HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 4657-08-2016 A Resolution
NO. 4657-08-2016
APPROVING AMENDMENTS TO THE FORT WORTH HUMAN RELATIONS
COMMISSION BYLAWS; DISSOLVING THE MAYOR'S COMMITTEE ON PERSONS
WITH DISABILITIES AS A STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH
AND TRANSFERRING ITS FUNCTIONS TO A STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE FORT
WORTH HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
WHEREAS, on May 12, 1981, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 776 establishing the
Mayor's Committee for Employment of the Handicapped and appointed a dedicated group of citizen
volunteers, service providers and employers to work togethcr to ensure that all persons with disabilities
have full access and opportunity in life; and
WHEREAS, on January 17, 1995, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2034 changing the
name of the Mayor's Committee for Employment of the Handicapped to the Mayor's Committee on
Persons with Disabilities in recognition of the Committee's broad involvement in disability issues; and
WHEREAS, on October 12, 2004, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 3132 formally
expanded the Committee by resolution to include representative from not more than twenty-seven
service providers, Fort Worth employers, and citizens; and
WHEREAS, on July 27, 2010, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 3907-07-2010 reducing
the number of committee members to fifteen to provide for more consistency with other City boards and
commissions and more effective relationships with other entities with the same mission and purpose
such as community based non-profit providers, the City of Fort Worth Human Relations Commission,
the Human Resources Disability Employment Coordinator Program and the City's fair employment, fair
housing and equal access to public accommodations programs; and
WHEREAS, on May 3, 2016, the City Council was presented an Informal Report
recommending the consolidation of diversity, accessibility and inclusion committees and programs,
including the Mayor's Committee on Persons with Disabilities, under the auspice of the Fort Worth
Human Relations Commission to promote efficiencies, reduce duplicate efforts, share resources and
provide better customer service to both our internal and external customers; and
WHEREAS, the Fort Worth Human Relations Commission is charged with recommending to
the City Council and City Manager measures designed to eliminate prejudice and discrimination and to
promote and encourage communications between groups interested in bettering our community; and
WHEREAS, the Fort Worth Human Relations Commission has adopted bylaws outlining
standing committees responsible for those areas of Commission interest and concern related to housing,
employment and community relations; and
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WHEREAS, during the May 9, 2016, special called Commission meeting, the Commission
received information about consolidating diversity, accessibility and inclusion committees and programs
under the Fort Worth Human Relations Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Commission's current standing committees do not specifically address general
diversity, inclusion and disability issues; and
WHEREAS, the Commission's current Standing Committee on Community Relations has an
ambiguous title that does not actually describe the purpose of this standing committee, which is to
address disability issues as related to public accommodations; and
WHEREAS, during the June 28, 2016, regular meeting of the Commission, the Commission
voted on amending its bylaws to reflect the consolidation of diversity, accessibility and inclusion
committees and programs under the Fort Worth Human Relations Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Commission's mission to a) recommend to the City Council and the City
Manager measures designed to eliminate prejudice and discrimination, and b) to promote and encourage
communications between and cooperation of all groups interested in bettering community relations
cannot be realized without addressing general diversity, inclusion and disability concerns;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
WORTH, TEXAS:
That in fulfillment of its duty to ensure that all people who live and work within the City of Fort Worth
are treated equally,
SECTION 1. The Fort Worth Human Relation Commission advises the Mayor and City
Council to adopt the following amendments made by the Fort Worth Human Relations Commission to
its bylaws including: 1) elimination of the Standing Committee on Community Relations, 2) addition of
the Mayor's Committee on Persons with Disabilities as a standing committee, and 3) addition of a
standing committee on Diversity and Inclusion, and other edits as follows:
Article VI, Section 4. Duties and Responsibilities. A.
A. Chairperson. The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Commission and
Executive Committee; shall have the authority to determine the method of
appointment, whether by Chair appointment, appointment by motion, or ballot
election to all Standing Committees; shall have the authority to designate persons to
Ad Hoc Committees; shall be responsible for all the general administration of the
Commission's affairs, and the implementation of its recommendations, resolutions
and policies before the public; and shall have, hold and exercise such powers and
perform such duties as provided for herein or by the Executive Committee.
FORTWOffli
Article VII, Section 2. Standing Committees.
