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HomeMy WebLinkAbout24792RESOLUTION NO. 24792 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, DECLARING THAT SYSTEMIC RACISM IS A HUMAN RIGHTS AND PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS THAT RESULTS IN DISPARITIES IN FAMILY STABILITY, HEALTH AND MENTAL WELLNESS, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC SAFETY, INCARCERATION AND HOUSING AND REAFFIRMING THE CITY COUNCIL'S COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING JUSTICE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION IN THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS. THE CITY COUNCIL FINDS AND DETERMINES AS FOLLOWS: A. The City Council of the City of Palm Springs ("City Council") acknowledges societal inequities along racial lines that have resulted in vastly different living and social conditions and access to opportunities. B. the compounding effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic disruption have exposed the gross inequities that exist in our society. C. The City Council recognizes that systemic racism resulting from the inherent biases and prejudices within social and political organizations, groups, or institutions continue to create barriers to success for people of color. D. Systemic racism negatively impacts the social determinants of health, such as socioeconomic status, education, neighborhood and physical environment, employment, and social support networks, as well as access to health care. E. The City Council seeks to lead and/or join efforts to reverse the effects of the inequitable policies, processes, and practices of the past, and recognizes that it has a role to play in understanding and communicating the impacts that planning decisions have on low income families, communities of color, and other disadvantaged communities. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The findings and determinations are true and correct and are incorporated by this reference herein as the cause and foundation for the action taken by and through this Resolution. Resolution No. 24792 Page 2 SECTION 2. The City Council stands in solidarity with those working toward a fair and just society, and with those calling for systemic change to eliminate all barriers that reduce opportunity and undermine City residents' shared values and ability to thrive; and the City Council affirms its commitment to meaningfully advance justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion; and the City Council declares its intent to end racial and social disparities, strengthen the way it engages and convenes to protect and expand community voice and power, and work in partnership with others to close the gap of racial injustice and better serve our communities of color, and in so doing, serve all the people of the community. SECTION 3. The City Council hereby asserts that systemic racism is a public health crisis affecting the entire City of Palm Springs, and hereby commits to the following action items to end systemic racism in our community: a) Institute mandatory racial equity training and implicit bias training on an annual basis for the City of Palm Springs' leadership and staff. b) Encourage racial equity training among all residents, community partners, grantees, vendors and contractors. c) Identify clear goals and objectives, including periodic reports to the City Council, to assess progress and capitalize on opportunities to further advance racial equity. SECTION 4. The City Council hereby establishes a Committee for Equity and Social Justice to review and implement the action items identified in Sections 2 and 3 of this Resolution, and to further develop the City's response to advancing social justice throughout the City's activities, and to advise the City Council on policies and practices to advance its resolved intentions. The Ad Hoc Committee shall include two (2) members of the City Council, two (2) members of the Human Rights Commission, and interested residents, community members, or other stakeholders, as appointed by the City Council. Regular reports shall be provided to the City Council on the work of the Ad Hoc Committee and a final set of recommendations shall be prepared within nine (9) months, for future consideration by the City Council. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE PALM SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL THIS 6th DAY OF AUGUST, 2020. David H. Ready, E City Manager AT ST: 7 thony J. City Clerk Resolution No. 24792 Page 3 CERTIFICATION STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE) ss. CITY OF PALM SPRINGS) I, ANTHONY J. MEJIA, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby certify that Resolution No. 24792 is a full, true and correct copy, and was duly adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs on August 6, 2020, by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Garner, Middleton, Woods, Mayor Pro Tern Holstege, and Mayor Kors NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Palm Springs, California, this j1+- day of Se ony�jfiaCji,lerk City of Pallifornia