City staff to remove DEI language from strategic plan to comply with state law; limited direct budget impact, officials say

City staff told the commission they will update the city's strategic plan to remove references to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) to comply with a recently enacted state law limiting local government spending on DEI-related initiatives.

"The strategic plan is the blueprint for our city's future," staff member Burcham told the commission, and staff said they have reviewed the document and identified DEI language embedded across objectives. "This year, the strategic plan needs to be updated to reflect a new state law that prohibits local governments from expending money on anything related to diversity, equity, and inclusion," he said, adding staff will return an updated plan for commissioner approval in the summer.

An agency official answering commissioners' questions clarified that federal anti-discrimination protections remain unchanged and available for complaints. "Anything that has to do with compliance with federal law is still valid," the official said, but added the state law narrows local authority to pursue DEI initiatives that go beyond federal nondiscrimination requirements.

Commissioners reacted strongly. Several said the change represents state overreach, and at least one commissioner argued the loss of training and language (including terms like "climate change") could hamstring resilience and inclusion efforts. One commissioner proposed expanding the city's conservation-land purchase program and said staff could explore legally permissible resilience strategies.

Staff said there is no significant direct financial impact from removing DEI language, though one cultural-education training program "building beloved communities" will no longer be available under the state law. The commission did not vote; staff will prepare the redlined strategic plan for future consideration and asked commissioners for any other updates they want to include now.