REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on the Task Force on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion's Recommended Appointments to the Task Force Vacancies
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
At the July 14, 2020 City Council (Council) meeting, the Council expressed support for engaging in a local community dialogue on a Santa Clara Plan to address the four (4) components outlined in former President Obama's "Commit to Action" Initiative (Initiative) and delegated authority to Mayor Lisa M. Gillmor and Police Chief Pat Nikolai to establish an Ad Hoc Committee in support of the Initiative.
At the September 29, 2020 Council meeting, the Council approved the Ad Hoc Committee's recommendation to establish a community-based, seven-member Task Force on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (Task Force) to support the development of a Santa Clara Plan to address the four (4) components of the "Commit to Action" Initiative and achieve equality for historically disenfranchised communities in the City of Santa Clara (City). The Council also approved the Ad Hoc Committee's recommended appointments to the Task Force upon its establishment: Darius Brown, Neil Datar, Andrew Knaack, and Diana Zamora-Marroquin. The September 29, 2020 report to Council is included with this report as Attachment 1.
The inaugural Task Force members were charged with interviewing and recommending community members to the Council for appointment to the Task Force's remaining three (3) seats. Staff posted the application packet on the Task Force website for two (2) weeks and promoted the recruitment process on the City's social media platforms.
At the December 2, 2020 Special Task Force meeting, the Task Force approved voting and selection guidelines (Attachment 2) and interview questions (Attachment 3). The Task Force granted interviews to 31 applicants, three (3) of whom withdrew from consideration. The Task Force conducted interviews over a two-day period on ...
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