31st District Democrats Meeting MInutes
Marion Grange, Zoom hybrid meeting
4/26/23, 7-9pm
7pm Sarah E welcomes Zoom attendees and gives a quick run-down of technical status, pre-official meeting, in order to introduce technical details.
- Michelle – Zoom maven, testing from home.
- Brian – Live Zoom manager
- Voting during hybrid meetings:
- Raise hands/voice vote
- Procedural votes will use Zoom polling
- Tamara will take votes by phone, as membership chair
- Kristi tested mic: good to go
7:09pm Sarah E gavelled to order, land acknowledgement
7:11pm Sarah E entertains motion to approve agenda
- Kirby P moves to approve; James J seconds; acclimation: pass
7:13pm Candidates, re: endorsements
Sarah E introduces James Jeyaraj, Auburn City Council incumbent
- James provides brief “state of the city,” adds that his two primary priorities as council member are homelessness and safety. Comments that he’s a fiscal hawk – wants to be mindful of budget use. Solutions are needed to address loss of police employees – moving out despite getting asked-for raises. Police comprise ~⅓ of city budget.
- Kristi asks for clarification on James’ Roe statement: James clarifies that he introduced a resolution at city council to protect Roe in wake of Dobbs’ decision.
- Amber asks a.) plans re: police pay disparity with nearby communities? A: over the coming 5yrs, plans include offering take-home cars to all officers, rather than just seniors as is current. Communication can be a struggle – need more direct and clear to make progress. b.) cuts to social services compounding safety issues? A: yes. One response from city was to initiate Social Services Center – includes food bank, Resource center, VA, SS, DL and other types of assistance in accessing services.
- Fred is not present, his 2019 candidate questionnaire is available online (linked at 31st homepage)
7:27pm Kat Holmes, Field Director of WA Environmental Action (WEA)
- Land acknowledgement
- WEA was “WA Conservation Voter” and “WA Environmental Council”
- Two organizations that were moving toward similar goals, finally merged and made official under new grant
- Work and focus:
- Regardless of political composition of district, important to maintain focus, eg: environmental justice
- Now working with 26 discrete organizations
- Presenting slate of four priorities to legislators (see below)
- 2017 was an important year: 1st ever Senate majority of environmental supporters
- 2023 Priorities
- Invest in climate action
- Invest in salmon habitat
- Planning for a climate friendly future (updates to Growth Management Act)
- Washington Recycling and Packaging (WRAP) Act
- 2023 Tale of the Tape (end of leg session)
- WIN: HB1181 passed; requires reduction of greenhouse gasses/emissions and miles traveled through land use planning (largest counties/cities)
- WIN: Climate Commitment Act Budget; This legislative year’s funding allocates about $1 billion toward forest carbon sequestration and transportation pollution reduction.
- Surprise: 2023 budget includes approx. 10-20% increased funding compared to previous biennial budgets for salmon recovery. (about half a billion)
- Disappointment: WRAP Act did not pass, but proviso was included
- How to help? Take Action!
- Get on the email list
- Follow in social media
- Join digital advocacy group
- Orca month!
Brian comment that he’s grateful for this work
Tamara asks: where do fines and polluters connect? Vehicle registration?
Kat: No. Climate Commitment Act targets big industrial polluters. Growth Management Act is for counties and cities.
Amber asks: What’s the half billion going toward?
Kat: read some of the breakdown data she has, will provide those numbers (from press release) to Sarah E for sharing
Mark B comments and asks: systems analysis of impact is lacking. He is concerned about information re: “impact of precipitous decline in emissions actually making climate worse.” Does WEA take this into account?
Kat: Last 5 yrs WEA looking more at this sort of big picture, and the consideration must be made. Ex: coalition building needed to be done ahead of failed salmon bill, evidenced by farmer impact making it controversial. Must be out ahead of that.
