Subject:
Title
Ordinance amending Chapter 70, Section 403(g), of County Code relating to Human Relations and the County Council for Persons with Disabilities.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Adopt a proposed ordinance, following public comment, amending the Pinellas County Code, Chapter 70, Section 403(g), relating to Human Relations, to remove the County Administrator, County Attorney, and Director of Human Rights as “ex-Officio” members of the County Council for Persons with Disabilities.
Body
Strategic Plan:
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.1 Maximize partner relationship and public outreach
Summary:
The Board of County Commissioners (Board) amended Chapter 70 of the Pinellas County Code (Code) on March 7, 2017, to create the County Council for Persons with Disabilities (Council) to help identify issues of accessibility to County facilities, programs and services, as well as potential issues of discrimination impacting person with disabilities. Following the format of other ordinances, which have created similar boards, this ordinance names the County Administrator, the County Attorney, and the Director of Human Rights as “ex-Officio” members. In doing so, it makes it impossible for these officials to discuss business that may arise before the Council without violating “government in the sunshine” principles. Therefore, staff recommends amending this section to remove these officials as “ex-Officio” members of the Council so that they may discuss Council business between themselves, and with individual board members, as may be necessary.
Background Information:
The Board approved amending Chapter 70 of the Code relating to Human Relations to create this advisory board on March 7, 2017.
The request for authority to advertise this proposed amendment was approved by the Board on October 31, 2017.
Fiscal Impact:
N/A
Staff Member Responsible:
Paul Valenti, Director, Office of Human Rights
Brijesh Patel, Assistant County Attorney
Partners:
N/A
Attachments:
Redline ordinance
Final approved ordinance