--- ## title: COON RAPIDS PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF MARCH 22, 2001 ## author: Bryan Sauer date: D:20260527171200Z --- 1Equity and Inclusion Commission 2Meeting Minutes 3DRAFT – May 20, 2026 - DRAFT 4 5 ## 6Commissioners Present: Narayan Dhakal, Gabrielle Filip-Crawford, Amanda LaGrange, ## 7Paul Stanley, and Prajwal Vemireddy 8 ## 9Youth Commissioners: Gwen Goedken, Sophia Salinas-Ruiz 10 ## 11Commissioners Absent: Nicole Singaram and Chris Taylor (excused) 12 ## 13Staff Present: Equity and Inclusion Manager Antonio Montez 14 15Call to Order/Roll Call 16 17The Equity and Inclusion Commission (EIC) meeting was called to order at 6:33 p.m. 18 19Approve Agenda 20 21Commissioner LaGrange moved, and Commissioner Filip-Crawford seconded a motion to 22approve the May 20, 2026, Equity and Inclusion Commission agenda as presented. Motion 23passed unanimously. 24 ## 25Receive Public Comment 26 27The commission received a presentation from Roseville residents Mr. Etienne Djevi and Mr. 28Keith Allen regarding the upcoming Juneteenth celebration at Central Park on June 13, 2026, 29from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 30 31Mr. Djevi, a member of the Juneteenth planning committee, explained that the event will feature 32speakers, including the mayor, free food, entertainment, and activities designed to bring the 33community together to celebrate freedom and encourage resident engagement. 34 35Mr. Allen shared his personal experience as a Roseville resident, explaining that attending 36Juneteenth events helped him and his family build connections within the community when they 37first moved to the city. He noted that the celebration has grown over the years and now 38highlights Black-owned businesses and organizations while creating a welcoming environment 39for people of all backgrounds. He emphasized that the event is intended to bring all cultures 40together in support of and celebration of Black culture. 41 42Mr. Allen personally invited commissioners, their families, and friends to attend. He encouraged 43them to view the event as an opportunity to connect with community members and potential 44future commission participants. 45 ## Equity and Inclusion Commission Minutes May 20, 2026 – Draft Minutes Page 2 of 15 46The commission was informed that event flyers were available and would also be distributed 47electronically. 48 49Mr. Allen noted that commissioners had volunteered at previous Juneteenth celebrations and 50invited interested members to assist again this year. Volunteer opportunities include serving as 51greeters, staffing information tables, helping attendees navigate the event, and directing visitors 52to vendors and activities throughout the celebration. The presenters thanked the city and its 53commissions for their continued partnership and support of the annual event. 54 55Chair Vemireddy expressed support for the Juneteenth celebration, noting that he attended the 56event the previous year and found it to be a positive experience. He complimented the food, 57vendors, and participating businesses, and noted that Mr. Montez was also in attendance. 58Although he had not formally signed up as a volunteer, he explained that he assisted with 59cleanup at the conclusion of the event and encouraged fellow commissioners to attend if they 60were able. 61 62Commissioner LaGrange asked whether the city of Roseville is again providing financial support 63for this year's Juneteenth celebration. 64 65Mr. Djevi and Mr. Allen confirmed that the city is again supporting the Juneteenth celebration. 66They explained that the city's involvement extends beyond financial assistance and includes 67significant logistical support from multiple departments. The city assists with park operations, 68while police, fire, Parks and Recreation, and other departments contribute staff time and 69resources to help ensure the event's success. 70 71Mr. Allen reflected on a photograph from a previous celebration showing a Parks and Recreation 72leader hanging a Juneteenth banner, noting that it symbolized the community's collaborative 73spirit. He emphasized that Juneteenth is not only a Black holiday but an American holiday that 74welcomes participation from all members of the community. 75 76Mr. Montez thanked Mr. Djevi and Mr. Allen for coming to the meeting and presenting this item. 77 78Business Items 79 ## 80a. Approve Minutes 81 82Commissioner LaGrange indicated that Commissioner Goedken appeared in both the present and 83absent sections, and she believed Commissioner Goedken was at the meeting. 84 85Commissioner Goedken indicated she was at the meeting, so the minutes should be amended to 86remove her name from the absent section. 87 88Commissioner Dhakal indicated his first name was misspelled. 89 ## Equity and Inclusion Commission Minutes May 20, 2026 – Draft Minutes Page 3 of 15 90Commissioner LaGrange moved, and Commissioner Goedken seconded a motion to approve the 91April 15, 2026, Equity and Inclusion Commission meeting minutes as presented. Motion passed 92unanimously. 93 94The commission went through an icebreaker activity before moving on to regular business items. 