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HomeMy WebLinkAbout41- Mayor's CITY OF SAN BERk-ARDINO - REQUEST ' )R COUNCIL ACTION Prom: Tom Minor, Mayor Subject: Suggestion by David Kennedy, City Treasurer, to create a Human Relations Dept: Mayor's Office Commission Date: June 22, 1993 Synopsis of Previous Council action: Recommended motion: That the suggestion made by David Kennedy, City Treasurer, to create a Human Relations Commission be referred to the Mayor's Office for further study. Signature Contact person: Tom Minor, Mayor Phone: 5133 Supporting data attached: Yes Ward: FUNDING REQUIREMENTS: Amount: Source: (Acct. No.) (Acct. Description) Finance: Council Notes: 75-0262 Agenda Item No. 0 HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION PROPOSAL, JUNE 1993 PURPOSE OF THE COMMISSION: 1. To assure that all citizens of San Bernardino are made aware of their rights and responsibilities related to the reduction and eventual elimination of prejudice among people based on race, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability or sexual orientation. 2. To ensure that San Bernardino is a viable, attractive community for individuals, families, businesses and organizations to thrive and prosper, DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION: 1 . To foster mutual understanding and respect among all the diverse community groups. 2. To celebrate diversity within the community by creating an awareness of successful programs and activities. 2. To study problems and causes of prejudice and discrimination and consider solutions. 3. To welcome input and concerns from residents and take action on issues brought to its attention, such as investigating complaints, making referrals, mediating, monitoring responses and publishing its findings. 4. To review pending human rights and civil rights legislation and advise the City Council on how it may affect the community. 5. To work with law enforcement and other agencies to address hate crimes and police/community relations. 6. To sponsor and encourage educational activities that promote harmony. 7. To advise the City Council on matters related to prejudice and discrimination. 8. To develop programs to eliminate prejudice and discrimination in coordination with other agencies and organizations. SUGGESTED FORMAT AND PROCESS COMPOSITION: 1. A'minimum of 9 members who are registered voters in City of San Bernardino, 2. The Commission members MUST be representative and inclusive of minority and protected groups as well as have credibility within the various ethnic groups in the community. 3. Commission members must be committed to the principle of equal opportunity for all people and have the ability to function harmoniously within a heterogeneous group. 4. Suggest that a High School youth representative also be appointed. MEETINGS: We recommend that the Human Relations Commission meet at least monthly in the evenings when the working community is able to attend meetings. public notice of these meetings, dates and times should also be given. COST TO THE CITY: 1 . City employee time to take minutes and send out meeting notices, however,the Commission could appoint a volunteer member to accomplish this task. 2. City Council should consider appointment of a Council and/or staff liaison to work with Committee. BUDGET This proposed budget is based on one full-time dedicated clerical. This staffing is defined as a reasonable starting budget. It is understood that staff within city structure could be reassigned to these duties. This budget is presented as a sample budget to be used as a point of discussion for planning purposes. a4a avr�v� •�� ra • . t ' 4 / Salary, clerical $1 6,188 Benefits (32%) 5,180 Postage 500 Supplies 11500 Telephone 300 Training commissioners 2,000 Travel 400 $26,068 I BACKGROUND INFORMATION STATISTICAL INFORMATION: Ethnic makeup of San Bernardino City based on 1990 census data: White population: 45% African American: 15% Hispanic: 35% Other: 5% Women: 61% BENEFITS • Fewer grievances and problems to council members • Attract businesses and makes San Bernardino more competitive with other large counties and cities to attract new business. • Racial harmony and reduce racial tensions 0 Promotes and supports the intercultural/interracial community 0 Provides a healthy avenue to manage complaints and grievances • Allows for a celebration of diversity • Serves to unify the city in a common set of principles and ethics, HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION FINDINGS The population of the City of San Bernardino is composed of people of various racial, religious and ethnic groups. In this City, the practice of discrimination based on race, sex, age, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, physical disability, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation and/or beliefs and any other category protected by law and the exploitation of prejudice related thereto adversely .affects members of the above 1 groups. Such discriminatory practices are inimical to the public welfare and good order in that they: (1) Impede social and economic progress for the entire citizenry by preventing members of the above groups from achieving full development of their individual potentialities and from contributing fully to the cultural and business life of the community; (2) Constantly frustrate, degrade and embitter members of the above groups, thereby diminishing their initiative and interest in the community; and (3) Tend to create intergroup hostilities and anti-social behavior. The products of discrimination accumulate continuously, with the result that the social, economic and educational gaps between those suffering discrimination and the rest of the community constantly widen. As a result, mere prohibition of present and future discrimination, while essential, will not reduce the inequalities and disadvantages which a history of discrimination has produced. Accordingly, remedial action must be initiated, encouraged, and coordinated, particularly educational programs to bring groups together to close gaps. Experiences of other urban centers throughout the nation have proven the need for the effectiveness of commissions empowered to study community, race and human relations problems, to work with interested citizens to develop programs to ameliorate tensions and reduce cultural, social, and economic disadvantages and to encourage and coordinate implementation os such programs consistent with the needs and rights of members of all groups in the community. 