CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to the Seattle Office for Civil Rights; amending Section 3.14.920 of the Seattle Municipal Code to increase the membership of the Seattle Human Rights Commission, the Seattle Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) Commission, and the Seattle Commission for People with Disabilities and change the appointment authority for these and the Seattle Women’s Commission.
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WHEREAS, The City of Seattle created the Seattle Women’s Commission in 1973 to act in an advisory capacity to the Mayor, City Council, and other City departments and offices regarding equality for women, including making recommendations regarding the development of programs for the promotion of equality, justice, and understanding within the City; and
WHEREAS, The City of Seattle created the Human Rights Commission in 1969 to act in an advisory capacity to the Mayor, City Council, and City departments on matters affecting human rights, including making recommendations for the promotion of equality, justice, and understanding among all citizens within the City; and
WHEREAS, The City of Seattle created the Seattle Commission for Lesbians and Gays in 1989, now the Seattle Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) Commission, to advise the Mayor, City Council, and other City departments and offices on issues “of importance to lesbians and gays”; and
WHEREAS, The City of Seattle created the Seattle Commission for People with Disabilities in 2010 to assist the Mayor, City Council, and City departments to address the concerns of people with disabilities and recommend policies and practices on matters affecting concerns of people with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, the Seattle Women’s Commission, the Seattle Human Rights Commission, the Seattle LGBTQ Commission, and the Seattle Commission for People with Disabilities, hereinafter the “Four OCR Commissions,” have ably served our City for years on matters within their purviews; and
WHEREAS, those serving on the Four OCR Commissions do so in a volunteer capacity and are thus more limited in their ability to act due to time constraints and conflicting obligations; and
WHEREAS, the Four OCR Commissions have expressed a need for additional commissioners to more ably fulfill their functions and connect with the greater Seattle community; and
WHEREAS, the Four OCR Commissions have also expressed a desire to have additional appointments made by their commissions because they can often do so more quickly and with greater understanding of the present composition of the commission to promote diversity and effectiveness; and
WHEREAS, the capacity and capabilities of the City’s volunteer boards and commissions typically rise when additional members are appointed; and
WHEREAS, additional commissioners will improve and enhance the ability to complete each commission’s work through proactive research and analysis, improved community outreach, more extensive programming, more diverse recruitment, and better collaboration with City departments; and
WHEREAS, the increase in the number of commissioners will decrease the need for other paid staff to do this work; and
WHEREAS, in 1992, The City of Seattle amended its code to increase the Seattle Women’s Commission from 15 to 20 members; and
WHEREAS, The City of Seattle recognizes the value in having strong advisory commissions on issues affecting the human, political, and socioeconomic rights of its citizens; and
WHEREAS, The City of Seattle recognizes the value in increased independence of the Four OCR Commissions from the Mayor and City Council to ensure effectiveness and objectivity; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 3.14.920 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 125231, is amended as follows:
3.14.920 Commission-Established-Membership
There is established a Seattle Women’s Commission, to be composed of ((20)) 21 members appointed from among those persons who are conscious of the discrimination against and oppression of women in this society, and who are working to eliminate these injustices; a Seattle Human Rights Commission, to be composed of ((15)) 21 members who shall be representative residents and shall include representatives of minority communities, other protected classes, and persons with demonstrated concern and background in human rights; a Seattle LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) Commission, to be composed of ((15)) 21 members appointed from among those persons who are conscious of the discrimination against and oppression of lesbians, gays, and sexual minorities in this society, and who are working to eliminate these injustices; and a Seattle Commission for People with Disabilities, to be composed of ((15)) 21 members appointed from among those persons who are conscious of the discrimination against and oppression and neglect of people with disabilities, and who are working to eliminate these injustices. Upon the expiration of existing terms, new appointments to each position on each commission shall be made under this Section 3.14.920 by the authority originally appointing persons to that position, as follows:
A. Seattle Women's Commission: ((Nine (9))) Eight members shall be appointed by the Mayor, ((nine (9))) eight members shall be appointed by the City Council, and four ((the nineteenth and twentieth)) members shall be appointed by the Commission as constituted; provided that, such appointments shall be made so as to reflect the diversity of the community.
B. Seattle Human Rights Commission, Seattle LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) Commission, and Seattle Commission for People with Disabilities: For each of these commissions, ((seven)) eight members shall be appointed by the Mayor, ((seven)) eight members shall be appointed by the City Council, and ((the fifteenth member)) four members shall be appointed by the Commission as constituted; provided, that such appointments shall be made so as to reflect the diversity of the community.
C. Pursuant to the Get Engaged program, Chapter 3.51, one designated young adult position shall be added to each of these four commissions: the Seattle Women's Commission, the Seattle Human Rights Commission, the Seattle LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) Commission, and the Seattle Commission for People with Disabilities. Pursuant to Section 3.51.030, the designated young adult shall be nominated by the Mayor and shall be subject to confirmation by the City Council by majority vote. The terms of service related to a young adult member's role on each of these commissions shall be as set forth in Chapter 3.51.
D. All appointments other than City Council appointments shall be subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the City Council. Each member appointed pursuant to the authority of this ((section)) Section 3.14.920 shall serve for a term of two years, but no member of the Seattle Human Rights Commission shall serve more than two consecutive two year terms. No member of the Seattle Immigrant and Refugee Commission, Seattle Women's Commission, or the Seattle Commission for People with Disabilities shall serve more than three consecutive two year terms. The Seattle LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) Commission does not have term limits. If a member is appointed to serve an unexpired term of a previous commission member, that term shall qualify as one of two consecutive terms only if the length of the unexpired term actually served is one year or more. Any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as an original appointment. A member whose term is ending may continue on an interim basis as a member with voting rights until such time as a successor for that position has been appointed by the City Council or confirmed by the City Council.
Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30 days after its approval by the Mayor, but if not approved and returned by the Mayor within ten days after presentation, it shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Section 1.04.020.
Passed by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2017, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this _____ day of _________________________, 2017.
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President ____________ of the City Council
Approved by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2017.
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Edward B. Murray, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2017.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)