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HomeMy WebLinkAbout19670 - RESOLUTIONS - 10/20/1999RESOLUTION NO. 19670 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS ADOPTING A POLICY FOR THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN DIGNITY AND PREVENTION OF HATE CRE%IES WHEREAS, the City Council ("City Council") of the City of Palm Springs ("City") acknowledges that its residents are diverse in their ethnicity, nationality, lifestyles and religious beliefs, which diversity contributes to the City's rich and varied cultured heritage; WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes that each of its residents has a right to be treated with courtesy and respect, regardless of the resident's background; WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes that there is a need to protect and safeguard the rights and opportunities of all persons to be free from all forms of arbitrary discrimination and hate; WHEREAS, the City Council considers acts of hate and discrimination committed against its residents an act against the entire community; WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to establish a policy to protect its residents against any and all hate crimes within its jurisdiction, which hate crimes include any criminal act or attempted criminal act against another which is motivated by the victim's race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender, AIDS/HIV status, physical challenges, religion or religious practices; and WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to commit resources of the City to investigate and apprehend any and all persons who participate in hate crimes. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Palm Springs as follows: Section 1. Recitals. The above recitals are all true and correct. Section 2. Public Policy. The City finds that the establishment of a policy to protect its residents from hate crimes is in the public interest and necessary to safeguard the rights and opportunities of all persons to be free from all forms of arbitrary discrimination and hate. Section 3. Policv Aeainst Hate Crimes, The City wishes to adopt the following zero tolerance policy to protect its residents against hate crimes: 1. Definition. "Hate Crimes" shall have the same meaning as California Penal Code Section 422.6 and shall mean the use of force or threat of force to willfully injure, intimidate, interfere with, oppress, or threaten any other person in the free exercise or 627101W84-000113293408.1 aWrW99 -1- RESOLUTION NO. i -- U t 5 3-� R19670 Page 2 Si .. 1 the United States because of the other person's race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender, or sexual orientation, or because of the perception that a person has one or more of those characteristics. 2. City Action. a. The City resolves to vigorously pursue, through means reasonably available to the City and the City's Police Department, a course of investigation, apprehension of any and all persons who participate in hate crimes. b. The City, through its City Manager or his or her designee, shall recommend to the Riverside County District Attorney's Office the prosecution, conviction and incarceration of any and all persons who participate in hate crimes. C. The City shall take appropriate steps to train all law enforcement personnel as to the investigation of hate crimes and apprehension of all persons who perpetrate or participate in hate crimes. 3. Education. The City resolves to support the efforts of the Human Rights Commission of Palm Springs to educate its residents regarding the nature of hate crimes, efforts to combat hate crimes, and developing a sensitivity toward peoples' race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender, AIDSlHIV status, physical challenges, religion or religious practices. Section 4. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions. ADOPTED this 20th day of October , 1999. AYES: NOES: ABSENT Members Barnes, Hodges, Reller-Spurgin and Mayor Kleindienst None Member Oden ry i."iiy clerk THE CITY OF LIy� SPRINGS i3ty Manager �) REVIEWED AND APPROVED AS TO FORM: City A rn y 627/014084-0001/3293408.1 a10/20/99 _2_ RESOLUTION NO.