Legislative Matter

Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 120733

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Clerk's Official Copy

File Number: 120733

File Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted

Version: 0

Reference: R-477-12

Control: Board of County Commissioners

File Name: DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN COUNTY'S WORK

Introduced: 4/5/2012

Requester: NONE

Cost:

Final Action: 6/5/2012

Agenda Date: 6/5/2012

Agenda Item Number: 11A6

Notes:

Title:

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR TO ESTABLISH A COUNTY-WIDE INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN THE COUNTY’S WORK FORCE

Indexes:

DIVERSITY

Sponsors:	Barbara J. Jordan, Prime Sponsor
	Audrey M. Edmonson, Co-Sponsor

Sunset Provision: No

Effective Date:

Expiration Date:

Registered Lobbyist:

None Listed

Legislative History
Acting Body	Date	Agenda Item	Action	Sent To	Due Date	Returned	Pass/Fail

Board of County Commissioners	6/5/2012	11A6	Adopted				P
REPORT:	Commissioner Sosa stated she supported diversity and inclusion in the County’s workforce, but her questions were whether the inclusion was being based on population percentage and if this would hurt or help minorities. Commissioner Jordan provided a brief report on the intent of the foregoing resolution. Commissioner Sosa asked what the intent of the resolution was. She said she wanted to know the specifics of the diversity plan and the task force, and she wanted to know if the opportunities would be available to all ethnic groups. Commissioner Jordan read the details of the directives that were sent to the Mayor’s Office and explained the diversity plan. Commissioner Sosa said she wanted to verify that the diversity plan was approved by the Commission prior to instructing the Mayor to create the task force. She said she approved of the item, but not the last paragraph, because it called for inclusion to be addressed on a departmental basis. Commissioner Sosa said this could hurt some minorities, because some population percentages would have to be taken into consideration. She noted inclusion should be addressed on a countywide basis instead. Commissioner Sosa recommended that changes be made to this section only. Commissioner Jordan said she felt this item was being misread as a quota, but it was not a quota. She subsequently made a motion to adopt the item as it was presented. Commissioner Bell commented that she was proud of this County’s diversity and she had seen the extent of that diversity on a daily basis. She said she feared that people would see this resolution and assume the County lacked diversity. Commissioner Bell noted that this resolution was not needed unless there was a problem. Commissioner Monestime stated that he supported the item. He then inquired whether the vendors doing business with the County followed the same rules and regulations as the County did. Commissioner Monestime said he had received several phone calls at his Commission District (DIST. 2) Office regarding a vendor at Miami International Airport that was firing blacks and hiring people of other ethnicities. He noted that he would find out the name of the vendor and follow up with the Mayor’s Office. Responding to Commissioner Monestime’s question, Assistant County Attorney Hugo Benitez stated this resolution would apply to the County’s workforce, but anti-discrimination rules for vendors were noted in the contracts.

Internal Mgmt. & Fiscal Responsibility Committee	5/8/2012	2N	Forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation				P
REPORT:	Assistant County Attorney Jess McCarty read the foregoing proposed resolution into the record. Commissioner Edmonson asked to be added as a Co-Sponsor to this item. Hearing no further comments or questions, the Committee proceeded to vote on the foregoing proposed resolution as presented.

County Attorney	4/5/2012		Assigned	Hugo Benitez		4/5/2012

County Attorney	4/5/2012		Referred	Internal Mgmt. & Fiscal Responsibility Committee	5/8/2012

Legislative Text

TITLE
RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR TO ESTABLISH A COUNTY-WIDE INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN THE COUNTY�S WORK FORCE

BODY

WHEREAS, it has long been the policy of Miami-Dade County to prohibit discrimination in employment and to foster and maintain equal employment opportunities without regard to sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, sex, pregnancy, marital status, familial status or sexual orientation; and
WHEREAS, the anti discrimination policies of Miami-Dade County are contained in Chapter 11A of the Code and Administrative Order No. 7-6; and
WHEREAS, our community and our government are at our best when we draw on the talents of all parts of our society, and our greatest accomplishments are achieved when diverse perspectives are brought to bear to overcome our greatest challenges; and
WHEREAS, to realize more fully the goal of using the talents of all segments of society, the County must continue to challenge itself to enhance its ability to recruit, hire, promote and retain a more diverse workforce, especially in these difficult economic times; and
WHEREAS, the creation of a diversity and inclusion plan will help to promote these policies and is in the best interest of the County,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that the County Mayor is hereby directed to create a coordinated County-wide initiative to promote diversity and inclusion in the County�s workforce. To accomplish this initiative, the Mayor shall develop a County-wide Diversity and Inclusion Plan (the �Diversity Plan�) to be updated as appropriate and at a minimum every 4 years, focusing on workforce diversity, workplace inclusion, and hiring accountability and leadership. The Diversity Plan shall identify comprehensive strategies to identify and remove barriers to equal opportunity that may exist in the County�s recruitment, hiring, promotion, retention, professional development and training policies and practices. The Diversity Plan shall further identify appropriate practices to improve the effectiveness of the County�s efforts to recruit, hire, promote, retain, develop and train a diverse and inclusive workforce. The Diversity Plan shall be submitted to this Board for its approval not later than ninety (90) days following the date of this resolution.
The County Mayor shall also establish a task force for purposes of advising the Mayor and this Board with respect to the Diversity Plan. The Mayor is requested to include in the task force, among others, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, a representative of the Division of Human Resources of the Internal Services Department, and the Director of the Office of Human Rights and Fair Employment Practices, or their designees. The Mayor is further requested to direct each department to designate a staff person to be in charge of carrying out the Diversity plan within the department. The Mayor shall submit an annual report to the Board updating the County�s progress in implementing the Diversity Plan.