BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:
Title
Consider the July 27, 2020 Diversity and Inclusion Ad Hoc Committee Recommendation to Adopt a Resolution Addressing Systemic Racism and Promoting Equity and Present the Resolution to all Board Committees.
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
A. Consider the July 27, 2020 Diversity and Inclusion Ad Hoc Committee recommendations to adopt a Resolution Addressing Systematic Racism and Promoting Equity, and refer to staff to present the Resolution, if adopted, to all Board committees;
B. Adopt the Resolution Addressing Systemic Racism and Promoting Equity; and
C. Refer to staff to present the Resolution, if adopted, to all Board committees.
Body
SUMMARY:
In July, CEO Callender announced the creation of a new Office of Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) under the External Affairs division. The new office will include the existing Diversity and Inclusion Program, with an expanded goal to break down any organizational barriers that enable systemic racism, and instead promote a culture of racial equity. This office will ensure that racial equity, diversity and inclusion practices are all equally reflected both internally and externally to better serve all communities within Valley Water’s service area.
On July 27, 2020, the Diversity and Inclusion Ad Hoc Committee convened to hear a presentation from the new Office of Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (REDI) and consider a new draft resolution (Attachment 1) on Addressing Systemic Racism and Promoting Equity. The ad hoc committee suggested clarifying the intent by broadening the language under equity to include gender and gender identity bias as well; therefore, staff made several adjustments to the resolution title and within the language of the resolution based on this feedback to improve upon the draft that was presented.
This resolution is consistent with Valley Water’s core values and the principles used in accomplishing Valley Water’s mission. Specifically, the purpose and intent of the resolution is to establish Valley Water’s response to individual and systemic racism and its commitment in taking meaningful action, internally and externally, to address the impacts of acts of prejudice, abuse of power, racial bias, gender or gender identity bias, racism, and barriers to diversity, equity and inclusion.
The resolution will direct the CEO to further improve racial equity, diversity and inclusion in Valley Water’s culture and practices of hiring, contracting, programs and service delivery and employee support. In addition, the resolution will provide the CEO direction to initiate a new framework and model to inform potential changes to Valley Water internal policies, procedures, and trainings to ensure that the workplace will not tolerate acts of prejudice, abuse of power, racial bias, gender or gender identify bias or racism, and sets expectations to address conscious and unconscious bias. The resolution also calls for implementation of programs consistent with the intent of Proposition 16, if the voters elect to pass the measure, and the resolution calls for the creation of an End’s Policy relative to Environmental Justice.
The attached final draft of the resolution reflects the requested changes by the committee and is being presented to the full board for consideration on adoption.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact associated with this item.
CEQA:
The recommended action does not constitute a project under CEQA because it does not have a potential for resulting in direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Resolution
Attachment 2: ACA 5 (Weber)
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER:
Manager
Marta Lugo, 408-630-2237