HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-02-27 Agenda Item 3CGood evening, Mayor deHarte, Mayor pro tem Soto, and Councilmembers Bernstein, Garner, and Ready:
My name is David Vignolo, and I am speaking on Item 3C. Later this evening, you will discuss the Staff
Report and hear from the City Manager and Deputy City Manager about an ordinance amending Chapter
2.45 of the Municipal Code regarding the Human Rights Commission. What you will not see in the draft
Ordinance or in the written Staff Report is any mention of the Community Service Awards program, or the
Human Rights Commission's responsibility for administering this program. If you believe that this program
still has value, I strongly believe the Council should direct that this program be added to the Ordinance as
a specific duty of the Commission to be conducted annually.
Considering last year's challenges with how recipients were selected, in March 2024, the HRC began work
to revise how nominations are solicited, nominees are vetted, and awardees are selected. The Council
should direct staff to work with the Commission to complete its revision of the program's guidelines and
processes and submit them to you for your approval before any further Community Service Awards can be
given out.
The Council itself should then review the processes used for soliciting candidates and for selecting award
recipients because without a rigorous vetting process, the problems of the past could easily become the
problems of the future. As the process stands today, someone could submit Darth Vader for a Community
Service Award simply by writing a glowing statement of why he deserves the award. Because names are
redacted when the Commission reviews submissions, award selection is based solely on the submitted
narrative, without determining the veracity of what has been written on the nomination form. We can do
better, but we need Council's direction and support.
Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of adding this responsibility to the draft ordinance under
consideration before any final adoption.
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