HomeMy WebLinkAboutDRC proposalDispute Resolution Center of Yakima and Kittitas Counties
Proposal to Yakima City Council, Public Safety Committee
Convene community conversations to gather input on Yakima City resolution regarding Sanctuary
City/Welcoming City status
• The Dispute Resolution Center of Yakima and Kittitas Counties (DRC) has been in existence
serving the conflict resolution needs of area residents, businesses and agencies since 1993.
Primarily this work is in the areas of mediation, facilitation and training.
• The DRC would like to propose a process to gather community input on an issue that has
inspired considerable passion and energy on the part of many city residents, that of the city
council passing a resolution on Yakima being a Sanctuary City/Welcoming City.
• We envision using a small group conversation model where DRC facilitators would guide tables
of 6-8 community residents in having conversation on the topic.
• These table conversations would use a circle process which includes each participant reflecting
on 3-4 questions and then sharing their perspective and thoughts. Each table would then
identify common themes and suggestions and record those to share with the assembled group.
During the sharing time a representative from each table would share those common themes.
• The facilitated meetings (possibly, one per voting district) would give everyone equal voice to
share their perspective. There would not be a centralized focus for comments, the presence of
which may promote those with the most strident viewpoints dominating the input.
• The Dispute Resolution Center would utilize DRC mediators and, potentially, other trained
facilitators in the community, to convene these meetings and guide the input process.
• We envision the meetings being held in public settings in the evening in each of the seven City
of Yakima voting Districts over the course of three to four weeks. Participants at each of these
meetings would generate common themes and ideas.
• A follow up city wide meeting would take place to integrate the input from the initial meetings
into one document to then share with the city council at a follow up meeting. This meeting
might also include a facilitated circle process (with circles of people smaller than 50 in each
group) so that everyone's input on the final document could be gathered.
• The final report would then be presented to the city council at one of their regularly scheduled
meetings.
The DRC is eager to assist in this manner if the city council determines it would be helpful. In order
for the DRC to undertake this effort, it would need to have funding to make it possible. The
anticipated costs for the DRC's Facilitation Services are outlined below. Possible other costs are
noted as well.
• Planning & report writing cost to conduct the meetings, $100 per hour. Capped at 8 hours.
Comparison of Circle Process and Facilitated Conversation
Circle Process
Positive Aspects:
1. Helps insure that everyone has a chance to speak their piece.
2. Interruptions kept to a minimum.
3. Listening enhanced.
4. Because you slow down, things move forward relatively quickly.
5. No cross talk limits defensiveness.
6. Circle process is designed to build/strengthen community by building
relationships among those present.
Limiting Factors.
1. Since facilitator doesn't provide feedback in middle of each round, he/she doesn't
have opportunity to reframe hurtful statements or those that cause defensiveness.
2. Process allows folks who don't want to say anything to remain quiet.
3. Once started, it is hard to break off process partway through. (need 2-3 hour
commitment to complete at a minimum.)
Facilitated Conversation (actively using mediation feedback skills)
Positive Aspects:
1. Feedback from facilitator helps insure that people feel heard.
2. Facilitator can use reframing, paraphrasing and interest identification to move
process toward the positive at multiple steps along the way.
3. Encourages participation even from those who are reticent to speak. Facilitator
can draw people out.
Limiting Factors.
1. Depending on trust level, participants can feel as though facilitator is twisting
their words when he/she reframes or paraphrases.
2. Because of active intervention of facilitator throughout, this process can demand
that the facilitator have a high level of mediation skills.
Sarah Augustine, Executive Director,
director@drcyakima,org
Felicia Staub, Mediator Coordinator/Trainer
coordinator@drcyakima.org
Susan Bailey, Office Manager/Executive Assistant
admin@drcyakima.org
Lucy Urbina, Intake Specialist, Victim Offender Meeting
Coordinator
lucy@drcyakima.org
Staci Verbrugge, Foreclosure Case Manager
foreclosurecm@drcyakima.org
Evelyn Heflen, Kittitas County Outreach/VOM
Coordinator
Lowell Murphree, Mediation Services for Seniors
Coordinator
Mediation
gives people the chance to
talk and solve their
problems.
Mediation is confidential.
Board of Directors
Deneille Beaulaurier - Abeyta-Nelson Injury Law
'Salie Cockrill - Volunteer Mediation Trainer & Facilitator
DJ Henn - Realtor
Puneet Kakkar - Memorial Cornerstone Medicine, physician
Dary Reed - Performance Consultant
Ernily Ring - Inklings Bookshop
Lani-Kai Swanhart - Retired Lawyer & Court Commissioner
Tony Swartz - Attorney
Lorinta Umtuch - Retired Tribal Judge
Scott Wilson - Southeast Washington Aging and Long Term
Care
Dispute
Resolution Center
Serving Yakima and Kittitas Counties
Since 1994
(509) 453-8949, Yakima
(509) 925-5123, Ellensburg
303 East D Street, Suite 4 Yakima, WA 98901
email: info@drcyakima.org
website: drcyakima.org
Timeframe to
agreement on issues
Two to three
months
One to two years
Tone
Cooperative,
constructive, fair
Adversarial,
antagonistic,
divisive
Decision -makers
You and the other
party
Court system
Likelihood of litigation
Iessthan 5%)
High (about 40-
50%)
Confidential
Subject to public
disclosure
From Martindale -Nola Research
Mediation is a positive alternative to
court and is very successful most of
the time. Have a voice in the decision
and resolve your dispute privately
and quickly.
