Title
Resolution to Endorse the Reallocation of Funds within the General Fund to Support a More Robust Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program in the City of Ann Arbor
Memorandum
The Acting City Administrator is requesting City Council's endorsement for the reallocation of the Community Engagement Specialist position within the Systems Planning Unit of the Public Service Area to the Office of the City Administrator. The Community Engagement position; as well as, a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator position were both newly added positions with the approval of the Resolution to Adopt Ann Arbor City Budget and Related Property Tax Millage Rates for Fiscal Year 2022 (R-21-174) that was approved by City Council on May 17, 2021.
Community Engagement is an integral part of government operations and is a community and City Council priority. A position was added during the approval of the FY 2022 Budget to allow for increased community engagement efforts with a focus on equitable engagement work. In an effort to align this work with the City's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts, it is recommended that the position be moved from the Systems Planning Unit of the Public Services Area to the City Administrator's Office and report to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator.
This is being done as part of a wider effort to empower DEI work in the City of Ann Arbor. The City is currently re-drafting the job description for the DEI Coordinator to upgrade the position, and the Acting City Administrator will also be making part of the administrator's contingency available for use to procure external DEI consulting and training resources.
Notably, this is not a budget amendment in the traditional sense because the funds being reassigned to these efforts are all already budgeted within the City's general fund. However, City staff are requesting the City Council's endorsement of these actions to create a clear endorsement of an improved and more amb...
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