Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Advisory Committees topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Tualatin IDEA advisory committee presents first annual report, outlines two‑year action plan
Summary
The city’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) advisory committee presented a first‑year report, described its mission and vision, and outlined priorities including culture & identity, community engagement, and housing and public safety.
TUALATIN, Ore. — The newly established Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA) advisory committee presented its first annual report to the Tualatin City Council on Dec. 9, summarizing its founding work and priorities for the next two years.
Jeriann Thompson, Tualatin library director and the city’s equity and inclusion officer, introduced co‑chairs Chris Paul and BJ Park, who described committee activities since the committee’s first meeting in December 2023. The committee reported it now has 10 members and that staff liaisons councilor Christian Sacco, Betsy Rodriguez‑Rufe and Thompson regularly support its work.
Nut graf: Committee members said their role is advisory only — to research, recommend goals and measurable objectives, review city practices to remove barriers to public participation, and make policy recommendations to the council. The committee presented a mission statement (“engage the community by promoting inclusion, celebrating diversity, pursuing equity, and championing access”) and a vision statement focused on equitable access to opportunities in Tualatin.
Over the past year the committee developed community agreements (ground rules), worked with consultants from Paradigm Public Affairs on strategic planning, reviewed 2023 community survey results and city demographics, and recommended three council proclamations (Tonga Day, Dystonia Awareness Month, and Affordable Housing and Childcare Awareness Day). Committee priorities identified in draft action planning include culture and identity, community engagement, and housing and public safety. The committee also flagged food‑cart zones and a possible native land acknowledgment as topics for future engagement.
Councilors praised the committee’s outreach and tone. Several council members thanked members for volunteer time and encouraged the group to continue collaborating with the Chamber of Commerce and business leaders as appropriate. BJ Park stressed the committee’s intent to remain non‑divisive and focused on improving inclusion without bringing partisan political rhetoric into the committee’s work.
Ending: The committee said it will continue to develop a two‑year action plan with staff and expects to return with recommendations for how the council and city staff can implement measurable steps toward improved inclusion and access.
