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Home My WebLink About11/1/2006 - STAFF REPORTS - 5.A.I; pp`Msp� iy V N i � jO rtW c'`'F°"`''p CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT DATE: NOVEMBER 1, 2006 NEW BUSINESS SUBJECT: PROPOSED RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PALM SPRINGS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION TO EMBARK ON A "HATE -FREE CITY" CAMPAIGN FROM: David H. Ready, City Manager BY: Public Affairs Department SUMMARY The Palm Springs City Council will consider adopting a Resolution endorsing a "Hate - Free City" campaign that will be spearheaded by the Palm Springs Human Rights Commission, RECOMMENDATION: 1_ Adopt Resolution No. , "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA SUPPORTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROGRAM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A "HATE - FREE CITY" CAMPAIGN, STAFF ANALYSIS: At the January 9, 2006 Palm Springs Human Rights Commission, the Commission voted 5-0-1 to approve a resolution seeking the City Council's endorsement for a "Hate - Free City" campaign. The idea of such a program is to build unity through a campaign to support the proposition that the City of Palm Springs has zero tolerance for bigotry and is dedicated to educating the business community, non-profit organizations, government, religious centers, neighborhood groups, schools and private individuals on how to keep their City free of hate. The Commission's resolution was received and filed by the Council at its March 1, 2006 meeting. "The Mission of the Palm Springs Human Rights Commission is to promote and protect the diversity of our community and to improve human relations through education and ITEM NO. .6' A City Council Staff Report November 1, 2006 — Page 2 Hate Free City Campaign Resolution community awareness. " The Commission hopes to further its mission of education and community awareness with the Hate -Free City Campaign. Statistics from a report by the California Department of Justice indicate that in 2005 Palm Springs had 12 reported hate crime events with 14 victims and 19 known suspects. Presently the Human Rights Commission has a Hate Crimes Task Force that works closely with the Palm Springs Police Department. The Task Force and Police Department have initiated community outreach and the Commission has published a pamphlet entitled "Creating A Hate -Free Community." They also have printed a wallet card that defines what a hate crime is, actions people can take along with explaining how to file a police report and what the Police Department's hate crimes policy is. These wallet cards are available in English and Spanish_ The Hate -Free City project is another step the Human Rights Commission wants Palm Springs to take as a community that accepts and embraces people of all walks of life. If the City Council approves the proposed resolution, the Human Rights Commission's Hate -Free City Project Task Force will form a Community Action Committee ("CAC") with representatives from the business community, charitable organizations, religious groups, the school district, neighborhood organizations and private individuals, along with liaisons from the City Council and Police Department. The CAC will be dedicated to building unity through an educational and membership campaign to support the proposition that the City of Palm Springs has zero tolerance for bigotry. The CAG will reach out to all segments of the community to obtain their pledge to support the purpose of the CAC. Completion of the campaign is based on 60 percent participation by groups, organizations, businesses and individuals identified by the CAC throughout the City. It will be the responsibility of the CAC to develop a system for tracking the progress toward their campaign goal of obtaining 60 percent participation. To participate, people will be asked to sign a pledge that asks them: 1. To give dignity and respect to everyone 2. To help develop a united response to hate behavior 3. To report hate crimes and incidents and encourage others to do so 4. To reach out and support those who are targets of harassment 5. To participate in discrimination prevention programs in the City 15, To speak up when friends and neighbors make bigoted comments 7. To ask questions about other cultures, religions and races to increase knowledge 8. To proudly display the Palm Springs Hate Free City logo decal City Council Staff Report November 1, 2006 — Page 3 Hate Free City Campaign Resolution The pledge is asking people to recognize that respect for individual dignity, achieving equality and opposing hate and bias is a non-negotiable responsibility of all people. When the CAC determines that it has met its goal of at least 60 percent participation, the Human Rights Commission will ask that the City Council then declare Palm Springs a Hate -Free City. Following that action, the Commission is considering having a community -wide Diversity Celebration. The Human Rights Commission has earmarked $2,700 in its budget for this fiscal year to be used as seed money for the Hate -Free City campaign. When people sign the pledge to support the Hate -Free City project, they will be asked for a financial contribution in an amount to be determined by the CAC and Human Rights Commission. For their contribution, they will be given a decal or sticker to display. A portion of the City's seed money will be used to design and print the decals. Proceeds from the sale of the decals could be used for donations to the Safe School Program, hate crime prevention educational materials and costs associated with the Hate -Free City project itself. According to the Human Rights Commission, other California counties, cities and communities that have passed resolutions to become hate free include: Santa Rosa, Guernevilie, Davis, Santa Clara County, and Sonoma County FISCAL IMPACT: Finance Director Review: / 6/�Z� The Human Rights Commission has earmarked $2,700 of its General Fund budget for this project. No additional General Fund money is being requested. d �',��tp, (at Lee HusYeldt, Director of Public Affairs David H. Ready, Cityger Attachments: Resolution No. RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS SUPPORTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROGRAM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A "HATE -FREE CITY" CAMPAIGN. WHEREAS over the years there have been incidents in the City of Palm Springs demonstrating hatred against various individuals and; WHEREAS the City of Palm Springs has aspired to be a welcoming City to all people; regardless of their background and; WHEREAS the City of Palm Spring embraces its diversity and expects those who live, work and visit here to demonstrate acceptance of people of all walks of life. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION I- That it supports the goals and objectives of a Hate -Free City program to build unity through a membership campaign to advance the proposition that the City of Palm Springs has zero tolerance for bigotry and is dedicated to educating the business community, non-profit organizations, government, religious centers, neighborhood groups, schools and individuals about how to keep their City free of hate. SECTION 2. That it supports the involvement of local law enforcement in the efforts to make Palm Springs a Hate -Free City. SECTION 3. That it will declare Palm Springs a Hate -Free City upon presentation to the City Council by the Human Rights Commission that sixty percent (60%) of the community, as defined by the Hate -Free City CAC, has pledged to support the goals of the Hate -Free City Project ADOPTED THIS 1sth day of November, 2006. David H. Ready, City Manager ATTEST: Resolution No. Page 2 James Thompson, City Clerk CERTIFICATION STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss_ CITY OF PALM SPRINGS) I, JAMES THOMPSON, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby certify that Resolution No. 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 , by the following vote. - AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: James Thompson, City Clerk City of Palm Springs, California