REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Cultural Inclusion Study and Plan
Report
BACKGROUND
In adopting the 2017 "Statement on Our City Values and Public Service," the City Council affirmed its commitment to creating a culture of belonging where all members of our diverse community feel included, heard and respected, as strengths of Sunnyvale's history (Attachment 1). In doing so, the City recognized the significant role diversity plays in leading an innovation economy like Sunnyvale's.
In 2019, Council approved Study Issue LCS 19-03 - Explore Strategies to Promote Cultural Inclusion in City Programs and Services. This Study explores policies and programs to advance the City's goals for ensuring a service delivery system that is inclusive and reflective of the City's diverse communities, which included: 1) an assessment of the City's current policies, programs and resources as they relate to equity and inclusion; 2) a review of best practices and development of recommendations relative to cultural inclusion policies and programs; and 3) analysis of the costs and resources required to establish an Office of Cultural Inclusion or other, less costly, options for strengthening Sunnyvale's diversity and inclusion efforts.
During City Council's Strategic Planning Workshop on January 28, staff presented a preliminary report on Study Issue LCS 19-03. Staff provided a summary organizational assessment, highlights of best practices and cost estimates for establishing an Office of Cultural Inclusion as well as two other less costly organizational approaches. At the Workshop, Council also established Equity, Access, and Inclusion as one of six Council Policy Priorities. Individual Council members also requested additional information be included in the final Study Issue report to include an option for a pilot program, opportunities for community celebrations and continuation of Sunnyvale Unity conversations, and benchmarking neighboring cities' inclusion efforts related to s...
Click here for full text