During Tuesday night’s Bainbridge Island City Council meeting, the Race Equity Task Force moved closer to becoming a standing advisory committee.

The motion directs City Manager Morgan Smith to develop the ordinance. The task force recommended the proposal with the purpose of more directly addressing issues related to racism and race-related bias, according to a presentation by Brenda Fantroy-Johnson, a leader of the task force.

“I just want to emphasize the importance of the work that we are doing,” Fantroy-Johnson said. “The current climate of racial inequality and the terror that people of color are facing every day in our country underscores the need for this work. I would implore the city to continue putting their support and money for the proposals we have formally brought forth.”

The creation of a standing committee would help assist in implementing racial equity-related goals and policies, provide advice and recommendations, assist with policy and code assessments, and create goals, accountability and measurements of progress, according to the presentation.

“This right here gives us the opportunity to put a structure in place that we can address things as they come, that we can buffer our system, and we can create equity right here in our own community,” task force member Susan Wilmot said.

The task force also presented two other proposals pertaining to a “welcoming community sign” and adding work to develop recommendations related to an “Equity Lens,” both of which were passed by the council.

According to the presentation, the purpose of the welcoming sign is to be in accordance with the city’s resolution that states Bainbridge Island is a “welcoming and inclusive city that respects the dignity of all people” and that the community supports “persons of all races, creeds, colors, national origins, sexes, sexual orientation, gender identities, gender expressions, mental abilities and physical abilities.”

The task force initially suggested the idea to the council in April of 2019 and is working with city staff to determine the verbiage and visibility of the sign. Smith has been conducting research of other municipalities that have such signs.

The task force is proposing placing the signs at two popular locations — the downtown ferry area and the Agate Pass Bridge. According to task force documents, suggested text for the Welcoming Community Sign includes the following: “We welcome ALL ethnicities, ALL religions, ALL languages, ALL countries of origin, ALL sexual orientations, ALL genders, ALL abilities, We stand with YOU.”

Pertaining to the “Equity Lens” proposal, the task force believes it can create that by receiving support from the city by reviewing policies, standards, code, committees and more.

Mayor Leslie Schneider supported all the proposals. “I agree with you, this is really, really important work…”

Deputy Mayor Joe Deets also affirmed his stance on inequity and what the city can do to help prevent it, mentioning issues such as affordable housing and internet access. “I think we need a full-frontal assault on the system that produces inequity and city government is in a position to do that.”

The task force also addressed the current activities they have in place, including the city receiving membership within the Government Alliance on Race and Equity and the implementation of its training programs.

“I want to congratulate the city for becoming a member of a network of local state and regional government jurisdictions that are all working to achieve racial equity,” Fantroy-Johnson said.

Fantroy-Johnson also applauded Schneider and the council who showed up at a task force rally Saturday. “It shows that you support the need for this work as the work does not take a day off because racism does not take a day off.”

Fellow task force member James Friday addressed the recent police shooting of African-American Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, who was shot multiple times in the back and has since been paralyzed from the waist down.

“Things don’t seem to be getting better in this country, they seem to be getting worse,” he said. “I think the time is now for Bainbridge Island to set a standard that we will not tolerate these types of behavior on this island from our police force, from our citizens, from anyone.”

“It’s very difficult for me as an African-American male to deal with this on a daily basis and try to come to terms with this,” Friday continued. Some people go home at night, and it doesn’t affect them. It affects me. My biggest word for tonight is now, not later.”