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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