CODA approves minutes and forwards three heritage-month proclamations; names representative for county park exhibition

The Commission on Diversity Awareness at its April 16 meeting took three formal actions: approval of prior meeting minutes with corrections, a motion to forward three heritage-month proclamations to City Council, and a nomination of a CODA member to serve on the Multicultural County Park exhibition review panel.

Approval of minutes: Commissioners approved the minutes from the March 19, 2025 meeting with corrections. The motion carried by voice vote; Commissioner Riesenberg abstained and the minutes were approved by majority voice vote. The motion to approve was seconded by Commissioner Sanchez. The commission’s clerk will implement the spelling and phrasing corrections noted during discussion.

Proclamations: The commission approved and recommended three proclamations for Council consideration: Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month; Jewish American Heritage Month; and drafting and recommending an Arab American Heritage Month proclamation to be completed and forwarded to Council. Staff said the Jewish proclamation was drafted by city staff using national and local language and that staff would reach out to local stakeholders (for example, Chabad) for input prior to Council. The motion to forward the proclamations to Council carried by voice vote.

Multicultural County Park exhibition representative: Commissioners nominated and approved Commissioner Mandy Hernandez as CODA’s representative to the Multicultural County Park exhibition selection panel with Commissioner Martinez named as the alternate. Chair Kid moved the motion; Commissioner Sanchez seconded it and the motion carried by voice vote.

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 3:04 p.m.

No further formal votes on policy items occurred during the meeting.