we were booking. We have a About this You can take the need of this commission. Not to, interject here. If It's okay. So, I can give you a little bit of context as of.

[24:02] . And yet. We can go over. The specificity of what that chair role requires. So. Ideally right after. There's new seats open and the chair role is open a new chair member will be appointed. The way how this is describing your model is that someone can self-post delay and stop to the to vote or you can postulate upon yourself and bring an email. Now the specific role includes their commitment of Following off on meeting work items, meaning that after each meeting, it is really the role of the chair.

[25:09] With support of the culture to bring in the items that you all have conversations about and follow up on that. That it also requires an additional monthly hour. Sometimes it's 40 min. With the cold chair and staff who set up the agenda for the following month. So, I usually connect with the cherry cochair and try to find a time and date that works. To be able to schedule that 1 h meeting that is additional to your time here. The role of the chair also includes facilitating the monthly meetings. So, right now, Carlos is feeling that for all in the absence of the chair. He has called chair, he's assuming this role of facilitation.

[26:04] During the meetings. And during the meetings it is. Necessary that the chair ensures the equitable participation of all the members. And engagement. Also, Constant, active communications with the full chair. With response to community inquiries and staff. As you all know and receive the minutes and the agenda, we do have an email with all of your contact information. This is a group email that when you where I send communications to and the chair as well has the role of maintaining those communications and when community members email you. The chair has the task of responding to those. this is in addition to the same expectations that all the other members of the commission have.

[27:05] So in absence of the chair, the wheelchair. Built in that role. And, we haven't have a chair for. A couple of months now. Now, This is something that can be continued as is. We have bring up this this item before you know their meetings And you haven't reached a consensus and that's okay. Do you do not have to reach consensus today if you are not sure about how to go forward. But if you're ready to move forward and someone will like to post and say, I'm ready to take on the chair role. Please do so. This is a conversation that you still have among yourselves. I hope that helps a little bit to frame. The conversation I don't know if you wanna add anything else I think you shared it well.

[28:01] And. Yeah, just that we don't. From a staff perspective will support whoever the vice chair and chair are. And. It's important that if, someone does want to do this, you really feel confident that you kind of have the time and the focus to lend to it. Right? It can be a lot of pressure to step into a role, feel like you have to. If you're not, if you're not sure you can. So we would, Ingrid and I are here to support regardless. So again, this is really interested and wants to, or if you just want to think about it. That's fine. We're also happy to keep going, you know, as it's as long as Carlos is interested in being vice chair. So. That's all. And I would also just take this moment to interject that the food arrived after the meeting started. I think that our list if you wanted to let people take have a break and get food that would be perfectly acceptable.

[29:23] I'm I'm having a very sad dinner of crackers because that's all I could eat right now. You want to grab food real quick? Go for it. It's Okay. Sorry, Mr. It's very, very sad. Is that a It's such you wish, rockets. It's so, I'm, I'm, I'm eating salty crackers, salting crackers for dinner tonight. Hmm. Hello, I didn't you. So. We're sending warm healing. About your way.

[30:03] Thank you, man. We can't catch a break around here. Members members of the audience. I'm gonna. Mute. The room and also stop the video for a couple. Minutes well, the missioners gather some food and.

[35:28] There we go. Okay. We are talking about Good for Press events. Or sharing. It's commission. I mean, command that you want to do or suggestion that you don't have.

[36:07] Good. Well, the thing with it is, Is that, you speak up a little, please remember the interpreters. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Oh, Okay, Yeah, so. Yes, I would love. It's. Yeah, no, no. Okay.

[37:01] You know, it's Are you still here? Sure, yeah, I can. Look. That's pretty I see where you're able to hear, Yeah, I can hear. That's awesome. I think that's great. Okay, well The H. Proposed like a share of this commission. We need to make a motion. I'll do it. I'd like to move that, Jean-lyph become chair of the Human Relations Commission for this term. Oh, what's the main Hi, Hey. It was bad. Oh, of this. Motion?

[38:11] Yes, and your Right, your hand or say hi? Hi. Okay, now we have a share of this commission. Okay, I'm a German. I wanted to help. I don't know. I'm sorry what? I don't know what it is. I don't need to help with everyone. That's my last year probably here. Right, the next agenda item, Carlos, I'm gonna go ahead and bring up this screen again. So it's, can't follow angry, can I make a quick point? So we'll follow up afterward just with any specific.

[39:06] Kind of review again of the. Roll. The chair role, just check in with any support you will need. So. Taylor, thank you for being here. You bet. Okay. Just go to 1 6. For now, I event or discussions. Let's talk about minimum wage, profit people. Certainly. So, my name is Taylor, Ryman. Nice to meet you guys.

[40:00] I up until 2 weeks ago was in the city manager's office, as assistants to counsel. I did that for a few years, and in my role, I was helping a council member and sort of building regional support to advance minimum wage. I know this is a topic that HRC has talked about in some years past so I don't know if it was this exact main couple of HRC that talked about it. But maybe at least a couple of you were part of those conversations. Understand that this is, you know, an issue that's I feel like really touches on almost everybody in one way or another either you're directly related to those minimum wage change my life directly or does my employer make business decisions based on like a minimum wage that impacts me through compression or anything like it's just I guess I'm just saying it's a It's a wide spanning issue and wanted to bring an update to this group on where those conversations have been at. And you've been able to screen sharing for me.

[41:09] Thank you. Oh, host disabled participants. My name make me college. Okay. And, these conversations started. At least the most recent iteration of minimum wage, at a local level, back in 2019 when the, legislation was passed that enabled us to raise minimum wage above what the state did before that we pre empted from doing so we kind of kicked around some conversation we got some things started but they were quickly shut down because of the COVID pandemic and just its impact on changing everything we do, changing the way we do things. Those conversations that started up again about a year ago through the Boulder County.

[42:12] They talk about how do we collaborate on a county level, on things that make sense and, this came up as one of those things that we might collaborate on. So after several months and talking to councils, and figuring out what does it look like to do this moving forward, we sort of set up a very high level game plan, if you will, on what that could look like. And. The next slide I'm going to show you is this is super high level. Bird's eye view of what this might look like. The, on the bottom there is the full timeline and it outlines really what it's helpful for is outlining like what are the chunks of work that we need to do to make this happen. It jointly and what are the sort of steps of the process. I, I wouldn't get tied up in like the month durations that are assigned to each of the things because as we've started into that work, things are shifting and changing and we're finding out some things might need more time.

