HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-1769 CREATING HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION. ORDINANCE NO. /6
AN ORDINANCE relating to city government administration; creating a
Human Relations Commission; providing for the appointment
of members thereto and designating terms of office and
specifying the duties thereof; enacting Chapter 1.30,
"Human Relations Commission", as a new chapter of the
City of Yakima Municipal Code.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF YAKIMA:
Section 1. Chapter 1.30, "Human Relations Commission", is hereby
enacted as a new chapter of the City of Yakima Municipal Code, which
new chapter and the sections thereof shall read as follows:
"Chapter 1.30
Human Relations Commission
1.30.010 Human Relations Commission created--Members.
There is hereby created a Human Relations Commission of the City
of Yakima to consist of eleven members of various racial, reli-
gious and ethnic backgrounds and who shall be representative
of the citizens of Yakima as to age, sex and economic status,
who shall serve without compensation. The Human Relations Officer
of the City of Yakima shall be an ex officio member and secretary
of the commission, but shall not be entitled to vote on any matter
voted on by the commission.
1.30.020 Terms of office.
A. Initial terms. At the first regular meeting of the com-
mission, the initial terms of membership shall be determined by
lot, with the terms of three members to expire each year on the
anniversary date of their original appointment, until the expira-
tion of the four year term for the final two members.
B. Subsequent terms. Upon the expiration of terms of/member-
ship for original commission members, as provided by subsection A
of this section, commission members shall be thereafter appointed
for four year terms, or until such time after the expiration
of such four year terms as successors are appointed by the City
Council. Upon resignation of any member, the City Council shall
appoint a new member to serve for the balance of the term of such
resigned member. Any member absent from three consecutive regular
commission meetings whose absence is not excused by a vote of a
majority of the other members shall thereby be disqualified to
continue as a member of the commission, and the City Council shall
appoint a new member to serve the balance of the term of that dis-
qualified member.
1.30.030 Meetings--Organization.
A. Frequency of meetings. The commission shall hold at least
one meeting during each of any nine months, to be selected by the
commission, during every calendar year.
B. Organization. Within thirty days after the initial appoint-
ment of commission members, they shall meet, organize and elect a
chairman and such other officers as they deem necessary to perform
the duties and functions of the commission. Six members of the com-
mission shall constitute a quorum and a majority vote of members
present shall be necessary for any official action to be taken by
the commission.
C. Public meetings--Exceptions. All meeting of the commis-
sion shall be open to the public; provided, the commission may
conduct meetings, closed to the public, for conducting investiga-
tions and hearings regarding complaints, with such meetings to
be conducted in accordance with rules and regulations to be adopted
by the commission and subject to the approval of the City Council.
Such rules shall provide that no person concerning whom a complaint
is filed with the commission or who is otherwise investigated by
the commission shall be identified in any commission report unless
that person was given the opportunity to be heard before the commis-
sion with the right to offer witnesses on his own behalf and to
cross examine all witnesses who testify against him.
1.30.040 Duties. The duties of the commission shall be to:
1. Conduct public education programs and solicit the co-
operation of individuals and organizations in the City
in promoting equality and understanding among all
on matters involving racial, religious, ethnic, sex or
age discrimination;
410 2. Investigate problems arising in the City which may result
in tensions or discrimination because of race, color,
creed, religion, national origin, age or sex; perform
persuasion, mediation or conciliation services where deemed
appropriate by the commission to reduce tensions and improve
understanding in the community;
3. Adjudicate all complaints referred to it by the Human
Relations Officer; conduct hearings on complaints and
investigations; following rules adopted for governing
such procedures;
4. Report to the City Council on investigations conducted
by thecommission and make recommendations designed to
eliminate prejudice and discrimination and to improve
understanding of human relations in the community;
5. Periodically review and monitor the City's Affirmative
Action Program; and
6. Perform other assignments as may be requested by the City
Council."
Section 2. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect thirty
days after its passage, approval and publication and provided by law
and by the City Charter.
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PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, signed and approved this36/ day
of Y22211,--11 1975.
• 110
Mayor
ATTEST:
Cit Clerk
410
410
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