Davis Human Relations Commission approves draft civil-rights ordinance for city review

The Davis Human Relations Commission voted Jan. 23 to forward a proposed update to the city’s civil-rights ordinance to the city clerk and city council for review.

Commissioners said the draft is intended to bring the city ordinance into alignment with current state civil-rights protections and to avoid the appearance that the city’s code lags behind state law. The commission discussed the proposal at length before voting to transmit the draft.

The commission’s memo and draft ordinance replace an enumerated list of protected classes with a cross-reference to protections recognized under state law, language commission members said is meant to keep the city ordinance current without repeatedly revising municipal code. "The intention was to change the fewest number of words that would accomplish the goal of making the city's ordinance harmonious with the state civil-rights laws," Carrie (city staff) told commissioners. "We took the minimalist approach because anything more than that might be controversial," she said.

Commissioners debated whether the draft should instead list protected categories explicitly so protections would remain clear if federal law changes. "I might feel better if it really did list all the groups we know we want to protect here in Davis rather than just saying the groups the state and federal government says are protected classes," Commissioner Connor said during discussion. Other commissioners responded that listing state protections, and omitting a federal reference if desired, would be a practical way to keep the ordinance current.

The draft includes the proposed ordinance text and explanatory footnotes prepared by the subcommittee that reviewed the code. Commission members thanked Edgar Wang Chen and Ellie for drafting and reviewing the language.

During public comment, Sawyer Baugh, a Davis high school student, urged the commission to ensure students are educated about their rights in light of recent federal action affecting gender-identity policies. "At a time like this, it's super important that we educate people and provide reassurances to our student body that we will protect them... in California and in Davis regardless of what is happening at a federal level," Sawyer said.

After discussion, Commissioner Dima moved and Commissioner Amir seconded that the commission forward the proposed ordinance text to the city clerk and city council. The commission recorded the motion as carried.

The commission noted the submission is an early step in a longer municipal process: the draft will be routed through the city clerk’s office and then placed on a city-council agenda for consideration, with further edits possible during that process.

Commission staff said the approach taken was deliberately modest — to equalize local code with state protections — while preserving the commission’s ability to recommend future additions if the council desires.

The commission requested that staff coordinate with the city clerk about the best procedural path and return with any clerks’ guidance on how the city council will receive the draft.

If the council directs edits or requests more detail, the commission will consider follow-up recommendations at a later meeting.