[43:10] And some things might need less time. So I wouldn't get hung up on that. But where we're at is in that darker blue area all the way. On the bottom left there, scoping engagement models and economic analysis. And this is because when we were talking to different council members. In the communities listed. Boulder long, that was filled off by it and actually Erie is part of this regional effort as well. 2 of the biggest pieces of council feedback was questions about like, so who really is paying minimum wage right now? How would this impact people's ability to be eligible for benefits? So like a benefits slipping out. Some of those more technical questions. And then another sort of broad category of council feedback was how do you feel about this? Do we feel like the market is responding?

[44:01] Do people want wages raised or? Or not and if they do is that a living wage is that just a raised in the current level that we have right now. Oh, go slow. So based on the council feedback, we are tackling the next steps, which are scoping the engagement work. And scoping and economic analysis. Those 2 scoping teams have been meeting for about 6 weeks now. We meet once every 2 weeks. And I wanted to show you who is who's on those teams from the staff side. I think that, some of these roles and some of the people that are at these tables are pretty squarely in like communications for example but we also have other folks who bring other voices to the table like economic development and just general leadership members of different organizations.

[45:04] We also have ex officio representatives. We're calling them from the public, so members of chambers of commerce and various labor groups. Non profits. This is the engagement team. Those numbers and then these are the economic analysis team members. We've been having really good conversations about what does this look like, to do both engagement and economic analysis. In parallel. And how does it look for us to approach that? Coordinated on sort of the 5 cities in the county doing this together, but also making sure that we have the flexibility in both of those items to study things more in our specific unique city context.

[46:03] And sorry. I think that some of the some of what we're wrapping our heads around is what is the appropriate scope for this, especially considering, you might have heard Boulder County is moving forward and Boulder County actually was part of this regional conversation up until about 2 months ago. When county commissioners decided that they wanted to implement something sooner in 2024 instead of what we've been talking about as a regional group which is 2025. And we have gotten some a lot of push back on the 2025 timeline and why can't we do something sooner? You know the urgency of the issue is now and people are hurting now and we need to respond to that and That is what Boulder County is doing, what the regional group has decided though is one or maybe one or 2 of us could do something quicker, but the reality is that to do it together, we would need more time because there are just certain.

[47:08] Aspects of this conversation that would not move forward for certain councils absent something like an economic analysis study. So we've decided to take a slower approach, but understanding that we see more value in the collective power that's gained in that. And so we're doing The county and the group are doing similar things just a little bit differently and also how does that play into our conversation. So. To align ourselves on what exactly are we all. Oh no, I'm take. Okay, Taylor. Should I hold my questions for the end or can I? Okay. I'm trying to understand like this whole county versus city thing.

[48:04] Okay. Does this mean that the county outside of these 5 cities are going to place a minimum wage sometime, you know, in 2,024 and then these these 5 cities are collectively opting out until our plan is done. The year after or like what practically speaking, what does it actually mean for people? Great question. And honestly, this has caused so much confusion. It's been tricky to navigate the fact that the county is kind of gone off and done their own thing. And the working group is still on a different track. If, if slash when the county passes their minimum wage, which is they're going for 15% raise in the coming year. I mean, would only apply to unincorporated county. So wouldn't apply to our like city boundaries at all. So honest and when you think about it, that impact is pretty small, like a lot of the major workforce centers are in the cities.

[49:05] And So really it wouldn't really touch us to that extent, but in the county's engagement work, which the legislation that enables us to pursue minimum wage requires a minimum level of engagement. The county is including their scope for those cities. So they have this survey that's currently out right now. It's due to close October sixteenth and Anybody can respond to that survey. They're not just looking for people in unincorporated county. And then the hope from their perspective is these economic conversations are so complex. And then the hope from their perspective is these economic conversations are so complex. Like for people in unincorporated county, and then the hope from their perspective is these economic conversations are so complex.

[50:02] Like when you any of the decisions like we you know, raise the minimum wage and then there's businesses that migrate to other places, but it's really hard to actually directly link that because I think businesses and employees make their decisions on. What's best for them for a lot of different reasons? And So as we're having these conversations and engaging folks, we're trying to take more of a broad holistic approach to understand like what role does minimum wage play in your life, like what would an increase look like for you? What level should that increase be at? And we're hoping that the counties engagement, efforts that they're doing right now, we're kind of hoping that they capture voices from in our cities because that would certainly help our conversations that we're having. Does that help answer your question? Oh, and I guess what I would add to that too is long term. So this is what the county is doing short term long term. They have said that they want to stay in consultation with what the working group is doing.

[51:01] Because they probably would want to align their eventual target wage to be similar or exactly the same as whatever they're working. . That makes sense. The regional group decides. So they're kicking off with an initial increase next year. And they're getting that ball rolling. In the meantime, the regional group is working together on sort of a longer term, plan because what the county is gonna have to end up doing is like sort of 2 rounds of engagement, 2 rounds of all this decision making, you know, getting it through all the process and things like that. And that's totally okay. And in a way, it also helps us there. Building the framework, figuring out what does it look like to do this. Maybe they'll have some lessons learned that we can to do this. Maybe they'll have some lessons learned that we're figuring out what does it look like to do this. Maybe they'll have some lessons learned that we can steal from, at the end, but, it does cause confusion. So if I can just sort of. Ask if this is what this in effect would mean is that.

[52:06] So the county will probably. Likely raise the minimum wage for unincorporated. Boulder County sometime next year. And then the regional group of these 5 cities will probably do it, you know, within a year after. And then we should expect that at the end of, yeah, so at 2025. They'll both be at about the same. Because they're trying to track to each other. But does that mean for example that next summer if I'm a teenager and I'm looking for a summer job. I might get paid more if I'm working in the parts of the unincorporated Boulder County that has raised its minimum wage. Then if I were to find a minimum wage job within the city of Boulder. Yeah, I think that's fair to assume.

