Number
240849
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
191168
Sponsor
ALD. BURGELIS, ZAMARRIPA, DIMITRIJEVIC, BROSTOFF, BAUMAN, COGGS, AND TAYLOR
Title
Substitute resolution approving the City of Milwaukee Inclusive Facilities Policy and Procedure for all City-Owned and City-Operated Buildings and directing implementation of the Policy and Procedure by relevant City departments.
Analysis
This resolution approves, and directs the Departments of Public Works and Administration to implement, the City of Milwaukee Inclusive Facilities Policy and Procedure for all City-Owned and City-Operated Buildings, which the Equal Rights Commission approved on September 25, 2024.
Body
Whereas, The Common Council adopted File Number 191168, a resolution relating to the establishment of a gender-inclusive restroom policy for City buildings, on November 26, 2019; and
Whereas, The Equal Rights Commission approved the City of Milwaukee Inclusive Facilities Policy and Procedure for all City-Owned and City-Operated Buildings on September 25, 2024; and
Whereas, This policy consists of a five-page document with minority and fiscal impact statements, a statement of purpose, definitions, a description of the policy’s applicability and administration, a list of the policy’s six components, a prescription for policy implementation by the Departments of Public Works and Administration, and an attachment with inclusive restroom signage examples; and
Whereas, The policy’s minority impact statement indicates that “[p]eople likely to benefit include families, persons with small children, transgender persons, and persons with disabilities”, considering that Black transgender women and other transgender people of color are especially likely to experience “harassment and violence in public restrooms”; and
Whereas, The policy provides that the Departments of Public Works and Administration shall report to the Equal Rights Commission every six months regarding the status of policy implementation “until all existing relevant restrooms have been designated as inclusive restrooms, and thereafter annually to update the Commission on new construction and substantial renovations”; and
Whereas, The policy further provides that all reports from the Departments of Public Works and Administration “must be received on or before January 1 of each year to allow for [their] inclusion in the Equal Rights Commission’s annual report to the Mayor and Common Council”; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the City of Milwaukee Inclusive Facilities Policy and Procedure for all City-Owned and City-Operated Buildings is approved; and, be it
Further resolved, That the Departments of Public Works and Administration are directed to implement the Policy and Procedure swiftly, with maximum effectiveness, efficiency, and transparency.
Drafter
LRB 180162-2
Ned Littlefield
09/27/2024