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Board asks DPH to study creating a county Office of Gender Equity, accepts amendment requiring inventory of existing work
Summary
Supervisor Horvath’s motion directing the CEO and Department of Public Health to explore a county Office of Gender Equity passed with an accepted amendment requiring a comprehensive assessment of existing county gender‑equity programs and gaps before creating a new office.
Supervisor Horvath presented a motion directing the Chief Executive Office and the Department of Public Health to explore the feasibility of establishing a county Office of Gender Equity to coordinate gender‑focused work across departments. Horvath described gaps left after the Women and Girls initiative sunset and framed the proposed office as a sustained structure to align programs across county departments.
Supervisor Mitchell raised fiscal concerns and proposed an amendment requiring the report back to include a comprehensive assessment of existing county departments, initiatives and staff engaged in gender‑equity work so the board could identify gaps and potential resource sources before establishing a new office; Horvath accepted the amendment. Public commenters, including advocates and service providers, urged the board to proceed and said coordination and sustained attention are needed. The board approved the motion as amended.
"An office of gender equity would help change that," Horvath said, advocating for a permanent entity to sustain the county’s gender‑impact and CEDAW work. The approved directive requires the Department of Public Health to produce the assessment and recommendations for board review.
