BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Government Code § 84308 Applies: Yes ☐ No ☒
(If “YES” Complete Attachment A - Gov. Code § 84308)
SUBJECT:
Title
Consider Staff Recommendation to Assign Initial Review Jurisdiction of Valley Water Facility Naming/Renaming Requests to the Diversity & Inclusion Ad Hoc Committee.
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
A. Consider staff recommendation to assign initial review jurisdiction of Valley Water Facility Naming/Renaming requests to the Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Ad Hoc Committee; and
B. Approve staff recommendation to assign initial jurisdiction of Valley Water Facility Naming/Renaming requests to the D&I Ad Hoc Committee.
Body
SUMMARY:
As part of ongoing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at Santal Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water), staff is performing a preliminary screening of Valley Water facility and asset names. The goal is to determine if any facility merits a name reconsideration when viewed through a DEI lens. As part of this process, staff reviewed relevant Valley Water policy and guidance to ensure compliance. The Governance Policy of the Board (G.P. 3.5) states: “The Board will approve or deny nominations to name or rename District-owned land, facilities, and amenities in accordance with the Naming of District-Owned Land, Facilities, and Amenities procedure.” Administrative work procedure W-630-100, Naming of District-Owned Land, Facilities, and Amenities (Attachment 1), indicates nominators may submit naming/renaming requests directly to the Board through the Office of Communications. Nominators are defined as “[t]he Board of Directors, Advisory Committees, District staff, individual members of the public, groups or entities.” Under the current process, no Board committee is assigned to consider naming or renaming nominations or make recommendations to the Board for approval or denial.
Staff recommends that the D&I Ad Hoc Committee vet all naming/renaming requests, reviewing any proposals through a DEI lens, and then making a subsequent recommendation to the Board for approval or denial. This process adjustment supports and highlights the importance of DEI considerations at Valley Water. It also helps to ensure alignment with current agency-wide DEI initiatives and priorities already under the purview of the D&I Ad Hoc Committee.
Upon approval by the Board, staff will make corresponding changes to the administrative process included as Attachment 1. Since G.P. 3.5 incorporates this administrative process by reference, there will be no need to amend the Governance Process. In addition to updating the procedural language of the administrative process, staff will update language regarding criteria and other decision-making factors. The goal of all proposed changes to the administrative work procedure is to ensure alignment with current DEI standards and industry best practices.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IMPACT:
There is no environmental justice impact associated with this item.
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: Administrative Work Procedure W-630-100
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER:
Manager
Marta Lugo, 408-630-2237