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DEI task force asks commission to establish permanent Community DEI advisory group and staff liaison
Summary
Members of the cityDEI task force recommended making the group a permanent community DEI advisory group, adding a staff liaison, creating a multicultural calendar and more outreach; commissioners thanked them and agreed to place the recommendations on a future agenda.
Members of Oregon City's DEI task force presented a set of recommendations May 7 asking the City Commission to change the temporary task force into a permanent Community DEI Advisory Group, provide a staff liaison, and establish a multicultural and heritage calendar paired with community-led events.
Task force chair Darcy Southall and members Heidi Blackwell and Linda Smith described their 14-person panel's work during 2024-25. They said the group met bimonthly, produced a draft calendar and outreach ideas, and faced declining meeting attendance. The group recommended a permanent advisory role to centralize community engagement and reduce barriers to participation.
Specific recommendations included: moving the task force to permanent status as an advisory group; providing a staff liaison to answer operational questions and connect the advisory group with city departments; establishing a multicultural and heritage calendar to coordinate community events with libraries, parks, museums and local businesses; and continuing community outreach and listening sessions.
Commissioners thanked the presenters. Commissioner Scott Wilson said he attended a meeting and praised the group's work; commissioners asked staff to schedule follow-up discussion at a future meeting so the commission could consider formalizing the group's status and support.
Presenters emphasized that the advisory group's work would require modest resources (staff time and some dollars) and said they hoped to reduce reliance on consultants by using a staff liaison. They described the recommendations as a way to strengthen trust, increase resident engagement and help local businesses participate in civic life.
No formal vote was taken; commissioners agreed to return the topic for a future agenda item to consider implementation and any required resources.
