R-6775
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RESOLUTION NUMBER 6775
(City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA ESTABLISHING
THE BASIS FOR AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
PROGRAM IN THE FIRE SERVICE
WHEREAS, the 1980 census shows that the Los Angeles/Long
Beach Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA) Labor Force
is 42% Female, 11% Black, 24% Hispanic and 6% Asian1 and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica's sworn fire personnel
are composed of 1% Female, 1% Black, 7% Hispanic and 0% Asian1
and
WHEREAS, the City has hired its first female Firefighter
only within the last two month's, and the Fire Service has never
had more than one Black Firefighter at any time and the number
of Hispanics is currently at the highest level ever1 and
WHEREAS, the City's affirmative action statistics in the
Fire Service may expose the City to Title VII actions since the
proportion of females and minorities does not approximate labor
force participation rates, and
WHEREAS, by City Charter provision the City can consider
only those individuals who place in the top three positions of
an eligibility list; and
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WHEREAS, the City has not historically recruited females
and minority group members in sufficient numbers for Firefighter
pos1tions to ensure that there is a reasonable statistical
probability that some females and minorities will place in the
top three, and
WHEREAS, in the last open examination for Firefighter only
23 Women, 87 Blacks, 142 Hispanics and 14 Asians as compared to
528 White Males applied, and
WHEREAS, the results of the last written examination for
Firefighter were that Blacks passed at 20% the rate at which
White Males passed and Hispanics passed at 55% the rate at which
White Males passed while 80% is the acceptable standard, and
WHEREAS, the City advertised vacancies for Fireman until
at least 1970, thereby discouraging female applicants, and
WHEREAS, the City imposed minimum height standards for
firefighting positions until at least 1970, thereby eliminating
from consideration women and minority group members in
disproportionate numbers,
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Santa
Monica does resolve as follows:
SECTION 1. While it may not have been the intention of
City officials to discriminate against women and minority group
members in the past, Women, Blacks, Hi~an-xcs and Asians have
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been historically and are today underrepresented in the ranks of
sworn fire personnel.
SECTION 2. A program of
instituted immediately to remedy
position of Firefighter.
affirmative action
underrepresentation
shall be
in the
SECTION 3. The affirmative action program shall have two
components as follows:
A. A training program designed to enable the City to make
short term progress toward its goals will be conducted
by the Fire Department with assistance from Personnel.
participation in the training classes wlll be
available to Women, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians and
White Males so that each training class is
representative of the SMSA labor force. Upon
completion of the training class, the successful
trainees will complete a civil service examination
administered by the Personnel Department. An
eligibility list will be compiled from the results of
the examination and hlrlng will be done from that list
in accordance with normal civil service rules. From
time to time new classes will be formed in order to
ensure the continued availability of an eligible list
for hiring.
B.
The City
validate
will retain a consultant to develop and
examination elements and procedures which do
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not have a disproportionate impact on women and
minorities, and Wh1Ch accurately predict successful
performance as a Firefighter. If successful, these
procedures will ensure long term progress toward the
City's goals. The consultant shall be retained no
later than February 15, 1984.
SECTION 4. The affirmative action program shall be
temporary in nature and shall extend only until such time that
underrepresentation is cured or until revised recruitment and
examination procedures which do not adversely impact women and
minority group members are available, whichever first occurs.
SECTION 5. The City Council shall evaluate thts
affirmative action program no later than July 1, 1986 and
determine whether it should be continued, modif1ed or concluded.
SECTION 6. 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:
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ROBERT M. MYERS
City Attorney
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ADOPTED AND APPROVED THIS
8th
DA Y
OF
November
, 1 983 .
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MAYOR Pro Tempore
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION
NO.
6775
_WAS DULY ADOPTED BY THE CITY CDUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SANTA MONICA ftT A MEETING THEREOF HELD ON
November 8 . 1983 BY THE FOLLOWING COUNCIL VOTE:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Conn, Epstein, Jennings, Press,
Reed and Zane
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: Edwards
ABSTAIN:
COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ATTEST:
~I ~t:<<-r
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CITY CLERK