It is hereby found that prejudice and discrimination against any individual or group because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, political orientation, age or handicap is inimical to democracy, the cornerstone of our American tradition, and menaces peace and public welfare. That eliminate such prejudice and discrimination, an instrumentality of government should be established through which the citizens of Flint may be kept informed of developments in human relations and from which the elected and appointed officials, and the departments of this City may obtain advice and assistance in adopting those measures to keep peace and good order and harmony among the citizens of Flint, and to promote and insure equality of treatment and of opportunity to all, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, political orientation, age or handicap.
Therefore, there is hereby created and established a commission to be known as the Human Relations Commission, consisting of fifteen members to be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the City Council. The members of the Human Relations Commission, as nearly as possible, shall be representatives of the various racial, religious, national, cultural and ethnic groups of the City. They shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses actually and necessarily incurred in connection with their duties as members of the Human Relations Commission subject to the approval of the Mayor. Of the 15 members so appointed, one-third shall be for one year, one-third shall be for two years and one-third shall be for three years, and thereafter appointments shall be for three-year terms. In the event of death or resignation of any member, his or her successor shall be appointed by the Mayor to serve for the unexpired term for which such member had been appointed. Current members of the Human Relations Commission shall continue to serve until their respective terms expire and shall then be eligible for reappointment in accordance with Section 6-101 of the Charter of the City of Flint. The City Council, may by appropriate action, increase the membership of the Human Relations Commission to a total of not more than 21 members, preferably in multiples of three. One-third of the new members shall be appointed for one year, one-third for two years and one-third for three years, and thereafter any member shall be appointed for a three-year term, and shall likewise be as nearly as possible representative of the community as herein set forth.
In addition to the membership provided for previously in this section, one member of the City Council shall be appointed by the City Council to serve as an ex officio member of the Human Relations Commission. Such member shall serve during his term of office and shall act as liaison between the City Council and the Human Relations Commission.
The Human Relations Commission shall meet not less than once a month and shall adopt, by majority rule, such rules as it shall deem expedient for the conduct of its business. Such rules shall be adopted in accordance with Section 1-801 of the City Charter.
(Ord. 2602, passed 4-25-1977)