12-13-2011 CC RPT 43 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Memorandum TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: DECEMBER 13, 2011 FROM: MAYOR RONALD O. LOVERIDGE ITEM NO: 43 WARDS: ALL SUBJECT: ANNUAL REAFFIRMATION OF "BUILDING A MORE INCLUSIVE RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY" STATEMENT AND DESIGNATION OF DECEMBER 17 AS RIVERSIDE'S "DAY OF INCLUSION" ISSUE: The issue is whether to reaffirm the "Building a More Inclusive Riverside Community" statement and to accept a recommendation made by the Human Relations Commission (HRC) that City Council designate December 17 as Riverside's "Day of Inclusion." RECOMMENDATION That City Council reaffirm the "Building a More Inclusive Community" statement, and designate December 17 as Riverside's "Day of Inclusion." BACKGROUND Riverside's "Building a More Inclusive Riverside Community" Statement was first conceptualized by members of the Mayor's Multicultural Forum (MMF) in 2001. The statement expresses the City's respect for diversity and the importance of inclusivity (as individuals, groups, and institutions), and frames both who we are and hope to become as a community. Developed over the course of three meetings of the MMF and then adopted by the City's Human Relations Commission on July 19, 2001, the Inclusive Community statement was adopted unanimously by the City Council on September 18, 2001, and is annually reaffirmed by Council. A framed summary of the Statement is displayed on 7 Floor of City Hall. Historically, Council has reaffirmed the Inclusive Community statement during the HRC's "Race Equality Week" (REW) celebrating the City's rich and diverse heritage. HRC in 2011 is celebrating REW around December 17, the proposed "Day of Inclusion." In 2009, the California State Assembly passed Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR) 76 designating December 17 as the annual "Day of Inclusion" in California to honor the contributions of immigrants to the United States, and California. ACR 76 was filed with the California Secretary of State on September 23, 2009. Several California cities, including Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Chico, among others, recognize or celebrate the "Day of Inclusion." 43 -1