HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 6033CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON
ORDINANCE NO. 6033
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, REPEALING AND
REPLACING CHAPTER 2-7 OF THE RENTON MUNICIPAL CODE, ESTABLISHING THE
RENTON EQUITY COMMISSION, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, AND
ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS the City of Renton established an Advisory Commission on Diversity to address
general practices of discrimination; and
WHEREAS, it has been determined that the Advisory Commission on Diversity does not
meet the full needs for equity and inclusion in the City; and
WHEREAS, the City has undertaken a year -long effort to identify how to improve equity
and inclusion in a meaningful and on -going way including holding 11 meetings with community
members reflecting the diversity of Renton to seek their input; and
WHEREAS, the City proposes the formation of an Equity Commission to address the full
needs of equity and inclusion in alignment with the Renton Mission and Business Plan;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, DO
ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I. All portions of the Renton Municipal Code in this ordinance not shown in
strikethrough and underline edits remain in effect and unchanged.
SECTION II. Chapter 2-7 of the Renton Municipal Code is repealed in its entirety and
replaced as shown on Exhibit A, attached hereto and incorporated by this reference.
SECTION III. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or work of this
ordinance should be held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court or competent jurisdiction,
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ORDINANCE NO. 6033
such invalidity or unconstitutionality thereof shall not affect the constitutionality of any other
section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or word of this ordinance.
SECTION IV. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect thirty (30) days after
publication of a summary of this ordinance in the City's official newspaper. The summary shall
consist of this ordinance's title.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 1st day of November, 2021.
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Ja n A. Se , City Clerk
APPROVED BY THE MAYOR this 1st day of November, 2021.
Approved as to form:
Shane Moloney, City Attorney
Date of Publication: 11/4/2021 (Summary)
ORD:2179:10/11/21
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ORDINANCE NO. 6033
EXHIBIT A
RENTON MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 2-7
ORDINANCE NO. 6033
CHAPTER 7
RENTON EQUITY COMMISSION
SECTION:
2-7-1: Declaration of Policy
2-7-2: Creation of Renton Equity Commission
2-7-3: Duties and Powers Of Commission
2-7-4: Appointment and Members
2-7-5 Compensation
2-7-6 Selection Process
2-7-7: Appointment of Subcommittees
2-7-8: Investigations, Public Hearings, And Research
2-7-9: Procedure, Meetings, And Interpretation
2-7-10: City Council Review
2-7-1 DECLARATION OF POLICY:
The City Council herewith finds that all forms of prejudice and the general practice of
discrimination against any individual, group, or organization by reason of race, color, creed,
national origin, age, sex, gender identity and expression, the presence of any sensory, mental or
Physical disability, or marital status have a detrimental effect on the public welfare and well-
being. To eliminate such preiudice and discrimination an instrumentality should be established
through which the employees and officials of the City may obtain advice and assistance using the
Renton Equity Lens to identify and address inequities in order to eliminate racial, economic, and
social barriers identified in City programs, services and policies.
The City Council further finds that it would be in the interests of all citizens of the City of Renton
to include in its Mission and Business Plan the importance of building an inclusive, informed, and
hate -free city with equitable outcomes for all in support of social, economic, and racial justice.
Whenever a word is used herein, the definition given to that word shall be that of RCW 49.60.040
(Definitions) which is incorporated herein as if fully set forth.
ORDINANCE NO. 6033
2-7-2 CREATION OF RENTON EQUITY COMMISSION:
There is hereby created the Renton Equity Commission in furtherance of the goals identified in
the Declaration of Policy.
2-7-3 DUTIES AND POWERS OF COMMISSION:
Duties and powers of the Renton Equity Commission are intended to advance equity and
inclusion in support of the City's goal to build an inclusive, informed, and hate -free city with
equitable outcomes for all in support of social, economic, and racial justice. The Renton Equity
Commission shall have the power and duty to:
A. At request of City staff or officials, review City practices, policies, or procedures under
their authority to provide recommendations to the requestor. .
B. Renton Equity Commission recommendations will be based on analysis of how or whether
the practice, policy, or procedure may tend to create or support inequity including what
community or communities may be impacted, and how those impacts may emerge.
C. Renton Equity Commission recommendations will, to the extent possible, provide specific
actions to resolve the identified inequities.
D. The Renton Equity Commission will provide an annual report to the Council on goals
outcomes, and recommendations for future goals to be included in the report described in
Section 2-7-10 (City Council Review).The Commission will provide an annual report to the Council
on goals, outcomes, and recommendations for future goals, to be included in the report
described in Section 2-7-10 (City Council Review).
ORDINANCE NO. 6033
E. Within the first six (6) months of formation, the Renton Equity Commission shall develop
a Mission, Vision, and By -Laws including elections of officers as needed to further manage its
operations according to the terms of this Chapter.
