December 17, 2024
Human Resources
DATE: December 17, 2024
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Nickie Mastay, Deputy City Manager – Internal Services
Sharrone Taylor, Human Resources Director
Trina Jackson-Lincoln, Project Coordinator
Subject:
Allocate $48,325 for the Race Forward Equity Training
Contract and four CPS Human Resources Consulting DEI
training courses held in Oct. 2024
FINANCIAL IMPACT: $48,325 must be appropriated from the General Fund to Human Resources Professional Services (0118106-
400206)
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
April 2, 2024 – City Council approved a two-year contract not to exceed $55,000 with Race Forward to facilitate a Race Equity Training Series for a term beginning April
2024 through December 2026.
October 22, 2024 City Council presentation.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
City Council’s approval is required to appropriate funding from the General Fund to pay for Race Equity Initiative training.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROPRIATE $48,325 for Race Equity training courses
and DIRECT staff to return to City Council with a update of the Race Equity Program by March 2025 - Human
Resources Department/City Council Administration
(Sharrone Taylor/Trina Jackson Lincoln 510-620-6581).
AGENDA
REPORT
December 17, 2024
DISCUSSION:
FUNDING APPROPRIATION
At the April 2, 2024, City Council meeting, the Richmond City Council adopted a two-year contract with Race Forward not to exceed $55,000 to facilitate a Race Equity Training Series for city employees, members of Boards and Commissions , and community partners. The four eight-hour training courses include:
Advancing Race Equity: The role of government (January 30, 2025) Using a Race Equity Toolkit (March 6, 2025)
Leading for Race Equity (March 7, 2025)
Cross-sector Organizing (TBD b/w July-September 2025)
In addition, three two-hour Diversity Equity and Inclusion courses were held in October 2025 for management and front-line staff at the cost of $8,325.
Why Diversity Matters for Staff (October 8, 2024)
Why Diversity Matters for Leaders (October 16, 2024)
Implicit Bias (October 22, 2024)
Funding in the amount of $55,000 was allocated to the 2023-2024 FY for the Race Equity Training Series, however, the unspent funds were not carried forward to the current FY 2024-2025 budget. Therefore, staff are requesting the balance of $48,325 be appropriated from the General Fund to cover the cost of the training delineated above.
ACTION ITEMS
City Council voted on October 22, 2024, to receive an update on the Race Equity Action Plan and ensure they are given the opportunity to provide direction to staff . The action items identified/prioritized include:
Establish criteria for liaisons/team members.
Develop an orientation and training program for Race Equity Plan Liaisons so they understand our objectives.
Increase the frequency of our meetings.
Create Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
Align deliverables with a clear timeline.
Hire a consultant and/or dedicated staff person to oversee the Race Equity Initiative Implementation
December 17, 2024
Recommend revisions to the Race Equity Action Plan.
Simplify the goals to make them reader-friendly in collaboration with the community.
Create action plans for each goal for the next five years.
CURRENT PROGRESS AND NEXT STEPS
Human Resources staff have been diligently working to meet the set goals for implementing the initiative. They have collaborated with City Council administrative staff and County representatives to create the implementation plan's f ramework. In addition, they have engaged a consultant from Peer Advocates Consulting Agency to provide expertise and guidance for this project.
On December 11, 2024 , staff met with the Management Leadership Team to introduce the framework of the Race Equity Plan, which will include:
Preparing departmental Race Equity Statements
Identifying personnel that will represent their respective departments for task forces designed to establish the Race Equity Initiative Monthly meetings
Providing specialized training to the task force members to prepare them to be change agents in their departments and the organization as a whole.
In addition, staff will return to the City Council at mid-year to request funding for the Peer Advocates consultant to maintain the mom entum of the implementation and ensure continuity.
Vice Mayor Claudia Jimenez and Council Member Melvin Willis strongly support this initiative to expand the City’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – April 2, 2024, City Council Meeting Minutes Attachment 2- October 22, 2024 City Council Meeting Minutes