AN ORDINANCE relating to violations of the All-Gender Restroom Ordinance; amending Section 14.07.040 of the Seattle Municipal Code to clarify a respondent’s right to appeal the violation outlined in subsection 14.07.040.C.
The Report of the Civil Rights, Utilities, Economic Development and Arts Committee. Agenda Item to Council 118 652 Relating to violations of the All Gender Restaurant Ordinance and many Section 14 point No. 7.0 40 of the Seattle Municipal Code. To clarify a respondent's right to appeal the violations outlined in subsection 14.0 7.0 40 point C, the committee recommends the bill pass. Councilmember Herbold. Thank you. The old gender restroom ordinance, passed unanimously by the City Council in 2015, established a requirement for gender neutral signage on all single occupant restrooms in public accommodations across Seattle. The legislation before us today proposes a technical amendment to the 2015 all gender restroom ordinance to clarify a respondent's right to appeal the violation. Existing language in the ordinance states that a respondent may appeal the civil penalty by requesting a contested hearing. However, the function of a contested hearing itself is to appeal the underlying violation that leads to the civil penalty rather than the civil penalty itself. Consequently, a technical amendment is necessary to rectify the discrepancy between the appeal and the type of hearing associated with that appeal. Not only does this amendment reconcile a discrepancy, but it also ensures respondents have access to due process. The ordinance unanimously passed out of committee last Tuesday. Thank you very much. Councilmember Herbold, are there any further comments on this bill? Please call the role on the passage of the bill. So on i. Bagshaw. Burgess. Gonzalez. I. Herbold. I. Johnson. Whereas I O'Brien President Harrell. I. Nine in favor and unopposed. Bill passes and the chair will sign it these religion items three through 12 into the record please.