The Standing Committees of the Commission are: Executive, Employment, Housing,
Diversity and Inclusion, Mayor's Committee on Persons with Disabilities and
Administrator's Evaluation Committee. Each Commissioner shall serve on at least one
Standing Committee.
Article VII, Section 3. Duties and Responsibilities. A. 5.
5. Receipt and review of Commissioner application(s) for consideration of appointment
to the Commission. The Executive Committee shall present the proposed slate of
Commissioner candidate(s), along with their recommendation(s), to the full
Commission for consideration. The final recommendation(s) of the Commission will
then be forwarded to the Human Relations Administrator and then routed per City of
Fort Worth Administrative Regulation: Nomination of At-Large Members for Certain
Boards, Commissions, and Committees.
Article VII, Section 3. Duties and Responsibilities. C.
C. The Housing Committee shall be primarily responsible for those areas of Commission
interest including, but not limited to, the general provision of safe, sanitary, and
adequate housing as well as equal access to housing for all citizens through the
administration of the Fair Housing Ordinance for Fort Worth and shall, subject to the
Commission's approval and the provisions of the Fair Housing Ordinance, initiate
such other actions deemed appropriate. The composition of the Housing Committee
shall include only duly appointed Commission Members of the Fort Worth Human
Relations Commission. The Chair of the Housing Committee also serves as the Chair
of the Fort Worth Human Relations Commission's Hearing Panel which is given the
responsibility to hear and make recommendations regarding complaints of
discrimination in accordance with the Hearing Panel procedures and the City of Fort
Worth's Fair Housing ordinance or applicable federal law.
Article VII, Section 3. Duties and Responsibilities. D.
D. The Mayor's Committee on Persons with Disabilities shall be primarily responsible
for those areas of Commission interest including, but not limited to, disability
concerns including accessibility and accommodations, and shall, subject to the
Commission's approval identify activities to promote equal opportunity for Fort
Worth disabled residents, provide education on disability topics, and initiate such
other actions as deemed appropriate. The Chair of the Mayor's Committee on
Persons with Disabilities shall be responsible for setting the date, time and place for
Committee meetings, preparing agendas, presiding over the Committee meetings and
reporting back on the work of the Committee to the full Fort Worth Human Relations
Commission.
Article VII, Section 3. Duties and Responsibilities. E.
E. The Committee on Diversity and Inclusion shall be primarily responsible for those
areas of Commission interest including, but not limited to, diversity and inclusion,
and shall, subject to the Commission's approval identify activities to celebrate Fort
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Worth's rich culture and diversity by creating opportunities for dialogue, promoting
equity and inclusion, providing education on diversity topics to both City employees
and residents and initiate such other actions as deemed appropriate. The Chair of the
Committee on Diversity and Inclusion shall be responsible for setting the date, time
and place for Committee meetings, preparing agendas, presiding over Committee
meetings and reporting back on the work of the Committee to the full Fort Worth
Human Relations Commission.
Article VII, Section 4. Composition of Committees. B.
B. Standing Committees. Unless otherwise specified in Section 3: Duties and
Responsibilities, all Standing Committees shall be composed of a minimum of one
Commission Member appointed by the Commission Chairperson. Additional
members of standing committees may include additional Commission members, as
well as members from the Fort Worth community who have an interest in the mission
of the Fort Worth Human Relations Commission's purpose and mission.
Article VIII, Section 1. Commission Meetings. A.
A. Regular and Special Called Meetings. Regular meetings of the Commission shall be
held at such times and places as determined by the Commission and as specified in
the posted agenda. Special called meetings may, upon proper notice, be held at any
time and may be called by the Chairperson, or at the request of a quorum of
Commission Members.
SECTION 2. With the establishment of the Mayor's Committee on Persons with Disabilities as
a standing committee of the Fort Worth Human Relations Commission, the City Council hereby repeals
in their entirety Resolution Nos. 776, 2034, 3132, and 3907-07-2010, thereby dissolving the Mayor's
Committee on Persons with Disabilities as a standing committee of the City of Fort Worth.
