Ord 2967 4/7/1975 ORDINANCE NO. 2967
ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE MAYOR'S COMMISSION
ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS;
PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY.
WHEREAS , the status of women in our community is under-
going rapid changes and calls for a better understanding of
the values and needs of the traditional and expanded roles of
women; and,
WHEREAS, the President of the United States has appointed
a President' s Council on the Status of Women and a bill has
been introduced in the Texas Legislature establishing a Texas
State Commission on the Status of Women; and,
WHEREAS , 1975 is International Women' s Year; and,
WHEREAS, the purpose of a Commission on the Status of
Women is
To further the equal legal, social, political, economic
and educational opportunity and advancement of all women
and men;
To encourage the recognition of the family environment
as fundamental to the vitality of our community;
To eliminate discrimination on the basis of sex, race,
age, religion, national origin or marital status in all
phases of American society;
To promote the dissemination of information and provide
counsel on opportunities for the effective participation
of women in private and public sectors;
To encourage women to assume initiative and accept their
responsibility in the removal of legal and other barriers
to the realization of their basic human rights; and,
WHEREAS, Wichita Falls has an opportunity to exhibit its
leadership in enlightened municipal government by creating a
Commission on the Status of Women; and,
WHEREAS , the Wichita Falls Board of Aldermen desires
to create a Commission on the Status of Women;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN
OF THE CITY OF WICHITA FALLS , TEXAS, THAT:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This ordinance enacted under
and pursuant to the provisions of the Home Rule Amendment of
the Texas Constitution and the Wichita Falls City Charter for
Wichita Falls, Texas, shall be known and may be cited as the
"Mayor's Commission on the Status of Women" ordinance.
SECTION 2. COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN. The
Mayor's Commission on the Status of Women is hereby created
and established. The commission shall consist of fifteen (15)
members.
SECTION 3 . QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERS. Members of the
commission shall be appointed by a majority vote of the Board
of Aldermen and shall serve without compensation. Members
shall be residents of the City of Wichita Falls and shall be
committed to the goals of the commission. Members, while serv-
ing shall not hold elective city office nor become candidates
for election to any city office.
SECTION 4 . REPRESENTATION. Commission members shall in-
clude a broad representation of our community, such as women
and men, ethnic and religious minorities, youth and mature age
groups, union and low-income representation, representatives
from governmental agencies, public education, institutions of
higher learning, professions, business and industry, private
individuals and members of voluntary groups. Members shall be
chosen from a geographic spread of the community.
SECTION 5. TERMS OF OFFICE. Initially, seven (7) mem-
bers of the commission shall be appointed for a term of one
year and the remainder for a term of two years in order to
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maintain continuity of the commission. Thereafter, each member
of the commission shall be appointed for a term of two years or
until a successor is named. Appointments to fill any vacancy
on the commission shall be by majority vote of the Board of
Aldermen, and that member shall serve for the remainder of the
unexpired term of office. When any member of the commission
fails to attend three (3) consecutive meetings without due
cause, the chairperson shall certify the same to the Board of
Aldermen. Such member shall then be deemed to have been re-
moved and a vacancy created. No member shall serve on the
commission more than two consecutive terms.
SECTION 6. ORGANIZATION OF THE BOARD. The members of
the commission shall elect a chairperson for a one (1) year
term and such other officers as may be deemed necessary or
desirable, who shall serve at the will of the commission.
Nine (9) members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
The commission shall hold monthly meetings at least nine (9)
months during a calendar year. The chairperson may call
meetings of the commission, and meetings may be called by
written notice postmarked ten (10) days in advance and signed
by seven (7) members, and the commission at any meeting may
fix and call a meeting on a future date. Minutes shall be
kept of all meetings of the commission and shall be regularly
sent to the Board of Aldermen. All meetings shall be public.
SECTION 7 . DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. The
commission shall have the following duties, functions, powers
and responsibilities:
(a) To serve in an advisory capacity to the Mayor
and Board of Aldermen in respect to all matters pertaining to
the status of women, including but not limited to discrimina-
tion against women, legal and civil rights, employment, home-
making, community involvement, economic status, finance and
credit opportunities, political opportunity and advancement,
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health services, day care centers, attitudes toward women
in the community. Six (6) months after the initial meet-
ing of the commission, and each six (6) months thereafter,
the commission shall report to the Board of Aldermen as to
any and all activities in order that the Board of Aldermen
may remain apprised of these activities.
(b) To appoint at its discretion sub-committees
to concern themselves with specific problems relating to the
status of women and to formulate and recommend plans and pro-
grams. Sub-committees shall be chaired by commission members.
(c) To conduct surveys, public hearings, seminars
and informational programs, to receive and investigate com-
plaints with the aim of harmoniously resolving these com-
plaints, to maintain a leadership roster of qualified women
in Wichita Falls, to accumulate information on subjects affect-
ing women and to make findings and recommendations to the Mayor
and the Board of Aldermen.
(d) To perform such other duties as may from time
to time be assigned to it by resolution of the Mayor and Board
of Aldermen.
SECTION 8. LIMITATION OF POWERS. The powers and juris-
diction of the commission shall be purely advisory, voluntary
and persuasive. The commission shall not have any power or
authority to subpoena or compel the attendance of witnesses.
The commission shall have no power to appoint city officers or
employees or to make policy decisions, or to manage, control
or administer institutions relating to the status of women in
Wichita Falls.
SECTION 9 . SEVERABILITY. If any section, subsection,
sentence, clause or provision of this ordinance is held in-
valid, the remainder of this ordinance shall not be affected
by such invalidity.
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PASSED AND APPROVED this the 7-al day of 4/4:_(1,1/ ,
1975.
M A Y O R.--------??4-'6C. I K7-2,- .",:.--.(-
ATTEST:
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CITY CLERK
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