2-7-4 APPOINTMENT, TERM, AND MEMBERSHIP:
The Renton Equity Commission will consist of nine (9) members appointed by the Mayor, and
confirmed by City Council as follows:
A. At the time of initial appointment, three (3) members shall be appointed for one (1) year;
three (3) members hall be appointed for two (2) years; three (3) members shall be appointed for
three (3) years. At the expiration of the initial term, three (3) members shall be appointed each
year for three (3)-year terms.
B. Terms shall be from January 1 of the appointment year, through December 31 of the term
expiration year.
C. Membership should reflect the diversity of the City including but not limited to ethnicity,
race, age, gender, faith, gender identity and expression, and profession. Due to the size of the
Renton Equity Commission, it is understood that it is possible that not every group may be
represented.
D. Members shall, from the time of their appointment and confirmation through their term,
be a resident of, or business owner in, the City of Renton and able to attend meetings as
necessary. If they no longer reside or have a business in Renton, they forfeit their membership in
the Renton Equity Commission as of the date of their move.
E. Applicants for appointment shall have a demonstrated commitment to equity.
ORDINANCE NO. 6033
F. At least one member shall be a "youth" member between the ages of eighteen (18) and
twenty-five (25) at the time the member is confirmed in their appointment.
G. No sitting CitV Council member shall be a member of the Renton Equity Commission; if a
Renton Equity Commission member is elected or appointed to City Council, they shall forfeit their
membership on the Renton Equity Commission effective at the date of their swearing -in as a City
Council member. Nothing in this section is intended to discourage former City Council members
from applying for appointment so long as they meet other appointment requirements.
H. No current City employee or consultant shall be a member of the Renton Equity
Commission; if a Renton Equity Commission member becomes employed or contracted by the
City, they shall forfeit their membership on the Renton Equity Commission effective on their first
day of employment or contract with the City. Nothing in the section is intended to discourage
former City employees or consultants from applying for appointment so long as they meet other
appointment requirements.
1_ A_maiority of the members appointed and confirmed shall constitute a quorum for the
purpose of conducting the business of the Renton Equity Commission.
2-7-5 COMPENSATION:
In alignment with other City boards/commissions/committees, there will be no compensation for
serving on the Renton EquitV Commission
2-7-6 APPOINTMENT PROCESS:
The Mayor shall develop and post a procedure bV which interested Renton residents or business
owners may apply for membership on the Renton EquitV Commission. The procedure shall
include, at a minimum:
ORDINANCE NO. 6033
A. Public notice calling for applicants; and
B. Provision for interview protocols for all applicants.
2-7-7 APPOINTMENT OF SUBCOMMITTEES:
A majority of the members of the Renton Equity Commission may name such subcommittee or
subcommittees, as in its iudgment, will aid in effectuating the purpose of this Chapter and may
empower any such subcommittee to review policies, practices, and procedures and advise the
full Renton Equity Commission regarding its findings on equity issues for the Renton Equity
Commission to take action within the purview of this Chapter.
2-7-9 PROCEDURE AND MEETINGS:
The provisions of this Chapter shall be construed for the accomplishment of the purposes set
forth in this Chapter. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to amend, repeal, or modify any
of the provisions of any civil rights law or any other law of the federal or state government, or
any other provisions of this Code relating to discrimination because of race, color, creed, national
origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or
marital status as defined in this Chapter.
A. Renton Equity Commission members will receive training on how to use the Renton Equity
Lens, and for compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act and the Public Records Act within
ninety (90) days of their appointment on confirmation, and every two (2) years thereafter.
B. A City staff person will be assigned as part of their regular duties to provide administrative
support to the Renton Equity Commission.
1. Administrative support will include but not be limited to retaining records as required
under RCW 42.56 (Public Records Act), ensuring compliance with RCW 42.30 (Open Public
ORDINANCE NO. 6033
Meetings Act), and providing coordination as needed with other City staff to provide policies,
procedures, practices to the Renton Equity Commission and to facilitate presentations on
materials to the Renton Equity Commission.
2. The staff person will ensure that City Subject Matter Experts are available to brief
Commission members on items pertinent to the practice, policy, or procedure under review.
3. The staff person will also prepare recommendations of the Renton Equitv Commission
for presentation to City staff and/or elected officials.
C. Members may, from time to time, participate in "town hall" or similar meetings open to
the public, in order to help analyze and provide recommendations on policy, procedures, and
practices. Any such meetings will be reviewed for compliance with applicable public
transparency and records retention requirements.
D. The Renton Equity Commission may request information as needed from other
community groups including, but not limited to, the Mayor's Inclusion Task force, Latino Forum,
Vietnamese/Chinese Forum, African American Pastoral Group, Renton Police Advisory
Committee, etc.
E. Members who have more than three (3) unexcused absences may be removed by action
of the Mayor.
2-7-10 CITY COUNCIL REVIEW:
The Renton Equity Commission shall submit unto the City Council, by January 31st of each year,
a summary of all actions taken by the Renton Equity Commission, including analysis of policies,
programs, services, and procedures and recommendations therefrom, during the preceding year
ORDINANCE NO. 6033
so that the City Council may fully review the manner in which the Renton Equity Commission has
implemented and enforced the provisions of this Chapter.
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