Adopted this 2nd day of August, 2016. Af oftr 44
40 p
ATTEST. % 0� * 0 �a
By:
Mary J. Kayser, City Secretary
ba outi
City of Fort Worth, Texas
Mayor and Council Communication
COUNCIL ACTION: Approved on 8/2/2016 - Resolution No. 4657-08-2016
DATE: Tuesday, August 2, 2016 REFERENCE NO.: G-18790
LOG NAME: 022016MCPWD
SUBJECT:
Adopt Resolution Approving Amendments to the Bylaws of the Fort Worth Human Relations Commission,
Establishing the Mayor's Committee on Persons with Disabilities as a Standing Committee of the Fort
Worth Human Relations Commission and Repealing Resolutions Nos. 776, 2034, 3132 and 3907-07-2010,
Thereby Dissolving the Mayor's Committee on Persons with Disabilities as a Standing Committee of the
City of Fort Worth (ALL COUNCIL DISTRICTS)
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council adopt the attached Resolution:
1. Approving amendments made by the Fort Worth Human Relations Commission to its bylaws, including
establishment of the Mayor's Committee on Persons with Disabilities as a standing committee of the Fort
Worth Human Relations Commission; and
2. Repealing resolutions Nos. 776, 2034, 3132 and 3907-07-2010, thereby dissolving the Mayor's
Committee on Persons with Disabilities as a standing committee of the City of Fort Worth, with those
responsibilities now transferred to the new standing committee of the Fort Worth Human Relations
Commission.
DISCUSSION:
The Mayor's Committee on Persons with Disabilities was originally established by Resolution No. 776 on
May 12, 1981, to promote and support programs and activities for employment of the handicapped.
Resolution No. 2034 was adopted by Council on January 17, 1995, changing the title from the Mayor's
Committee for the Employment of Persons with Disability to the Mayors Committee on Persons with
Disabilities. Resolutions No. 3132 and Resolution No. 3907-07-2010, adopted on October 12, 2004 and
July 27, 2010, respectively, reorganized the Mayor's Committee on Persons with Disabilities.
On May 3, 2016, the City Council was presented an Informal Report recommending the consolidation of
diversity, accessibility and inclusion committees and programs, including the Mayors' Committee on
Persons with Disabilities and the City's Diversity Advisory Committee, under the auspice of the Fort Worth
Human Relations Commission to promote efficiencies, reduce duplicative efforts, share resources and
provide better customer service to both our internal and external customers.
On May 9, 2016, during a special called meeting of the Fort Worth Human Relations Commission, the
Commission was presented information proposing consolidation of the diversity, accessibility and inclusion
committees and programs under their auspice. With an affirmative vote, the Commission approved
recommending to City Council the consolidation of the diversity, accessibility and inclusion committees
and programs under the Commission. The recommendations to City Council, include: 1) the elimination of
the Standing Committee on Community Relations, 2) the addition of Mayor's Committee on Persons with
Disabilities as a standing committee of the Commission, and 3) the addition of a standing committee on
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Diversity and Inclusion under the Commission.
On June 28, 2016, the Fort Worth Human Relations Commission approved amendments to its bylaws
related to transferring the City's Diversity Advisory Committee and Mayor's Committee on Persons with
Disabilities under the auspice of the Commission as standing committees. These amendments must be
approved by the City Council to become effective. Also at the meeting, the Commission recommended
that the City Council adopt a resolution 1) approving the amendments to the Fort Worth Human Relations
Commission bylaws, and 2) dissolving the Mayor's Committee on Persons with Disabilities as a standing
committee of the City of Fort Worth, with its responsibilities transferred to the new standing committee of
the Fort Worth Human Relations Commission.
If the resolution is approved by City Council, and understanding the challenges related to the transfer of
the Mayor's Committee on Persons with Disabilities responsibilities to a standing committee under the Fort
Worth Human Relations Commission, the Commission plans to host a retreat in August 2016 to include
members of the Fort Worth Human Relations Commission, the current membership of the Diversity
Advisory Committee, and the current membership of the City's Mayor's Committee on Persons with
Disabilities. The retreat will be facilitated by the City's Performance Office and will focus on membership
transition, identification of expectations, team building and more.
This M&C does not request approval of a contract with a business entity.
FISCAL INFORMATION / CERTIFICATION:
The Director of Finance certifies that approval of this Agreement will have no material effect on the Fiscal
Year 2016 budget. While no current year impact is anticipated from this action, any effect on expenditures
and revenues will be budgeted in future Fiscal Years and will be included in the long term forecast.
FUND IDENTIFIERS (FIDs):
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CERTIFICATIONS:
Submitted for City Manager's Office by. Fernando Costa (6122)
Originating Department Head: Angela Rush (6155)
Additional Information Contact: Tracy Bancroft Lasseter (8988)
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