Keizer CDEC approves proclamation guidance, will send speaker rules to city council

The Keizer Community Diversity & Equity Committee on Aug. 7 approved a short set of speaker-selection and proclamation presentation guidelines and voted to forward the guidelines to city council for approval.

Committee Chair Tischel read the proposed guidance to members, saying the purpose is to "educate and engage the Keizer community by highlighting individuals, organizations, or causes that hold relevance to our city." The draft instructs speakers to limit presentations to one person and five minutes, have materials ready before presenting and notes a photo opportunity with the mayor after speakers conclude.

Nut graf: Committee members framed the document as informational rather than restrictive, saying the guidelines aim to clarify logistics and expectations for proclamation presenters so audiences can learn from those remarks without limiting the content of people’s lived experiences.

Members who spoke described the guidance as a tool to set expectations and reduce surprise for presenters and staff. Committee member Bullen said the guidance is intended to clarify "This is the expectation. This is what we are hoping to accomplish," adding that the intent is not to censor speakers. Councilor Price praised the discussion as a constructive example of differing views and said the language was straightforward.

Staff and committee members also added a technical request: any presenter who plans to use audio or visual materials should provide those files about 24 hours before the meeting so the city can test connections and avoid last-minute AV failures. City staff suggested an HDMI adapter or advance submission to reduce the chance of technical problems.

The committee made a formal motion to forward the speaker-selection and presentation guidelines to the Keizer City Council for approval; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Members emphasized the guidance should remain encouraging and informative. The document as presented invites speakers to "connect the topic directly to Keizer, offer meaningful ways for residents to get involved, and spotlight local efforts working to create positive change." Committee members asked staff to confirm an accurate Spanish translation before sending the package to council.

Ending: With the vote, the guidelines will be added to the Aug. 18 city council packet for consideration; committee members said they will confirm the Spanish translation and the AV submission timeline before the council presentation.