Iowa City creates diversity committee

A new diversity committee will study how Iowa City's transit system and Police Department interact with minorities.

The Ad Hoc Diversity Committee, as it is known, is scheduled to meet periodically for six months before submitting a report to the City Council by March 10.

The committee came out of council member Jim Throgmorton's desire last spring to have the council pass a resolution weighing in on the shooting death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin. A majority of council members did not want to move forward with that, but agreed to the creation of a diversity committee.

The seven members, who were appointed by the City Council and whose terms start Sept. 1, are: Kingsley Botchway, who will serve as chairman; Cindy Roberts, vice chairwoman; Bakhit Bakhit; Joe Dan Coulter; Donna Henry; Orville Townsend Sr.; and Joan Vanden Berg.