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Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
As the City of Bothell's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program develops, this page will continue to be updated with educational resources, information about programs and events, and policy documents.
Historically and presently, the actions of City governments, including our own, have contributed to the marginalization and oppression of communities based on characteristics including but not limited to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, social class, socioeconomic status, ability status, and citizenship. Formal and informal policies and practices have created systemic barriers which have deprived communities of resources they need to thrive and by failing to address these inequities, we play a part of perpetuating them. The City of Bothell is committed to recognizing where these barriers have and continue to exist and working to dismantle them so that all of our community members may live, learn, and work in a safe, welcoming, and equitable environment.
At the core of what we do, the City provides day-to-day services that shape the lives and experiences of everyone in our community. In order to provide high-quality, equitable access to our services, we must incorporate equity into our decision-making processes, plans, procedures, budgets, staff trainings, and organizational culture. We recognize that within our various roles as a local government, a catalyst for community building, and an employer, that we are uniquely positioned to foster a safe, welcoming, and equitable City.
The City of Bothell considers diversity, equity, and inclusion to be both aspirational and operational. We know that a diversity, equity, and inclusion statement that is not accompanied by transformative action is a disservice to our community and as such, we have outlined some of the many steps that the City of Bothell is taking to create a community of trust and respect, in which we can all prosper.
- Formalize the City’s commitment to DEI by creating an official DEI program and hiring a DEI Coordinator.
- Support the DiveIn Team, a passionate and diverse group of City employees who are working together to promote diversity, equity and inclusion throughout our organization and our community.
- Build trust and accountability by developing a Bothell Police Department Use of Force and Crime Statistics dashboard.
- Audit current employee recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and development strategies to ensure that hiring and staffing procedures are equitable and aligned with the DEI mission of the City.
- Ensure that community advisory boards and commissions reflect the diverse identities and lived experiences of the Bothell community.
- Integrate an Equity Impact Assessment into all budget development, Comprehensive Plan updates, and other large-scale plans or code changes.
- Ensure that City facilities are welcoming, inclusive, and accessible, and review the community complaint process to ensure that community needs are addressed in a timely and efficient manner.
- Prioritize the development of robust Language Access Plans and Title VI compliance to ensure that City services are accessible to community members with Limited English Proficiency.
These initiatives are just a few of the steps that the City of Bothell is taking to acknowledge the systemic injustices that have taken place and create a more safe, equitable, and welcoming community. To learn more, check out the 2023-2026 DEIB Roadmap for detailed goal areas and action items.