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The duties and responsibilities of the Social Equity and Racial Justice Commission shall be as follows:

A. To serve as an advisory body to the City Manager and City Council, with the same authority as other City commissions to define problems in City policies or governance, specify remedies, and partner with community organizations to implement those remedies upon City Manager or City Council approval.

B. To encourage understanding and celebration of the diversity of the City’s population and visitors.

C. To promote amicable intergroup relations within the City.

D. To provide or facilitate human rights education and training opportunities for policymakers and the general public.

E. To foster increased economic opportunities for Black, Indigenous, people of color, LGBTQ+, and disabled persons, as well as other marginalized persons in the Ashland community.

F. To consult with other City advisory bodies and non-City entities on matters of mutual interest in the course of developing Commission recommendations.

G. To engage at least every two (2) years a broad spectrum of community members in gathering information on emerging issues and needs as they relate to human rights and intergroup relations.

H. An individual may approach the Commission regarding a specific instance of prejudice, discrimination, or racism. If there is a mutual agreement from all parties involved in the incident, then the Commission shall arrange for impartial, nonbinding, collaborative conciliatory services that do not conflict with the functions of any other government body. If any party involved in the incident does not want to engage in conciliatory services, then the aggrieved individual will be referred to qualified sources of impartial advice and counsel.

I. To deliver to the Council annual reports on its activities and accomplishments in the preceding year and to provide to the Council for its approval the Commission’s priorities for the succeeding year and the Commission’s draft workplan for developing recommendations on:

1. Identifying and rectifying historic and contemporary systemic and systematic practices of racism, homophobia, sexism, classism, and other racial and social inequities impacting Black, Indigenous, people of color, LGBTQ+, and disabled persons, as well as other marginalized persons in the Ashland community.

2. Proposed policies, measures and practices to bring about social and racial equity and a greater inclusion for all who live, work, or visit in the City. (Ord. 3197 § 1, added, 05/04/2021)