95 ## 96b. Commission Elections 97 98Mr. Montez informed commissioners that annual officer elections, typically held in April, had 99been delayed and needed to be held at the current meeting. He explained that the commission 100would elect a chair, vice chair, and representative to the Ethics Commission. He noted that there 101are no restrictions on current officers being re-elected or nominated for another term. 102 103Mr. Montez reviewed the responsibilities of the chair and vice chair, explaining that they meet 104with staff before each meeting to develop agendas, discuss commission business, and prepare for 105the meeting. The chair is responsible for presiding over meetings, while the vice chair assumes 106those duties when the chair is unavailable. He also described the role of the Ethics Commission 107representative, explaining that the position serves on an as-needed basis to review ethics matters 108referred by the city and provide feedback and recommendations when such issues arise. 109 110Commissioner Stanley moved, and Commissioner LaGrange seconded a motion to appoint Chair 111Vemireddy as the Chair of the EIC through April 2027. Motion passed unanimously. 112 113Chair Vemireddy reflected on his experience serving on the commission over the past two years 114and discussed the responsibilities of leadership within the group. He observed that while the title 115of chair carries recognition, the role also requires a significant commitment of time and effort. 116He emphasized that the chair should set the tone for meetings, help guide discussions, and work 117closely with staff on agenda development. Chair Vemireddy noted that the commission includes 118a range of viewpoints, making it important to focus on productive dialogue and meaningful 119initiatives. He expressed a desire for the commission to continue pursuing tangible projects that 120demonstrate value to both the city council and residents, adding that he believes the commission 121has established a solid foundation on which to build in the coming year. 122 123Chair Vemireddy moved, and Commissioner Goedken seconded a motion to appoint 124Commissioner LaGrange as Vice-Chair of the EIC. 125 126Commissioner LaGrange declined the nomination due to challenges at her current job and felt 127she could not do the position justice. 128 129Commissioner Dhakal moved, and Commissioner Salinas-Ruiz seconded a motion to appoint 130Commissioner Stanley as Vice-Chair of the EIC through April 2027. Motion passed 131unanimously. 132 133Commissioner LaGrange moved, and Commissioner Goedken seconded a motion to appoint 134Commissioner Filip-Crawford to the Ethics Commission. Motion passed unanimously. ## Equity and Inclusion Commission Minutes May 20, 2026 – Draft Minutes Page 4 of 15 135 ## 136c. Joint Council Meeting Date 137 138Equity and Inclusion Manager Montez reminded commissioners that the commission meets 139annually with the city council to review accomplishments from the previous year and discuss 140goals and priorities for the upcoming year. He explained that staff needed to schedule the 141meeting and recommended holding it on August 10. If selected, the August 10 joint meeting 142would replace the commission's regularly scheduled August 12 meeting. 143 144Mr. Montez noted that August 24 could serve as an alternative date if necessary, but indicated 145that August 10 was his preferred option and requested commissioners' feedback on their 146availability. 147 148Chair Vemireddy offered to assist with preparation for the commission's annual joint meeting 149with the city council. He noted that the commission had previously been among the first to 150present a PowerPoint during the joint meeting and suggested using a similar approach again this 151year. He proposed highlighting the commission's accomplishments, including work completed 152on the community guide and other initiatives, while also outlining priorities and goals for the 153coming year. Chair Vemireddy indicated that he could prepare an initial presentation draft for 154commission review and discussion and suggested beginning that work during the June or July 155meetings to allow additional time for refinement before the August joint meeting. 156 157Mr. Montez agreed that the commission was at an appropriate point in the year to begin 158discussing priorities and future initiatives for inclusion in the annual presentation to the city 159council. He supported Chair Vemireddy's suggestion to begin preparation early and encouraged a 160presentation format that includes participation from multiple commissioners. 161 162Mr. Montez noted that the city council had appreciated hearing a variety of perspectives and 163experiences during the previous year's presentation and indicated that a similar approach would 164be beneficial again. He explained that staff would work with the chair and vice chair to develop 165the presentation, ensure commissioners have opportunities to review the content, and confirm 166that the presentation accurately reflects the commission's accomplishments and future priorities. 