ORD NO. 2020-23 CREATING RACE EQUITY ADVISORY COMMITTEEPage 1 of 5
ORDINANCE NO. 2020-23
AN ORDINANCE of the City of Bainbridge Island, Washington,
relating to race equity; adopting a new Chapter 2.72 of the
Bainbridge Island Municipal Code to create a standing race equity
advisory committee.
WHEREAS, on December 4, 2018, the City Council by motion created a race equity
task force to provide advice to the City Council on matters of identifying programmatic
community and legislative options to ensure that Bainbridge Island lives up to its commitment to
be an open and welcoming community for all; and
WHEREAS, the initial term of the task force was set to expire on July 1, 2019; and
WHEREAS, on June 25, 2019, the City Council by motion approved a work plan for the
task force and extended the term of the task force through December 31, 2019; and
WHEREAS, on December 10, 2019, the City Council by motion approved a 2020 work
plan for the task force and extended the term of the task force through December 31, 2020; and
WHEREAS, on August 25, 2020, the City Council by motion added several items to the
task force’s 2020 work plan and directed the City Manager to develop an ordinance to implement
the creation of a standing advisory committee related to race and equity for Council
consideration.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAINBRIDGE
ISLAND, WASHINGTON, DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. A new Chapter 2.72 of the Bainbridge Island Municipal Code (“BIMC”),
establishing a standing Race Equity Advisory Committee, is hereby adopted in its entirety as
shown on attached Exhibit A.
Section 2. The Race Equity Task Force, as created by motion of the City Council on
December 4, 2018, is hereby dissolved and its members are hereby appointed to serve on the
Race Equity Advisory Committee, created under Chapter 2.72 BIMC, for positions and initial
terms indicated in the table below:
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Position Name Term Expires
1 Brenda Fantroy-Johnson June 30, 2023
2 Eric Stahl June 30, 2023
3 James Friday June 30, 2023
4 Daryl Blackwell June 30, 2022
5 Sue Wilmot June 30, 2022
6 Savanna Rovelstad June 30, 2022
7 Peggi Erickson June 30, 2024
8 (New Position) June 30, 2024
9 (New Position) June 30, 2024
Section 3: The 2020 work plan for the Race Equity Task Force approved by the City
Council on December 10, 2019, and modified by City Council on August 25, 2020, shall become
the 2020 work plan for the Race Equity Advisory Committee.
Section 4. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force five (5) days from its passage
and publication as required by law.
PASSED by the City Council this 8th day of December, 2020.
APPROVED by the Mayor this 8th day of December, 2020.
Leslie Schneider, Mayor
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATE
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: December 4, 2020
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: December 8, 2020
PUBLISHED: December 11, 2020
EFFECTIVE DATE: December 16, 2020
ORDINANCE NUMBER: 2020-23
Exhibit A: Chapter 2.72 BIMC
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Exhibit A
Chapter 2.72
RACE EQUITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Sections:
2.72.010 Recognition.
2.72.020 Establishment and Purpose.
2.72.030 Membership and Qualifications.
2.72.035 Vacancies – Removal.
2.72.040 Duties and Responsibilities.
2.72.050 Meetings, officers, records, and quorum.
2.72.010 Recognition.
In order to dismantle systemic and structural racism within our government and community,
local leaders must commit to a long term action plan that recognizes the differences between
individual, institutional, and structural racism, as well as the history and current reality of
inequities for all marginalized groups. Failure to make and follow through with the commitment
will jeopardize the development and success of racial equity on Bainbridge Island.
2.72.020 Establishment and purpose.
A. This chapter establishes a standing race equity advisory committee, hereinafter called the
“committee,” to provide informed recommendations to the city council on programmatic,
community, and legislative options to address and rectify systemic and structural racism and bias
within government and law enforcement.
B. Working for racial equity benefits everyone. Deeply radicalized systems are costly and
depress outcomes and life chances for all groups. The goal of the committee is not to just
eliminate the gap between white people and people of color, but to increase the success for all
groups. While strategies to achieve racial equity may target the needs of a particular group, racial
equity develops goals and outcomes that will result in improvements for all groups. Systems that
are failing communities of color are actually failing all of us.
