ITEM 4-B

City Council Meeting 4-25-89
Santa Monica, California

                  STAFF REPORT

TO:         Mayor and City Council

FROM:       City Attorney

SUBJECT:    Resolution Proclaiming April as Fair Housing Month
            and April 27, 1989, as Fair Housing Day at City Hall

      This  year  marks  the  21st  anniversary of the passage of
Title  VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968.  In commemoration of
this legislation which provided that equal opportunity in housing
would be the law  of  the  land,  April  has  traditionally  been
designated as Fair Housing Month by local and state  governments.
Santa Monica has joined in this tradition in the past.

      Santa Monica's Fair  Housing Program annually  commemorates
the  passage of the Civil Rights Act by holding an event known as
"Fair  Housing  Day  at  City  Hall."   This  year's reception is
scheduled for April 27, 1989, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., in the
City Hall Lobby.  A  selection of local school  children's poster
art  will also be  on display in  the City Hall  Lobby from April
24-28.

      The purpose of the attached resolution is to continue  with
past tradition by designating April as Fair Housing Month for the
year 1989 and to designate April 27, 1989, as Fair Housing Day at
City Hall.

RECOMMENDATION

      It  is  respectfully  recommended  that  the   accompanying
resolution be adopted.

PREPARED BY:  Robert M. Myers, City Attorney
              Jeffrey W. Holtzman, Deputy City Attorney


CA:RMM:JWH:tb:jwhfhr/hpadv
City Council Meeting 4-25-89             Santa Monica, California



                     RESOLUTION NUMBER _____

                      (City Council Series)


             A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
            CITY OF SANTA MONICA DECLARING THE MONTH
                OF APRIL AS "FAIR HOUSING MONTH"
                        FOR THE YEAR 1989

      WHEREAS, twenty-one  years ago  this month  the Congress of
the United  States passed the Civil Rights  Act of 1968, of which
Title VIII declared that the law of the land would now  guarantee
the rights of equal housing opportunity; and

      WHEREAS,  recent  tradition  has  established  the month of
April as Fair Housing Month throughout the United States; and

      WHEREAS, the City Council of  the City of Santa Monica  has
supplemented  existing state law by enacting an ordinance banning
housing  discrimination  based  on  age, parenthood, pregnancy or
potential or actual tenancy of minor children or of a spouse; and

      WHEREAS,  equal  housing  opportunity  is  a  vital  factor
leading  to the quality of life that we desire and expect for our
citizens,  and   as  such   must  be   supported,  protected  and
administered by local government; and

      WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica supports the concept  and
actuality of  fair housing for all of  the residents of this City
and this country; and

      WHEREAS,  the  City  of  Santa  Monica,  through  the  City
Attorney's office,  and with the assistance  of funds provided by
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, administers
a  Fair Housing Program which  provides education, counseling and
enforcement with respect to Fair Housing Laws; and

      WHEREAS,  school  children  from  the  Santa  Monica-Malibu
Unified School District  participate in  the Fair  Housing Poster
Contest sponsored by the City's Fair Housing Program; and

      WHEREAS, the poster chosen as the local winning entrant  in
the  Fair  Housing  Poster   Contest   is   highlighted   in   an
advertisement sponsored by the City's Fair Housing Program; and

      WHEREAS, a selection of entries in the Fair Housing  Poster
Contest will be  displayed in the  City Hall Lobby  from April 24
through April 28, 1989; and

      WHEREAS, "Fair Housing Day at City Hall" will take place in
the  City Hall Lobby  on April 27,  1989, from 5:00  p.m. to 6:00
p.m.,  featuring  a  reception  to  honor the participants in the
Poster Contest and to celebrate Fair Housing Month,

      NOW, THEREFORE, THE  CITY OF SANTA  MONICA DOES RESOLVE  
AS
FOLLOWS:

      SECTION 1.   The Month  of April  is proclaimed  to be Fair
Housing  Month in the City of Santa  Monica for the year 1989 and
the citizens of our City are encouraged to support all efforts to
strengthen equal housing opportunities in the coming year.

      SECTION  2.   April  27,  1989  is  proclaimed  to be "Fair
Housing Day" at City Hall  and  the  citizens  of  our  City  are
encouraged to show their support for fair housing by attending  a
reception in the City Hall Lobby on this date.

      SECTION 3.  The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of
this Resolution, and thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be
in full force and effect.

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

__________________________
ROBERT M. MYERS
City Attorney