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Home My WebLink AboutORD 56971 Ordinance No. 5697 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 that positively address gender fairness in 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 institutethe 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. Docusign Envelope ID: C176FD8C-EE19-4006-9D04-5ADC2DD27A50 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. Docusign Envelope ID: C176FD8C-EE19-4006-9D04-5ADC2DD27A50 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: MARCH 23, 2026 PASSED: May 4, 2026 AYES: BURT, LAUING, LU, LYTHCOTT-HAIMS, RECKDAHL, STONE, VEENKER NOES: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT: ATTEST: APPROVED: Docusign Envelope ID: C176FD8C-EE19-4006-9D04-5ADC2DD27A50 Certificate Of Completion Envelope Id: C176FD8C-EE19-4006-9D04-5ADC2DD27A50 Status: Completed Subject: ORD 5697 - Local CEDAW Principles Source Envelope: Document Pages: 4 Signatures: 4 Envelope Originator: Certificate Pages: 2 Initials: 0 Christine Prior AutoNav: Enabled EnvelopeId Stamping: Enabled Time Zone: (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) Comments: yes 250 Hamilton Ave Palo Alto , CA 94301 Christine.Prior@PaloAlto.gov IP Address: 170.85.155.14 Record Tracking Status: Original 5/8/2026 2:46:45 PM Holder: Christine Prior Christine.Prior@PaloAlto.gov Location: DocuSign Security Appliance Status: Connected Pool: StateLocal Signer Events Signature Timestamp Scott Pease scott.pease@paloalto.gov Legal Fellow COPA Security Level: Email, Account Authentication (None) Signature Adoption: Drawn on Device Using IP Address: 199.33.32.254 Sent: 5/8/2026 2:49:17 PM Viewed: 5/11/2026 9:34:38 AM Signed: 5/11/2026 9:34:50 AM Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure: Not Offered via Docusign Ed Shikada Ed.Shikada@paloalto.gov City Manager City of Palo Alto Security Level: Email, Account Authentication (None) Signature Adoption: Pre-selected Style Using IP Address: 170.85.54.118 Sent: 5/11/2026 9:34:51 AM Viewed: 5/11/2026 5:28:31 PM Signed: 5/11/2026 5:28:40 PM Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure: Not Offered via Docusign Vicki Veenker Vicki.Veenker@paloalto.gov City of Palo Alto Security Level: Email, Account Authentication (None)Signature Adoption: Uploaded Signature Image Using IP Address: 174.197.65.179 Sent: 5/11/2026 5:28:41 PM Viewed: 5/20/2026 3:58:28 AM Signed: 5/20/2026 4:08:08 AM Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure: Not Offered via Docusign Mahealani Ah Yun Mahealani.AhYun@paloalto.gov City Clerk Security Level: Email, Account Authentication (None)Signature Adoption: Pre-selected Style Using IP Address: 170.85.155.33 Sent: 5/20/2026 4:08:09 AM Viewed: 5/20/2026 6:44:28 PM Signed: 5/20/2026 6:44:46 PM Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure: Not Offered via Docusign In Person Signer Events Signature Timestamp Editor Delivery Events Status Timestamp Agent Delivery Events Status Timestamp Intermediary Delivery Events Status Timestamp Certified Delivery Events Status Timestamp Carbon Copy Events Status Timestamp Witness Events Signature Timestamp Notary Events Signature Timestamp Envelope Summary Events Status Timestamps Envelope Sent Hashed/Encrypted 5/8/2026 2:49:17 PM Certified Delivered Security Checked 5/20/2026 6:44:28 PM Signing Complete Security Checked 5/20/2026 6:44:46 PM Completed Security Checked 5/20/2026 6:44:46 PM Payment Events Status Timestamps