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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCDN 2019-09-24 Item 2D - Resolution - City's Commitment to Being Diverse, Tolerant, and InclusiveTO: FROM: City of Tukwila INFOR ATIONAL E ORANDU Community Development & Neighborhoods Committee Laurel Humphrey, Council Analyst Allan Ekberg, Mayor CC: Mayor Ekberg DATE: September 13, 2019 SUBJECT: Resolution Restating City Commitment to Being Diverse, Tolerant and Inclusive ISSUE The City Council desires to update the sentiments expressed in Resolution 1900 to include stronger language condemning hate and intimidation crimes. BACKGROUND In 2016, in response to concerns expressed by community members regarding discriminatory and sometimes hateful rhetoric occurring across the nation, the City Council adopted Resolution 1900 to reaffirm its commitment for Tukwila to remain a diverse, tolerant and inclusive community. At the August 5, 2019 Council meeting, and in response to public comment given that night, Councilmember Robertson requested and obtained consensus to make a formal statement against instances of hate, bigotry, and domestic terrorism. Staff determined one effective way to accomplish this would be to revisit Resolution 1900 which already states the Council's collective values regarding diversity, tolerance, and civility, as well as asserts that "all of Tukwila's residents deserve to live in a safe environment free of hate, discrimination and fear." Rather than amending that resolution, which would cause these value statements to exist separately in two documents, staff proposes repealing 1900 and restating the language with the desired additions so that all of the text will reside in one new resolution. The City Council reviewed the proposed new resolution at its September 3 meeting and referred it to the Community Development & Neighborhoods Committee for further discussion and an opportunity to review the changes made from Resolution 1900. ATTACHMENTS Comparison of Resolution 1900 and proposed draft Draft resolution 77 78 A -RE -SOLUTION -OF -THE —CITY -GO CITY OF , ASHt I-TS- TMENT TO BE TOL-E-RANT-A-N-D.-1-NG-LIJS-1-V-E CITY. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, RESTATING THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO BEING DIVERSE, TOLERANT AND INCLUSIVE,AND REPEALING RESOLUTION NO. 1900. WHEREAS, the City of Tukwila is a beautifully diverse community of neighborhoods, residents, businesses and visitors; and WHEREAS, the City of Tukwila considers this diversity to be one of its greatest assets and prioritizes the value of inclusiveness; and WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 1614 in 2006 reaffirming its commitment to being an inclusive community as a fundamental value; and WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Resolution No, 1900 in 2016reaffirmingits co mitment to being a diverse, tolerant and inclusive community: and WHEREAS, we, as elected representatives of the people, have a responsibility to not stay silent in the face of violence and discrimination against any person -of -our const4pent pa s; and WHEREAS, the people of Tukwila recognize that people of all cultures, ethnicities, abilities, and backgrounds all do better when we work together; and WHEREAS, the City of Tukwila promotes civility and strives for a culture where tolerance and solidarity overcome fear and division; and Page 1 of 3 79 WHEREAS, the City of Tukwila does not tolerate bias, harassment, or discrimination based on race, religion, ancestry, national origin, immigration status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, housing status or status with regard to public assistance; and WHEREAS, we advance the principles of non -violence, tolerance, religious freedom, trust and safety, and recognize that these principles are valued by all communities in our City; and WHEREAS, all of Tukwila's residents deserve to live in a safe environment free of hate, discrimination and fear; and WHEREAS, we believe in the public sector for the public good, and advancing equity and inclusion is critical to the success of our communities and our nation; and loca WHEREAS because hate crimes and incidences of e iona , and nationa , :imidation are on the rise e Cftv Council desires to reiterate their osition that all elected officias,whether loca , state, or federal, should be leaders in opposing hate speech and especially careful to never use such language in spoken, written, or social media, C 'TY AND -A AND —VISITORS —I - REJECT THE- --POL-I-TICS- N, BIG-OT-RY, DISCRIMI -THE—RAG , INTERESTS OF ALL THE R-GOMMU-N-ITY-NO-MATTE THE-CO-W-R-OF-OUR-SKINT-OUR-GE-N-DER,-THE WAY -WE WORSHI , WERE-BORN,-OLIR--SE ORIENTATIONT-OU-R -413-1L-IT4ES-,----OR, ANY- IDENT/TY. FLIRTHERMO-RE, WE RESOLVE TO: NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The Cit Council reaffirms its co t ent to e ua and inclusivenes for all residents and visitors to our City, We reject the politics and language of division, bigotry, violence, hate and discrimination, We will fight for the rights, freedoms and interests of all the members of our community no matter what the color of ourskirour gender, the way we worship, where we were born, our sexual orientation, our abilities, or an other iden Furthermore e resolve to: 1. Prioritize and promote a welcoming environment for all in our community and recognize the rights of individuals to live their lives with dignity and free of discrimination. 