167 168Chair Vemireddy shared a draft of the commission's previous city council presentation and 169explained how the process was developed. He noted that the presentation served as an 170opportunity to inform city council members about the commission's work, recognizing that not 171all councilmembers regularly review meeting minutes or watch commission meetings. Because 172the commission was newly established when it first met with the city council, the presentation 173focused on the importance of equity and inclusion, the commission's formation and early 174development, current initiatives, and future priorities. 175 176Chair Vemireddy explained that commissioners collectively reviewed and refined the 177presentation content, similar to the process used for the community guide project. Presentation 178responsibilities were divided among commissioners so that each member had an opportunity to 179speak during the joint meeting. He indicated that he would prepare a similar draft presentation ## Equity and Inclusion Commission Minutes May 20, 2026 – Draft Minutes Page 5 of 15 180for discussion at an upcoming meeting, after which commissioners could review, edit, and 181finalize the content together. 182 183Mr. Montez clarified that the commission's regularly scheduled August meeting had previously 184been moved from August 19 to August 12 due to a scheduling conflict. He explained that the 185proposed joint meeting with the city council on August 10 would replace the commission 186meeting scheduled for August 12. 187 188Following the discussion, the commission agreed with the proposed schedule change. 189 190Commissioner Staley moved, and Commissioner Filip-Crawford seconded a motion to approve 191replacing the August 12 meeting with the August 10 joint meeting with the city council. Motion 192passed unanimously. 193 ## 194d. Rosefest Parade 195 196Equity and Inclusion Manager Montez provided an update on the upcoming Rosefest Parade and 197encouraged commissioners to participate if they were available. He explained that the parade is 198scheduled for June 22, 2026, and begins at 6:00 p.m., with participants gathering near Roseville 199Area High School before proceeding along the parade route down Lexington Avenue and ending 200near County Road C and City Hall. He indicated that additional logistical information would be 201provided to participants before the event. 202 203Mr. Montez also requested a volunteer from the commission to serve as a golf cart driver for the 204commissioners' parade contingent. He explained that the request was intended to help 205accommodate Commissioner Singaram by providing transportation during the parade if needed. 206Because event organizers have limited staffing resources, he asked whether a licensed 207commissioner familiar with Commissioner Singaram would be willing to assist by driving the 208golf cart. He noted that interested commissioners could volunteer during the meeting or contact 209him afterward to discuss the opportunity. 210 211Commissioner Filip-Crawford expressed interest in participating and stated that she expected to 212attend the parade but would be nervous about driving the cart. 213 214Commissioner Stanley indicated he was confident he would be at the parade but would confirm 215with Mr. Montez whether he could attend; if he could, he would be more than willing to drive the 216golf cart. 217 218Chair Vemireddy indicated he could be put down as a backup in case Commissioner Stanley 219could not make the parade. 220 ## 221Commission Direction on Member-Initiated Agenda Items 222 ## 223a. Discuss and Finalize Constituent Outreach Email 224 ## Equity and Inclusion Commission Minutes May 20, 2026 – Draft Minutes Page 6 of 15 225Chair Vemireddy reported that he and Mr. Montez met the previous week to incorporate 226the revisions and recommendations the commission discussed regarding the 227commissioner's email template. He explained that the template would be distributed to 228commissioners for review and encouraged members to identify any final edits or 229suggestions. 230 231Chair Vemireddy noted that the commission would conduct one final review of the 232document before considering formal approval. He indicated that once all revisions were 233completed and commissioners were satisfied with the content, the commission could vote 234to adopt the template. 235 236Commissioner Filip-Crawford thought the edits addressed everything discussed at the 237previous meeting. 238 239Mr. Montez asked whether the template should include language indicating that the city 240council meetings were at 6:00 p.m. 241 242The Commissioner thought that would be a good idea. 243 244Commissioner Filip-Crawford moved, and Commissioner Goedken seconded approval of 245the commission email template with the minor edits as discussed. Motion passed 246unanimously. 247 248Chair Vemireddy suggested that the email template could potentially serve as a model for 249other city commissions. He noted that some commissions already communicate with 250residents through email and observed that a standardized template or boilerplate 251communication tool could be beneficial across multiple commissions. 