Agenda Item Name:
Title
Public Hearing to Consider Whether to Place a Proposed Charter Amendment on the November Ballot Addressing the Identification and Mitigation of Racial, Economic, and Gender Bias in County Policies
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Presenter:
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Description:
This is a public hearing to consider placing on the November 2020 ballot a new Section 1.8 into the Alachua County Charter addressing equity in County policies, programs and services.
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
If the Board chooses, approve the attached ordinance approving the proposed addition of Section 1.8 to the Alachua County Charter, and authorizing the enclosed language to be placed on the ballot for consideration by the electors of Alachua County in a referendum as part of the general election in November 2020
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Prior Board Motions:
• April 14th - Refer the proposed ballot language from Kali Blount’s comments staff to return with recommendations
• May 26th - Board authorized a public hearing on proposed Equity Charter Amendment with proposed ballot language:
Shall the Alachua County Charter be amended to require the Board of County Commissioners to examine County policies for elements of racial, economic, and gender bias in the design and delivery of County programs or services; to identify and act to mitigate and improve upon the effects, patterns, and disparities imposed by said bias?
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
The 2020 budget included an Equity Manager position. This position would be responsible for leading the implementation of the proposed charter amendment or work on addressing equity in the County outside of a Charter amendment
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Background:
On April 14th, 2020 the Board referred the proposed ballot language from Kali Blount’s comments to staff to return with recommendations:
“The Board of County Commissioners has the prerogative and obligation to examine all existing governmental and managerial policies of all county departments for elements of racial, economic, and gender bias in the design and delivery and they must identify and act to ameliorate the effects and patterns imposed by said biases. The BoCC will subject all future policy making formation to test for similar bias. Elected policy makers shall utilize staff and citizens to apply/evaluate such test for bias so that the BoCC will restructure policy proposals accordingly.”
On May 26th the Board considered this item and directed staff to proceed to public hearing to consider placing the Alachua County Charter amendment on the November 2020 ballot with the following language:
Shall the Alachua County Charter be amended to require the Board of County Commissioners to examine County policies for elements of racial, economic, and gender bias in the design and delivery of County programs or services; to identify and act to mitigate and improve upon the effects, patterns, and disparities imposed by said bias?