HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 2485• ORIGINAL
ORDINANCE NO. 2485
ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY. OF PALO _Al,TO
ADDING CHAPTER 2.22 TO THE PALO ALTO MUNICIPAL CODE
TO BE DESIGNATED "HUMM~ RELM:1 IONS COMMISSION"
WHEREAS, the Council finds that the establishment of a Human .·.
Relations Commission of the City of Palo Al to -is advisable, and··
would contribute to the fostering of mutual respect and under
standing among all racial, religious, nationality and age groups ··
in the community,
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does
ORDAIN as foll.ows:
SECTION l. Chapter 2.22 is hereby added to the Palo Alto
Municipal Code, to be designated "Human Relations Commission" and
to read as set forth in EXHIBIT "A" attached hereto arid made a
part hereof by reference •
.2_ECTION 2. This ordinance shall become effective upon the
expiration of thirty· days from the date of its pasaage.
lNTRODUCED:
PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
Jan\.tary 27, 1969
February 10, 1969
Arnold, Beahrs, Berwald, Clark, Comstock, Dias, Gullixson,
Pearson, Spaeth, Wheatley
None
Gallagher
~~"'~(7,~ APP~ .· ..
. ' ~ Mayor -
To FORM:
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Sections:
2.22.010
2.22.020
2.22.030
2.22.040
2.22.oso
· Chapter 2. 22
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
Membership.
Term of Office.
•
Officers, Meetings and Procedur~!s.
Temporary vacancies.
Duties and Powers.
2.22.010 Membership. ·There is hereby created a Human
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Relations Conunission composed of five (5) members who are not
councilmen, officers or employees of the city, who are residents·
of the City of Palo Alto, and who shall·be·appointed by the Mayor
with the approval of a ~ajority of the Council.
2.22.020 Term of Office. Of the members first appointed by
the Mayor, one member shall be appointed for a term of. one year,
two members for a term of two years, and two members for a term _
of three ye~rs. Subsequent appointments shall be made for a term
of three years or until their successors are appointed. Terms of
office shall be from January 1 to December 31.
2.22.030 Officers, Meetings and Procedures.
(1) The Commission shall elect one of its members chairman
I·.
who shall hold off ice for one year' and until his successor is
elected unless his te~ as a member of the Commission sooner
expires.
(2) The Commission shall establish a regular time and .. ~lace ~~'" ")
of meeting and shall hoid at 'least· one regular meetinq a month.
s~~ial meetinqs may be called by the chairman or by any three . ..... .
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members of the Commission upon personal notice being given to all
members or by written notice being mailed to each member twenty-.
four hours prior to such meeting unless such notice requirement.
ia waived in writing.
c'3) Three of the five members shall constitute a quorum and
the affinnative votes of three members are required to take any
action.
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(4) The Commission may establish task forces for advisory
and i~vestigative purposes. The Commission shall by majority vote·
appoint members of task forces, such task force members to be
approved by the Mayor. -Members of the Commission may be appointed
as members of a task force.
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2.22.040 Temporary Vacancies. A member of the Commission
may be granted a leave of absence by the City council and a
temporary vacancy shall thereupon exist for _the ~riod of such
leave of absence. During the period of such temporary vacancy,
the Council may fill such vacancy by a temporary appointment to
the Commission; provided, however, that the period of such tern-
porary appointment shall not exceed the period of the temporary
vacancy. At the expiration of such a leave of absence so granted,
the memti.er shall automatically resume full and permanent membership
on the Conun:i ··~ion.
2.22.050 Duties and Powers. The duties of the commission
shall be as fellows:
(1) !.~ the Field 'of Employment:
a. To assist Palo Alto residents who believe they
have been or are being discriminated against by informing
them of their rights and by assisting them in pointing out
which appropriate governmental bodfes -city, state or federal -
may act upon their complaints. \'· ·
···I,.. To assist and encourage Palo Alto employers to
increase opportunities for people of minority ethnic back
grouncis and to improve their human relations posture in other
ways, the Commission is authorized to:
1. Provide and distribute educational materials1
2. Arrange special workshops and _seminars for
supervisory employees' training and instruction
in'human relations, partiCularly in the area of
. ethnic groups:
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3. , Coordinate human relations programs in Palo Alto
with those of neighboring communities since employer,
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employee and consumer are frequently not all -resi-
dent~ of Palo Alto;
4. Encourage employers to have th~ir employees partici
_ pate in community activities that promote better
hu."!lan relations;
c. To work with other community or~anizations engaged
in human relations or civil riqhts activities, the Commission
is authorized to:
1. Participate in proqrams both within Palo Alto and
in neighborinq communities which have as .their
goals increased employment of minority groups and
elimination of employment discrimination;
2. Provide and distribute materials which assist in
allevi..',ting human relations problems;
3. Coordinate the efforts of these community orqaniza-
tions with the public and provide agencies whi~h
can provide assistance in the areas of employment,
job upgrading and retraining;
4. Encourage those workinq with younger people in
taking advantage of their educational opportunities
and to appreciate what those opportuJ1iti,es can
mean to them:
5. Provide continual encouragement to schoo'l' systems
in.· furthering policies compatible with those of the
'commission:
6. Present through adult programs, courses that are
beneficial to minority qroups which better qualify
them for employment opportunities.
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(2) In the Field of Housing:
a. To assist individuals who believe they have been or
are being discriminated against in securing housing in Palo
Alto by informing them of their rights and by assisting them
in pointing out which appropriate governmental bodies -
city, state or federal -may act upon their complaints. Th~
Commission is authorized to disseminate information concern
ing bity, state or federal laws relative to housing.
b. To assist and encourage members of the housing
industry and homeowners in Palo Alto to eliminate barriers
to housing oppor~unities for people of mi,nority .ethnic
backgrounds, the Conunission is authorized to:
·1. Provide and distribute educational materials;
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2. Conduct studies of housing patterns in Palo Alto
in order to identify trends:
3. Study integrated housing as it affects the rental
and sale of homes and apartments, including its
effect on property values, schools, social behavior,
etc.:
4. Disseminate the information gathere~ to real estate
brokers, apartment house owners and operators, and
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residents of the City of Palo Alto;
S. Encourage meetings, lectures and educational pro
grams aimed at stimulating a greater public under-,
standing and acceptance of open occupancy housing~
6. Coordinate a6tivitie9 in the f.ield of open housing
with other o~ganizations in the-community with
similar goais.
(3) ·tn Other Fields:
T.~; ~::>ster mutual respect and understanding amojig all racial,
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religious, nationality and age groups in the community with
respect to all other fields of endeavor and activity. The
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Commission is authorized to:
a. Make such studies as in the judgment of the Commission
or upon direction from the Council as will ·aid in ef fectuatinq
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the Commission's purposes.
b. Conduct and recommend .such educational proqrams
aE in the judqment ·of the Commission will increase qood will
amonq inhabitants of the community and open new opportunities
into all phases of community life for all inhabitants.
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c. Hold conferences and other public meetinqs in the
interest of the constructive resolution of racial, reliqioua,
nationality and aqe group tensions and the prejudice and
discrimination occasioned thereby.
d. Enlist the cooperation and participation of the
various racial, religious, nationality and age groups, com
munity organizations, industry and labor organizations,
media of mass conununication, fraternal or benevolent organiza
tiofis and other groups in an educational campaiqn devoted to
fostering among the diverse groups of the community mutual
esteem; justice and equity~
e. Encourage and &timulate the Council to pass legis~
lation or take other remedial steps which the Commission
should find to be necessary and desirable.
f. Perform other related duties as directed by the
council.
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