General Government & Social Services Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The City Council held a meeting with the Chair presiding. The meeting addressed three agenda items, covering both informational presentations and legislative action. The council received informational updates on demographic survey and diversity initiatives as well as the Get On Board Program, and took action to approve an amendment to the Code of Ordinances. Four motions and votes were conducted during the session, with no public comments heard. The meeting focused on diversity and inclusion topics alongside municipal code updates.

Attendance

The following members were present at the committee meeting:

• Fred Brown
• Jennifer Reynolds
• James Brown
• Angela Evans
• Farmer
• Plowman
• Vice Mayor Kaye

No members were reported as absent or late for this meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The Committee took four votes during the meeting, all of which passed by voice vote.

Amendment to Code of Ordinances Vice Mayor Kaye motioned to amend the code of ordinances, changing the term "individual" to "person" throughout the document. The motion was seconded by Farmer and passed by voice vote.

Removal of Fairness Ordinance from Referral List Vice Mayor Kaye motioned to remove item 21, the fairness ordinance, from the referral list. The motion passed by voice vote without a recorded second.

Removal of Diversity Officers Item from Referral List Farmer motioned to remove the item regarding diversity officers' involvement in the appointment of boards and commissions from the referral list. Vice Mayor Kaye seconded the motion, which passed by voice vote.

Removal of Business Travel Policy from Referral List Evans motioned to remove the business travel policy from the referral list. Fred Brown seconded the motion, and it passed by voice vote.

All four motions were approved through voice votes, with no recorded individual vote counts or opposition. The specific vote tallies and individual member positions were not documented for any of these items, as is typical with voice vote procedures where the outcome is determined by the presiding officer based on the audible response of the members present.

*Note: Transcript timestamps were not available for these voting actions in the provided materials.*

Demographic Survey and Diversity Initiatives

Melissa and Craig Kammack presented the results of a comprehensive demographic survey examining the composition of board and commission members. The presentation focused on current diversity statistics and outlined future initiatives aimed at improving representation across various boards and commissions.

The speakers shared findings from their demographic analysis, providing data on the current makeup of board and commission membership. While specific statistics were not detailed in the available materials, the presentation addressed diversity metrics and identified areas where representation could be enhanced.

Craig Kammack and Melissa discussed planned initiatives designed to increase diversity among board and commission appointees. These future-focused strategies appear to be part of a broader effort to ensure more inclusive representation in local government advisory bodies.

The presentation served an informational purpose, providing committee members with baseline data on current demographic composition and outlining the framework for upcoming diversity enhancement efforts. No specific actions or decisions were required from the committee during this agenda item.

The demographic survey represents part of ongoing efforts to assess and improve the representational makeup of boards and commissions, with the presenters establishing both current conditions and future directions for diversity initiatives.

Get On Board Program

Council Member Plowman presented information about the relaunch of the Get On Board program during the committee meeting. The program is designed to increase diversity on boards and commissions by providing training and connecting underrepresented populations with available opportunities.

The Get On Board initiative focuses on addressing representation gaps in municipal boards and commissions by actively recruiting and supporting individuals from underrepresented communities. The program includes a training component to prepare participants for board service and a matching system to connect qualified candidates with appropriate board openings.

This presentation was informational in nature, with Council Member Plowman outlining the program's objectives and approach to enhancing diversity in civic participation through board and commission appointments.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item.*

Amendment to Code of Ordinances

The committee discussed an amendment to the city's code of ordinances that would change the word "individual" to "person" throughout relevant sections. Vice Mayor Kaye presented this proposed modification, explaining that the change is necessary to align the city's ordinances with state statute requirements.

The primary purpose of this amendment is to expand who can file discrimination complaints with the city. Under the current ordinance language using "individual," only natural persons could file such complaints. By changing the terminology to "person," the ordinance would allow organizations and other legal entities to file discrimination complaints, bringing the city code into compliance with state law.

Vice Mayor Kaye emphasized that this is primarily a technical correction to ensure consistency between local and state regulations. The amendment does not change the substance of the city's anti-discrimination policies but rather clarifies and expands the scope of who may seek remedies under these protections.

The committee approved the amendment without significant debate or opposition. The change was viewed as a necessary administrative update to maintain legal compliance and ensure that the city's ordinances properly reflect the intent to provide comprehensive anti-discrimination protections that align with state standards.

This amendment will allow organizations, advocacy groups, and other legal entities to file discrimination complaints on behalf of affected parties or when they themselves have been subjected to discriminatory practices, expanding access to the city's complaint process beyond individual complainants only.