Alameda County Municipal Code Ch. 2.32 Human Relations Department

There is in the county a human relations department, hereafter in this chapter referred to as the department.

(Prior admin. code § 5-13.01)

The public policy of the county is to create an environment in which all men, women and children of the county, no matter where they live, may learn, work, and play in harmony; in which each person may realize the highest potential unhampered by any discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, immigrant status, gender, age, actual or perceived sexual orientation, and mental or physical disabilities protected by the Americans With Disabilities Act.

(Ord. 97-7 § 1 (part): prior admin. code § 5-13.02)

There is in the department a human relations commission consisting of sixteen members to be appointed in each case by the board of supervisors as follows: each board member will nominate three members and the Alameda County mayors' conference will nominate one member.

(Prior admin. code § 5-13.03)

Commissioners shall be residents of the county who have shown themselves qualified to implement effectively the public policy announced in this chapter.

(Prior admin. code § 5-13.04)

Each commissioner shall be appointed for a three-year term and shall serve until his successor is appointed and qualified, except that the board of supervisors shall make some terms shorter than the three years in order that the terms will be staggered so that in any three successive years, five terms will expire each of the first two years and six terms will expire the third year. The terms shall expire at the time and in the same relative order as to each member of the commission as the term for which he holds office before this chapter takes effect. The person appointed to any vacancy shall serve for the unexpired term of the person he succeeds.

(Prior admin. code § 5-13.05)

The commission shall annually select one of the members to serve as chairman.

(Prior admin. code § 5-13.06)

A majority of the commissioners currently appointed to seats on the commission shall constitute a quorum.

(Prior admin. code § 5-13.07)

The commission shall adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of its business, and any such rules and regulations shall be published and made available to the public.

(Prior admin. code § 5-13.09)

The duty of the commission is to implement throughout the county the public policy announced herein. To this end, the commission shall, among other things:

A. Foster mutual understanding, respect and good will among the county's various racial, ethnic, religious, nationality, and immigrant groups, irrespective of status, gender, age, actual or perceived sexual orientation, and mental or physical disabilities;

B. Seek by persuasion and conference to arrive at voluntary solutions designed to discourage and prevent any and all discriminations based upon race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, immigrant status, gender, age, actual or perceived sexual orientation, and mental or physical disabilities in housing, employment, education, health care, public safety, and other services;

C. Conduct educational programs and hearings;

D. Locate and anticipate potential areas of friction that might erupt into a breech of peace, and consult and advise with groups and public officials who can assist in the resolution of the issues;

E. Initiate and enlist the cooperation of various organizations committed to eliminating prejudice and discrimination;

F. Cooperate in the area of human relations with federal, state, municipal and other governmental agencies;

G. Evaluate the employment and business practices of various county departments as well as their use of vendors, contractors and consultants, and report its findings to the board of supervisors;

H. Make recommendations regarding legislation to the board of supervisors and to the various governmental agencies in the county in the area of human relations;

I. Submit an annual report of its activity to the board of supervisors;

J. Receive and investigate complaints regarding alleged discrimination; and

K. Request the issuance of a subpoena by the board of supervisors, requiring the production of oral and/or documentary evidence that is reasonably necessary and relevant to the conduct of any commission hearings. Subpoenas shall be issued, served and return made thereon, as provided in Government Code Sections 25170—25176.

(Ord. 97-7 § 1 (part): prior admin. code § 5-13.10)

The executive officer of the department is the executive director, appointed by the director of social services. In making an appointment, the director of social services may seek the advice of the human relations commission.

(Prior admin. code § 5-13.11)

The executive director shall be a person professionally experienced in intergroup relations.

(Prior admin. code § 5-13.12)

The executive director shall be responsible directly to the commission. It shall be the function of the commission to determine policy within the framework of this chapter, and it shall be the function of the executive director and staff to carry out commission policy.

(Prior admin. code § 5-13.13)

The board of supervisors may, at the request of the commission, direct county departments to cooperate with the commission to aid it in the performance of its duties.

(Prior admin. code § 5-13.14)

The purpose of this chapter is to set forth the responsibilities and functions of the human relations commission. None of the language in this chapter shall be construed to affect the hiring or personnel policies of the county; nor shall this chapter affect the county's affirmative action programs.

(Prior admin. code § 5-13.15)