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DEI commission advances ambassador recruitment plan and approves proclamations for council review
Summary
Mountlake Terrace’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Commission reviewed a draft strategic plan, discussed creating a community ambassador committee to broaden outreach, and voted to recommend amended Welcoming Week and Hispanic Heritage Month proclamations to city council.
The Mountlake Terrace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Commission reviewed its draft strategic plan, discussed creating a volunteer ambassador committee to support outreach, and approved two amended proclamations for referral to city council.
Staff presented a draft two‑year strategic plan and asked commissioners to submit edits before the document is finalized for council. The presenter said, “I have to submit my materials to city council next week,” and asked commissioners to review the action plan and send comments so staff can incorporate them into an October review and a November council presentation.
Commission members discussed a proposed ambassador program: a standing, non‑voting committee to help the commission reach communities that have historically not participated in local government. Staff proposed recruitment would start in September, with applications reviewed by the commission in October and potential onboarding in November. Suggested criteria included being at least 16 years old, living, working, attending school or worship in the city, and a minimum commitment of roughly four activities per year. Commissioners discussed whether to include “worship” as a qualifier and raised concerns about representation and trust‑building with specific communities.
On proclamations, the commission considered a Welcoming Week proclamation and a Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month proclamation. Commissioners proposed wording edits (for example, adding “all” to language in one whereas clause and standardizing percent formatting). A motion to recommend the amended Welcoming Week proclamation to the city council was moved, seconded and carried. The commission also moved, seconded and approved an updated Hispanic Heritage Month proclamation for council consideration.
Other agenda items discussed included outreach logistics for Welcoming Week (vendor and volunteer setup, performers and language access), upcoming community conversations with groups such as Ballinger Center and local affinity groups, and a proposed process to post the strategic plan for a public comment period once the plan is submitted.
No new binding city policy was adopted at the meeting; the commission approved only to forward the revised proclamations to city council and asked staff to collect commissioner comments on the strategic plan before submittal.
Why this matters: The strategic plan and ambassador program shape how the commission will engage underrepresented groups and organize community events; proclamations forwarded to council are ceremonial but signal municipal priorities for Welcoming Week and Hispanic Heritage Month.
Ending: Staff will post the draft strategic plan for public comment after council submission and will return an edited plan and redline for the commission to recommend to council in November.
