On a 9-2 vote, City Council members approved a resolution that will establish a Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board in Missoula.

The board -- known as JEDI -- will work to make the city and county more inclusive and develop more equitable structures and systems, especially with regard to Black, Indigenous and persons of color.

Backers have been working on this effort since 2021.

Missoula County commissioners approved their own resolution earlier this month.

Several council members and the mayor spoke in favor of the resolution at Monday night’s meeting.

“We are reiterating our collective commitment to each other, and we’re reiterating that all people are valued and welcomed in our community and that everyone should have the opportunity to thrive and that everyone should have the opportunity to have their needs met, be those physical or spiritual or mental or social,” Missoula Mayor Jordan Hess said.

Three task force members will now have 12 months to develop bylaws and a formal recruitment and selection process for prospective board members.