HomeMy WebLinkAbout151 - 10/16/2001 - AMENDING CITY CODE RELATING TO THE FUNCTIONS OF THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION ORDINANCE NO. 151, 2001
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AMENDING CHAPTER 2 OF THE CODE OF THE
CITY OF FORT COLLINS RELATING TO THE FUNCTIONS
OF THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
WHEREAS, the City Council has heretofore established a Human Relations Commission
(the "Commission"), the functions of which are described in Section 2-263 of the City Code; and
WHEREAS, in July 2001, the City Council conducted its periodic review of the
Commission, which included receiving input from the Commission regarding its current
functions; and
WHEREAS, one of the functions of the Commission as defined in Section 2-263(5) of
the City Code is to recommend to the City Council the expenditure of funds for meeting basic
human service needs in the city as defined by the City of Fort Collins Human Services Policy,
and to develop such recommendations through membership on the Larimer County Human
Resources Board; and
WHEREAS, funds appropriated by the City Council for human service needs have been
disbursed by agreement with Larimer County and, historically, the Larimer County Human
Resources Board has developed recommendations to the County Commissioners with regard to
the various health and human services programs to be funded by the City and County; and
WHEREAS, Larimer County has dissolved the Larimer County Human Resources Board
and recommendations to the County Commissioners are now formulated by a staff team
consisting of the managers of the various health and human services departments of the County
and a staff representative from the City; and
WHEREAS, the City Council believes that it is in the best interests of the City to amend
the City Code to reflect the elimination of the Commission's role in formulating
recommendations regarding basic human service needs in the city; and
WHEREAS, another function of the Commission defined in Section 2-263(3) of the City
Code provides for the Commission to facilitate the review of citizen complaints concerning the
actions of city police officers or community service officers by developing a citizen liaison
program to assist individual citizens who wish to file such complaints and to appoint members of
the public to serve as citizen liaisons; and
WHEREAS, the Commission has expressed a desire to become more actively involved in
the citizen complaint process by allowing its own members to become involved in assisting
citizens who wish to file complaints.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS that Section 2-263 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins be amended to read
as follows:
Sec. 2-263. Functions.
The commission shall have the following functions:
(1) To promote positive interaction among all city residents and to
discourage all forms of discrimination based upon the diversified values
and individual differences of such residents by:
a. Developing and promoting educational programs and activities that
advocate awareness and respect for diversity;
b. Cooperating with and providing leadership and support for other
groups interested in promoting value and respect for diversity and
positive intergroup relations;
c. Educating city residents about existing local, state and federal laws
dealing with discrimination and diversity;
d. Reviewing proposed legislation, policy changes or other
governmental action at the federal, state or local level which may
affect human rights in the city and making recommendations to the
City Council regarding the same; and
e. Recommending to the City Council such actions as may be
necessary or advisable to achieve:
1. Equal employment opportunities for all persons;
2. Equal housing opportunities for all persons;
3. Equal public accommodation opportunities for all persons; and
4. Positive community relations in all fields of governmental
endeavor.
(2) To assist residents of the city in utilizing the complaint procedure under
Chapter 13, Article II of the Code and to hear appeals from decisions of
the City Manager as provided in § 13-23(b) of the Code; provided,
however, that any members of the commission who have rendered
assistance to particular complainants shall refrain from participating in
the commission's review of any decisions of the City Manager related to
such complainants.
(3) To facilitate the review of citizen complaints concerning the actions of
city police officers or community service officers by:
a. Designating volunteers from the public or from the commission's
own membership to assist individual citizens who wish to file such
complaints;
b. Assisting citizens who have language barriers in the completion of
complaint forms;
C. Soliciting assistance from other social agencies in notifying the
public about the complaint process; and
d. Communicating with other similar commissions in order to share
experiences and become more sensitive to potential problems.
(4) To make periodic reports to the City Council concerning the activities
and recommendations of the commission; and
(5) To perform such functions as are committed to it by other ordinances or
resolutions of the city.
Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 2nd day of
October, A.D. 2001, and to be presented for final passage on the 16th day of October, A.D. 2001.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
Passed and adopted on final reading this 16th day of October, A.D. 2001.
Mayofoim*
ATTEST:
City Clerk