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Council split over DEI advisory committee as city attorney says compliance likely won't block federal grants
Summary
Councilors debated whether to keep McMinnville's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee public or move DEI work in-house amid concerns about federal grant scrutiny. City Attorney David Lightenberg said grant language varies and the city can attest to non-discriminatory compliance.
A contested portion of the council's committee review focused on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee (DEIAC), with councilors sharply divided over whether to retain the committee as a public advisory body or transfer its work inside city staff.
Councilor Chenoweth and others warned that some federal funding programs may apply scrutiny to municipalities with publicly-labeled "DEI" programs and said the city should avoid jeopardizing a potential $26'$27 million Main Street grant for downtown reconstruction. "I'm not willing to risk the need that we desperately have downtown," Councilor Chenoweth said, urging caution about visible committee…
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