There is created within the community and family resources department a commission on the status of women. The purpose of this commission is to assure that women and men have equal opportunity to function fully and optimally as citizens of the city, as equal participants in the economy, in politics and government, in education, in social development, in the system of justice, and in all other facets of life.
(1) Aims and Goals. It shall be the aim and goal of the commission:
(a) To identify the needs of women in the city, available resources and services meeting the needs of women in the city, and gaps in existing services;
(b) To monitor and review federal, state and local policy for its impact on city women and to make recommendations regarding those policies to the community and family resources department for appropriate action to assure women’s equity;
(c) To stimulate and encourage legislation for the development of social services of particular benefit to women in the city and the state;
(d) To issue publications, educational materials and results of research, legislative review and investigations in order to educate the entire community as to the aims and goals of this commission;
(e) To establish and maintain a close working relationship with, and to support the efforts of, the Bloomington human rights commission and the Bloomington league of women voters;
(f) To maintain close liaison with other women’s commissions throughout the state; state women’s advocacy groups; and other local, state or federal programs that relate to the needs, problems and opportunities of women;
(g) To maintain close liaison with federal efforts in programs affecting women to insure appropriate city participation in such programs and to consolidate those federal programs for maximum efficient uses of federal efforts at the local level;
(h) To enter into contracts and accept grants for the administration of research projects, as may contribute to the strengthening and refinement of a coordinated program, upon approval of such contracts by the mayor and, when appropriate, the common council;
(i) To assure a coordinated city-wide effort in achieving a comprehensive women’s program to improve opportunities for women of the community.
(2) Appointments. The Bloomington commission on the status of women shall be composed of nine members. Five members shall be appointed by the mayor, and four members shall be appointed by the common council.
(3) Qualifications. The members of the Bloomington commission on the status of women shall be representative of the diverse educational, employment, economic, business and community service elements of the community. Preference for appointments shall be given to persons with experience working for women’s issues, knowledge of legislative and policy making processes, and direct knowledge and experience working with women’s needs and community resources.
In order that the concerns of the total community be adequately represented on the commission, commission membership may include both women and men.
(4) Procedure—Rules and Regulations. The commission may adopt substantive rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this section and to make more specific the procedures deemed necessary for orderly and equitable compliance with this section.
New rules, regulations, and guidelines may be adopted by the commission after a public hearing by a majority vote of the commission.
The rules, regulations, and guidelines of the commission shall be available to the public at the office of the commission.
(5) Powers and Authority. The commission shall have the power and authority to carry out the aims and goals as defined in this chapter, including but not limited to the following:
(a) To advise the mayor, and where appropriate, the common council, on the hiring of personnel necessary to the implementation of this section; all such personnel shall be employees of the community and family resources department and shall be subject to supervision and direction by the director of community and family resources;
(b) To hold hearings and undertake any other activities which may be necessary, desirable, or proper to carry out the purposes of this section;
(c) To gather and distribute information and to issue such publications and educational information and the results of such investigations and research as in its judgment will further the purposes and intent of this section;
(d) To report in writing on its activities to the common council and the mayor quarterly;
(e) To apply for any federal, state, local or private grants, appropriations or gifts upon approval of the community and family resources department director in order to carry out the purposes of this section;
(f) To cooperate with, and secure the cooperation of, any department, division, board, bureau, commission or other agency of the state, federal and local government to facilitate properly the execution of the powers and duties of this commission;
(g) To enter into a working relationship with the city human rights commission to perpetuate the mutual objectives set forth in this section and the Bloomington human rights commission section;
(h) To propose other ordinances in order to carry out this section and to propose additions or amendments to this section as deemed necessary and appropriate to insure the effectiveness of this section; and
(i) To refer persons to the appropriate governmental unit or private organizations which can adequately deal with their problem.
(6) Education Program. The commission may prepare educational programs in order to support and emphasize the purpose and intent of this section among the various groups and individuals in the city and to further goodwill among such groups and individuals; to publicize and encourage participation in this and other boards and commissions.
(7) Intragovernmental Cooperation. All boards, councils, commissions and departments of the government of the city of Bloomington are directed to give full cooperation to the city of Bloomington commission on the status of women. (Ord. 08-03 § 1, 2008; Ord. 97-05 § 8, 1997; Ord. 83-6 § 2 (part), 1983).