RESOLUTION NO.

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A resolution affirming the City of Spokanes commitment to gender and racial
equity, and creating a Task Force on Gender and Race Pay Equity.
WHEREAS, racial and gender-based disparities persist in employment at the City
of Spokane and across the Spokane area; and
WHEREAS, Census Bureau data for the year of 2013 revealed that women earn
80 cents for every dollar a man earns, and a preliminary report demonstrated that
women working for the City of Spokane earn 83.5 cents for every dollar a man earns,
with that number dropping when race is reviewed along with gender; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Spokane believes equity is a
cornerstone of our democracy and the actions of local government contribute to the
health and well-being of everyone in our city; and
WHEREAS, local government leadership is necessary to achieve equity in the
community, and it is also necessary for local government to work in collaboration with
regional and national partners, both within government and across sectors;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SPOKANE THAT:
Section 1. The City will convene a Task Force on Gender and Race Pay Equity
that includes a representative from:
1. Spokane City Council
2. The Civil Service Commission
3. The Human Rights Commission
4. A designee of the Mayor
5. Local 270
6. Local 29
7. M&P-B
8. Spokane Police Guild
9. YWCA
10. Greater Spokane Incorporated
11. Inland Northwest Business Alliance
12. NAACP
13. Hispanic Business/Professional Association of Spokane
14. Spokane TALL Representative
15. Spokane Tribe
16. AHANA
17. Womens Business Center INW
18. Academic/Professor with a background in Women & Gender Studies
19. Academic/Professor with a background in Economics

Section 2. The Chair of the Task Force will be the representative of the Spokane
City Council, with a co-chair determined by a majority vote of the Task Force.
Section 3. The Task Force will meet as designated by a majority vote of the
members of the Task Force.
Section 4. The Task Force will work with Human Resources and all other
necessary city departments to provide a deeper analysis of City-wide gender data,
specifically overlaying an analysis of race, age and other demographic information.
Section 5. The Task Force will establish subcommittees as necessary to focus on
specific areas and/or topics that will be included in the report.
Section 6. A preliminary report on Gender and Race Pay Equity will be issued six
months after the adoption of this resolution. The final report will be issued a maximum of
nine months after adoption of this resolution. The report will include information
specified in Section 4 as well as:
1. Recommendations on policies, practices and strategies for the Mayor and
City Council to implement at the City to decrease gender and race-based
pay disparities that includes a timeline for implementation of these
recommendations.
2. Policies, practices and strategies to use in the private sector to decrease
gender and race-based pay disparities and a plan for education and
outreach to private businesses.
Section 7. The Task Force will reconvene every six months, or as is necessary, to
track the progress of the City and private industry stakeholders in implementing
recommendations contained in the report.
ADOPTED by the City Council this ___________ May, 2015.

City Clerk

Approved as to form:

Assistant City Attorney