[53:00] Okay. Thanks. Does anybody else want to jump in a question? So actually it was Elizabeth that's been, really talking to me about, this concept of what is, what is our community goal? What is everybody coming to the table and agreeing that is the outcome of what we're doing and actually this is part of the, instrument of course is establishing outcomes, community results and organizational outcomes. So these are draft statements that we have. Taken a look at both scoping teams and revisited several times and they've changed a little bit. And, was highlighted there at the bottom is shared outcomes. So. I imagine, the I'll give folks a second to like read it but there's on the next slide. We have a developed a list of shared outcomes. And these are at no particular order. These, we, we continue to add to these and we'd like to be as comprehensive as possible.

[54:13] What we're talking about, what is this impact? On one hand, I think what you could say is it's really hard to agree that minimum wage solves all of these things. And I, don't, we're not trying to message that minimum wage is the silver bullet solution to affordability really when you're talking about affordability, you bring down the cost of goods or you bring up what people make to help like relieve the gaps that we're facing. We're doing so much on the housing front, and we owe it to our community to explore all the levers that are available. To help make our communities places where everybody can live, work and play. So we are paying attention to this and the list is really helpful for outlining just the complexity of the situation like one of the more sort of theoretical conversations we're having is how does this really to climate change? We're having is how does this relate to climate change? Like as we continue to have colder, we're having is how does this relate to climate change?

[55:08] Like as we continue to have colder snowy, winters and hotter summers like as we continue to have colder snowy, like as we continue to have colder snowier winters and hotter summers like what does having more wages mean for people that are facing those hardships. And this also can serve as sort of a list of talking points when we're talking and, you know, to our community members. About what is the value of this, research effort. Really when we go back. I'm sorry I'm jumping around here. Can we go back to this? Where we're at right now is 5 communities have said yes, we want to explore this together and the way we've messed this is. You don't have to adopt the ordinance at the end. There's a lot of decision points that come between now and that last hold start right there, which is, you know, deciding on an ordinance and communicating the decision. But the value of getting in and doing this with us now is we're all learning together. We're having similar conversations. We're, we're creating similar data so that we can have at least like. We're facing our decisions off of all of the same information and it could be that, the shared outcomes and goals that you have no longer become share.

[56:15] At which point you don't have to be part of the working group anymore. Come along with us until that happens. And that's really what had a lot of value as we've been leading this effort across the county is just really emphasizing the collaboration and the, just really emphasizing the collaboration and the integrity of the process. And honestly, I'm, there's a lot of appetite for more, and the integrity of the process. And honestly, I'm, there's a lot of appetite for more, for more communities. And honestly, there is a lot of appetite for more, for more communities to be included. We get a lot of questions and these are good questions to ask. And there's, I think, several other points in the timeline where they could easily join. The regional effort. But the entire process is designed to be flexible and invite participation or totally allow departure at any point.

[57:03] So we've talked about in the engagement and I'm just sharing the level here. I'm sure you guys are aware of the IIP to community engagement spectrum identified that this phase one engagement will be on the involved level. Things and it's about all I got so far. I have, like I said, those scoping teams meet every couple of weeks. So we're learning fast and I'm, I would like to keep this group updated, and get your feedback at this point. On anything you have to share because. This is certainly something that once we actually get into engagement, there's gonna be a lot of different touch points that we're gonna wanna leverage to make sure that this reaches all the right groups and individuals. Fine. Thanks.

[58:00] Thank you. Just, I have one more question. As part of the economic engagement, are people also looking at, even beyond Boulder County and sort of like seeing what's happened with Denver and the research. Presumably that they had because they fairly recently raised the minimum wage there, I think. True, yes, Denver was the first to adopt and minimum wage that exceeds the state minimum and they did it pretty quickly actually this was helped out by the fact that they had some years of conversation. Right before the legislation passed and we had the pre option that got lifted. They had some years of conversation about raising their internal employee minimum wage, which is what we in the city of Boulder have to. We just raised that to like $22 and 44 cents. So they essentially the law passed and then they were just able to say, well, we've done all this work on an internal, minimum wage.

[59:05] Why wouldn't we expand that scope to the city? And they just sort of scoped it out did the engagement with the mandate required and got it passed like. In 3 months. It was pretty, incredible. Edgewater was the most recent other city to pass in Ordnance. They did just last May and we had a conversation with them. There was a lot of really good lessons learned. And then for Collins who's on a bi-weekly conversation with us because we're Collins, had done a couple of years of engagement and trying to raise their minimum wage. Their council ended up projecting it a few months ago because council preferred staff pursue a regional approach. Cool, yeah, right. And so now we continue to collaborate and stay informed on what everybody is doing across the state so that, we, have some lessons learned, but it is unclear to me.

[60:02] Where exactly, like if we went outside of the county, if we maybe say, say, included for Collins in the effort and they jointly adopted and IGA with us, what would, what would that really impact, in the legislation? Cause there's some other nuts and bolts. Sorry guys, I'm trying to say like out of the, like as much as I can, a Taylor, IGA, means. Oh, inter-. Thank you. And I think that's the perfect way. Oh, go ahead. I do have a question. I'm curious to have you guys chose got 15% increase that number. That's one of the baked in pieces, that number. That's one of the baked in pieces of the legislation. Whatever your raises, either an escalation to a target or, an annual adjustment. It can't exceed 15% or a dollar, 75. So that's baked in there some decision making like taken out for us.

[61:00] It has to include all workers, tipped workers, emancipated, emancipated minors, like passing through a city. Is not included, but working there is like there's some baked in pieces. And so the 15% is just the top of the threshold for like that's the most you can raise it in any given year. It's just the top of the threshold for like that's the most you can raise it in any given year. So the account is just I just wanted to intersect here for a moment because historically speaking the Commission, the Human Relations Commission has been heavily involved in minimum wage. Specifically looking into. South, so. I would able to track down some back history and understand that. These efforts on living wage for city staff are not for near 2 the human relations commission, including, proposing a resolution, looking into, what is the analysis of full time employees versus temporary CSN contractors and whatnot.

[62:16] So it's been an example of collaborations too. Meaning that at some point the Human Relations Commission hosted a or sponsor community dialogue. Between the Latino Chamber of Commerce, Boulder, Chamber of Commerce and the legal, women voters and, the HRC came together hosted these community dialogue. People came and share. What their opinions and experiences were. So the place in, seats that you currently at in. Our. A place where these conversation has happened in the past. As a body that tends to seek for the interests of the community.

