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Council pauses consultant-led social equity effort and forms ad-hoc subcommittee to redefine scope
Summary
Following months of public debate and a suspended community committee process, the council voted 5-0 to form a two-member ad hoc subcommittee to recommend a narrower, Millbrae-specific structure, goals and selection process for any future social equity body and to report back to council before August.
The Millbrae City Council on May 13 directed staff to form a two-member council ad hoc subcommittee to define high-level goals and a structure for a possible Social Equity and Cultural Inclusion body and to return with recommendations before the summer recess. The motion passed 5-0.
Background: the city retained EJ Solutions in 2023 to facilitate formation of a 15-member Social Equity and Cultural Inclusion committee after public interest that followed regional events. EJ Solutions recruited members through an application process; the consultantled process initially ran private, non-Brown-Act meetings so applicants could speak freely. After controversy tied to a separate housing matter (La Quinta), and concerns among committee members about public safety and hostility at some hearings, the council suspended the committee's work.
At the May 13 meeting dozens of residents and committee members spoke on both sides. Supporters — including committee members and residents who applied — said the group produced substantive discussion and could identify issues the city does not currently see, including barriers to engagement, language access and neighborhood-specific concerns. Joe Tureci, a resident who applied, told the council: "I ask that you please listen to their compelling stories and direct the committee to resume its important work." Several committee members described respectful internal meetings and community workshops planned before suspension.
Opponents and several other residents said the project was unfocused, that the city had already spent about $125,000 of an allocated $250,000 on consulting and stipends without a public deliverable, and argued the contract and process showed favoritism. Opponents asked for the consultant contract to end and funds to be redirected to infrastructure or social-services programs such as LifeMoves.
Council direction: rather than immediately continuing the original committee or dissolving it entirely, the council voted 5-0 to form a short-term council ad hoc subcommittee of two council members to draft clear, Millbrae-specific goals and a membership/selection process and return with recommendations to the full council before August. The city manager and staff will implement the subcommittee's direction; the council requested the subcommittee to make the body public (Brown Act-compliant), transparent on deliverables and to remove stipends if a new model is adopted.
