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(a) An applicant, or a person on whose behalf an application was filed, may appeal the written decision to deny or grant an accommodation with alterations or conditions or a denial of the accommodation no later than 30 calendar days from the date the decision is mailed.
(b) An appeal must be in writing (or reduced to writing as provided by subsection (c), below) and include grounds for appeal. Any personal information related to the disability status identified by the applicant as confidential shall be retained in a manner so as to protect the privacy rights of the applicant and shall not be made available for public inspection unless required by the Texas Public Information Act. Any information received regarding the disability status identified, including but not limited to medical records, will be returned to the applicant within ten days of the decision of the city manager's designee.
(c) If an applicant needs assistance appealing a written decision, the city will provide assistance transcribing a verbal request into a written appeal to ensure that the appeals process is accessible.
(d) An applicant shall not be required to pay a fee to appeal a written decision.
(e) An appeal will be decided by the city manager's designee. In considering an appeal of a decision of the director, the city manager's designee shall consider:
(1) The application requesting the accommodation;
(2) The director's decision;
(3) The applicant's written statement of the grounds of the appeal; and
(4) The provisions of this division, in order to determine whether the director's decision was consistent with applicable fair housing laws and the required findings in § 17-113.
(f) If a written decision on the appeal is not rendered within 30 calendar days from the date the appeal is received, the requested accommodation shall be deemed granted.
(g) The decision of the city manager's designee is final.
(Ord. 22098-03-2016, § 1, passed 3-1-2016; Ord. 24023-01-2020, § 1 (Exh. A), passed 2-2-2020)
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this division, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning.
CITY INCENTIVE. Any loan, grant, tax abatement, monies, or other direct or indirect financial benefit provided by the city, a component unit of the city, or the Fort Worth Housing Finance Corporation.
HOUSING ACCOMMODATION. Any building, structure, or part of a building or structure that is occupied, or designed or intended for, occupancy as a residence for one or more families.
SOURCE OF INCOME. Lawful, regular, and verifiable income from whatever source derived (including housing vouchers and other subsidies provided by government or non-government entities, child support, or spousal maintenance), except as prohibited by Texas Local Government Code § 250.007, as amended.
RENTING. Includes leasing, subleasing, letting, or otherwise granting for consideration the right to occupy a housing accommodation not owned by the occupant.
VETERAN. A person who served in the active military, naval, air, or space service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.
(Ord. 26782-03-2024, § 1, passed 3-19-2024, eff. 4-4-2024)
(a) In renting a housing accommodation, a person may not discriminate against a veteran because of the veteran’s source of income to pay rent.
(b) A person who violates a provision of this section commits a misdemeanor criminal offense. A person is guilty of a separate offense for each day or part of a day during which a violation is committed, continued, or permitted.
(c) A criminal offense under this section is punishable in municipal court as provided by § 1-6 of this code.
(Ord. 26782-03-2024, § 1, passed 3-19-2024, eff. 4-4-2024)
(a) In accordance with Texas Local Government Code § 250.007, as amended, the city hereby establishes and implements the following voluntary program to encourage the acceptance of housing vouchers, including vouchers directly or indirectly funded by the federal government.
(b) In renting a housing accommodation that benefits from a city incentive approved on or after the effective date of this division, the owner or manager of the housing accommodation may not discriminate against a person because of the person’s source of income to pay rent.
(Ord. 26782-03-2024, § 1, passed 3-19-2024, eff. 4-4-2024)