[63:01] So yeah, another point that was forum, poverty, minimum wage and sales efficiency standards and, diving deep as the, into that research and what that look like. So perhaps some of the work, now it's gonna look different because there's all these other G, Intergovernmental. What is it? IT. Cool fit into what is, oh, opening the question of what is the role of the HRC as SAY to like to. Call me, bring, updates and gather your feedback. So, I just wanted to share that.

[64:05] Historical context of work that the Human Relations Commission has done in the past. You know. Well, and We'll have more to share on action and you know, here's survey, fill it out. When we actually implement some of the engagement steps right now, we're, just in scoping, but there is that Boulder County survey and I would encourage folks, I can share it with Ingrid and Elizabeth. So that it gets to you. Billing that out and adding those voices early will be helpful for our conversation. We also have. And RFI. Just another acronym. I don't even know what that one stands for, but, sort of out to consultants who do economic analysis work. To figure out what is what would be the cost. Of this work and. So we have a condensed version of a scope of what that economic analysis would look like.

[65:05] We're gonna expand on it for the full RFP, but if you're interested in the economic analysis, I'll include that link and, you can get a taste of what that's going to look like. Oh, I do not have a request for proposals. Could you share a little bit about what that means? Yeah, so before we spend an amount of taxpayer dollars, I believe it's if we exceed 10,000 50,000 we have to go through these rigorous process to solicit the community for who does this work and like what would you charge for it and we evaluate their proposals and see what qualifications do you bring to the table, like what's the like end all dollar amount you would charge and we make thoughtful decisions about how

[66:01] we award those monies and get the work done that we need to do as a city, but we don't necessarily have the expertise for in-house. And it's like, it's a cumbersome process like finding. Thank you. Thank you. And, At the last meeting that we have, last month. We talked about if. Some of your We're interested in participate. In this kind of pins. Somebody wants to follow up what is happening. Like what opportunities will there be for participation? For the HRC. Yeah, well then I think that.

[67:00] That's one of the questions I want to ask. The engagement scoping team because we have HRC, I imagine like the, agent have might be interested in an update on this work. There's other boards and commissions in the city that, might benefit from this kind of conversation. I'm trying to figure out from other cities, do you have similar boards and commissions that you might want to talk about when does it make sense for those conversations to happen? Obviously Elizabeth, you and I have been talking about this for a while. So, I was happy to come and then share an update on what's going on here and update on what's going on here and also sort of test out like, is this the right time? Do we have a lot of feedback at this point. And, sort of test out like, is this the right time? Do we have a lot of feedback at this point? And what sort of things might you like to see in the future? Do we have a lot of feedback at this point? And, and what sorts of things might like you like to see in the future? So if If I could say TVD, all that to see in the future. So if I could say TBD, so if things might like you like to see in the future. So if If I could say TVD, all that to be determined. And just work with Elizabeth and get through the, this process that we're doing with the

[68:03] So we can call, we can call you. If we don't hear from you first. I would like there to be like, board conversations in all the cities. I think it makes sense. Okay. Well, you know where to reach. Yeah. And how? Christine, do you have any final comments on these side? Can hear. Do you read your lips? Yeah. Can you hear me? Okay, sorry. No, I don't have any more questions right now. Thank you so much, Taylor. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Okay, we are going to 6 B, says emergency respond connectors and connectors in. Presidents. Let's see if you want me to or you can go ahead and do so.

[69:14] This is a conversation that you was, item that we had tabled from the retreat. You was listed as one of the retreat items that we didn't really get to. But. That this. Pretty much, the conversation is about A, understanding what is it that you know about the connectors program? And, thank you, Taylor. And if you know, What a specific roles of. These groups are let's just, I'm just gonna cause there for a moment before, going into the.

[70:03] In depth of it. Do you all know or have heard about the connectors? I. Okay. Did you mind sharing what he said that you know about it? Is this what we discussed at the last meeting a little bit where instead of sending emergency response? People. No, this is different. And he was born out of the community engagement team reaching out really to community. Members to come. During the thick of the pandemic. The conversation actually happened a little bit prior, but It really gained momentum during the beginning of the pandemic when.

[71:01] So many people in many communities and it's specifically communities that were under serve. They didn't have access to resources. Now they do have different, kind of. Hot ways that have. Develop and unfold it over time. . So, there's different, So groups. That. Have different tasks. So for, but the overall purpose of the community connectors are that these are presidents or people who live embedded in our communities. And they're there to, elevate on the represented voices and build trust between the government and communities. So it's basically like a community liaison. They partner with the city to create opportunities for community engagement share resources and Carlos is the perfect sample.

[72:01] He is a community connector. It has been for how many years now, Carlos? She's a community connector. It has been for how many years now, Carlos? Okay, so at least what 3 years? 4 years, 4 years. Something like that. And, the, what, and you can speak about your experience, card, and they're involved in different capacity programs across the city. They meet regularly and as I said they see it on the front of. So let's say, at a group where they're trying to connect and get the impact and opinions of our community and a project that is gonna pack them, then a community connector is invited to participate in those conversations.

[73:10] Maybe you can share a little bit more about the work that happens. In that as, a connector to yourself. Yeah. Oh, We started to work things the pandemic. And community connectors. We are a connection between the community and the city. Yeah. The city bring us all the resources. So they connect connectors and we. Share with a communities. Yeah. We the Oh, we handle the local max. We work with the Charles, Brendan. They were here.

[74:03] I was in all that. We did this. I mean, the test. In the test. It was a great premium because I don't know. We the community when they need this the city and the city was This is the first city that did this. No, I, And I don't know. But, well, let's just say, but yeah, it was a great experience too. To be a community connector. Merkel. With sharing resources and they still do connect and are able to connect communities with resources most recently do we're all involved in coordinating the block parties and manufacture home communities.

[75:35] Where. You know, it was basically a resource fair. And an opportunity to build community. So, Just, like I remember last month during the retreat, you were all talking about resources and sharing resources. So now we are not. Saying that. You cannot do that, but it's the biggest cop of your work is it has shift it because there's these other groups that are doing that kind of work.

