Lincoln City Council:
Aldermen lay groundwork for new Diversity and Inclusion Commission

 

[August 05, 2020] 

On Monday evening at the Regular voting session of the Lincoln City Council, aldermen unanimously approved a resolution that lays the groundwork for a new “Diversity and Inclusion Commission.”

The new commission will consist of a collection of citizens representing the wide demographics of the city including “age, race, gender, background and other diversity considerations.”

The original proposal brought to the city by Ward 1 Alderman and Acting Mayor Tracy Welch called for a nine member commission. During aldermanic discussions of the topic, the commission was increased to 12 members. Those 12 members will be appointees by the acting mayor. Anyone who is interested in serving should contact Acting Mayor Welch.

Aldermen began discussing the new commission at the July 14th Committee of the Whole meeting. Welch said that he had given this much thought and knew that the city on the whole would benefit from such a commission. He said he had enlisted Alderman Ron Keller, who has been active with the recent Black Lives Matter topics to assist in drafting the proposal for the council.

At that meeting, Keller said he felt that creating the commission was a proactive action on the part of the city that showed a concern to address the needs of all the demographics of the city.

In the initial proposal it was written that the commission would be voluntary membership with no working budget. The role of the commission would be to bring to the full council recommendations for improving the quality of life for all Lincoln residents.

Item 6 in the outline stated: “The Commission will serve as a resource for the city of Lincoln government and for the community providing information, education, and communication that facilitates a better understanding of diversity and celebrates our differences.”

Item 7: “The Commission may propose recommendations for the city to consider in regards to diversity issues within the community, and explore ways to address diversity issues, promote diversity programs, and remove equity and racial barriers. The commission shall also provide guidance to create a more accessible, safe, welcoming and inclusive community and city government. Implementation of any such recommendations ultimately rests at the discretion of the mayor and city council.”

Item 8: “Upon initial meetings, the Diversity and Inclusion Commission shall create a diversity plan to address these concerns above in #6 and #7. This non-binding plan shall be presented to the Lincoln City Council as a recommendation.”

During follow up discussions at the July 28th Committee of the Whole, Alderman Kevin Bateman felt nine members was not enough and suggested that the commission be capped at 12 members. Bateman also recommended that the city do a great deal of promoting for the new commission to really get the word out to the community that members were needed and welcomed.

It was noted that when City Administrator Beth Kavelman was mayor of Lincoln there was a similar committee that addressed the needs of minorities, disabled, seniors, veterans, and youth. She said the committee formed then had two members representing each faction.

Bateman said that the commission could have 12 members and include only one representative of the city council plus representation from law enforcement and education. The balance of the commission could then be citizens of the city representing “all walks of life.” Bateman noted that city government had been tagged as being managed by “old white men,” a tag he found offensive. He said that this new commission would demonstrate that city government was taking into consideration the needs of all the demographics in the community.

At the August 3rd voting session, discussion on the topic continued with Alderman Steve Parrott asking how the city would establish balance within the commission when all were volunteers.

He said that there was nothing in writing spelling out how the commission would assure representation from all the demographics of the city. He said it could end up being volunteers from only a few factions while others were left out. The council again reviewed the make-up of the former commission. Kavelman said the committee had included two members each representing seniors, youth, minorities, veterans and the disabled.

Bateman again stated that the key to success would be to do a good job of getting the word out that volunteers were needed for the commission. He said that he sees a lot of people on social media saying what they would do, or what the city should do, but when it came time to take action, none of them were there. He said those people need to get involved.

Keller said he didn’t think it would be a struggle to get the volunteers needed for the committee. He reminded the council that appointments to the commission would come by recommendation of the mayor. He said he felt that Acting Mayor Tracy Welch would have a good handle on choosing appointees that would represent the diversity of the city.

The council then voted to approve the resolution. With all eight members present for the meeting, the motion passed unanimously.

The resolution takes effect immediately. Those who wish to be a part of the Diversity and Inclusion Commission should contact Acting Mayor Tracy Welch.

Welch’s email address is [e-mail] or telephone the mayor’s office at 217-735-1612.

[Nila Smith]