"The draft resolution that's before you is the resolution declaring racism as a public health crisis," Hardy said. "... It was a result of the national conversation and the national consciousness raising with the murder of George Floyd and the conversation that we are having around race in our country right now."

The drafted resolution was done in collaboration with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) and Council Member Dana Watson.

"This resolution also speaks to the effects of systemic racism on Black and Brown communities, and particularly, because of the current situation that we are in with COVID-19 and its effect on the Black community — Black and Brown communities — and Black Americans," Hardy said. "So, what this resolution does is it acknowledges the effects of systemic racism, and it goes on to address some structural ways in which council and the city will address those issues in our community and follows communities across the nation who have begun to declare racism a public health crisis."

The council decided to include the resolution in an upcoming agenda, with heavy support. Mayor Aaron Stephens also discussed his goal to have the HRC have more involved with City Council in the future.

"A while ago, I had a vision for what I wanted to see the HRC become," Stephens said. "One of the aspects of the HRC that I really wanted to see happen was them really being a voice for equity, with our own policy. And the reason why I had that vision is because I believe myself being a person who strives to do the right thing, and, situations that I can control. And I think that most folks on this council would agree with that as well. But thinking about things through equity lenses is something it takes work, takes effort. It's not something that just happens."

The next council meeting will take place Tuesday Nov. 24.