[76:04] Already embedded in the communities. Now it is important for you to know that the community connectors are and the work is happening out there. And, I guess the question that we wanted to post is like first, Are you interested in buying them and get to know more about what they do? Or, are you interested on going? You don't always have to wait for people to come here. You can also be invited to maybe to one of their meetings and get to know them that way. And also in the spirit of the conversation you were having last month. Which we already have a perfect sample here. Carlos started as a community connector and then we were able to share, hey, the community connector.

[77:04] And then, we were able to share, Hey, the human relations is recruiting is anyone interested in cardinal supply and got a planet, you know, the story. So it is an opportunity for to look into the conversation that you were having last month. With me about creating a structure for like the future of . Looked like too or any other any other questions you may wanna have or know about the connectors program. Is something that we're bringing to the table to hear. I'm gonna stop sharing and shush. To hear what you all have to. Sure about it. Same. Yeah, I'm super interested in hearing more. I'd be interested in just sort of knowing, I like how many, how many community connectors are there.

[78:01] Which underrepresented populations do they represent and then you know just just to hear from them what they think are. Both some of the goals and what they want to do and and some of the challenges that they think. Exist between the city and, and their communities. So yeah, I'm super interested. I think it's a great idea. Especially, you know, we have Carlos with us as a great example for this, but I think it's a great idea to see. See community connectors as the possibility of people who may be interested in joining the HRC in the future. Sorry, I talked too fast. Right. Okay, or any other board for that matter, right? It's about. Thank you. For people who, are out there doing the work and learning and may wanna take a leap forward.

[79:03] Anything else? Do you mean here if you turn into, some conversations, of city council or other boards and that they're often referring to the community connectors. So it is important for you to, to turn into and get closer to understand. Their roles they're potential. And and see also where you all fit within the whole picture too. It does. Thank you, it's Christine. You do it good to hear. Yeah, You don't I'm sorry what?

[80:04] Yes, Okay. Yeah. And are you interested on bringing them here to go in there? Is there a reference on? How that happens, we have to run it by them anyway and they're coordinators and stuff but if you have a strong preference. Thank you. What I've heard of it is, It was close to light. I always discuss but I'm afraid it's a small group. So. If we love the work take, I'm like. Just check up please. Yeah, I think, That would probably be easier. Like she just, yeah, like, you know, can explain better that's probably.

[81:12] Would be the easiest. We'll follow up on that and share. Okay. Let me. The other item. Do you wanna go forward? Let's say talk about the work plan. 2324. 25. I'm not moving. I'm not moving on. I'm sorry, that was my mistake. Yeah. But go ahead.

[82:01] I'm okay if we just skip this year and move to 2425. That would work for me. That's like, at least these last few months. Yeah, let's talk about. Well, you're saying that or whether you want to work in the next year. What? Do you want to glance? But, we have to. I think that We have to work. And, you should being come up with their City Council. Right. And if I may. Interject here, the conversation that you all add. Last other retreat included. Reviewing what kind of items were still pending from 2023 2024 and 2024 2025. Why were some of those topics of interest, right? So, we all heard from you that you wanted have a shared location.

[83:08] A document where you can easily access and keep track of conversations. Including events and opportunities for you to engage. So, I can present these to you all. I created these documents as a proposal. For you to take a look and let me know if this is a format that works for you. Otherwise I can always tweak and change things. But, this is a template of an example. Where I kind of populated something based on our conversations from in your conversation from last month. For instance, from 2023 and these are the items that are. Assigned as. Kind of work items that are in, right? The conversation about protected class.

[84:11] What was the desire? In. Who was leading that and how supported, what is the time lining where we're at. Also, understanding tracking purpose of the racial equity plan. Minimum wage that you just heard about today, older junction phase 2 where. For instance, Anna So this is really a document where you can. Go ahead and keep track of every work item. We spoke about the child friendly initiatives, free imagining police, care, all of these items you heard about these last year. So this is really a document where you can interact with these items and, it, we can release it and use it at every meeting for you to know what the advancement or the, we can release it and use it at every meeting for you to know what the advancement or the progress has been on those items.

[85:16] And if someone has something to report, I mean, you have to engage with the document. So that's why I wanted to present it to you and make sure that it works for you. Is Excels use Excel spreadsheet. So you will have to enter items as you work through. For those. I'm gonna stop there for a moment and answer any questions from the first. Section that I just presented. Question of comments, what can be through, what you like, what do you like? Hi, I think you might, it's gonna understand. We think about like participation in this.

[86:04] Oh, hold it. Okay. Right. Okay, so for instance, this is a great example where you can say, I'm very interested on this. I wanna be. Either seat of the committee or support whoever goes there and you can add your name here. We will have to add the details of meetings and whatnot. And then you can add the steps that you have taken. I attended the meeting on October first. I, outdated that commission and here are the notes. So you can put a link in there with the notes that you have taken on that meeting, etc. I don't think that purpose of presenting the tool is to dive deep into all of these items. Is to present the tool as a mechanism that you can use to track the items. Does that make sense?

[87:04] I mean, like, it's so organized. And, I like that we can view it visually. I like that we can update it. So we have access to this. Well, I haven't shared with you yet. I was hoping to get your feedback today. Make changes and they share it with you all. So you can start working with it. Now it is okay if you make a mistake and you delete something. I'll make sure that I save a copy so we can, try changes too. But this will be a live document. So, some changes. I may not be able to recover, but I will try to back it up as much as possible. We can also see down and try to you know, work together on it if that's a need that you have. So there's no need or pressure on you having to learn. How to be an expert in Excel is pretty simple but I also want to let you know that you all have our support.

[88:06] In how we get something here with the tool and use it forward. Christine, I can not see you. Feel free to interrupt me. At any point. Now, there are other, if you scroll down, you will see. What are the council advisory needs. And we can lease those. What is the goal? Misleading again the same trumps and you can we can change it as we go or modify or adjusted. And then there's a couple of internal work items like. That you brought up during the retreat like creating a session plan. What is the recruitment process gonna be like? The old boarding? Who's gonna do it? By when it's been around. And then I copy for instance.

