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IDEA advisory committee presents first annual report, seeks role in food‑cart and community‑space work
Summary
Tualatin’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) advisory committee presented its first annual report to the City Council, described its mission and priorities and asked to be included in future discussions about food carts, native land acknowledgment and community‑gathering spaces.
The Tualatin IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access) advisory committee presented its first annual report to the City Council on Dec. 9, explaining the group’s founding, mission, initial accomplishments and priorities for the coming two years.
Library Director Jeriann Thompson, who serves as the city’s equity and inclusion officer and co‑liaison to the committee, introduced co‑chairs Chris Paul and BJ Park, who spoke about the committee’s first year. Paul said the committee, which launched in December 2023, now includes about 10 members and has developed a mission and vision, ground rules for meetings and an action plan based on the council vision and the earlier equity planning group’s findings.
Paul said the committee worked with consultant Paradigm Public Affairs during the launch phase and conducted research on Tualatin demographics and the results of the 2023 national community survey to shape priorities. The committee recommended three proclamations for council consideration — Tonga Day, Dystonia Awareness Month and an affordable housing and childcare awareness day — and said it is developing a two‑year action plan organized under three themes: culture and identity, community engagement, and housing and public safety.
Committee members told council one of the priority topics they wish to engage on is food carts and community gathering spaces, which they view as a way to support small businesses and multicultural community events. Park said the committee plans to discuss a native land acknowledgment as an early topic in its second year.
Council members thanked the committee for its work and for the time volunteers contributed. Several councilors praised the committee’s outreach and mission statements and urged continued collaboration with city staff, the Chamber of Commerce and local business groups to broaden participation. Councilors also emphasized that the committee should avoid partisan political messaging and focus on inclusion, access and shared civic goals, remarks co‑chair Park echoed.
Ending: The council received the IDEA advisory committee’s report and invited the committee to return as items of interest arise; committee leaders asked to be included in planning staff and council discussions about food‑cart policy and other community‑space initiatives.
