R113231
City Council Meeting: March 13, 2021 Santa Monica, California
RESOLUTION NUMBER (CCS)
(City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
CALLING ON THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA TO APPROVE AN AUDIT OF ALL PERSONNEL POLICIES AND
PRACTICES OF THE METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA
WHEREAS, The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) was
established by the California Legislature in 1928 through the Metropolitan Water District
Act; and
WHEREAS, the MWD is a regional wholesaler that provides water for 26
member public agencies to deliver, either directly or through their sub-agencies, to
nearly 19 million people living in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San
Diego and Ventura counties; and
WHEREAS, MWD is governed by a 38-member Board of Directors, representing
each of the district's 26 member agencies. Each member agency is represented by one
or more directors based on the assessed property valuation of its jurisdiction. The board
is responsible for establishing and administering Metropolitan's policies and upholding
the articles in the MWD Act; and
WHEREAS, recent news reports have brought to light the alleged harassment,
bullying and discrimination that women and LGBTQ people who participated in the
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apprenticeship program at MWD have been experiencing. The apprentice program was
designed to create opportunities for women in what had long been a male-dominated
workplace; and
WHEREAS, these employees have reported that district officials dismissed their
complaints and failed to discipline those responsible for harassment, thereby creating a
workplace culture that tolerates and even enables sexual harassment; and
WHEREAS, on October 27, 2020, the MWD initiated an independent
investigation to review these matters, however, there is lingering concern that the
investigation will be rushed and ineffective in addressing these systemic issues; and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica has a long and proud history of promoting
equitable policies that protect our residents, environment, communities, and way of life
that depends on tolerance and inclusiveness; and
WHEREAS, the MWD must also be a place where workers, particularly women
and LGBTQ people are treated with dignity and respect.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA,
DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City of Santa Monica calls upon the Joint Legislative Audit
Committee of the State of California to approve an audit of all personnel policies and
practices of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California including all human
resources and safety procedures and policies to guarantee workers have a safe working
environment free from sexual harassment, bullying, discrimination and retaliation.
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SECTION 2. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution, and
thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
GEORGE S. CARDONA
Interim City Attorney
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Adopted and approved this 13th day of March 2021.
__________________________
Sue Himmelrich, Mayor
I, Denise Anderson-Warren, City Clerk of the City of Santa Monica, do hereby
certify that Resolution No. 11323 (CCS) was duly adopted at a meeting of the Santa
Monica City Council held on the 13th day of March 2021, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Brock, Davis, De la Torre, McKeown, Parra,
Mayor Pro Tem McCowan, Mayor Himmelrich
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ATTEST:
_____________________________________
Denise Anderson-Warren, City Clerk
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