Mountlake Terrace DEI Commission recommends Black History Month proclamation, outlines 2025 events and backs federal grant support

The Mountlake Terrace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Commission on Dec. 3 voted to recommend a Black History Month proclamation to the City Council and spent the meeting laying out plans for 2025 community events, from AAPI Month performances in May to a Pride-month weekend gathering in June. The commission also approved a staff request to send a letter supporting the city’s application for a U.S. Department of Transportation grant to fund Main Street Phase 2.

The commission’s work matters because its event planning and proclamations shape how the city publicly recognizes cultural observances and helps the city compete for federal infrastructure funding. Commissioners and staff discussed event formats, locations, budgets and outreach needed to make planned activities accessible and to avoid scheduling conflicts with other regional events.

Council member Murray, speaking to the commission, noted the council’s calendar: “things are wrapping up for the council… it is our final scheduled council meeting of the year,” and encouraged using the remaining council meeting this month for questions or input. Andrew, a city staff member who leads events and permitting, described how the city would handle applications and programming for a proposed AAPI-month music performance: “All music selection is application based to not show favoritism,” he said, and he advised that the commission must define a theme and selection criteria quickly to meet application timelines.

Commissioners discussed a range of possible events and logistics: a one-off AAPI-themed music night in May (with the recommendation to reserve an indoor gym such as Cherry Park Elementary if weather makes outdoor staging unreliable); embedding cultural performances into the city’s summer series while keeping branding distinct from the city-produced Tara Summer Nights; a weekend Pride flag-raising with adjacent community activities and the option to close 58th Avenue for a block-party atmosphere if requested and permitted; a March gathering to observe the Ethiopian New Year; and collaboration with local school district staff for an AAPI-related event tentatively scheduled for May 9.

Budget and staffing were recurring themes. The commission’s event budget was stated as approximately $7,000 for materials, sponsorships and programming; members debated whether to use funds for food vendors or to seek sponsorships to offset vendor minimums. Staff advised that summer-night slots typically open in March and that the commission should finalize any May-focused application and theme in January or February to meet vendor and venue timelines.

The commission also discussed outreach and support requests from the local mosque related to Ramadan prayer gatherings, noting potential parking and traffic impacts and that city staff (including a traffic engineer) will meet with mosque leaders to explore options such as using nearby church parking or other mitigation strategies.

On formal actions, the commission moved and voted to recommend a Black History Month proclamation as presented; commissioners approved the recommendation by voice vote and the item will be forwarded to the City Council. Later in the meeting commissioners also approved a motion to present the proclamation with a suggested first-choice recipient (Nu Song) for presentation; the commission recorded the motion and approved the recommendation.

Separately, staff asked the commission to sign and submit a letter of support for the city’s application to the U.S. Department of Transportation for Main Street Phase 2. The commission moved to authorize staff (the mayor’s office will submit on the city’s behalf) and approved sending the letter to bolster the competitive grant application.

Commissioners set next steps: drafting event themes and selection criteria for the AAPI performance, forming a small subcommittee to work with staff on details and scheduling, confirming whether the commission will contribute cash or staff time to Juneteenth planning once organizers finalize sponsorship plans, and circulating permit timelines so event planners can apply on schedule. Staff also said the city will begin recruitment in January for the NLT Community Academy program and will circulate opportunities to serve on a long-range financial sustainability task force.

The commission adjourned after routine reports and scheduling notes.