7/a/9-3 Human Relations Commission Page 2 PURPOSE AND INTENT It is the purpose and intent of this Resolution to create a Human Relations Commission for the City of San Bernardino which shall consult with the advise the Mayor, City Council, on the rights of every inhabitant of the City of San Bernardino to equal economic, political and educational opportunity, to equal accommodations in I all business establishments in the City and to equal service and protection by public agencies. The Commission shall give effect to such rights to eliminate prejudice and discrimination because of I race, sex, age, color, ethinicity, religion, national origin, physical disability, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation and/or beliefs and any other category protected by law and shall advise the Mayor, City Council on methods to inform the inhabitants of the City of San Bernardino of developments in human relations. The Commission shall also provide expert advice and assistance to the Mayor, City Council in order that all officers, agencies,commissions, committees, boards, departments and employees of the City of San Bernardino may take ameliorative steps to enhance peace and good order, and provide equal opportunity for and good will toward all people. Further, the Commission may recommend use of mediation and/or conciliation processes to attempt to eliminate alleged unfair or unlawful discriminatory practices as defined herein. SCOPE (a) This Resolution applies to all discriminatory practices and resulting inter-group tensions specifically covered by the provisions of this Resolution occurring within any governmental agency or any other agency under the jurisdiction of the City of San Bernardino and, to the extent permitted by law, to activities outside the City which reasonably affect such practices and tensions within said territorial limits. Nothing in this Resolution, however, shall be interpreted or applied so as to create any power or duty in conflict with the preemptive effect of any federal or state law. Nor shall anything in this Resolution be implemented in a way that overlaps already existing federal or state programs; rather, federal or state programs shall be utilized, or supplemented when necessary, appropriate, and feasible, to give effect to this Resolution. HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION PROPOSAL, JUNE 1993 PURPOSE OF THE COMMISSION: 1 . To assure that all citizens of San Bernardino are made aware of their rights and responsibilities related to the reduction and eventual elimination of prejudice among people based on race, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability or sexual orientation. 2. To ensure that San Bernardino is a viable, attractive community for individuals, families, businesses and organizations to thrive and prosper. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION: 1 . To foster mutual understanding and respect among all the diverse community groups. 2. To celebrate diversity within the community by creating an awareness of successful programs and activities. 2. To study problems and causes of prejudice and discrimination and consider solutions. 3. To welcome input and concerns from residents and take action on issues brought to its attention, such as investigating complaints, making referrals, mediating, monitoring responses and publishing its findings. 4. To review pending human rights and civil rights legislation and advise the City Council on how it may affect the community. 5. To work with law enforcement and other agencies to address hate crimes and police/community relations. 6. To sponsor and encourage educational activities that promote harmony. 7. To advise the City Council on matters related to prejudice and discrimination. 8. To develop programs to eliminate prejudice and discrimination in coordination with other agencies and organizations. SUGGESTED FORMAT AND PROCESS COMPOSITION: 1 . A minimum of 9 members who are registered voters in City of San Bernardino. 2. The Commission members MUST be representative and inclusive of minority and protected groups as well as have credibility within the various ethnic groups in the community. 3. Commission members must be committed to the principle of equal opportunity for all people and have the ability to function harmoniously within a heterogeneous group. 4. Suggest that a High School youth representative also be appointed. MEETINGS: We recommend that the Human Relations Commission meet at least monthly in the evenings when the working community is able to attend meetings. Public notice of these meetings, dates and times should also be given. COST TO THE CITY: 1 . City employee time to take minutes and send out meeting notices, however, the Commission could appoint a volunteer member to accomplish this task. 2. City Council should consider appointment of a Council and/or staff liaison to work with Committee. BUDGET This proposed budget is based on one full-time dedicated clerical. This staffing is defined as a reasonable starting budget. It is understood that staff within city structure could be reassigned to these duties. This budget is presented as a sample budget to be used as a point of discussion for planning purposes. Salary, clerical $16,188 Benefits (32%) 5,180 Postage 500 Supplies 1,500 Telephone 300 Training commissioners 2,000 Travel 400 $26,068 BACKGROUND INFORMATION STATISTICAL INFORMATION: Ethnic makeup of San Bernardino City based on 1990 census data: White population: 45% African American: 15% Hispanic: 35% Other: 5% Women: 61 % BENEFITS • Fewer grievances and problems to council members • Attract businesses and makes San Bernardino more competitive with other large counties and cities to attract new business. • Racial harmony and reduce racial tensions • Promotes and supports the intercultural/interracial community • Provides a healthy avenue to manage complaints and grievances • Allows for a celebration of diversity • Serves to unify the city in a common set of principles and ethics.