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2022-12-06 Special CC Minutes 500pmSpecial Meeting Alameda City Council December 6, 2022 1 MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY- - DECEMBER 6, 2022- -5:00 P.M. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft convened the meeting at 5:28 p.m. ROLL CALL - Present: Councilmembers Daysog, Herrera Spencer, Knox White, Vella, and Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft – 5. [Note: The meeting was conducted via Zoom.] Absent: None. AGENDA ITEMS (22-748) Listening Session and Partnership Opportunities with Local Indigenous People and Ohlone Tribes. The Recreation and Parks Director made brief introductions. *** (22-749) The City Clerk stated there are two 10 minute presentations. Councilmember Knox White moved approval of allowing 10 minutes for each presentation. Vice Mayor Vella seconded the motion, which carried by the following roll call vote: Councilmembers Daysog: Aye; Herrera Spencer: Aye; Knox White: Aye; Vella: Aye; and Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft: Aye. Ayes: 5. *** Corrina Gould, Confederated Villages of Lisjan, gave a Power Point presentation. *** (22-750) Councilmember Knox White moved approval of allowing an additio nal 5 minutes. Councilmember Daysog seconded the motion, which carried by the following roll call vote: Councilmembers Daysog: Aye; Herrera Spencer: Aye; Knox White: Aye; Vella: Aye; and Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft: Aye. Ayes: 5. *** Ms. Gould completed her presentation. Alan Leventhal, Muwekma Tribe of San Francisco Bay Area, gave a Power Point presentation. *** Special Meeting Alameda City Council December 6, 2022 2 (22-751) Councilmember Knox White moved approval of allowing an additional 5 minutes. Vice Mayor Vella seconded the motion, which carried by the following roll call vote: Councilmembers Daysog: Aye; Herrera Spencer: Aye; Knox White: Aye; Vella: Aye; and Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft: Aye. Ayes: 5. *** Mr. Leventhal completed his presentation. Stated the City is getting ahead of itself and is not qualified to b e making related decisions; expressed concern over money being given to pet projects: Tod Hickman. Expressed support for the presentations; stated there is a moral obligation in recognizing the land being lived and profited from comes from the presented histories; the matter is an opportunity to receive Federal benefits; there is a local responsibility to the people who have stewarded the land: Lacey Hunter, First Congregational Church. Discussed her studies of anthropology relating to native California tribes; expressed support for recognizing the Muwekma Ohlone tribes; stated Café Ohlone will be opening in Berkeley; discussed a suspension of the Confederated Villages of the Lisjan : Carmen Reid, Alameda. Stated the Shuumi Land Tax is an invitation to support the vital work of Indigenous women; the City has recognized that the land was unrightfully taken from Indigenous people and taken by white colonists; the tax payment is the first step in acknowledging injustices; urged Council to continue to pay the land tax: Linda Buchheim, Alameda. Expressed support for the presentations; stated that she wishes the matter could have been a community event: Margaret Hall. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated many recommendations have been provided in the staff report, including an action plan to raise awareness of Native American history in Alameda; the presentation and item are a first step; discussed her attendance at an Alameda County Mayors Conference where Ms. Gould gave a presentation. Councilmember Knox White expressed support for the presentations; stated both presentations highlighted the complex relationship shared by all in relation to the land; he would like the matter to be a continued series going forward; inquired how a City can negotiate a complex relationship amongst multiple groups and organizations that can show a direct lineage and tie to the land, while working in different places with different viewpoints; he believes there is not just one thing the City can do; the City can support Federal recognition and simultaneously work with interested groups to bring a more direct connection to the land in Alameda with the hope that the approaches will come together over time while working through the complex matters. Special Meeting Alameda City Council December 6, 2022 3 Mr. Leventhal stated the Muwekma tribe proceeded in the early 1980s by working as a consortium with other scholars to put together and compile primary documentation that became many feet of documentation for the Bureau of Indian Affairs; stated many documents have been summarized and published; there needs to be a critical review of the historical background; tribe administrators ask the question: how have populations of people benefitted from the enterprises; tribes have entered into partnerships and worked with museums to provide educational displays; formulating educational processes which go above and beyond within the existing resources of school districts and other entities, including higher learning, can provide the kind of information that gives both credibility and strength; Muwekma people from Milpitas have entered into a partnership where Milpitas will fly the Muwekma tribe flag and hold performances; stated Muwekma active and former military service people need to be highlighted and celebrated; discussed an educational water shed center in Sunol and Los Altos and Los Gatos historical museum exhibits; stated small grants and exhibit areas help tell the story of the history in Alameda County, however, there has been no response to provide either since the 1980s. