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Home My WebLink AboutStaff Report 2601-5841CITY OF PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL Special Meeting Monday, March 23, 2026 Council Chambers & Hybrid 5:00 PM Agenda Item 6.FIRST READING: Adoption of an Ordinance to Amend Chapter 9.73 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Adopt a Local Policy to Implement the Foundational Principles of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) as Recommended by the Policy and Services Committee; CEQA status – Not a Project City Council Staff Report From: City Manager Report Type: ACTION ITEMS Lead Department: City Manager Meeting Date: March 23, 2026 Report #:2601-5841 TITLE FIRST READING: Adoption of an Ordinance to Amend Chapter 9.73 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Adopt a Local Policy to Implement the Foundational Principles of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) as Recommended by the Policy and Services Committee; CEQA status – Not a Project RECOMMENDATION Policy and Services Committee recommends that the City Council adopt the attached CEDAW Ordinance. BACKGROUND In October 2018, the City Council passed a resolution with intent for the City to pursue an ordinance to endorse the United Nations’ Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). This discussion first went through the Policy and Services Committee and focused on affirming the City’ s commitment to the principles of the United Nations’ work. The intention was to work within existing budgets and resources and to demonstrate Palo Alto’ s commitment to the principles of CEDAW. In November 2020, the Policy and Services Committee accepted a status report regarding CEDAW and recommended to City Council that staff proceed with a community summit on gender equality issues. The recommendation also included a request for Human Resources to publish City of Palo Alto workforce gender demographics and to include gender as a part of the City’s work on inclusion and belonging. When this recommendation went to the City Council, the City Council affirmed the recommendation and asked staff to share the findings regarding youth in recreation programs with the City’s Teen Advisory Council for consideration in planning future trainings or mentorship programs. The City Council also recommended that the Office of Human Services host a convening related to greater opportunities for women and girls. In June 2021, the City hosted the Palo Alto Summit on Women and Girls (with ‘Women’ and ‘girls’ referring to a gender expansive and inclusive definition). The event was keynoted by Lori Nishiura Mackenzie, Co-Founder of the Women’s Leadership Innovation Lab and the Lead Strategist on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Stanford Graduate School of Business (link to materials and video: http://paloalto.gov/Events-Directory/City-Manager/Summit-on- Women-Girls). This event was held in connection with the City’s continued commitment to advancing a CEDAW ordinance. 1 which included advancing a CEDAW ordinance as Action Item 3.4 (Finalize CEDAW Ordinance and Present it to the City Council for Adoption). Attachment A is the follow up to that action plan item as well as to the prior City Council interests shared through resolution. 2 was: ANALYSIS 1 City of Palo Alto Equity Action Plan: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/1/citymanager/wellness-and-belonging/equity-workplan- 2024.pdf 2 Policy and Services Committee Action Minutes, December 9, 2025. Link: https://recordsportal.paloalto.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=83988&dbid=0&repo=PaloAlto&searchid=4cb374a8 -d14e-4483-8a42-1d6dab2d78fc The ordinance, as amended, ratifies current City practices and establishes guidelines for the continued work of eliminating all forms of discrimination against women within the city. 5 as the County has additional significant areas of jurisdiction that are not part of the City’s purview of services, including the criminal justice system and the public health system. The Committee suggested changes that kept the ordinance within the thematic areas that are most relevant to the City’s work. The ordinance, as a first step, takes into account the limited existing City resources related to this work. 5 See Santa Clara County Ordinance NS-300.972 (2023), codified at County of Santa Clara Ordinance Code Division Adoption of the ordinance, as recommended by the Committee, would add Palo Alto to a host of other cities and communities that have taken this important first step to support women and girls. Palo Alto would use this ordinance to guide the City’s wellness and belonging efforts, especially as the efforts relate to the topics referenced in the ordinance. FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW ATTACHMENTS APPROVED BY: NOT YET APPROVED 1 Ordinance No. ____ Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Chapter 9.73 (City Policy Against Arbitrary Discrimination) of Title 9 (Public Peace, Morals and Safety) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Add Sections 9.73.050 (Local CEDAW Principles) and 9.73.060 (Private Right of Action) and Amend Associated Sections The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as follows: SECTION 1. Findings and Declarations. The City Council finds and declares as follows: A) On October 15, 2002, Council passed Resolution #8217, in support of United States ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). B) The human rights principles found in CEDAW serve as a vital reference point as we join with cities and counties across California and the United States in supporting fairness for all genders throughout city operations. C) On February 8, 2018, in response to Council Resolution #9653, the Human Relations Commission passed a series of recommendations for Council consideration, including the consideration of a CEDAW ordinance. D) On October 1, 2018, Council directed staff to return with options for a City ordinance endorsing CEDAW and affirming the City’s commitment to the principles of CEDAW. E) The City Council desires to continue working towards measures t hat positively address gender fairness city operations by passing an Ordinance affirming the principles of CEDAW, which will be integrated into the City’s Wellness and Belonging Initiatives. F) The Council finds it appropriate to amend Chapter 9.73 (City Policy Against Arbitrary Discrimination) to institute the principles of CEDAW in the City’s ongoing work to ensure