[89:03] You'll wanna need name tabs to into the world and represent the humor relations commission. So, yes, what do you want in those names? Do you want your, you want your, do you want your, Russian or whatever it is that you identify with. We can answer that here I can put like oh I submitted the order and you can all see what are the steps that have you taken in order to accomplish that work item? I took the liberty of in some of the community engagement opportunities that are happening in the upcoming weeks. So this is something that it is ready for you to look at and sign up. In these. Section I added who's hosting the event what is the description of the event so if you scroll here, you will be able to read the full description when, where, and who is going.

[90:12] That is something that you also express the desire of having a place where you can see what are the events that are happening in sign up or At least that you know I'm on yourselves who's going and how. Yeah, those attending and then you report to the meeting or share. Among yourselves. Thank you. I think this looks great. It's like a really good way of sort of Not having to scroll too much and being able to get a overall view of all the various activities that we went be engaged in. I think it looks awesome. Thanks. You're welcome, Christine. We can create.

[91:01] We can see how it goes and adapt it. I mean, maybe we can do. 6 months because I can see how the community engagement opportunities is gonna get look. Large, right? Or maybe some of the work items as well. But perhaps the community engagement opportunities may be you said, you know what, we're in a different tab. I have this call too much. Or, less created by quarters or half of the year. The other half of the year, whatever you want they need, we can continue work together working together and trying to improve the tool. So it works for you. Okay. That's, It might look really good, but is it? Okay, like everything being in one place is very helpful.

[92:06] Okay. Hey Greg, I was gonna. I don't know if like There this is like a great tracker. Is there also. A column where appropriate where we can add links. So if that would be like a link to a working document or a link to a website like I'm I'm just kind of making this up but like for example the reimagining policing. I think the city probably has quite a lot of information on its website. And maybe, you know, it's helpful to just have a comments or links to something resources that we can just go to easily from this tracker. Yeah, that's a great observation. Would that be helpful for everybody? Okay. I'll make sure that gets.

[93:05] So, column age. Anything else? There are tips and things that we can. Look along the as we move through that light. Where is this document gonna leave? Is it gonna live in that email that, gonna share with you next week? And then you have to scroll all the way down to find that email and that link. So we can make sure like if you need to help to save it to your favorites or to PIN it or something that really helps you find the spreadsheet. Because it's great that it's gonna be everything in one place but if you can't land on it, it happens to me all the time. And I'm like, all these documents, it's great. And then I can't find it.

[94:04] If I don't. Properly make it accessible to myself, especially because it's life. To share these people. It's possible to That is a tricky request because we do have very internal security. Kind of. Policies in place. So we can use Google. We may have to see what is the most efficient way for you to Being able to. Have a live. I can grant you access. To it. And that's very limited. It's like for you only. . You know, it's not for public. This is not a So you cannot re-share it or.

[95:02] Phone or anything like that. I have a good question. So for example, for number 5, the child friendly cities, it says the outcome is to participate and be informed. So within the time that we meet within the month that we don't, we, if somebody is assigned to work on that. How do we get that information? For example, how do we become informed? I like either steps to that. Do you know what is internet? Just the example. So, so these are The Child Friendly Cities initiatives process that's already happening, right? So there are going to be opportunities moving forward where We this city our partners growing up Boulder that or it's a nonprofit organization in Boulder.

[96:01] And other organizations in the city that serve children Will it be? Or parents or caregivers of children. We'll be having opportunities for community members, including children to engage, to provide. Input discuss, you know, issues that are priority, And it's possible like that would not happen. Those processes are not happening at an HRC meeting. But for example, if Anna, wanted to, in the whole group said like, yes, we would actually love to have. On a, you know, kind of represent the HRC. Be our eyes and ears at that process and bring back information. Then we would simply make sure that Ana had the information about when those events are coming up. So again, it can track here, right?

[97:00] So everybody can see like, oh yeah. Like, we're just making this up, right? But that the October meeting, right? If you have a meeting and want to talk about. Get an update on child friendly cities. Mind say here's some of these opportunities. And then, we'll have that information. And be able to say. This up again, but in January, right? Say like, well, I participated in this meeting. Here's what we talked about. Here's where the rights of the child issues and other things that are related to the HRC. Came up. That sort of thing. So that makes sense. So all the communication doesn't need to happen through this document, right? Or like in, head below, one of the things you talked about at the retreat was like look at all those indigenous people. Do you wanna talk amongst yourself and see like, is anybody going to go to those events? Is there somebody who wants to go to the Fair Housing Forum.

[98:05] You decide that and have that discussion at these meetings. But this is where we can just track like who said they were gonna do that and then do you wanna all hear about it afterward? You know, Make sure you've all there's some clarity on. What you all are doing maybe between meetings. As an HRC member. And so there's an opportunity to track that, bring it back to the group and you know what you want to do that. So. As I said, it doesn't have to be set on stone. I'm gonna just go ahead and fix some of these, some editing on fixing some of these rows and columns. So it's not a lot of moving pieces. And then I will be able to share it with you all. So we can start using it. And if you have additional feedback, please just send it. My way, happy to make modifications.

[99:10] It is 7 49 and I do want to share. Obviously these events that are happening, these are sponsored by the C. So as you know, in the past and thank you, figure for being part of the grant review. Process with our staff. De Liane, and myself too. You've been, looking at these applications. So maybe some of these, familiar, but for the indigenous people, they, human relations fund. Those funds have been allocated and those events are coming up soon. So as you see all of these are happening in October. Really close to one another. Really cool opportunities for you to attend to different events and learn about these opportunities.

[100:04] So, that aside, there is item number 6, the third housing forum. This is an event that I will be sharing a fire with you in a short description of what of what it is. Gonna be hosting this building in upstairs and potentially. This is an event that is, a collaboration between the Denver Metro Fair Housing Center and Housing and Human Services. And it's gonna be a forum that is specifically going to talk about. Share information about rights and responsibilities of and voucher holders. So whoever has a voucher. Or a housing voucher choice or section 8. That is subsidized housing. So, will be able to learn what are the rights and responsibilities in the spirit of cases of discrimination based on income.

[101:15] So sometimes some Landlords do not like to their units to people who are voucher holders. And it's an issue. It's an issue that we're facing. So, the Denver Metro for housing is hosting a series across the state. And these event is, sponsored by. Hard which is Thank you. And Chafa as well, regulates a lot of the money that holds out too, housing, projects. So it is important that because it is within the scope of your work in my work. To prevent discrimination.

