HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020 09 21 Discusion Item 1 - Community Dialogue Regarding City Policies & Practices • DISCUSSION ITEMS ITEM 1
,n m=ared CITY COMMISSION AGENDA I SEPTEMBER 21, 2020 WORKSHOP
1959
TITLE
Community Dialogue Regarding City Policies & Practices
SUMMARY
The City Commission adopted Resolution 2020-19 at the July 13, 2020 City
Commission Regular Meeting. Per this resolution, the City is committed to
holding an annual workshop meeting open to the public for the purposes of
assessing relevant City policies and practices. This workshop will be in the
format of a round table discussion and is to include the Mayor and City
Commission, the City Manager, the Police Chief, other relevant staff, and a
select number of citizens and businesses of Winter Springs.
From this workshop, the City Manager, or their designee, shall prepare and
deliver a written report to the Mayor and Commission identifying successful
implementation of plans and practices and also identifying areas in which the
City can improve.
This meeting will be the first workshop since the passage of the resolution.
Subsequent workshops will be held no later than June each year.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff is recommending the City Commission conduct the Community Dialogue
Workshop and discuss relevant City policies and practices with the input of
residents.
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RESOLUTION NO.2020- 1°1
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
WINTER SPRINGS, AFFIRMING THAT ALL PERSONS. ARE
CONSTITUTIONALLY GUARANTEED DUE PROCESS AND EQUAL
PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW, FREE OF RACISM AND UNJUST
AND ARBITRARY DISCRIMINATION IN ALL FORMS; STRONGLY
REJECTING RACISM AND ANY FORM OF UNJUST AND ARBITRARY
DISCRIMINATION UNDER THE LAW, AND FULLY AFFIRMING AND
SUPPORTING EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW; STRENGTHENING
THE CITY'S RESOLVE AGAINST RACISM AND ANY FORM OF
UNJUST AND ARBITRARY DISCRIMINATION UNDER THE LAW BY
ESTABLISHING A TRANSPARENT AND PUBLIC PROCESS FOR THE
MAYOR, CITY COMMISSION AND. THE CITIZENS OF WINTER
SPRINGS TO ASSESS THE CITY'S RELATED POLICIES AND
PRACTICES AND ENGAGE IN A PRODUCTIVE COMMUNITY
DIALOGUE FOR THE OVERALL BETTERMENT OF THE
COMMUNITY; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF PRIOR INCONSISTENT
RESOLUTIONS, SEVERABILITY, AND AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE
DATE.
WHEREAS, this Resolution is the collective expression of the Mayor and City
Commission as the governing body of the City of Winter Springs pursuant to the City Charter and
Ordinances; and
WHEREAS, Article I, Section 2 of the Florida Constitution provides that all natural
persons, female and male alike, are equal before the law; and
WHEREAS, the 14d'Amendment of the United States Constitution provides that no state
shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws; and
WHEREAS, under these fundamental principles, and history of Federal and State equal
rights laws, all persons are constitutionally guaranteed due process and equal protection under the
law, free of racism and unjust and arbitrary discrimination in all forms; and
WHEREAS,since the creation of the City of Winter Springs in 1959,each and all Mayors
and Commissioners, as well as each and all Winter Springs Law Enforcement Officers,of the City
have taken an oath of office to support, protect and defend the Constitutions of the United States
and State of Florida; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission strongly reject racism and any form of
unjust and arbitrary discrimination under the law, and fully support equal justice under the law;
and
WHEREAS,the Mayor and City Commission also desire to express, as a matter of policy
and practice of the City, the City's commitment to continuously and vigorously strengthen and
foster within the organization and community at large human dignity, equality, diversity,
inclusivity and equal justice under the law; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission recognize the substantial efforts regularly
being made by the City Manager and all City Departments to evaluate, improve and implement
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policies and practices to continuously afford all persons due process and equal protection under
the law, free of racism and unjust and arbitrary discrimination, and to foster human dignity,
equality, diversity,inclusivity and equal justice within the organization; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission desire to strengthen the City's resolve
against racism and any form of unjust and arbitrary discrimination under the law by establishing a
transparent and public process for the Mayor,City Commission and the citizens to assess the City's
related policies and practices; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission hereby finds this Resolution is in the best interests of
the City of Winter Springs and its officials, employees and citizens.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS,SENUNOLE COUNTY,FLORIDA,THAT:
Section 1. Recitals. The foregoing recitals are hereby adopted as material
provisions of this Resolution and deemed fully incorporated herein by this reference.
Section 2. Annual Public Assessment hLthe 2lgl2Land,Cit LCommission.
A. No later than June of each year,the City of Winter Springs shall conduct an annual
assessment to evaluate how well the City is implementing policies and practices consistent with
this Resolution.
B. The annual assessment shall be conducted by the Mayor and City Commission at a
duly scheduled workshop meeting open to the public. The workshop will be conducted in a round
table format consisting of the Mayor, City Commissioners and a select number of citizens and
businesses of Winter Springs and such other persons deemed to be a relevant stakeholder in the
Winter Springs community chosen by the City Manager and City Commission. During the
workshop meeting,the City Manager,Chief of Police,and other management personnel designated
by the City Manager will initially report on said policies and practices for purposes initiating and
engaging in a productive roundtable dialogue for the overall betterment of the community. An
opportunity for public input shall also be provided.
C. After considering the dialogue occurring at the workshop meeting and such other
relevant and appropriate considerations, the City Manager shall prepare and deliver a written
annual report to the Mayor and City Commission at a duly held regular meeting open to the public.
The annual report will identify areas in which the City has successfully implemented the plans and
practices and identify areas in which the City can improve in the implementation of such policies
and practices. The annual report shall include an action plan that includes a schedule and
budgetary considerations for implementing improvements to the City's policies and practices.
Section 3. Severability. If any section,subsection,sentence,clause,phrase,word,or
portion of this Resolution is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent
jurisdiction, whether for substantive or procedural reasons, such portion shall be deemed a
separate, distinct, and independent provision, and such holding shall not affect the validity of the
remaining portions of this Resolution.
City of Winter Springs
Resolution No.2020-
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Section 4. RgRgql of Prior Inconsistent Resolutions.All prior resolutions or parts of
resolutions in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of the conflict.
Section 5. Effective Date. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon
its adoption by the City Commission of the City of Winter Springs, Florida.
RESOLVED by the City Commission of the City of Winter Springs, in a regular meeting
assembled on the 131 day of July,2020.
CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS,FLORIDA
' LA I OR
LA
ATTEST:
CHRISTA GOWAN, CITY CLERK
",et
GC
Approved as to legal form and sufficiency for
The C f Winter Springs only:
............
T ONY A. GARGANESE,CITY ATTORNEY
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/W
City of Winter Springs
Resolution No.2020-
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