2.72.030 Membership and qualifications.
A. The committee shall consist of a maximum of nine members who shall be appointed by
the mayor and confirmed by a vote of the city council.
B. The committee shall consist of Bainbridge Island residents with experience in or a
commitment to ensuring and promoting the committee’s purpose as set forth above.
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C. Members shall serve for three-year terms, except that the existing members of the Race
Equity Task Force shall assume office and become the initial members of the committee as set
forth in Ordinance No. 2020-23, and the positions on the committee shall be staggered as
follows: (1) the terms of Positions 1, 2, and 3 shall expire on June 30, 2023; (2) the terms of
Positions 4, 5, and 6 shall expire on June 30, 2022; and (3) the terms of existing Position 7, as
well as new Positions 8 and 9, shall expire on June 30, 2024. Following the initial terms for the
nine positions, the terms shall commence on July 1 and end on June 30 three years later, based
on the staggering as above described.
D. Upon expiration of their term, a member may be reappointed to the committee for a new
term; provided that no member may serve more than three consecutive terms unless the city
council determines either that their special expertise is required or there are no other qualified
applicants. Upon expiration of their term, members shall continue to hold office until their
successor has been deemed qualified and been appointed.
E. Members shall not be employees or officers of the city. Members shall not be appointed
to another city advisory group, except for specialized advisory groups of limited duration.
F. Members shall serve without compensation.
G. Members shall sign a conflict of interest statement in accordance with the city’s code of
conduct and ethics program upon appointment and any reappointment.
2.72.035 Vacancies – Removal.
In the event of a vacancy, the mayor, subject to confirmation of the city council, shall make an
appointment to fill the unexpired portion of the term of the vacated position in accordance with
the city’s appointment cycle. The removal and resignation of members shall be governed by
Chapter 2.01 BIMC.
2.72.040 Duties and responsibilities.
A. The Committee shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
1. As directed by the city council, serve as a technical and planning advisory committee to
the city council on issues related to racism and race-related bias.
2. As directed by the city council, assist the city in implementing racial equity-related goals
and policies as expeditiously as committee and city resources allow.
3. As directed by the city council, provide advice or recommendations to the city council, as
appropriate, on methods of completing a baseline city government and police department equity
assessment of policies, staffing, contracting, and decision-making.
4. As directed by the city council, assist with or manage the completion of a baseline city
government and police department equity assessment of policies and procedures.
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5. Recommend to the city council a racial equity action plan and implementation strategy.
6. Provide advice or recommendations to the city council, as appropriate, on how to
measure progress toward implementing the city’s racial equity action plan.
7. As directed by the city council, assist the city with participation in regional racial equity
efforts.
8. Provide education and outreach to the public regarding racial equity and the work of the
committee and the city relating to racial equity.
B. Annually provide a report to the city council on committee work completed within the
last year and obtain the city council’s approval of a work plan for work to be performed by the
committee in the following year.
2.72.050 Meetings, officers, records, and quorum.
A. All meetings of the committee shall be open to the public and held in accordance with the
Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 42.30 RCW. The committee shall establish a regular meeting
schedule and announce the specific day and time each month that the committee will conduct its
regular meeting(s). The committee may schedule special meetings as necessary to conduct the
business of the committee.
B. A majority of the members then serving on the committee shall constitute a quorum.
C. The committee shall annually in July elect from among its members either a chair or one
or more co-chairs. The committee shall also annually in July elect from among its members a
secretary. Once elected, the chair or co-chairs and the secretary shall each serve a one-year term.
Demotion of a chairperson or the secretary shall be governed by Chapter 2.01 BIMC.
D. For meetings consisting of a majority of the then serving members of the committee, the
committee shall provide public notice of the meeting and shall keep a record of its meeting
minutes. Minutes of each meeting, including a record of attendance, shall be prepared by the
secretary and approved and signed at a subsequent meeting. The minutes do not need to reflect
the actual discussion, but only the formal actions taken by the committee. The approved meeting
minutes shall be posted on the city’s website.
E. The city shall provide city email accounts to committee members and related training on
the use of email accounts, including personal computer privacy expectations, while serving on
the committee.