Q&A
Concerns about youth representation and potential conflicts of interest
1:40:05
·
3 min
Councilmember Williams raises concerns about the lack of direct youth representation on the CORE commission and potential conflicts of interest for commissioners who are also city employees.
- Williams points out that while there is a representative for youth voices, they are not actually under 25 years old
- She expresses concern about the absence of age demographics on the commission
- Williams questions how government employees on the commission can effectively speak to community needs while also working for the city
- Tigani clarifies that commissioners represent community interests, not their appointing bodies or day jobs, when participating in commission activities
- Tigani explains that commissioners are paid per diem, except for those who are current city staff
Nantasha M. Williams
1:40:05
I'm gonna channel Cherry's Stevens who always says this, which is we always talk about young people, but they're not in the room.
1:40:13
Mhmm.
1:40:13
And I love Drew.
1:40:15
I know him, but he's not under 25.
1:40:17
So I think it's weird when we we say someone represents the voice instead of just getting the voice itself.
1:40:25
In the room.
1:40:27
So nothing against you, Drew.
1:40:29
He's great.
1:40:30
Hi, Drew.
1:40:30
If you're listening, you deserve to be there but I think someone probably under 25 should probably also be in that space because he's not under 25.
1:40:40
But it's like he's in ex I don't know.
1:40:43
Just channeling chair Stevens, who is the chair of our our youth committee.
1:40:48
She always says that.
1:40:49
And this is another case where age demographics are not really seen on the commission kind of strange.
1:41:01
Okay.
1:41:02
So how many potential candidates were vetted for the commissioner role?
1:41:07
Are you able to share that?
1:41:08
Do you know how many have been vetted for for the commissioner role?
Linda Tigani
1:41:12
I don't because I'm not a part of that process.
Nantasha M. Williams
1:41:15
Several commissioners also have current roles in city government.
1:41:20
Does Core foresee any possible conflicts of interest between Core's watchful responsibilities and the commissioners who are actively serving in their government roles.
Linda Tigani
1:41:29
So at this current moment, we are developing our bylaws, which will include our process for recusal for our any commissioner for any subject, and it will apply to any commissioner that is a city staff member regardless of who's appointed them or what their what their city role
Nantasha M. Williams
1:41:47
is.
1:41:49
Right.
1:41:50
And, you know, when Commissioner Sherpa was speaking and and talking about her work versus core.
1:41:56
I really feel like core is supposed to be like the people driven arm.
1:42:01
So I do also find it a bit strange that we have government employees who are a part of this commission and this sort of like voluntary capacity.
1:42:13
I'm not really sure how government actors can speak to community needs as they are also acting on behalf of you know, their 9 to 5 day to day jobs.
1:42:28
Like, I don't really understand that.
Linda Tigani
1:42:31
If it's okay, I'd like to offer a point of clarification.
1:42:34
Commissioner are, of course, appointed by particular appointing bodies, but this is not specifically a reflection of their day job.
1:42:43
When they come to participate in commission activity, whether it is doing outreach with our staff at a block party or at a pub like event or if it's to join in to a community conversation, they're they're representing community, not their point team body, not their 9 to 5 job.
1:43:03
And so in that respect, also, commissioners are paid per diem, and they are offered reimbursements for any expenses related to the commission.
1:43:13
The only people who are not paid per DMR commissioners that are currently city staff, all other commissioners are afforded that financial reimbursement for their
Nantasha M. Williams
1:43:23
time.