252 253Chair Vemireddy encouraged staff to discuss the concept with other commission liaisons 254to determine whether similar resources might be useful elsewhere in the city. 255 256Mr. Montez agreed that the email template could provide a useful framework for other 257commissions but noted that modifications would likely be necessary. He explained that 258portions of the template were tailored specifically to the Equity and Inclusion 259Commission and that other commissions would need to customize the content to reflect 260their own roles, responsibilities, and areas of focus. He suggested that commissions could 261use the template as a guide and substitute information relevant to their specific work. 262 263Commissioner LaGrange agreed that the discussion connected directly to the 264commission's goals related to community and civic engagement. She noted that if 265residents are already receiving communications from other city commissions, those 266outreach efforts may help establish initial contact and awareness. 267 ## Equity and Inclusion Commission Minutes May 20, 2026 – Draft Minutes Page 7 of 15 268Commissioner LaGrange suggested that coordinated communication among commissions 269could reduce duplication of outreach efforts and make it easier to engage residents who 270have already shown interest in participating in city government activities. 271 ## 272b. Discuss and Finalize New Commissioner Guide 273 274Chair Vemireddy reviewed the edits to the New Commission Guide with the 275Commission. 276 277Mr. Montez noted that he had accepted all the previously discussed changes to make this 278discussion cleaner. 279 280Commissioner LaGrange questioned a bullet point in the section addressing common 281mistakes for new commissioners. After reading the language aloud, she realized the 282statement referred to reading the agenda for the first time during the meeting rather than 283reviewing it in advance. She noted that the wording made sense when she read it aloud 284and indicated she had no proposed revisions to that section. 285 286Mr. Montez agreed that the wording in the draft guide could be clearer and suggested 287revising the language. In response to Commissioner LaGrange's observation, he proposed 288changing the item from referencing the first reading of the agenda during the meeting to a 289more direct statement identifying the mistake as failing to review the agenda before the 290meeting. He asked commissioners whether the revised wording better conveyed the 291intended message and sought feedback on the proposed change. 292 293Mr. Montez noted that he had added an item to the draft guide that the commission had 294not previously discussed. He explained that the addition was a hyperlink that directed 295users to a central landing page with a variety of related resources and information. 296 297Mr. Montez indicated that while the guide already included substantial content, the link 298would provide commissioners with convenient access to additional materials and 299resources through a single location. 300 301Commissioner LaGrange expressed support for including the hyperlink in the guide. She 302noted that she personally appreciates having access to additional information and would 303likely use the link to explore the available resources in greater detail. At the same time, 304she observed that the approach allows commissioners who prefer a more concise 305overview to use the guide without feeling obligated to review the supplemental materials, 306making the resource flexible for different preferences and learning styles. 307 308The commission discussed the placement of a section within the draft guide and how 309readers would navigate the document. The discussion then shifted to the organization of 310the guide, with commissioners questioning whether a particular informational box was 311located in the most appropriate section. Members observed that the content described 312what occurs during discussion of an agenda item and felt it might be missing a section ## Equity and Inclusion Commission Minutes May 20, 2026 – Draft Minutes Page 8 of 15 313heading or additional context. It was suggested that the material aligned well with the 314section explaining what a commission meeting is like and could potentially be moved to 315follow that discussion. In contrast, a later section could provide a more detailed 316explanation of meeting procedures and agenda-item discussions. Overall, the commission 317focused on improving the guide's organization and readability for new users. 318 319Commissioner Filip-Crawford participated in the discussion on organizing the guide and 320agreed that the referenced content supported the section describing what a commission 321meeting is like. She suggested that placing the informational box immediately after that 322section could improve the document's flow, with the subsequent section providing a more 323detailed explanation of agenda-item discussions and meeting procedures. 