515.07 PROCEDURES AND COMPLAINTS.

   (a)   Any person who claims to have been injured by a discriminatory housing practice may file a complaint with the Administrator. Complaints shall be in writing and shall contain such information as the Council requires. Upon receipt of such a complaint, the Administrator shall furnish a copy of the same to the person who allegedly committed the discriminatory housing practice with a request that he meet with the Administrator and the allegedly aggrieved party in an informal conference. All parties shall have the right to be represented by attorney. Nothing said or done in the course of such informal conference may be made public or used as evidence in any subsequent proceeding. Should the person who allegedly committed the discriminatory housing practice fail or refuse to attend such conference, the Administrator will proceed without him to determine whether the unlawful practice has occurred.

   (b)   If, from all of the evidence adduced, the Administrator determines that there has been a discriminatory housing practice, the Administrator shall attempt to eliminate or correct such practice by conciliation and persuasion. Should the Administrator fail to do so, after diligent effort, and upon certification to the Director of Law for enforcement, the Law Director shall, with the concurrence of City Council, seek compliance by appropriate administrative complaint to any public agency with appropriate jurisdiction or by civil action brought before a court of competent jurisdiction or may cause a criminal charge to be filed against the person violating this chapter. In any such proceeding, where the court determines that there has been a violation of this chapter, the court shall award compensatory damages and, where appropriate, punitive damages, along with attorney fees. The court may also order such other relief as it deems necessary or appropriate. (Ord. 2004-10-93. Passed 10-13-04.)