LTC 351-2017 Motion by the LGBTQ Advisory CommitteeMIAMI BEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139, www,miamibeachfl.gov
LTC # 351-2017
LETT _ R TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Philip Levine and Members f the City mmission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: July 10, 2017
SUBJECT: Motion by the LGBTQ Advisory Committee
The purpose of this Letter to Commission (LTC) is to inform the Mayor and the Commission of a
motion made by the LGBTQ Advisory Committee at their meeting on Jun 13, 2017.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Miami Beach has achieved a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign's
(HRC) Municipality Equality Index (MEI) since 2013 and in each subsequent year that we
submitted documentation for a rating from the LGBTQ Advisory Committee. Although Miami
Beach is a self -submitting city (based on population data as per HRC), the rating is a very
important one for our reputation and standing on the LGBTQ national and international stages.
Every year, HRC becomes more stringent in their requirements for municipalities. As a result,
we are requesting a certain language change in a City ordinance where we came up short in
Iasi year's rating, even though we were able to attain a perfect score with bonus points. We
are also recommending two other topics for discussion and possible policy change and/or
inception.
REQUESTS:
1. Language in RFQ 57-11/12: City contractors; HRC is requiring that the City have a
mandate for contractor companies themselves to have in place their own non-
discrimination policies, based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
2. HRC will be requiring a City -sanctioned anti -bullying task force for 2018. The MEI's
current measurement of anti -bullying policies will be phased out in favor of a new
criterion, a task force charged with ensuring that all youth—including at -risk LGBTQ
youth— are protected from bullying in all City services, City -supported services, and
City facilities. The request is that the Commission assign said charge to the LGBTQ
Advisory Committee and that it be operated in the form of a sub -committee which
adheres to the requirements as set forth by the MEI.
3. Also in 2018, ALL -Gender -single -occupancy facilities (bathrooms) will be added to the
MEI for rating. The MEI scorecard will acknowledge municipalities that require single -
occupancy restrooms to be designated as all -gender, city-wide. By doing this, cities
will create a more inclusive environment for everyone—particularly those who identify
as transgender or gender -nonconforming.
COST:
There will be costs associated with changing single -occupancy bathrooms to all -gender, such
as signage, accessibility and other inherently logistical issues, but it is believed that the
benefits outweigh the costs, especially in regard to national/international reputation and in
terms of staying on the forefront of policy that promotes diversity, inclusivity and non-
discrimination.
MOTION:
To change the language in the RFQ 57-11/12 in order to require contractors to have their own
non-discrimination policies in place, to allow the LGBTQ Advisory Committee to operate a
subcommittee charged with an anti -bullying task force, and for the Commission to enact policy
that fulfills the guidelines of having All -gender -single -occupancy restroom facilities.
Motion Made By: Dale Stine
Motion Seconded By: Michael Bath
Motion Passed: 9-0
JLM/MTG