Council Communication February 2, 2015, Study Session Discussion of “Culture of Peace” Commission proposal FROM: Dave Kanner, city administrator,
[email protected] SUMMARY The City Council was approached by a group of citizens last fall with a request that the City create a Culture of Peace Commission as a standing City advisory body. Council requested that the matter be scheduled for a study session discussion. Materials provided to the City by supporters of this initiative suggest that the primary responsibilities of the Culture of Peace Commission would be to: “[H]elp Ashland raise its visibility nationally and internationally as a city that has intentionally created a culture of peace. This has implications for the growing international Peace Tourism business. The powers, duties and responsibilities of the commission shall be to make peacebuilding a clear and dynamic force in our city through education and deliberate actions that bring principles of peace to all aspects of community life.” BACKGROUND AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS: A group of citizens representing the Culture of Peace Initiative approached the City Council last October with a request that the City create a Culture of Peace Commission as a standing City advisory body. According materials provided to the Council at that time, “The objective is to bring together a formal Commission whose members are skilled in non-violent communication, compassionate listening, mediation and other peacebuilding disciplines.” Again according to materials provide to the Council, the goals of this initiative are as follows: “Our goal is an Ashland that identifies itself as a culture of peace, both as a commitment to itself and a self-presentation to the world.