ORDINANCE No. 181670

*Create Office of Human Relations and Human Rights Commission; assign Racial Profiling Committee and implementation of the Immigrant and Refugee Task Force recommendations to Office of Human Relations (Ordinance; add Code Chapters 3.128 and 3.129)

The City of Portland ordains:

Section 1.  The Council finds:

1.  By Resolution No. 36571 the Council directed the Office of Management and Finance and the City Attorney to bring forward necessary code amendments and human resources classifications to ensure the successful creation of an Office of Human Relations and an 11 to 15 member Human Rights Commission to be housed in the Office of Human Relations.

2.  Also by Resolution No. 36571 the Council indicated support for the creation of an Office of Human Relations with the appropriate funding and staffing levels to be determined through the City’s FY 2008-09 budget process.

3.  The Council has found that research supports the creation of an Office of Human Relations that will staff the Human Rights Commission and the Racial Profiling Committee, will implement the recommendations of the Immigrant and Refugee Task Force and will be available to handle other matters as the Council may from time to time assign.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:

a.  The Portland City Code is amended by adding a new chapter as follows:

Chapter 3.128 Office of Human Relations

3.128.010 Creation

There is hereby established an Office of Human Relations. The Office shall be administered by a Director to be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council. The Director shall serve at will and may be removed by the Council upon the request of the Mayor, after consideration of the recommendation of the Human Rights Commission. The Office shall have such other employees as the Council may provide. The Office shall be assigned to the Mayor’s portfolio and the Director shall report to the Mayor.

3.128.020 Functions

A. The Office shall be responsible for staffing the Human Rights Commission in accordance with policy direction and decisions from the Commission as well as such other matters and committees as Council may from time to time assign to the Office.

B. The Office shall be responsible for supporting and facilitating the Human Rights Commission’s mission of advocating for the rights of all people and for the resolution of all issues rooted in bias and discrimination through education, research, advocacy and intervention.

b.  The Portland City Code is amended by adding a new chapter as follows:

Chapter 3.129 Human Rights Commission

3.129.010 Creation

There is hereby created in the City of Portland a Human Rights Commission. The Director of the Office of Human Relations shall also serve as the Director of the Commission. The Commission shall consist of 11 to 15 members. All members shall serve without compensation. Appointments are for staggered terms of three years. No member may serve more than two consecutive three year terms. When an interim vacancy occurs, a Human Rights Commission workgroup – after consultation with the Office of Human Relations – nominates, the Mayor appoints, and the Council confirms, a member to fill the balance of the unexpired term. Members shall be appointed by the Mayor so as to provide representation from a reasonably broad spectrum of the community, including without limitation the following factors: areas of expertise, advocacy experience, community involvement, profession, education, race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, religion and geographic identification. Members must live, work, worship or be enrolled in school within the City of Portland. The Mayor may remove a member from the Commission at any time, with the recommendation of the Commission and subject to approval by the Council.

3.129.020 Mission

The Human Rights Commission shall work to eliminate discrimination and bigotry, to strengthen intergroup relationships and to foster greater understanding, inclusion and justice for those who live, work, study, worship, travel and play in the City of Portland. In doing so, the Human Rights Commission shall be guided by the principles embodied in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

3.129.030 Jurisdiction

The jurisdiction of the Commission will include all practices and incidents occurring in the City of Portland which affect people who live, work, study, worship, travel or play in the City. The Commission shall have jurisdiction to address such practices and incidents through education, research, advocacy and/or intervention, but shall not have civil rights enforcement authority.

c.  The Racial Profiling Committee is assigned to the Office of Human Relations, which shall staff the Committee.

d.  Responsibility for implementation of the recommendations of the Immigrant and Refugee Task Force is assigned to the Office of Human Relations.

e.  The process for the selection of the initial Director of the Office of Human Relations and Human Rights Commission shall be as set forth in the report, “A Framework for Action: Findings and Recommendations, Creation of Human Relations Entity for the City of Portland” accepted by the Council by Resolution No. 36571 and attached as Exhibit A to that Resolution.

f.  The process for the selection of the Commissioners of the Human Rights Commission shall be as set forth in the report, “A Framework for Action: Findings and Recommendations, Creation of Human Relations Entity for the City of Portland” accepted by the Council by Resolution No. 36571 and attached as Exhibit A to that Resolution.

g.  The process for setting Human Rights Commission priorities and goals shall be as set forth in the report, “A Framework for Action: Findings and Recommendations, Creation of Human Relations Entity for the City of Portland” accepted by the Council by Resolution No. 36571 and attached as Exhibit A to that Resolution.

h.  The Human Rights Commission may establish subcommittees or task forces as necessary to fulfill its mission.

i.  The Human Rights Commission shall report at least annually to the Council on the activities of the Human Rights Commission (to include any subcommittees or task forces as may be established) on the progress of the Commission and any recommendations to the Council for further action.

Section 2.    The Council declares that an emergency exists because the public interest will best be served if the work of the Office of Human Relations and the Human Rights Commission commences as quickly as possible; therefore this ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Council.

BACKING SHEET INFORMATION

AGENDA NO. 349-2008

ORDINANCE/RESOLUTION/COUNCIL DOCUMENT NO. 181670