fairness for all Palo Altans. SECTION 2. Section 9.73.040 (Definitions) of Chapter 9.73 (City Policy Against Arbitrary Discrimination) of Title 9 (Public Peace, Morals and Safety) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows: 9.73.040 Definitions 2 The following words and phrases whenever used in this chapter shall be construed as defined in this section, unless the context indicates otherwise. (a) "City property" means any real property or facilities owned or controlled by the city of Palo Alto. (b) "Lease" means any non-residential lease, license or other permitted use of city property. (c) "Person" means natural person, joint venture, joint stock company, partnership, association, club, company, corporation, business trust, organization, or the manager, lessee, agent, servant, officer or employee of any of them. (d) “CEDAW” means the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. SECTION 3. Section 9.73.050 (Local CEDAW Principles) of Chapter 9.73 (City Policy Against Arbitrary Discrimination) of Title 9 (Public Peace, Morals and Safety) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is hereby added as follows: 9.73.050 Local CEDAW Principles It is the goal of the City to implement the principles underlying CEDAW to eradicate discrimination against women and girls. The following CEDAW principles will be integrated in the City’s role as a service provider, employer, and community and business partner to the maximum extent possible, and as permitted by law. The City will approach this work through cultivating experiences and appreciation, fostering a welcoming environment, and assessing impacts for all. In implementing the CEDAW principles, the City shall ensure that its actions align with its continued work to end all forms of arbitrary discrimination, as described in this Chapter. a) Economic Development 1. The City shall take appropriate measures to support the economic development of women and girls in the city of Palo Alto through the elimination of any known identified barriers, such as lack of childcare, workplace harassment, and equal pay, in the areas of employment; licenses, permits, and registrations; and public contracting with vendors and others. b) Housing and Homelessness 1. The City recognizes that the root causes of homelessness and housing insecurity are different for women and girls, and they may include factors such as gender - based violence, substance abuse, mental health, poverty, and the uneven distribution of caregiving responsibilities. It is a priority of the City to support policies and programs that understand the unique housing needs of women and girls. 3 2. The City shall ensure equal access to the full range of affordable, permanent housing options for women and girls and their families, and to help eliminate discriminatory policies in the housing market, recognizing the even greater adversity faced by those in poverty, released from incarceration, long -term care, survivors of gender-based violence or aging out of the foster care system. 3. The City shall support homelessness prevention and homeless services that are designed to be gender-responsive to the needs of women and girls. c) Political and Civic Engagement 1. It is a priority of the City to educate all individuals, including women and girls, about their voting rights and to encourage civic engagement. 2. The City shall encourage voter registration among all eligible voters, including women. 3. The City shall encourage civic and political engagement among women, including seeking and holding public office, membership in local commissions, boards, or task forces, and participating in community service. d) Community, Library, and Transportation Services 1. The City shall take appropriate and timely measures within the scope of its authority to support women and girls' equal access to community, library, and transportation services and support survivors of sexual and gender -based violence. 2. To the extent it has authority over such services or systems, the City shall remove identified barriers to equal access to community, library, and transportation services whenever the City becomes aware of such barriers. e) Climate Action and Sustainability 1. The City shall, when appropriate, take gender-responsive, culturally responsive measures to address the specific vulnerabilities and needs of women and girls in measures related to climate change adaptation and sustainability, including in vulnerability assessments and other efforts to identify and meaningfully include communities that bear disproportionate risks or other burdens from climate change or other forms of environmental harm. SECTION 4. Section 9.73.060 (Private Right of Action) of Chapter 9.73 (City Policy Against Arbitrary Discrimination) of Title 9 (Public Peace, Morals and Safety) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is hereby added as follows: 9.73.060 Private Right of Action No provision in this Chapter is intended to, and shall not be interpreted to, create a private right of action for damages or equitable relief on behalf of any person or entity against the City or any of its officers or employees. 4 SECTION 5. Severability. If any provision, clause, sentence or paragraph of this ordinance, or the application to any person or circumstances, shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions of this Ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application and, to this end, the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby declared to be severable. SECTION 6. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be effective on the thirty-first date after the date of its adoption. SECTION 7. CEQA. The City Council finds and determines that this Ordinance is not a project within the meaning of section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) because it has no potential for resulting in physical change in the environment, either directly or ultimately. In the event that this Ordinance is found to be a project under CEQA, it is subject to the CEQA exemption contained in CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty to have no possibility of a significant effect on the environment in that this Ordinance simply clarifies existing local regulations. INTRODUCED: PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT: ATTEST: APPROVED: ______________________________ ____________________________ City Clerk Mayor APPROVED AS TO FORM: ____________________________ City Manager ______________________________ City Attorney