2. Commit to pursuing a policy agenda that affirms civil and human rights and ensures that those targeted on the basis of culture, religion or immigration status can turn to government without fear of recrimination. Page 2 of 3 80 3. Engage with individuals and community groups to promote education and dialogue among all community members. 4, Denounce the use of language expressing hate with the intent to strike fear :the hearts of people because of their racial, cultural, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or national. origin differences, action 2. Resolutigm No. 1900 is hereb re ealed tri its eritirety Page 3 of 3 81 82 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, RESTATING THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO BEING DIVERSE, TOLERANT AND INCLUSIVE, AND REPEALING RESOLUTION NO. 1900. WHEREAS, the City of Tukwila is a beautifully diverse community of neighborhoods, residents, businesses and visitors; and WHEREAS, the City of Tukwila considers this diversity to be one of its greatest assets and 'Prioritizes the value of inclusiveness; and WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 1614 in 2006 reaffirming its commitment to being an inclusive community as a fundamental value; and WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 1900 in 2016 reaffirming its commitment to being a diverse, tolerant and inclusive community; and WHEREAS, we, as elected representatives of the people, have a responsibility to not stay silent in the face of violence and discrimination against any person; and WHEREAS, the people of Tukwila recognize that people of all cultures, ethnicities, abilities, and backgrounds all do better when we work together; and VVHEREAS, the City of Tukwila promotes civility and strives for a culture where tolerance and solidarity overcome fear and division; and WHEREAS, the City of Tukwila does not tolerate bias, harassment, or discrimination based on race, religion, ancestry, national origin, immigration status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, housing status or status with regard to public assistance; and WitLegisiative DevelopmenttRecommitment to being diverse -tolerant -inclusive 8-23-19 LH:dis Review and analysis by Barbara Saxton Page I of 3 83 WHEREAS, we advance the principles of non -violence, tolerance, religious freedom, trust and safety, and recognize that these principles are valued by all communities in our City; and WHEREAS, all of Tukwila's residents deserve to live in a safe environment free of hate, discrimination and fear; and WHEREAS, we believe in the public sector for the public good, and advancing equity and inclusion is critical to the success of our communities and our nation; and WHEREAS, because hate crimes and incidences of intimidation are on the rise locally, regionally, and nationally, the City Council desires to reiterate their position that all elected officials, whether local, state, or federal, should be leaders in opposing hate speech and especially careful to never use such language in spoken, written, or social media; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The City Council reaffirms its commitment to equality and inclusiveness for all residents and visitors to our City. We reject the politics and language of division, bigotry, violence, hate and discrimination. We will fight for the rights, freedoms and interests of all the members of our community no matter what the color of our skin, our gender, the way we worship, where we were born, our sexual orientation, our abilities, or any other identity. Furthermore, we resolve to; 1. Prioritize and promote a welcoming environment for all in our community and recognize the rights of individuals to live their lives with dignity and free of discrimination. 2. Commit to pursuing a policy agenda that affirms civil and human rights and ensures that those targeted on the basis of culture, religion or immigration status can turn to government without fear of recrimination. 3. Engage with individuals and community groups to promote education and dialogue among all community members. 4. Denounce the use of language expressing hate with the intent to strike fear in the hearts of people because of their racial, cultural, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin differences. Section 2. Resolution No. 1900 is hereby repealed in its entirety. VV: \Legislative DevelopmentlRecommitment to being diverse-toterant-inclusive 8-23-19 LH:bjs Review and analysis by Barbara Saxton 84 Page 2 of 3 PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, VVASHINGTON, at a Regular Meeting thereof this day of , 2019. ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED: Christy O'Flaherty, MMC, City Clerk Kathy Hougardy, Council President APPROVED AS TO FORM BY: Dennis Robertson, Tukwila City Council Rachel B. Turpin, City Attorney Verna Seal, Tukwila City Council Filed with the City Clerk: DeSean Quinn, Tukwila City Council Passed by the City Council: Resolution Number: Kate Kruller, Tukwila City Counci Thomas McLeod, Tukwila City Council Zak Idan, Tukwila City Council \Legistafive Development\Recommitment to being diverse -tolerant -inclusive 8-23-19 Lftbjs Review and analysis by Barbara Saxton Page 3 of 3 85