DEI commission appoints committee to review Community Ambassador applications

The Mountlake Terrace Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission voted to form a committee to review Community Ambassador applications and recommend finalists to the full commission.

Carolyn, a staff member, presented options for handling applications and asked whether the commission wanted to review all applications together at the next meeting or form a smaller committee to do the initial screening. Commissioners voted to form a committee to conduct the review and interviews and to return a recommendation to the commission.

Commissioner Priya self-nominated for the committee and another commissioner (identified during the meeting as Keo/Keofria) agreed to serve. The transcript includes language naming commissioners Francisco, Maple and Pierce among those the full commission expected would be involved in review; staff said it would circulate materials and selection criteria and set interview dates with the committee.

Commissioners discussed whether interviews should occur in a public meeting (which could create quorum/conflict issues) or privately with the committee; multiple speakers preferred that the committee handle interviews to preserve applicant privacy and to allow committee members to do deeper review. Carolyn said she would circulate proposed questions and logistical options and support the committee with scheduling and background materials.

A motion to form the committee passed with an affirmative voice vote. The commission did not record individual roll-call votes in the transcript for the motion.