Use mediation!
Contact us today!
of Yakima and
Kittitas Counties
Since 1994
"People create resolution to
conflicts with our help."
Dispu
RESOLUTION Center
of Yakima and Kittitas Counties
Mission and Vision
The DRC of Yakima and Kittitas Counties
provides services and training for people to
solve disputes peacefully themselves.
Our goal is building strong, compassionate,
peaceful, families, businesses, and
communities.
What is mediation?
Mediation is a voluntary, confidential
process through which people involved in a
conflict can sit down with a neutral third
party to resolve their differences.
Our mediators are professionally trained
and certified. They listen to both parties
and work with them to create a list of topics
to be negotiated.
With the guidance of the mediators, the
parties negotiate and discuss the issues and
create an agreement that is acceptable to
those involved in the dispute.
Things to know about mediation
• All parties must voluntarily agree to
participate in the conflict resolution
process.
• Mediation is confidential.
• All services are available in English or
Spanish.
Mediation Services
The Dispute Resolution Center of Yakima and Kittitas Counties (DRC) offers a safe, neutral space where
parties can find common ground and resolution to their conflicts. The DRC provides our community with a
constructive alternative to litigation and going to court. Mediation services are available for a variety of
circumstances including:
Family Mediation Work
Divorce or Separation Issues; Parenting Plans
Parent/Youth Conflicts
Elder Care Plans including estates, guardianships and medical treatment arrangements
Professional Services for Businesses and Organizations
Did you know that unresolved conflict represents the largest reducible cost in many businesses?'
It pays to develop better communication skills and conflict resolution abilities for a more productive and
profitable workplace. We offer businesses and organizations the training, facilitation and mediation services
that improve communication, negotiation and listening skills. We also offer a variety of programs that can
be tailored to your specific needs.
Mediation Services for Seniors
Helping seniors, their families and care providers
resolve conflicts such as: sibling disagreements; selling
the family home; extended family living arrangements;
disagreements between care providers and family;
guardianships; trust and estate matters.
Small Claims
Settle small claims cases before trial.
Additional Mediation Services
Consumer/Business Disputes
Landlord/Tenant Disputes
Personal Loans
Auto Accidents
Property Disputes
Neighborhood Disputes
Vieth Offender Meeting Program - by referral only.
Learn the background of the youth's offense; answer
the victim's questions; discuss the impact of the crime;
acknowledge the harm; increase community safety. VOM services provided at no charge.
Foreclosure Mediation - by referral only.
This is a process where a neutral third party (the "mediator") helps the homeowner and the lender (the
"beneficiary") openly communicate and reach a fair, voluntary, and negotiated agreement whenever
possible.
FEES: How much does it cost for our services?
Intake Fee:
$25 for each party (The fee is charged for General,
Family, and Trust & Estate Mediations, The fee must be
paid by the initiating party before the DRC contacts the
other party and paid by the other party before mediation
is scheduled.)
General Mediation Fees:
$50 per party
Family Mediations:
$125 per party (Applications are available for hardship
assistance, The fee scale begins at $25 per party.)
Trusts & Estates:
Generally, $125 per hour
Custom Facilitation, Training & Workshops:
Fees start at $200 per hour
No one is denied service based on inability to pay.
Call the DRC for more information at
509-453-8949
`Dana, Daniel (1999), Meosuring the Financial Cost of Organizational Conflict, MTI Publications; Slaikeu, K. and Hasson, R (1998), Controlling the Cost of Conflict, .iossey-Bass Publication
Please call or e
1
e DRC to discuss how we can help resolve conflicts in your family, business or organization.
303 East "D" Street, Suite 4
Yakima, WA 98901
D
info@dreyakima.org
www.drcyakima.org
(509) 453-8949
fax (509) 453-0910
Kittitas (509) 925-5123
Dispute RESOLUTION Center
of Yakima and Kittitas Counties
STEPS TO RESOLVE A CONFLICT
I. Think of a constructive way
to deal with the situation
before you speak.
2. Both people need to agree to
ground rules:
• No iniemrpting DisputeRESOLUTION Center
• No name calling or put downs
• Speak for yourself, not for the other person
3. One person tells her/his view of the situation using I -messages.
4. Second person restates what the problem is for the first person
(steps 3 and 4 are repeated with the second person telling his/her
view, and -.he first person restating.)
5. Both people suggest and list possible solutions.
6. Both agree on a resolution by choosing from list in step #5.
7. How did it go? What might work better next time?
-...M11=0a11M.111•113•SW
o: Yakima and Kmnas Counties
VMOSIM
AN "I" MESSAGE HAS FOUR PARTS:
"I feel " (state the feeling)
"when you " (describe the other person's behavior)
"because " (describe the results of the other person's behavior)
"and I want " (state what would correct the situation for you)
WAYS TO ACTIVELY LISTEN
I. Clarify - get more information, ask questions.
2. Restate - Say in your own words what you heard the other person say,
including their feelings
3. Encouraging - using neutral or non -threatening words to help another
person say more about the situation and how they feel.
CONFLICT NOT SOLVED? CALL THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
CENTER OF YAKIMA AND KTITITAS COUNTIES Yakima
(509) 453-8949 Ellensburg (509) 925-5123 or 1 (800) 853-8949