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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