Staff Report.Gender Neutral Code
PREPARED BY: Shelley Neis
Town Clerk
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, and Town Attorney
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 08/17/2021
ITEM NO: 5
DATE: August 17, 2021
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Adoption of an Ordinance of the Town of Los Gatos Amending the Los Gatos
Town Code to Include Gender-Neutral Pronouns by Eliminating any Gender
Preference Language Within the Los Gatos Town Code and Amending
Sections Regarding Grammatical Interpretation to Indicate that Whenever a
Gender-Neutral Personal Pronoun is Used, it Shall be Deemed to Include the
Feminine and Masculine Also
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt an Ordinance that was introduced at the Town Council meeting of August 17, 2021
amending the Los Gatos Town Code to include gender-neutral pronouns by eliminating any
gender preference language within the Los Gatos Town Code and amending sections regarding
grammatical interpretation to indicate that whenever a gender-neutral personal pronoun is
used, it shall be deemed to include the feminine and masculine also.
BACKGROUND:
At its August 17, 2021 meeting, the Town Council voted 5-0 to approve amending the Los Gatos
Town Code to include gender-neutral pronouns by eliminating any gender preference language
within the Los Gatos Town Code and amending sections regarding grammatical interpretation
to indicate that whenever a gender-neutral personal pronoun is used, it shall be deemed to
include the feminine and masculine also.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that Council adopt an Ordinance amending the Los Gatos Town Code to
include gender-neutral pronouns by eliminating any gender preference language within the Los
Gatos Town Code and amending sections regarding grammatical interpretation to indicate that
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SUBJECT: Adopt an Ordinance to the Town Code to Include Gender-Neutral Pronouns by
Eliminating any Gender Preference Language
DATE: August 31, 2021
CONCLUSION (continued):
whenever a gender-neutral personal pronoun is used, it shall be deemed to include the
feminine and masculine also.
COORDINATION:
This report was coordinated with the Town Attorney’s Office and the Town Manager’s Office.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Phase I for Municode to conduct a complete review of the Town Code to identify all Code
language in need of gender-neutral revision is $5,100, to be paid in FY 2020/21. Phase II to
codify the Town Code to incorporate the revisions is $3,400, to be paid in FY 2021/22. Funds
have been budgeted.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachments:
1. Draft Ordinance