HomeMy WebLinkAboutAmendment B - Resolution Declaring Racism as a Public Health Crisis
Department Name: Administration
Cost Center: 1001
For Agenda of: June 16, 2020
Placement: Consent
Estimated Time: N/A
FROM: Derek Johnson, City Manager
Prepared By: Victoria Tonikian, Interim Executive Assistant to the City Manager / Fiscal Officer
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS DECLARE
RACISM A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
RECOMMENDATION
Consider adoption of a Resolution, entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of San
Luis Obispo, California affirming that racism is a public health crisis and recommending Public
Health Officials declare Racism a public health emergency.” (Attachment A)
DISCUSSION
The recent deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Sean Reed, Tony McDade,
Meagan Hockaday, and we grieve with their families and know there are many more whose names
we do not know. The recent deaths have energized activism, advocacy, and protests that have
developed across the country have created a groundswell to declare racism as a public health crisis.
The resolution would accomplish two primary purposes 1) A formal city affirmation of the well-
documented premise that systemic racism has manifested itself as a public health crisis and 2) A
request that public health officials who possess the authority to declare public health emergencies
declare systemic racism and its ongoing effects to be an emergency, which could provide for
opportunities to direct needed funding and resources to the crisis.
Background
The City Council has expressed a commitment to making San Luis Obispo a welcoming, inclusive,
and safe community for everyone, and to promoting free thought and speech, while condemning
racism, hate speech, bigotry, violence, and prejudice. As a part of the adoption of the City’s 2019-
2021 Major City Goals, the City Council also set a vision of a dynamic community embracing its
future while respecting its past with core values of civility, sustainability, diversity, inclusivity,
regionalism, partnership, and resiliency as a guide to approaching the work of the Major City
Goals. This vision has been a guide over the past year as the City approaches each project through
the lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Although the City has committed to this decision-making framework, we recognize that there is
always more work to be done to sharpen and to bring into focus that lens. At the June 2, 2020 City
Council meeting, the City Council approved the 2020-21 Financial Plan Supplement and Budget
Appropriations. As part of the adoption of the 2020-21 Meta Goal, the City Council adopted eight
guiding principles to help guide the implementation of the tasks outlined in the Meta Goal.
Amendment Item B
The eighth principle reads: “The city recognizes that social and economic inequality is embedded
in our systems and culture, and that recovery must integrate deep structural transition to support
the well-being and empowerment of marginalized communities.”
The proposed resolution for Council’s consideration makes a commitment to stand in solidarity
with the community of San Luis Obispo to affirm the City’s recognition of racism as a public
health crisis and urge formal action by other governmental entities with jurisdiction over such
emergencies.
Policy Context
This recommendation is supported by the City Council’s commitment to core values of civility,
sustainability, diversity, inclusivity, regionalism, partnership, and resiliency as adopted as part of
the City’s 2019-2021 Major City Goals.
Public Engagement
In the last two weeks, the City Council has received over 1,500 pieces of correspondence regarding
the recent tragedies against George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Sean Reed, Tony
McDade, Meagan Hockaday, and others and the ensuing activism, advocacy, and protests that have
developed across the country. Additionally, staff has been in contact with R.A.C.E Matters SLO
and the NAACP of SLO County regarding actions the City can take to address racism in our
community.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The California Environmental Quality Act does not apply to the recommended action in this report,
because the action does not constitute a “Project” under CEQA Guidelines Sec. 15378.
FISCAL IMPACT
Budgeted: No Budget Year:
Funding Identified: N/A
Fiscal Analysis:
Funding Sources
Total Budget
Available
Current Funding
Request
Remaining
Balance
Annual
Ongoing Cost
General Fund N/A
State
Federal
Fees
Other:
Total N/A
There are no fiscal impacts associated with the Council’s affirmation or adopting a resolution
recommending that Public Health Officials declare racism a public health crisis.
Amendment Item B
ALTERNATIVES
The City Council can choose not to adopt the proposed resolution. This action is not advised as
recognizing the need for formal recognition of the impacts of systemic racism and funding to
advance diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives is imperative to stand in solidarity with our
community and local organizations.
Attachments:
a – Draft Resolution
Amendment Item B
R ______
RESOLUTION NO. _____ (2020 SERIES)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS
OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, AFFIRMING THAT RACISM IS A PUBLIC
HEALTH CRISIS AND URGING PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS
DECLARE RACISM A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, the Declaration of Independence defined the United States of America as a
democracy based on the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and
government by the consent of the people; and the 14th Amendment instilled equality of the races
into the US Constitution; and
WHEREAS, from slavery to Jim Crow laws to the modern criminal justice system, Black
people in this country have been brutalized and dehumanized for centuries; and
WHEREAS, the struggles of Black people have been highlighted most recently by
alarming findings that Black Americans are dying from COVID-19 at a much higher rate compared
to White Americans due to the effects of systemic, structural racism; and
WHEREAS, in the 21st Century, Black people in America continue to live in fear of losing
their lives at the hands of abusive elements of law enforcement or members of white supremacist
groups; and
WHEREAS, numerous acts of racism and resulting death continue to plague our country
despite many pleas for change; and
WHEREAS, the recent acts of racisms have sparked advocacy, activism, and protests
across the country with groups such as Black Lives Matter demanding action be taken to end the
social, economic, political, health and educational disparities that have manifested in numerous
acts of violence and homicide against black people and other members of underserved
communities; and
WHEREAS, in alignment with the goal of creating a safe and welcoming community, we
value human rights, peace, respect, inclusivity and equity, and recognize that we derive strength
from our diversity.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo
as follows:
SECTION 1. The City Council hereby affirms that racism is a public health crisis.
SECTION 2. The City Council is committed to making San Luis Obispo a welcoming,
inclusive, and Safe community for everyone. While we promote free thought and speech, we
condemn racism and brutality, hate speech, bigotry, violence, and prejudice in any form.
Amendment Item B
Resolution No. _____ (2020 Series) Page 2
R ______
SECTION 3. The City Council is committed to standing in solidarity with the people of
San Luis Obispo and the Black Lives Matter movement and is dedicated to creating a community
where all people can safely, freely, and fully engage in our democracy.
SECTION 4. The City Council requests that Public Health Officials declare systemic
racism and its public health manifestations to be a public health emergency.
Upon motion of _______________________, seconded by _______________________,
and on the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
The foregoing resolution was adopted this _____ day of _____________________ 2020.
____________________________________
Mayor Heidi Harmon
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_____________________________________
J. Christine Dietrick
City Attorney
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City
of San Luis Obispo, California, on _____________________.
____________________________________
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
Amendment Item B