AGENDA ITEM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
ITEM TITLE*
title
Town Code Amendment, Chapter 10: Prohibit Discrimination in Places of Public Accommodations and in Employment
presenter
RESPONSIBLE STAFF, TITLE, DEPARTMENT*
Loryn Clark, Deputy Town Manager, Town Manager's Office
Shenekia Weeks Parrish, Human Relations Director, Town Manager's Office
STAFF RECOMMENDATION*
Staff recommend that Council enact an ordinance to amend Chapter 10 of the Chapel Hill Town Code to prohibit discrimination in places of public accommodations and employment, to include housing.
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ACTION/DECISION POINTS*
Council must approve or reject the amendment.
LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT*
NC General Statute 160A-174 General ordinance-making power, subsection (a) A city may by ordinance define, prohibit, regulate, or abate acts, omissions, or conditions, detrimental to the health, safety, or welfare of its citizens and the peace and dignity of the city, and may define and abate nuisances.
BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT*
In 2021, the Town of Chapel Hill adopted Article IX of Chapter 10 of the Town Code, establishing prohibitions against discrimination in places of public accommodation and in employment. This happened because of the expiration of state preemption authority on December 1, 2020 - authority that originated with House Bill 2 (S.L. 2016-3) and was carried forward by its partial repeal under S.L. 2017-4. The proposed amendment extends that established framework to housing, thereby completing a comprehensive and consistent anti-discrimination ordinance under Chapel Hill Town Code.
This amendment extends Chapel Hill's existing anti-discrimination protections to housing, recognizing that access to safe and stable housing is a fundamental human right. A review of our protections uncovered a gap. Including housing ensures our anti-discrimination framework is consistent, comprehensive, and reflective of the Town's commitment to fair practices and closes that gap.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact.
COM...
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