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HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 2775 ; , ., ;' . i • � .i � ,1� ,�. �, / � ,•. . , ��r��ti�� ���i�.;r.,� ��� � . ,, . . v CITY OF RENTON , WASHINGTON AMENDED BY ORD. 3191 ORDINANCE N0. 2775 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RENTON , WASHINGTON CREATING AND ESTABLISHING A "COMMISSIdN ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND AFFAIRS" ; PROVIDING FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF SUCH COMMISSION, APPOINTMENT ` OF MEMBERS , SPECIFYING THEIR DUTIES AND AUTHORITY ; DEFINING OFFENSES AND PROVIDING FOR PENALTIES . THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RENTON DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS : SECTION I : DECLARATION OF POLICY. The City Council herewith finds that all forms of prejudice and the general practice of discrimination against any individual , group or organization by reason of race , color , creed , age , sex , national origin or ancestry , have a detrimental effect on the public welfare and well being ; that to eliminate such prejudice and discrimination an instrumentality should be established through which the citizens of the City of Renton may be kept informed of developments in human relations , the employees and officials of the City may obtain expert advice and assistance in wholesome practices to keep peace and good order and private persons , groups and organizations may be officially encouraged and advised to promote tolerance and good will , actively , toward all peoples . SECTION I (A) : DEFINITION : The words "discriminate" , "discriminates" or "discrimina�ion" wherever used in this Ordinance are hereby defined and declared to mean and include discrimination on the grounds of race , color , creed , age , sex , national origin or ancestry. SECTION II : CREATION OF COMMISSION : There is hereby established and created a Commission to be known as the "COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND AFFAIRS" consisting of seven ( 7) members to be appointed by the Mayor by and with the advice and consent of the City Council ; pro- vided, however , that at least three ( 3) of the presently serving m�smbers of the City ' s "Fair Housing Commission" as established by I Ordinance No. 2405 , be appointed to this Commission and serve,:�thereon I for the remainder of their term on the Fair Housing Commission. The members of the Commission shall be representative of a cross-section of the citizens of this community , including members of minority groups. A. Al1 of the members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for any personal expense incurred in performance of their duties , and as authorized by law. The members of the - 1 - � - r . • , , , •' ' '�� • . . . • � . . Commission shall appoint one of their members as chairman, and one other member as Secretary , and said persons shall serve in said capacity for the period of one year or until their successors have been elected by the members . B. In the original appointment of inembers , approximately one-third (1/3) of those appointed as hereinabove set forth shall serve respectively for one (1) year , two C2) years , and three C3) . year terms . Thereafter appointments shall be for a three C3) year term. Any vacancy on the Commission shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment. The appointing authority has the right to remove any member of the Commission for good cause shown. C. �� .ma'orit of the members so a ointed shall constitute a ' J Y PP uorum for the ur ose of conductin the business of the Commission 9. P P g � and its proceedin�s shall be governed by Roberts Rules of Order. SECTION III : DUTIES OF COMMISSION: It shall be the duty of the Commission to study problems of group relationships within the City of Renton , and to advise and cooperate with the Mayor , the City Council , and all other City Departments , Boards and Commissions with relation to any such problems . The Commission shall further make recommendation to the Mayor and City Council from time to time for the betterment of intergroup relationships within the community. In addition thereto, the Commission is further authorized to : A. Advise and recommend to the Mayor and City Council ways and means of discouraging and combating prejudice , � intolerance and bigotry in all groups and in their relationships with one another. - 2 - � , r . , • � � .'� ., ' , • t . , : ' . B. Discover all practices and policies calculated to create conflicts and tensions and recommend wa s Y and means to reduce or eliminate same. ' C. Inform and advise the public of false and sinister propaganda subversive to the public interest or which tends to foster or encourage prejudice or intolerance toward any person or group. D. Receive , hear and investigate complaints of discrimination by or against any person, group ' or organization and to make a report to the Mayor, or his duly designated representative , of any violation of this ordinance and of any discrimination or intolerance found to exist wik�in the City. � I I � Furthermore , the Commission may, as part of its continuing educational program, enlist the co-operation of racial , religious , educational , community , civic , labor, fraternal and benevolent associations , and all other groups similarly situated that would be helpful in discharging its duties . The Commission shall further cooperate with federal , state and other City agencies , schools , and school districts , in formulating and developing courses of education to stimulate the interest of the entire population in accomplishing the objectives and goals of the Commission. SECTION IV : APPOINTMENT OF SUB-COMMITTEES : A majority of the_ members of the Commission may name such sub-committee or sub-committees as in its judgment will aid in effectuating the ' purpose of �his ordinance and may empower any such sub-committee '' to study the problems of prejudice , intolerance , bigotry, and ' discrimination in all or any fields of human relationship within , the purview of this ordinance. - 3 - _ _ . � � � � , .7 • � ' , 4 � I i •• , I SECTION V : INVESTIGATIONS, PUBLIC HEARING, RESEARCH: The Commission shall receive and investigate complaints and initiate its own investigations of tensions , practices of discrimination, and acts of prejudice against any person, group or organization by reason of race , color, creed , age , sex, national origin or ancestry , and may conduct public hearings with regard thereto ; carry on research, obtain factual data, and conduct public hearings to ascertain the status and treatment of racial , religious , ethnic and similar groups in the City , and the best means of progressively improv�ng human relations ; and make such