7:58pm Voting and Endorsements
Sarah E entertains motion to approve Feb meeting minutes
- Kirby P so moves; Mark B seconds; approved by acclamation
Sarah E entertains motion to approve March minutes
- Brian so moves; Rudy seconds
- Discussion:
- Brian makes motion to modify language re: Article V, change to: “Article VI, Section6.A.1 Voting and Endorsements”; Kirby seconds; approved by acclamation
- Brian makes motion to amend “member” to “PCOs”; Tamara seconds; approved by acclamation
- Passed by acclamation
Brian moves to endorse James Jeyaraj for reelection to Auburn City Council; Amber seconds
- Discussion:
- Brian speaks to motion, appreciates James’ energy re: representation of those least able to represent themselves, noting that voice was not previously present on the council.
- Amber: appreciates James’ availability and accessibility to constituents
- Passed by acclamation
8:09pm Sarah E
What Have We Done?
- 6 members of the 31st attended the Auburn Clean Sweep
- Formed committee to prep for hybrid meetings, including many hours from Brian, who also acknowledges Michelle, Tamara, Sarah
- Volunteers needed for ZOOM help during future hybrid meetings
- Sarah E and Tamara – met with potential candidates for Sumner Bonney Lake School District school board
Things We Want To Do:
- Recruit candidates for city councils: Edgewood, Bonney Lake (4), Auburn
- Positions still open for 31st Dems: King Co Vice Chair, Outreach Chair, Secretary
- We’re committed to a booth at Plateau Pride, Tehaleh, June 10. Need point person and shift volunteers. (Brian notes that this is a lovely, supportive environment, and a great event.)
8:19pm Committee reports
Michelle Deporter Bratt – Website and communications
- Networking with other local groups on Facebook
- Please spread the word re: newsletter, Facebook, and Twitter presence.
- Michelle has and will make more graphics for special dates, like holidays. Please let her know of dates that need attention, especially related to marginalized communities.
- Rudy – do we have a calendar? Michelle – not yet, not as such.
8:24pm
Amber – PCO Coordinator
- Has the t-shirts! Will distribute. Planning another run for June
- First meeting of the Book Club, 4/30, 6-8pm at Amber’s home: Finding the Mother Tree. Contact Amber for address and further book club info
- PCO training in early June, date TBA in May newsletter
- Tree planting event in Greenwater, 4/29 and 30. See Amber for more details.
8:28pm
Kirby P – PCDCC rep
- 4/13 meeting was productive. All still held on Zoom, easy to attend
- PC Dems looking for donations to fund and volunteers to staff summer booths, including WA State Fair
- Need 180 shifts covered to staff WA State Fair booth
- Have paid $500 deposit (2nd LD?), need another $4600 to fund booth
- Waiting to hear from state Dems re: funding support
- Fundraiser planned for Rainiers game in July
- 31st can/should? Invite PCDCC board to our booths/events
- Several officers had resigned, newly elected positions: Joanne Mitchell – treasurer, Kim Lopez – secretary, Charles Holmes – PCO, Patty – outreach
- May 25th is the endorsements date for 26th publication date
- Keep Pierce Blue event still in the works, date TBD
8:38pm
Mark Dunning – Treasurer
- 8 people recurring donors
- Unexpected expenses have occurred: ZOOM fee, domain name.
- Mark is having a knee replacement mid-May and will need someone else to attend to treasurer duties
8:41pm
Tamara and Mark B – WA Dems reps
- Attending upcoming state meeting, and will vote on budget (include fair expense)
- WA delegate selection plan: low attendance at a prior meeting produced this plan. Percentages for representation appear to be off.
- Committee assignments came late in relationship to legislative session, which hampered advocacy opportunities.
Mark – King Co Dems
- Presentation re: trans rights and nationwide issues – worth watching. Check website at “summary of meeting” for link or inquire.
- Speaking to changes made in Pursuit Law
- Reports made on process re:endorsements from King Co Dems before primaries
8:50pm Tamara motions to adjourn; Amber seconds; unanimous Aye
(Kirby comments that of approx 10 hybrid meetings this month, this was the best
Michelle reports good experience via Zoom)
