HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-037-03/02/2004-REAFFIRMING CERTAIN PRINCIPLES WITH REGARD TO HUMAN RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES AND GIVING DIRECTION RESOLUTION 2004-037
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
REAFFIRMING CERTAIN PRINCIPLES WITH REGARD TO HUMAN
RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES AND GIVING DIRECTION TO THE
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
WHEREAS,the City's Human Relations Commission("HRC")has been established by the
City Council 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; and
WHEREAS, toward this end, the Council has assigned certain functions to the HRC which
are set forth in Section 2-263 of the City Code; and
WHEREAS, such functions include developing and promoting educational programs and
activities; cooperating with and providing leadership and support for other groups interested in
promoting diversity and positive intergroup relations;educating City residents;reviewing proposed
legislation; making recommendations to the City Council; assisting residents of the City in filing
discrimination complaints; hearing appeals from decisions of the City Manager relating to such
complaints; facilitating the review of citizen complaints concerning the action of City employees;
and performing such other functions as may be committed to the HRC by other ordinances or
resolutions of the City; and
WHEREAS,in response to certain proposed Federal legislation dealing with the enforcement
of Federal immigration laws, the HRC and other members of the Fort Collins community have
requested that the City Council reexamine any policies or practices of the City which may directly
or indirectly affect the rights or liberties of community members, in order to promote positive
interaction among all members of the community and to strengthen, if necessary, the safeguards
provided by the City to guard against any and all forms of unlawful discrimination or harassment.
NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS as follows:
1. That the City Council hereby reaffirms the following principles:
(a) That all officers and employees of the City will,in their dealings with
members of the community and with each other,respect the rights of
all people.
(b) That no officer or employee of the City will engage in racial profiling.
(c) That officers and employees of the City will inquire about the
immigration status of community members only in conjunction with
other normal, legally permissible investigations or activities.
2. That the HRC is hereby authorized and directed to undertake the following activities
in addition to those other functions and duties assigned to the HRC under Section 2-
263 of the City Code:
(a) Work with other City boards and commissions, as well as other
community agencies,to ensure that community members who believe
their civil rights have been violated,either by the City of Fort Collins
or others, have appropriate recourse. Toward that end, the HRC
should review the complaint processes referenced in Chapter 13 and
in Section 2-140 of the City Code; solicit feedback from community
members relative to harassment,profiling or the complaint processes;
and make recommendations to the City Council on (I) how such
complaint processes might be simplified or made more easily
accessible, safe and confidential; and (ii) how, if at all, other City
policies,programs or practices may be improved so as to better guard
against harassment, profiling or unlawful discrimination.
(b) Establish a citizen task force that includes cross-functional
community stakeholders (including Police Services, the Northern
Colorado Multicultural Corporation,the City of Fort Collins Human
Rights Office, Colorado State University and other community
organizations) to review the issues raised in the draft human rights
protection ordinance that had been suggested to the Council by the
HRC,and to provide to the City Council any recommendations made
by such task force. The task force shall consist of members appointed
by the City Council by Resolution and shall include those persons
recommended by the HRC, as well as any additional members that
the City Council may appoint. If the recommendations of the task
force or the HRC include the adoption of any new legislation by the
Council,such recommendation shall be submitted to the Council for
its consideration,prior to the drafting of any such legislation,so that
the Council may decide, pursuant to its established policy, whether
the preparation of such legislation for Council consideration is
supported by three or more members of the Council.
(c) Submit to the City Council any recommendations regarding
additional approaches and/or marketing techniques that the City
might use in distributing boards and commission applications in order
to increase the number of minority applicants for membership on such
boards and commissions.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held this 2nd day of March,A.D.
2004.
yor
ATTEST:
- OJILA
City Clerk