324 325Commissioner Stanley questioned whether some of the information included in the draft 326guide was necessary for new commissioners preparing for their first meeting. He noted 327that, after reviewing the revised document, he was unsure whether certain items were 328critical preparatory information or simply aspects of meeting participation that 329commissioners naturally learn through experience. As an example, he referenced 330guidance such as allowing one person to speak at a time and suggested that many 331individuals would already understand those basic expectations. 332 333Commissioner Stanley encouraged the group to consider whether some content could be 334streamlined or removed if it did not meaningfully contribute to a new commissioner's 335preparation and understanding of their role. 336 337Commissioner Filip-Crawford agreed that portions of the information under discussion 338appeared to duplicate content already included elsewhere in the guide. She noted that 339Section 4 already explains how formal actions are handled when needed and observed 340that much of the material in the questioned section repeated concepts previously covered. 341 342Commissioner Filip-Crawford suggested that the commission consider whether the 343content could be consolidated or streamlined to reduce redundancy and improve the 344document's overall flow. 345 346Commissioner Stanley continued the discussion by noting that some of the guidance, 347such as focusing debate on a motion rather than on the individual presenting it, appeared 348to be more of a meeting norm or courtesy than essential information for a new 349commissioner guide. He suggested that the chair might more appropriately introduce 350these types of expectations at the beginning of a commission term or during an 351orientation discussion with new commissioners. 352 353Commissioner Stanley indicated that presenting such norms as part of a meeting 354introduction could be more effective than including them in the guide, particularly if the 355commission is seeking to keep the document concise and focused on key information 356needed before a commissioner's first meeting. 357 ## Equity and Inclusion Commission Minutes May 20, 2026 – Draft Minutes Page 9 of 15 358Commissioner Dhakal agreed that the guidance under discussion may not need to be 359included in the written guide. He observed that meeting norms and expectations are often 360demonstrated naturally through participation in commission meetings and that the chair 361can explain them when necessary. 362 363Commissioner Dhakal noted that new commissioners typically gain an understanding of 364meeting procedures and expectations by observing and participating in discussions, 365making some of the more basic behavioral guidance less essential for inclusion in the 366document. He suggested that those expectations can be reinforced through experience and 367meeting practice rather than through detailed written instructions. 368 369Chair Vemireddy asked if the entire section should be deleted. 370 371Commissioner Filip-Crawford agreed with the discussion to streamline the guide and 372remove content that may be better communicated through meeting practice and 373orientation. She indicated that several of the items being discussed appeared to be 374common meeting norms that commissioners would naturally learn through participation 375and observation. 376 377Commissioner Filip-Crawford supported focusing the guide on information most helpful 378to new commissioners before their first meeting, while relying on meeting experience and 379guidance from commission leadership to reinforce procedural expectations and 380discussion norms. 381 382Mr. Montez referenced another item under consideration for the guide. He asked the 383commissioners whether they wanted to retain the statement, explaining that a majority 384vote is required to approve most commission decisions. He noted that the concept had 385previously been discussed in the section outlining meeting procedures and decision- 386making processes, and he sought feedback on whether the information remained 387appropriate for inclusion in the document. 388 389The commission discussed how to explain voting procedures within the guide and agreed 390that a simpler description would be more effective. During the conversation, a 391commissioner noted that they had not previously realized that a tie vote results in a 392motion failing, which led to a discussion about whether the guide should specify that a 393majority vote is required to approve most commission decisions. Members concluded that 394stating that decisions are passed by majority vote would adequately convey the concept 395without unnecessary detail. The commission also noted that not every agenda item 396requires a vote, as some agenda items are informational or discussion-based. 397 398As part of the broader review, commissioners agreed that a section containing more 399detailed procedural information could be removed and replaced with a concise statement 400regarding majority-vote decision-making. Additional edits were discussed, including 401revisions to the section describing the chair's role in running meetings and correcting 402numbering inconsistencies within the document. ## Equity and Inclusion Commission Minutes May 20, 2026 – Draft Minutes Page 10 of 15 403 404Mr. Montez updated the working draft to reflect the agreed-upon changes. 