Commission emphasizes community input as it begins new year of work
By ALMA CULVERWELL — city@theaggie.org
The Davis Human Relations Commission met on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 6:30 p.m. in Davis City Hall to review its agenda and set goals for the upcoming year. This commission advises the city on matters related to social equity, diversity and inclusion.
A central focus of the meeting was the Sanctuary City workplan. As a Sanctuary City, Davis law enforcement and city officials, in the course of duty, do not take into account if a person is undocumented. Immigration status is a federal issue rather than a local one, so this plan can be applied within Davis city limits, according to the City of Davis website. Davis was first declared a Sanctuary City in 1986, and reaffirmed in 2007 and 2014.
Members voted to form subcommittees dedicated to different aspects of the plan, according to Staff Liaison to the Human Relations Commission Carrie Dyer.
“The [Human Relations Commission] moved to create subcommittees as a first step to do research and outreach to those with lived experiences as well as to local institutions to review current language and policies,” Dyer said.
The subcommittees will explore efforts such as reaffirming and updating the Sanctuary City language, revising informational materials for residents, developing a one-time publication with “know your rights” information and providing education and training opportunities for businesses and city staff. Commissioners also discussed holding a public forum and expanding online resources to increase community awareness.
In addition to the Sanctuary City plan, the commission began outlining its 2025-26 priorities.
“The commission is just beginning their work for the 2025-26 year, and the meeting focused on how to move forward with the council-approved Sanctuary City work and proposed additional work that they would like to focus their efforts on,” Dyer said. “The additional proposals will go to City Council for approval, prior to any work getting started on those.”
While several subcommittees were established in August, members reported no significant updates this month, as much of their work is still in the early stages.
Dyer further explained the role of these subcommittees and how they support the commission.
“At the August meeting, the [Human Relations Commission] determined a number of planning committees,” Dyer said. “Each month there is a standing item for the planning committees or subcommittees to provide a brief update on the work that they have done over the past month. As the committees were just established and many of the events are a ways away, there were no updates to note from last night.”
The commission also began discussions about adjusting its November and December meeting dates, which fall on city closures. Members considered holding one combined meeting or selecting alternative dates.
Looking ahead, Dyer emphasized the importance of community involvement in the commission’s work.
“The [Human Relations Commission] always appreciates community engagement in their meetings,” Dyer said. “As the work for this current year is just beginning, having community input on [our] efforts surrounding Davis as a Sanctuary City would be very appreciated.”
By Alma Culverwell— city@theaggie.org