[102:07] Again, so against. So it is an important topic and I will encourage you all to participate in this forum. It is on October seventh from 10 to 1230 and. The idea is to make it as accessible as possible. It's gonna be hybrid. There's gonna be a panel and then breakout rooms between landlords and tenants. So they'll know what are the rights and responsibilities. And if you have any questions, let me know. But I'll share more information about this forum. There's gonna be some resources too. Questions? Is this on one? It's hybrid. And they're also gonna host 2 more events. In partnership with the Center for People with Disabilities. One of them is gonna be online only and you are gonna be in person only.

[103:07] So that is information that I also have available. You know, send it to you in case that you cannot make it to the October seventh event. You might be able to go to the same sessions. Hosted and through, the center for people with disabilities. And then they're just gonna keep going through all their cities. Yeah, I'm gonna stop sharing my screen now that's the tool that I will be sharing with you. And then. I think that's let me. Go back to the previous screen. I'll pass it to you. Yeah. Hey, point the step in.

[104:00] Follow up. Yeah, so. I have a couple items. Follow up on. One of them is. Connecting with Taylor. To get access to that survey on. Minimal wage from older county. I will be sharing that with you. The other island that I have is sharing the tracker and making the edits and share it with you. Also consult and share, have a conversation with our community connectors. Staff coordinator. To make arrangements for future meetings. To connect you with their program and their, participants. And then it is on you to decide what. And how you're gonna move forward with the item that both community members, brought up to tonight.

[105:27] Good chance. Did you all have clarity on how you're gonna move forward with that item? I don't know. Being smart. Thank you. Would you mind just recap from my benefit and maybe, miss that part of the discussion. Would you mind just recapping what where you left off? Yeah, of course. Would that be helpful?

[106:02] So, Both community members requested for the HRC support on. Editing, drafting, putting together a memo. Who sent to council. Making our recommendation. On about initiative, I, the same, process that you went through last spring. On a different bottle of initiative. I don't know if you recall on all versus even years. So, the request is to draft the document. It's, is advocating to go no on the initiative. Meaning that they think that, that the follow initiative proposes that any camping area within certain expensive schools and spaces.

[107:13] Should not be there. They should all be tabs or any kind of camping. In those areas. And what the group is proposing as far as I understand is that It shouldn't be just one single measure. Yeah, Yeah. There can be different criteria. That applies to different areas rather than having these specific approach. To, different areas. So they offered to. Help with the drafting or submit a draft to you all for you to review, to edit, to give feedback.

[108:03] But again it will be signed by and suggested by you as a body. As a as a. I do wanna remind you that as a staff member, I cannot or neither can Elise of it support you with this effort because we cannot be involved in anything that is related to initiatives or elections for that matter. So it is on you to a decide if you want to move forward. In supporting the initiative and what they're proposing or reading it, learn more about it, whatever you decide to do. And so, so, so meeting it to counsel on behalf of the HRC. I think we got this morning, I mean, Yes. That's fine. We want. And we have to take a decision that we are trying to do.

[109:11] All of that. If please share a timeline on that. So the ballot measure will be on the ballot for the election. On the first week of November. So I think. My understanding is that if the HRC wants to actually. Speak as a whole on this. The sooner we do it, the better because the elections only. Once 5 6 6 weeks away I got something I sent you to everyone. We will all be okay. And you guys, Well, I thought, Lindsey, and, but was going to drop something.

[110:00] Do we drop our Sorry, click. No, yeah, no, breath, no like nonprofit organization can kind of write your document. Yeah. For you, right? You have to speak as the HRC if you choose to do that. So speaker, I think the process would work similarly to. If we were to do this it would work similarly to. The letter that I kind of took the lead on last year for that ballot initiative to E for even your elections. Yes. We would, yeah, so I think, I think basically. You miss this but unfortunately I'm not even though I support this group and I will not be voting for the ballot measure myself personally. I'm pretty limited in what I can do. So I think, I think the open question for our group is if we, if we feel like we want to weigh in on this. As a group, we need somebody to take the lead. I'm happy to sort of advise and help but we would need somebody to take the lead.

[111:07] And both Lindsey and Stan have offered to also help. So if it's a question of people, you know, not. Feeling like right now that they don't know enough about the issue. They are happy to talk to anybody more about it. They, Lindsey also offered to. You know, get a draft started, but we would need. Someone in our commission who is currently a commissioner to sort of. Spearhead this work for the commission because they as former commissioners can't really do it. They can help, but that's really I think where we are. And Elizabeth and in. Tell me if I'm wrong, but I think that's where we are. Yeah, just wanna be, yeah, Chris. Crystal clear, right? Is that only commissioners can speak for Commissioners, right?

[112:00] So again, like I wasn't in the room. You know, when when the recommendation or the request was Was made. But if you just if a commission decides to. They, you know, write up a recommendation to go to city council that needs to come from you all. Right, not like. Here's a letter that somebody else drafted and you're putting your names to it and go ahead. I don't think that's what Christine was suggesting that I just want to be 100% clear. I'm not sure if you guys have already discussed what you wanted to do. Before I came, I just, I feel like I don't know enough. We did not. But my understanding of where we left it is that. There seem to be, I mean, I know a fair amount about it, but I just, I just don't have a capacity to lead on this.

[113:01] And so my understanding was that that some of you in the room were interested in learning more and we're going to maybe try and connect with Lindy and Stan to learn more. And then, you know, I think. I think if somebody wanted to take this on. Given that the election is November, we still do have one meeting between now and then. And so it could be something that gets added to the next next agenda if somebody had a draft and wanted to add it to the agenda, then we could sort of decide then. But it really, it really is if. Somebody here has. The capacity and the willingness to sort of. Spearhead this on behalf of the 5 of us.

[114:02] And I mean, if, if we want to discuss like. I don't know if any of others of you have been following this and if you actually have a have a position on it yourself. But I would say probably the best the best that is to learn more about it first because it's possible that none of you actually have an opinion on it at this moment yet. Yep. Maybe we can like set a deadline like everyone do the research by this date and that's email if we want to do this. I don't know. That you can communicate with each other during meetings as long as you're not emailing as a group that kind of constitutes as a meeting. But if you, you know, you have the ability to kind of communicate with each other, you know, one on one that's perfectly legitimate.

