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Ellensburg council directs staff to rename DEI commission, orders code revisions
Summary
Council instructed staff to draft ordinance language renaming the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission to the Community Engagement Commission and asked legal and staff to redraft problematic composition and duties language in chapter 1.88; council also debated, but did not approve, reducing membership from nine to seven.
The Ellensburg City Council on a voice vote directed staff to draft ordinance language to rename the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission as the Community Engagement Commission and return the draft for formal readings.
City Manager Heidi Barron opened a continued review of city code chapter 1.88, saying parts of the composition language appeared legally problematic and should be revised by the city attorney. Barron asked council for guidance on the commission’s name, duties and responsibilities so staff could prepare ordinance language for first and second readings.
Multiple councilmembers proposed alternatives tied to the comprehensive plan language, including “Community Engagement Commission” and “Access, Engagement and Belonging.” Councilmember Delano (first referenced in discussion) and others said the change could help de‑escalate public controversy around the commission’s title while preserving duties. Several residents who commented during the public comment period said they favored the community-engagement name but urged the council to ensure the commission actively engages the broader community rather than a narrow constituency.
Council discussed composition and workload. Councilmember Josh proposed a motion to reduce the commission’s membership from nine to seven by attrition; the motion failed for lack of a second after debate about representation, quorum and workload. Staff noted the original expansion to nine seats had been made to broaden representation and to provide capacity for the commission’s active workload.
On duties and responsibilities, council members asked staff to remove repetitive language, clarify the commission’s role on advocacy versus advisory work, and require a work plan with measurable metrics and a progress report. Members suggested that some operational items (such as grant reporting) could be handled via council policy or resolution rather than embedded in the city ordinance.
Barron and staff said they will incorporate the council’s direction and the city attorney’s legal edits and return an ordinance for formal readings. No ordinance was enacted at the meeting; council’s action was direction to staff to prepare draft language for future first and second readings.
The council also discussed grant-reporting expectations and asked that any grant allocations administered by the commission include post‑grant reporting metrics in the commission’s work plan or in accompanying policy.
