(a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
"Equity" means outcomes and processes that result in fair and just access to opportunity and resources that provide everyone the ability to thrive.
"Racial Equity Action Plan" means a multi-year strategic plan aiming to achieve equity and racial justice.
"Racial justice" means the elimination of racial inequality and advancement of collective prosperity for communities that have been most negatively impacted because of their race or ethnicity.
"Sister agencies" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 1-23-010.
(b) There is hereby established the Mayor's Office of Equity and Racial Justice, which shall have the mission to:
(1) provide oversight and guidance for systematic reform of processes, practices, and functions for the City aimed at advancing equity in service delivery, resource distribution, policy creation, community engagements, and other government business on behalf of residents;
(2) build capacity of City employees to advance equity in their core work by developing, utilizing, and promoting best and promising practices and strategies; and
(3) strengthen, repair, and empower relationships between community members, private sector stakeholders, and government officials by developing, implementing, and leading engagements and initiatives aimed at advancing equity.
(c) The Office of Equity and Racial Justice shall be led by a Chief Equity Officer, who shall direct the Office in carrying out the following duties and responsibilities:
(1) to develop and coordinate the implementation and maintenance of:
(A) a coordinated and comprehensive equity and racial justice strategy for the City aimed at combating systemic racism and addressing the root causes of racial and social inequity throughout the City's government and across the City;
(B) racial equity action plans created by each City department to articulate and guide strategy aimed at advancing equity and making it a permanent pillar in all departmental workstreams;
(i) All departments, unless directly exempted by the Chief Equity Officer, shall complete a racial equity action plan and report progress annually to the Chief Equity Officer;
(C) trainings, professional development, and technical assistance on equity and racial justice for City staff;
(2) to enter into grant agreements, cooperation agreements, and other agreements or contracts with governmental entities, private business, and civic and community groups to implement social and racial equity programs;
(3) to research and plan processes, resources, and practices that will advance equity in how the City provides services and resources to residents;
(4) to educate and communicate to City departments, other governmental bodies, advisory councils, community and civic organizations, and the public regarding the status and progress of the City's equity efforts, as well as opportunities available to advance progress and innovation;
(5) to monitor and provide written annual status and progress reporting of City departments' racial equity action plans to the Mayor, City Council, and residents as part of the City's budget process each fiscal year;
(6) to collaborate and partner with sister agencies, advisory councils, community and civic organizations, and the public in developing policies, initiatives, and planning efforts aimed at advancing equity and racial justice;
(7) to collaborate with relevant departments and entities as needed. Non-limiting examples of such collaboration include:
(A) the Office of Budget and Management to obtain relevant departmental data and information, and produce and publish reports to the Mayor, City Council, and members of the public;
(B) the Department of Public Health to secure relevant research and data, collaborate and develop research and analysis, jointly seek federal and philanthropic resources, and develop and implement of tools and best practices, such as health and racial equity impact assessments;
(C) the Department of Human Resources to access and analyze workforce data for equity dashboards and reporting, and develop workforce diversity and inclusion strategies;
(D) the Department of Procurement Services to access and analyze contracting data as it relates to diversity of contractors and vendors, particularly M.B.E. and W.B.E., as these terms are defined in Section 2-92-420 or Section 2-92-670, as appropriate, data and information, and in partnership with the Contracting Equity officer support the development and execution of procurement diversity and inclusion strategies;
(8) to hire additional officers and employees according to applicable City hiring laws.
(d) The Mayor shall ensure sufficient funding for the Office of Equity and Racial Justice to faithfully and fully execute these requirements.
(Added Coun. J. 11-7-22, p. 54948, Art. I, § 1)
Editor's note – Coun. J. 10-3-01, p. 68130, § 1, repealed former § 2-4-100, which pertained to city newspapers furnished to mayor.