At the Dec. 15 2020 meeting, City Council passed an ordinance that expands the role of and replaces the Housing Advisory Commission with the Human Rights and Fair Housing Commission. The ordinance also repeals and expands the current fair housing ordinance and creates a new Human Rights and Fair Housing ordinance.

The Human Rights and Fair Housing Commission will continue to serve as an advisory role to the City on fair and affordable housing issues and will expand its role to human rights issues, including recommending policies and programs. In addition, the commission will be the City’s single intake point for all discrimination complaints regardless of category (public accommodation or housing) or protected class and will provide community outreach and engagement on fair and affordable housing and human rights.

These changes are the latest in several substantial efforts made in recent years to focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. Other efforts include the revising of the City’s mission statement in 2019 to emphasize diversity and inclusiveness in the community and the hiring of a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager, which is currently underway. Upon hire, the new manager and City staff will partner with the Human Rights and Fair Housing Commission to create a work plan that incorporates current housing initiatives as well as new responsibilities. View the ordinance here.