(a) The city hereby finds and declares that the practice or policy of discrimination against individuals by reason of race, sex, religion, physical handicap, color, national origin or ancestry is a matter of concern to the city, since such discrimination threatens not only the rights and privileges of the inhabitants of the city, but menaces the institutions and foundations of a free democratic state. Therefore, it is declared to be the policy of the city, in exercise of its police power for the protection of the public safety, public health and general welfare, for the maintenance of business and good government and for the promotion of the city’s trade and commerce, to eliminate and prevent discrimination, segregation or separation because of race, sex, religion, physical handicap, color, national origin or ancestry. It is further declared to be the policy of the city to assure equal opportunities and encouragement of every person regardless of race, sex, religion, physical handicap, color, national origin or ancestry in securing and holding without discrimination employment in any field of work or labor for which the person is properly qualified, to assure equal opportunities to all persons within this city to full and equal public accommodations, and to assure equal opportunities in housing without distinction on account of race, sex, religion, physical handicap, color, national origin or ancestry.
(b) To protect these rights, it is hereby declared to be the purpose of this act to establish and to provide an Ad Hoc Equal Opportunity Committee having power to eliminate and prevent segregation and discrimination or separation in employment in all places of public accommodations covered by the Act and in housing because of race, religion, color, sex, physical handicap, national origin or ancestry either by employers, labor organizations, employment agencies, realtors, financial institutions or other persons as hereinafter provided.
(Prior Code, § 8-701) (Ord. 1099, passed 4-1-1981)