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Clerk of the Board, based on direction provided the Board of Supervisors, recommending the Board Approve the Final Passage (Second Reading) of Ordinance 5175 amending Title 2, Article XIV, Section 2.20.110 (et.seq.), dissolving the El Dorado County Human Rights Commission. (Cont. 3/14/2023, Item 17)
FUNDING: N/A
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On March 14, 2023, the Board approved the Introduction (First Reading) of Ordinance 5175 amending Title 2, Article XIV, Section 2.20.110 (et.seq.), dissolving the El Dorado County Human Rights Commission and continued the matter to March 21, 2023 for Final Passage (Second Reading).
During the January 24, 2023 Board meeting, the Board discussed the purpose and the effectiveness of the Human Rights Commission (Commission). The Commission was created in 2018 by Ordinance 5081and has continually encountered challenges with meeting their intended purpose. On December 8, 2020, the Board adopted Ordinance 5134 to be consistent with the Human Rights Commission's bylaws, focusing the role of the Commission on education and removing language pertaining to investigating and intervening in cases of bias.
Board members and staff have invested considerable time with this Commission, however the challenges continue causing questions as to its future effectiveness. Additionally, Board members had difficulty identifying what the Commission should be doing and the Commission's presence in the community representing the Board and the County as a whole. As a result, the Board determined it was best for the County to dissolve the Commission with the expectation that the Commission could function under a non-profit which it would be better suited.
Direction was provided to the Clerk of the Board and County Counsel at the Board's January 24, 2023 meeting, to work together to bring an item back to the Board within 60 days to dissolve the Human Rights Commission.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could decide not to move forward with dissolving the...
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