TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Steve Powers, City Manager
FROM: Kacey Duncan, Deputy City Manager
SUBJECT:
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Changing the name of the Human Rights and Relations Advisory Commission
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
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ISSUE:
Shall City Council conduct first reading of Ordinance Bill No. 11-18 (Attachment 1), which will change the name of the Human Rights and Relations Advisory Commission to the Human Rights Commission?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Conduct first reading of Ordinance Bill No. 11-18 (Attachment 1), which will change the name of the Human Rights and Relations Advisory Commission to the Human Rights Commission.
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SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND:
Passage of the ordinance will result in changing the name of the Human Rights and Relations Advisory Commission to the Human Rights Commission. On May 17, 2018, the Boards and Commissions Appointments Committee unanimously adopted the recommendation of the Human Rights and Relations Advisory Commission (Commission) to proceed with a name change to change the name of the Commission to the Human Rights Commission.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
The Commission members articulated two purposes for recommending the name change. The first relates to an intention to express accurately the work of the commission to serve the community. Commissioners noted that the proposed name more accurately conveys the work commissioners currently do in direct public service.
The second purpose for the change was to assist with communications goals. The Commission currently has an active Awareness Campaign Task (ACT) Force aimed at spreading the word about the resource of the Commission. Commission members report stumbling over the length of the current name and would appreciate a new name with brevity and accessibility.
The ordinance bill also make two non-substantive changes to update and clarify the text; deleting text related to the timing of filling Commission vacancies when the Commission was created, and substituting neutral language instead of “his or her.”
No change of duties to the commission was requested or suggested; to the contrary, members reaffirmed the role as currently articulated in code.
Commissioners were unanimous in the recommendation.
Should the idea be approved, the Commission intends to update its bylaws accordingly.
Gretchen Bennett
Human Rights and Relations/Federal Compliance Manager
Attachments:
1. Ordinance Bill No. 11-18 (Attached)