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated the information is surprising; noted people can use their memberships to inform and question organizations. Ms. Gould expressed support for Alameda being the first to pay the Shuumi Land Tax and change a park name; stated the Confederated Villages of Lisjan Nations has done a lot of work with cities; the City of Albany has raised a flag and changed language on signage near its City entry and is the second city to pay Shuumi Land tax; tribes are working to create relationships with different cities; there is work being done to co- create spaces to allow for learning about history and a curriculum throughout the Bay Area; expressed support for a whole curriculum spanning throughout school districts; discussed her experience as a consultant for the Oakland Museum; stated that she is working with the Museum to be join the Board; tribal members are taking participation to heart; members are discussing climate change , its effects on places and engagement knowledge; tribes being recognized by the State of California’s Native American Heritage Commission provides an ability to speak on behalf of ancestral places; tribes have a voice regarding sacred sites, protection, development and general plans; members sit in consultation around general plan changes and have created relationships with cities; consulting with cities is a good way for tribes to be involved; members have sat with cities in dozens of Housing Element plans; education is also very important; the Confederated Villages of Lisjan has provided education for two decades; people are saying names due to the education being provided. Councilmember Daysog stated the staff report included seven partnership opportunities; the most concrete opportunities are points 5 and 6; 5 is creating a local policy regarding how to manage Shellmound remains found during development; 6 is creating an action plan to raise awareness of Native American history and culture in Alameda; there is reference to a requirement in the Alameda Museum contract to develop, expand, and display collections of Indigenous people; the points provide clear guidance on the type of things the City can provide to promote understanding of the history and cultures of Special Meeting Alameda City Council December 6, 2022 4 the area; there is an open-endedness to the other recommendations; he is unsure where the points would take the City and hesitates to offer comment; 5 and 6 are discrete and concrete; Council has received correspondence about the Shuumi Land Tax; he has supported the tax payment contribution and the payment amount is reasonable going forward; there are many things the City can do to support City Hall being responsive to the immediate and past history and people. Councilmember Herrera Spencer stated it is interesting that the Oakland Museum has not had exhibits; the museum does a lot of cultural work; there are issues regarding who determines the legitimacy of tribes; there have been questions on incorrect tribal determinations; she has read research articles from UC Berkeley and Stanford and has not supported the voluntary contribution donation to the Shuumi Land Tax; she will continue not to support the tax payment; expressed support for a determination being made by the Federal government related to the connections to the City of Alameda; many Alameda residents paying taxes have needs; the City regularly declines to help said needs; she is Mexican American; the matter and story are not unique; there are similar stories from other people in the Country; her focus is to try and help all people within the City; expressed support for military service; stated it is important for concerns to be vetted by scholars; Council has received conflicting informatio n and correspondence regarding the Lisjan tribe; expressed support for understanding the true agents and leaders of the tribe. Vice Mayor Vella stated thoughtful prompts were included in the staff report for how the City can continue facilitating discussions and conversations; Council can take the perspective of current and future challenges for local Indigenous peoples; Council can think about how the City can best build relationships; she appreciated the presentation instructing an understanding of others’ collective history and the his tory faced by Indigenous peoples; she appreciates the staff work in getting the City where it is and providing a list of options to pursue; $11,000 per year is something the City can afford and is worth pursuing; she appreciates the inquiry provided by Councilmember Knox White and the responses; expressed support for the list of options and signage; stated signage is critical; people are allowed to be more thoughtful and make connections to be more welcoming to build relationships the more prompts are seen and recognized; she would like the City to come up with a policy relative to shellmounds in working with the Indigenous communities to ensure the City does not continue policies and practices that have been harmful, are not culturally competent and are damaging. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft discussed the unveiling of a monument to Japantown at the Marketplace on Park Street; stated that she also has met with Ruby Bridges to celebrate walk to school day; in her time growing up in Alameda, she never heard the story of Japantown and she only learned about Ruby Bridges in later years; there is so much untold history of the Country; America has a sordid history of invading lands; there are many instances of untold history and history which has been swept under the rug; it is time to bring the history to light and deal with it; the fact that this group is not the only group to have experienced land theft does not make it any less legitimate; discussed the book Do The Work by: Kate Schatz; stated Council is not currently voting Special Meeting Alameda City Council December 6, 2022 5 on a course of action; Council is providing direction; she is looking forward to 2023 and the new City Manager; the current topic should be part of the upcoming Council workshop; expressed support for land acknowledgement an an action plan to raise awareness; stated that she would like to reach out to the school district and supports a Bay Area wide curriculum and policy on managing the Shuumi Land Tax; inquired what the City can do to help with Federal recognition; questioned whether the City passing a resolution would help the process. Ms. Gould responded the Confederated Villages of Lisjan is not seeking Feder al recognition; stated the Muwekma tribe is seeking Federal recognition and is the only tribe that has tried twice and been denied ; cities do not need to see tribes as competing; cities can make relationships with each tribes separately; tribes would not decide to work with one group and not another; the matter is about relationship building; Federal recognition is a ball of wax that the Lisjan have decided not to pursue; people have been sitting on the Federal recognition list for over 50 years; it is not comprehensible for the Lisjan tribe to spend that much time on recognition; the Lisjan tribe decided to work within its territory to bring education, awareness and cultural competency to reengage tribal members in language and land, and to work for all who live within the territory; tribal recognition may occur when members have passed. Mr. Leventhal urged Council to review his entire presentation; stated the Muwekma tribe obtained a formal determination of previous unambiguous Federal recognition in 1996 ; members had been corrected in stating that the Muwekma tribe had never been terminated; only Congress can terminate a tribe; discussed legislation surrounding Indian affairs; stated there is still movement for Federal recognition of the Muwekma Ohlone tribe due to seeking status clarification. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated there is still work to be done ; the presentation is available for review by Council and the public; she would like to provide direction to staff to return with a focus on the action plan to create awareness in the community; she would like a greater community conversation to help inform the kinds of actions Council should take; acknowledgement is an easy action the City can take. Councilmember Knox White stated that he has come to understand the City can move forward with intent in the work being done to show actual change; some organizations develop land acknowledgement without further action being taken; expressed support for Alameda’s land acknowledgement being the beginning of work. Councilmember Knox White moved approval of providing staff direction to return to a public workshop with an engagement and education plan, for staff to come to the priority setting workshop and discuss the issues in relation to where they fall under Coun cil priority. Councilmember Knox White noted the payment of the Shuumi Land Tax is a budget discussion; the matter will be before Council in March. Special Meeting Alameda City Council December 6, 2022 6 Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft expressed support for an in-person, outdoor public forum. Councilmember Daysog seconded the motion. Under discussion, Councilmember Knox White stated the motion includes direction for staff to return to future Council and discuss priorities. Vice Mayor Vella proposed a friendly amendment for the land tax being included as part of the staff report for the budget process; expressed concern over the timing of the action plan versus budget planning. Councilmembers Knox White and Daysog accepted the friendly amendment to the motion. On the call for the question, the motion carried by the following roll call vote: Councilmembers Daysog: Aye; Herrera Spencer: No; Knox White: Aye; Vella: Aye; and Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft: Aye. Ayes: 4. Noes: 1. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft adjourned the meeting at 6:55 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lara Weisiger City Clerk The agenda for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Sunshine Ordinance.