READY Program Update (Respect, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion)
At a glance
Based on auto-generated captions; names, numbers and details may be misheard.
- What: The city's READY (respect, equity, diversity, inclusion) workforce program, which includes the "Shared Respect, Strong Culture" training, survey indicators and community events.
- Where it stands: informational update to the Finance, Administration, and Communications committee on 2026-10-13; no action requested.
- Next: directors' training in November; evening sessions for police and fire later in the fall.
Update
- Theresa Lee (program administrator): 17 training sessions held as of September 28; about 66% of the workforce participated or registered; directors' training moved from September to November for facilitator availability; survey results largely unchanged (strengths in staff connection and workplace safety, gaps in leadership accountability and follow-through).
- Welcoming Week event with community organizations and the mayor (about 27 attendees), a two-day racial equity workshop for staff, and a film screening on October 20 during United Against Hate Week (October 18 to 24).
Councilmember questions
- Soni asked why operational departments such as fire have lower participation and whether the planned department restructure will affect it; Lee pointed to shift schedules and evening sessions.
- Nuevacamina noted the 9% fire rate against a 64% average, asked whether the city is Welcoming City certified (it is not; Lee is exploring it) and why leadership training comes last. Zack Hovenier said it was a scheduling decision with the facilitators.
Sources
Discussion time
About 7 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).
| Meeting | Minutes |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-13 - Committee of the Whole | 7 |
Log
- 2026-10-13 - Committee of the Whole — Informational update; participation by department, KPI results and upcoming events; questions on low fire participation and late directors' training.