SR 03-13-2021 13A 13.A
March 13, 2021
Council Meeting: March 13, 2021 Santa Monica, California
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CITY CLERK’S OFFICE - MEMORANDUM
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Denise Anderson-Warren, City Clerk, Records & Elections Services
Department
Date: March 13, 2021
13.A Request of Mayor Pro Tem McCowan and Councilmembers Davis and
McKeown that the Council adopt the attached resolution calling on the
Joint Legislative Audit Committee to conduct a thorough investigation and
audit of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s personnel
practices and policies, in light of recent reports concerning the alleged
mistreatment of female and LGBTQ staff.
13.A
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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
13.A.a
Packet Pg. 125 Attachment: Reso - MWD-202100313 (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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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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Packet Pg. 126 Attachment: Reso - MWD-202100313 (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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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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Packet Pg. 127 Attachment: Reso - MWD-202100313 (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 128 Attachment: Joint Committee on Legislative Audit (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 129 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 130 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 131 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 132 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 133 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 134 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 135 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 136 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 137 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 138 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 139 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 140 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 141 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 142 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 143 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 144 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 145 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 146 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 147 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 148 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 149 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 150 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 151 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 152 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 153 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 154 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 155 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 156 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)
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Packet Pg. 157 Attachment: Women faced harassment in MWD apprentice program - Los Angeles Times (4489 : Support MWD investigation)