Council asks city manager to place Human Relations Commission review of diversity programs on a future agenda after public concerns

Councilwoman Solange Whitehead on April 8 asked the Scottsdale City Council to direct the city manager to place an item on a future council meeting agenda asking the Human Relations Commission to review the city’s diversity programs and provide recommendations. The motion passed unanimously.

Sam Campana, a longtime former mayor and council member, used the meeting’s public‑comment period to ask for clarification of a new ordinance and a city memo he said appeared to discontinue some programs of the former Office of Diversity and Dialogue. Campana told the council the original office — established in 1998 — had focused on ADA compliance, Title VI obligations and nondiscrimination outreach. He said the new ordinance language was vague about which programs would be discontinued and what criteria would determine support for community organizations and celebrations, and that the uncertainty risked sending the wrong message to residents and visitors.

“I worry about this sentence that reads, the use of city funds for DEI will discontinue,” Campana said, asking the council to clarify which programs the city intends to keep and which it will discontinue. He urged the council to work with relevant boards and commissions to recommend guidelines that clarify the ordinance and demonstrate that Scottsdale “is for all.”

In response, Whitehead said the council needed to provide clearer guidance and moved to direct the city manager to agendize a discussion and possible action related to the Human Relations Commission and diversity‑related programs. Councilman Barry Graham offered an alternate motion to have staff investigate and provide a written response; council ultimately approved the staff‑investigation motion unanimously.

What the council did: The council directed the city manager or responsible charter officer to investigate the matter and prepare a written response to council (the motion passed unanimously). The agenda‑setting motion to assign the Human Relations Commission review was discussed and supported by several council members but council adopted the staff‑investigation variant.

Why it matters: Public speakers raised questions about whether the memo and ordinance remove city support for certain events and partnerships, including references in public comment to discontinuation of support for Juneteenth celebrations and for some community partner organizations. Speakers and council members said the lack of definitional clarity for terms such as “special populations” is producing confusion for residents and stakeholders and requested a formal review and clearer guidelines.

Next steps: Staff is to investigate the ordinance and memo, document which programs and partnerships the city considers discontinued or continued, and prepare a written response for council consideration. Council members suggested the Human Relations Commission and other advisory bodies may be asked to participate in recommending clearer criteria and guidelines for diversity‑related programming and partnerships.