Albany Human Relations Commission presents 2025–27 work plan; council OKs outreach, declines proclamations

Allison Dean, chair of the Human Relations Commission, and Kim Ladain, the commission’s staff liaison, presented the commission’s proposed 2025–27 work plan to the Albany City Council during the meeting’s agenda item on the commission’s packet (pages 2–8).

The work plan groups goals into three priorities: build trust and visibility in the community; advance inclusive government; and center and amplify marginalized voices. Dean said the commission developed the plan over three work sessions with staff and seeks council direction on which action items to begin. "What it is that we need from you as a council is what action items you want us to begin with based on the plan in front of you," Dean said.

The commission proposed several near-term actions: participate in three community events per year (with council members suggesting the commission may be able to do more), expand the city-hosted online presence beginning in June and run quarterly "topic tea" events at the Riverfront Community Center to convene civil conversations. The commission also proposed forming community focus groups beginning in June and exploring a youth advisory council to bring more youth voice into city planning.

Kim Ladain told the council that some names in the packet (for example, staff assignments) reflect positions held prior to a resignation and will be updated at an upcoming meeting. The packet also requests $500 per year to support tabling and outreach supplies; during council discussion some members suggested $1,000 would be preferable if budget capacity allows.

Councilors voiced general support for the outreach-focused items. Councilor Smith and others praised the work plan as concrete and realistic; one councilor said the document represents "the most direction the commission has ever had." The council explicitly declined to move forward with proclamations as part of the work plan. "So we're moving forward with all the items except for proclamations," a councilor said during the discussion.

Dean said the commission expects to report back each May with progress on the plan and to use the report to adjust scope based on volunteer capacity. The commission also noted it is one member short and intends to use community outreach and focus groups both to recruit and to ensure diverse representation on advisory groups.

The council did not take a formal vote on the work plan at the meeting; staff and commissioners said they will return with any requested revisions and with updated staff assignments.