405 406Mr. Montez explained that the commission had previously discussed clarifying the 407advisory role of commissioners and their relationship with city staff. He noted that 408commissioners are appointed to provide their perspectives, experiences, and community 409input on city matters. At the same time, operational decisions and staff direction remain 410the responsibility of city employees and city administration. 411 412Mr. Montez suggested that, rather than including language instructing commissioners not 413to direct staff, the guide should emphasize the commission's advisory nature and explain 414that commissioners communicate recommendations through their staff liaison. 415 416The commission discussed whether directing staff was a common issue and generally 417agreed that positive language describing the commission's role would be more effective 418than focusing on prohibited actions. 419 420The commission agreed that highlighting the commission's advisory role would better 421communicate expectations. Following the discussion, they developed language stating 422that commissioners provide recommendations through the staff liaison for the city 423council's consideration. Members felt this approach reinforced the commission's purpose 424while clearly identifying the staff liaison as the primary point of contact between 425commissioners and city operations. 426 427The commission also reviewed language related to attendance requirements and noted 428that the wording was intended to align with guidance contained in the city's broader 429commissioner handbook. 430 431Mr. Montez explained that attendance is tracked and reported to the city council when 432necessary, consistent with existing city policy. 433 434After completing the review of the remaining edits, including revisions to the new 435commissioner checklist and other previously discussed changes, Mr. Montez asked the 436commission how they wished to proceed. 437 438The commission indicated it was ready to finalize the document and expressed support 439for adopting the revised guide in its final form. 440 441Commissioner Goedken moved, and Commissioner Filip-Crawford seconded a motion to 442approve the New Commissioner Guide as revised. Motion passed unanimously. 443 ## 444c. 2026 EIC Work Plan Priorities and Policy Review Topics 445 446Chair Vemireddy noted that limited time remained in the meeting and acknowledged that 447discussion of the agenda item would likely need to continue at a future meeting. He ## Equity and Inclusion Commission Minutes May 20, 2026 – Draft Minutes Page 11 of 15 448reflected on the commission's work over the past year, noting that commissioners brought 449different perspectives on what equity and inclusion mean, and that much of the 450commission's recent effort has focused on community and civic engagement. He 451highlighted initiatives such as encouraging resident participation in decision-making, 452strengthening community representation through city commissions, and developing the 453new commissioner guide. 454 455Looking ahead, Chair Vemireddy noted that the commission's ordinance authorizes it to 456apply an equity and inclusion lens to city policies, procedures, and programs, which 457provides a broad range of potential topics. After reviewing the work of similar 458commissions in other communities, he developed a list of possible focus areas for the 459remainder of 2026 and into 2027. He emphasized the importance of narrowing the 460commission's efforts to a small number of priorities rather than attempting to address too 461many topics simultaneously. 462 463Among the potential areas for future discussion, Chair Vemireddy highlighted the 464Maintenance and Operations Center project, noting that additional information would be 465available at the commission's next meeting as construction progresses. He also referenced 466digital access and communication initiatives, building on the commission's previous 467discussions with the city's communications director. Other possible topics included the 468Climate Equity Action Plan, parks and recreation programming, and fee-assistance 469opportunities for youth recreation programs. 470 471Mr. Montez responded that the proposed topics were valuable suggestions and could 472serve as useful starting points for future commission discussions. He noted, however, that 473many of the ideas would require coordination and collaboration with other city 474departments, commissions, and staff before the Equity and Inclusion Commission could 475fully engage in those areas. 476 477Using parks and recreation as an example, Mr. Montez pointed out that the city already 478has a Parks and Recreation Department and a Parks and Recreation Commission, making 479it important to work collaboratively rather than pursuing recommendations independently 480in that area. Similarly, he noted that the Climate Equity Action Plan is being led by city 481staff and would require coordination with the project team. 482 483Mr. Montez emphasized that the listed topics should be viewed as opportunities for 484further exploration and discussion, with future conversations helping determine how the 485commission could best contribute in partnership with the appropriate stakeholders. 