[115:02] Yeah, I, I think, you know, Stan and Lindsey came here and they're, they're very steeped in the issue. They know it much better than I do. I know it. You know, at a pretty high level. So I do think that if any of you want to learn more and have made an offer to talk to any of you offline and you can take them up on that and I'm sure also the same thing goes for the thigh that is proposing the ballot. I'm sure there are a lot of people who would like to talk about that too. So. Okay. You can do and Oh, Yeah, that's my own opinion. I'm not asking anybody to be proud of it. I think. Just pick up a little please. Yeah, I'm having trouble hearing.

[116:01] Bye idea is that. I think it's a good. And I think they are so far enough. From what they're entering. Yes, Because, I think if we can do something to support that would be good. That's my idea. I'm not saying everyone should be on the same page because I think, you know, if you guys. Yeah. If you like it, you. You know, talk, And I can, I'm happy to drop something and drop something and send it. You know and you guys can look at it if not you know that's okay. That's why we're here. Okay. These access files. Oh, close to school. Yeah, I'm not against, I'm supportive but So, Oops.

[117:20] Okay. This stuff. Even if he might walk into my car. So. Maybe, and you know Carlos where you stand, but we should do research by certain day. And then we can all see it like, okay, we're ready to go. You can write this if we agree to do it. And then by that date, All are on the consensus? Does that mean we just don't do it? Right? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, and I think I think as Lindsey and Stan pointed out, you know, any of us as individuals.

[118:06] Can sign to support what they're doing. Do you all sort of understand what the ballot is proposing and Why, and Stan are against it or is it helpful for me to give you, you know, my Understanding of it in a very quick way. Yes. Yes. Okay, so The backdrop to this is that, because of where Boulder High is located, you know, near the creek path, which where a lot of homeless people set up camps. There has been an increasing sense among some people. That over the last 2, 3 years, a lot of students are actually, their safety has been endangered. And that's because there are some stories where Some students have reported being harassed. Or, you know, drug use going on.

[119:05] Does the city of Boulder the police have, the ability to sweep camps to basically ask. People who are camping to move. And go away. And so there is a group of parents who are now putting this. Proposition forward that would require the police. To sweep. In certain areas around schools. I can't remember the numbers that Stan and Lindsey said, but up to however many feet. You know, they that they have to prioritize sweeping near the schools. No. Nobody is disagreeing that there isn't a problem and that students and children should have the right to feel safe. I think what. Stan and Lindsey and their group, which is called.

[120:05] Solutions, not safe zones. They're saying that this proposed solution to sweep close to schools. Will actually have effects that are more harmful than the problem that they're trying to fix. And that the effects would be for example actually discrimination or it'll be much harder on the homeless population and it will just sort of move the problem from one place to another. I think it also says that it does not give the city or the police enough. To and how they choose to deal with the homelessness issue. Okay. And to me, personally, that actually was a very stand out point because. They're saying the police already have the ability to prioritize. And this would basically write it in to, I guess, an ordinance and then actually take away the flexibility of the city and the police and how to deal with the homelessness problem.

[121:08] So to me that was a very compelling argument. So, that's basically, it is a, it is a hot topic. Lot of people, feel very strongly about it on both sides. And I would say, you know, you could go to. They each have websites detailing their position. And so they have more detail there. So that's basically. That's basically the issue is that Stan and Lindsey and their group, they are saying that this ballot proposal. It's not actually going to address the problem. And it will cause more problems. Is that clear? Yeah, I think you could see. Okay. And I hope, I hope Elizabeth and Ingrid. If I, if you know that I factually misrepresented something, if you can.

[122:04] Sorry, it's pipe up. That would be great because I know I don't always get it right. At all. Yeah, I I don't think it's appropriate for us to say anything about it, but just point out there's Any ballot issue, there's lots of public information. Yeah. And I think on any topic we would want commissioners to. Border commissioners. To that research. Thank you. Thanks. I don't know that you need to take a vote per se on this, but just making sure with each other that you're kind of agreed on what those next steps are. Okay. So just look into it and it's actually to each later inform everyone.

[123:05] Okay. Yeah. And again, one by 1. One on one. So if there's. 3 people is considered forum. Yeah, that means. Yeah, that's what we're doing. And that's against the rules of. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Oh, I'm sorry. There's just a couple of other things I wanted to make sure you're aware of. So, Just, there was a reimagining police, presentation to city council that's been a topic, that you've all talked about that was September seventh, at city council meeting.

[124:00] The. Recording, right? All city council meetings are reported and they're on YouTube. You can watch them any time, but if you want, we can find the link and share it if nobody was. You all had wanted to see it or. Or come to the meeting and you just were not able to. There's another, September 20 eighth are, housing human services department, will be providing a Homelessness update, it's an annual update to City Council. That's on September 28 and again it's you're able to watch it online. You're more than welcome to do that and all of the council meetings are available afterward, but just wanted to let you know that this coming up. In addition to the Indigenous People's Day, events that ingrid shared. On this Thursday city council meeting there will be a very short declaration acknowledging Hispanic Heritage Month.

[125:06] And. Yeah, we can continue, has done that in the past, kind of let you know what decorations are. Are coming up. They're very short. Segments right at the beginning of the council meeting, but good for you to know about this. Sometimes they relate more directly than others to Just a few items coming up. Let us know at any time if you have questions about other. Processes were kind of issues that are happening in the city within. As in human services or elsewhere and we can do that. I think there's an update on the Boulder junction. Again, for city council coming up as well. No wonder that. I got to know about You.

[126:02] Okay, Yes, Yeah, I need to check. This one Maybe if you can share that with me and I'll share the group. In case there's interest of Tony on that conversation as well. Yeah. Okay, thank you. We need a motion. Finish our meeting. But you're gonna say Great. Somebody wants to go. I'll do it. Yeah. Okay. You can just say I make a motion to adjourn. And then somebody else can second it.

[127:05] And then you're done. That's all it takes. I made a motion to adjourn the meeting. On September, nineteenth, 2023. I second. Thanks. Thank you. Hi. Thank you. Good. ByeWhat's that