recommendations to the Mayor and City Council as in its judgment will effectuate the policies and goals of this ordinance. SECTION VI : COMPLAINT : A. Any person, group or organization claiming to have been discriminated against by any other individual , group or organization by reason of his race , color, creed , age , sex, national origin or ancestry may make , sign and file with the Secretary of the Commission a written complaint , under oath, rahich shall state the name and address of the person, group or organization complained against , together with such other information or data as may reasonably be required by the Commission. The Commission shall prepare and have available for distribution appropriate complaint forms. B. After the filing of the complaint , the Commission, or a sub-committee thereof, shall make a prompt investigation of such complaint within thirty ( 30 ) days after its receipt thereof, and if it is determined that probable� cause exists for such complaint , the Commission , or a sub-committee thereof , shall take proper steps to immediately endeavor to eliminate the unlawful discriminatory practice complained of by conference , conciliation and persuasion. Unless otherwise requested by the person , group or organization ' accused of such discrimination, all such preliminary investigations - 4 - � . • �_ . . • . . • , _ . , �� r' , , . . y � or meetings shall be confidential and not open to the public. The Mayor and City Council may be advised upon completion of any such proceedings , and the advice of the City Attorney may be sought on all legal matters involving such investigation. C. In case of failure to so eliminate such practice , the Commission shall cause to be issued and served in the name of the Commission a written notice to ether with a co of such com laint � g AY P � unto the person, group or organization complained against , and require a written answer to the charges of such complaint at a hearing before the Commission, or a sub-committee thereof, at a time and place to be so specified in such notice. Such notice shall not be for less than twenty (20) days prior to any such hearing. The place of any such hearing shall b� at the office of the Commission or such other place as may be designated by it. Each party may be represented by legal counsel at any such hearing. The Commission, or its sub-committee hearing the complaint shall not be bound by the strict rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law or equity but all testimony taken at the hearing shall be under oath and recorded. D. If upon all the evidence at the hearing the Commission, or its sub-committee , shall determine that the accused party has engaged � � . �,•;�.._ _._--- .-« . <�. in any unlawful dis criminatory practic���:_� j�__ _ _ �� _,Y- �,`TY � .- - � the Commission or its sub-committee shall state its written findings of fact and shall issue and cause to be served on such party an order requiring such party to cease and desist from such unlawful discriminatory practice and to take such affirmative action as may be indicated to effectuate the provision of this ordinance ; or in the alternative the Commission may refer th� matter for proper legal action to the Mayor of the City. I I � - 5 - �. . . ' i' : ,� � ' �• ' , • + , , . ,� , ;.,� . � � � E. If upon all the evidence the Commission or its sub-committee shall find that an accused has not engaged in such unlawful and discriminatory practice , the Commission shall state its findings of fact and shall issue and cause to be served on both parties an order dismissing the said complaint, and the reasons therefor. F. The Commission shall have the power to establish all reasonable rules of practice to govern, expedite and effectuate the foregoing procedure and its own actions thereunder , including the power to issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of parties an��or witnesses :.� at any hearing or proceeding as herein stated. SECTION VII : PROCEDURE : A. The provisions of this ordinance shall be construed liberally for the accomplishment of the purposes thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to amend, repeal or modify any of the provisions of any Civil Rights law or any other law of the Federal or STate � government , or any other provision of this Code relating to discrimination because of race , color, creed , age , sex, national origin or ancestry. The provision herein provided shall , while pending, be exclusive , and the final determination therein shall exclude any other action, �� civil or criminal , based on the same grievance of the individual concerned. If such individual institutes any action based on such grievance , without resorting first to the procedure provided in this ordinance , he shall not subsequently resort to the procedure herein '� outlined. B. Likewise , if any individual inst�:tutes any action with ' any state agency having jurisdiction over the matter complained of, then determination of such state agency shall be considered res judicata and no compla�t may thereafter be filed with the City' s Commission pertaining to the same or substantially the same grievance. - 6 - . ' , .. . _ , . � . -��� . , ��► . • „ • , . � � ' , C. Any discrimination complained of relating to housing shall be governed by the provisions of Chapter 7 , Title I , and Chapter 32 , Title V , of the City' s "Code of General Ordinances" , further reference being hereby had thereto. SECTION VIII : PENALTIES : Any person, firm, partnership or corporation wilfully violating any final written order or I determination made by the Commission shall be guilty of a misdemeanor I j and upon conviction thereof in municipal court , or any other court ,, having jurisdiction thereover, shall be fined in any sum not ' exceeding Five Hundred Dollars C$500 . 00) ; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the fine for any first offense and conviction under the provisiflns of this Ordinance shall not exceed One Hundred Dollars ($100 . 00) . I� SECTION IX: SEVERABILITY CLAUSE: If any part , section or I, clause of this Ordinance shall be adjudged to be unconsfitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, then any such adjudication shall not affect the remainder of this Ordinance. SECTION X : This Ordinance shall be effective upon its passage , approval and five days after its publication, unless otherwise provided for hereinabove. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 16th day of April , 1973 , I . ����X,/S'�`t�� (i1 . ��' !�/�.�%e•c--� Delores A. Mead, City Clerk APPROVED BY THE MAYOR this 16th day of April , 1g73 . I�I ( .1,t.C.C��vU'�, ��t A 1t� �very Gar(�ett , Mayor ` App ed as to or .�� � Ger'ard M. Shellan, City Attorney Date of Publication: 4-20-73 - 7 - `;