Consider Directing the City Manager to Create Breastfeeding Locations, Baby Changing Stations and Gender Neutral Bathrooms.  (Councilmembers Vella and Oddie)
Considered directing the city manager to create breastfeeding locations, baby changing stations and gender neutral bathrooms. The Senate was placed on the agenda at the request of councilmembers Bella and Odie. Take it away. So, you know, I've kind of talked about this a little bit, but essentially, you know, I'm a little embarrassed that it took me being pregnant to kind of start noticing these things, even though I've been babysitting my nieces and stuff. And I think during my swearing in, we had a bit of a trouble changing her because of the, the, the lack of changing stations. But I, I part of why I put this on is, and I do want to correct one thing. There's a little bit of misinformation out there that we don't have anywhere in City Hall to breastfeed or for nursing mothers to pump. And, you know, essentially before Nancy got here, some folks were using the the loft up there as a space, obviously not during council meetings, but staff were using that as as their area to to pump. Nancy has opened up the and offered the conference room. This is Nancy Bronstein, our h.r. Director. And has has made that available. That said, in in some of our buildings, we don't have those areas. And in a way, our conference room isn't really the most ideal place. And so part of this is, is, you know, I looked at some other options. There are options out there that are available that don't require, you know, massive construction or change to the building structure on their pods that you can get. They range in in different prices. And so I would I just want to make sure that I would like to as to give direction not just for me, but I think also just for all of the staff that we have that are impacted really both here, City Hall, West and other city buildings to go ahead and look at at making those changes or acquiring that so that we can we can make our city buildings accessible and safe for nursing mothers. Councilmember Ody has also joined me. The other things and I've talked with Liam Garland, our director of Public Works, about the changing stations and the signage and he said that both of those would be kind of minimal costs. We have those items and they're they're fairly easy fixes. It's just a matter of kind of going through and making sure that we can get them actually installed. And so I would also like us to give that direction to make sure that all of our bathrooms, both here, City Hall West, especially because we have members of the public coming, are accessible. And I think that that's both for the changing stations and the gender neutral bathrooms that we really have made our our buildings, our civic buildings safe and accessible for members of the public and welcoming. Thank you. Okay. Anything from you? I'll just second everything that Malia said and glad that she was able to talk about it this late, this late hour. I just think it's important that, you know, we have signs back there and all across town that say everyone belongs here. And, you know, just like the mayor mentioned with our fleet. I think it's important to put our money where our mouth is and walk the walk and not just talk the talk. And, you know, there are people that don't feel comfortable using either the male or female bathroom. And I think we need to be able to provide options for them. So all of our transgender folks are welcome here in Alameda and that we actually show them by our actions that they're welcome. And, of course, the the the nursing or the pumping is like a no brainer. I don't I don't know why it wasn't done before, but thanks for bringing that up. Okay. So then if I and anybody else else want to comment and do we need a motion or just to give staff direction, what's the best way to do it, Mr. Rush? I'm I'm I'm a little uncertain about what the policy has been with regarding that. I assume it would just be direction, but I will defer to the city clerk on this issue. I think, as long as the council expresses consensus. But you could also take a vote. I think it's been done both ways. But just so. Move approval of the referral. Okay. All right. We have a motion and we have a second and the referral to consider directing the city manager. To do. To have a direct yeah. To direct the city manager to create breastfeeding locations, baby changing stations in gender neutral bathrooms. All those in favor I opposed abstain. The motion passes unanimously. Okay, let's move on to. Hello. Are we at Council Communications? I think we are OC Council Communications. Any I can address, any matter. Not on the agenda. And you won't have a council communication. Okay. If hearing them. Let's move on to ten. A vice mayor?