486 487Chair Vemireddy emphasized the importance of taking a practical approach when 488identifying future commission priorities. He noted that while several potential focus areas 489had been identified, the commission should concentrate on topics where it can have a 490meaningful impact and where its involvement would be appropriate and productive. He 491acknowledged that some topics, such as parks and recreation programs, would require ## Equity and Inclusion Commission Minutes May 20, 2026 – Draft Minutes Page 12 of 15 492conversations with the relevant departments and commissions to determine whether 493collaboration would be feasible and within the commission's scope. 494 495Chair Vemireddy encouraged the commission to think more broadly about its purpose 496and the goals that motivated them to apply for service. He asked members to reflect on 497what equity and inclusion meant to them when they joined the commission, what they 498hoped to accomplish, and how their understanding of the city's operations and 499responsibilities may have evolved. He suggested that those reflections could help guide 500the commission's priorities and identify meaningful areas of focus for future work. 501 502Commissioner Dhakal observed that equity and inclusion considerations are connected to 503nearly every function of city government and can be incorporated into a wide range of 504topics. Using parks and recreation as an example, he suggested that the commission could 505examine whether city programs and facilities are reaching diverse populations and, if not, 506explore potential reasons for disparities in participation. He emphasized that reviewing 507city initiatives and providing an equity perspective are appropriate roles for the 508commission. 509 510Regarding the Climate Equity Action Plan, Commissioner Dhakal explained that he 511participated in several meetings related to the effort and described the process as highly 512participatory. He noted that city staff engaged numerous community members and 513provided opportunities for residents to share their views on what actions the city should 514take and which aspects of the plan they viewed positively or negatively. 515 516Commissioner Dhakal indicated that substantial community input had already been 517gathered through the process. He suggested that the Equity and Inclusion Commission 518could review the completed plan and provide comments or recommendations from its 519perspective, which he believed would be a valuable contribution. 520 521Commissioner Filip-Crawford asked about the status of the city's strategic planning 522efforts and noted that previous strategic planning discussions included significant 523conversation about metrics, baseline measurements, and methods for evaluating progress. 524She observed that many of the potential focus areas being discussed by the commission 525appeared to align closely with goals and objectives already identified in the strategic plan. 526 527Commissioner Filip-Crawford indicated that she would be particularly interested in 528helping identify measurable equity and inclusion indicators that could be incorporated 529into city projects and initiatives. Drawing on her professional experience, she suggested 530that one of the commission's most valuable contributions could be helping establish 531meaningful metrics and evaluation methods for equity-related objectives. She recalled 532that earlier strategic planning discussions seemed to be moving in that direction. She 533envisioned the commission supporting the process by identifying which strategic 534objectives to prioritize and determining how success could be measured over time. 535 536Other Business ## Equity and Inclusion Commission Minutes May 20, 2026 – Draft Minutes Page 13 of 15 537 538Commissioner Filip-Crawford asked for an update on the status of the strategic planning work 539and how the commission might fit into those efforts moving forward. 540 541Mr. Montez provided a high-level update on several strategic plan initiatives he has been leading. 542He explained that the city recently completed its inaugural Roseville Leadership Academy. This 543leadership development program brought together ten employees from departments across the 544organization, including Parks and Recreation, Emergency Response, Public Works, and the 545License Center. Participants completed six leadership-focused sessions and have expressed 546interest in continuing to meet quarterly to develop their leadership skills further and maintain the 547relationships established through the program. He noted that the initiative generated valuable 548discussions and professional growth opportunities and that staff are now considering potential 549next steps for the program. 