(A) Establishment; membership; terms; appointments; chairperson. There is hereby established a Community Relations Commission, consisting of seven members who shall be residents of the municipality and who shall serve for a term of three years. Each member shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the City Council. The Director shall be appointed annually by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the City Council. Five Commission members shall be a quorum for the transaction of all business.
(B) General powers. The Commission shall have and exercise the power to:
(1) Act to eliminate discriminatory practices;
(2) Act to assure to persons living or desiring to live in the municipality, or in any particular dwelling, the opportunity to purchase, lease or rent a dwelling without discrimination because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, age, military discharge status, marital status, familial status or disability;
(3) Engage in the recruitment, research and public communication and create advisory councils as may be authorized to effectuate the purpose of this chapter;
(4) Coordinate its activities with federal and state agencies in conformity with this chapter; and
(5) Gather and provide for the exchange of information relative to the provisions of this chapter among real estate brokers and salespeople, lenders, developers, employers, municipal officials and community groups, within and without the municipality.
(C) Enforcement powers. The administrative responsibilities for this chapter shall be with the Community Relations Commission. The Commission shall have and exercise, in addition to the general powers cited in division (B) hereof, with respect to all dwellings and persons subject to this chapter, the power to:
(1) Issue, receive, initiate and investigate complaints charging discrimination. Any complaint initiated by the Commission shall be in writing and signed by the Director of the Commission and shall state the details as to substantially apprise any properly concerned party as to the time, place and facts surrounding the charged violation of this chapter;
(2) Seek conciliation with respect to any complaint, and if conciliation fails, refer the complaint to the Community Relations Review Committee where the process will proceed as set forth in § 620.09(B);
(3) Render, from time to time, but not less than every month, a written report to municipal officials of its activities and recommendations, which written report shall be made public after submission to the Mayor and City Council; and
(4) Adopt, after approval by the Mayor and the City Council, the rules and regulations as may be necessary or desirable to carry out the purpose of this chapter.
(Ord. 08-36, passed 5-27-2008; Ord. 09-28, passed 8-25-2009)