550 551Mr. Montez also described his work on a cross-departmental team focused on the city's Local 552Affordable Housing Aid funding. He explained that the State of Minnesota provides the funding 553and must be committed and expended within specific timeframes. The city has already used 554portions of the funding for initiatives such as partnerships with Habitat for Humanity and 555emergency rental assistance. The team, which included representatives from community 556development, public works, police, social work services, and other departments, evaluated 557potential uses of the funding and developed recommendations for the city council's consideration 558regarding future investments in affordable housing initiatives. 559 560In addition, Mr. Montez reported that he will soon begin work on a project to improve and 561streamline the city's licensing processes, including business licenses such as massage therapy 562licenses. He noted that the current process functions adequately but could benefit from 563modernization and refinement. 564 565In response to Commissioner Filip-Crawford's comments on metrics and evaluation, Mr. Montez 566agreed that performance measures and success indicators are important considerations. However, 567he explained that many of the programs and initiatives are still in the planning and approval 568stages, and meaningful metrics will need to be developed after the city council determines which 569programs and projects will move forward. He indicated that discussions about measuring 570outcomes and evaluating success remain an important future step in implementing the strategic 571plan. 572 573The Commission discussed potential long-term priorities for the Equity and Inclusion 574Commission and considered how the commission should focus its efforts moving forward. 575Members observed that two distinct paths had emerged from the discussion. One approach would 576involve reviewing existing city programs, services, and initiatives through an equity and 577inclusion lens and providing recommendations for improvement. The second approach would 578focus on the commission's existing strategic planning work related to community engagement, 579including evaluating participation, measuring outcomes, and developing recommendations to 580increase representation and involvement in city governance. Members cautioned that the ## Equity and Inclusion Commission Minutes May 20, 2026 – Draft Minutes Page 14 of 15 581commission likely lacks the capacity to pursue both approaches simultaneously and encouraged 582the group to identify a clear area of focus. 583 584The Commission discussed the importance of relationship-building among commissioners and 585reflected on how members often begin serving without knowing one another's backgrounds, 586experiences, or perspectives. Members suggested that opportunities for informal conversations 587could help strengthen relationships and foster a stronger collective voice. 588 589The Commission also discussed the limitations imposed by open meeting laws, but agreed that 590continuing to build relationships and understanding among members remains valuable. 591 592The Commission expressed support for pursuing a strategic, metrics-focused approach. Members 593noted that developing standards and measurements for community engagement and equity 594outcomes could have a broader impact across city departments and initiatives. Rather than 595focusing on individual programs one at a time, the Commission discussed establishing consistent 596methods for evaluating engagement and inclusion that could be applied across multiple city 597projects and events. Concepts such as community engagement standards and performance 598measures were identified as potential tools for citywide implementation. 599 600The Commission also discussed the strategic objective of increasing participation in city 601commissions and improving representation from underrepresented groups. Members noted that 602this work presents a unique opportunity for the commission to make a meaningful contribution 603because it directly aligns with goals already identified in the city's strategic plan. The 604Commission discussed ideas such as expanding representation on commissions and including 605opportunities for youth participation as examples of areas where the Commission could have a 606lasting impact. 607 608Chair Vemireddy agreed that the discussion was valuable and explained that he intended to 609encourage long-term thinking about the commission's future direction. He noted that the 610commission had made significant progress on community engagement initiatives and wanted 611members to begin considering what the commission's role could look like over the next several 612years. 613 614Chair Vemireddy indicated that the conversation would continue at future meetings and would 615help inform the commission's presentation to the city council as well as future work plans for 6162027 and beyond. He emphasized that the discussion was intended to generate ideas and identify 617potential priorities as the commission considers its next phase of work. 618 619Adjournment 620 621Motion by Commissioner Goedken, seconded by Commissioner LaGrange, to adjourn. Motion 622passed unanimously. 623 624Chair Vemireddy adjourned the meeting at 8:07 p.m. 625 ## Equity and Inclusion Commission Minutes May 20, 2026 – Draft Minutes Page 15 of 15 626Respectfully submitted, 627 628Sue Osbeck 629TimeSaver Off-Site Secretarial, Inc.