[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Commission of the City of Royal
Oak 7-25-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-04. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as the "Human Rights Commission
chapter" and may be referred to as such.
This is a chapter to establish the Human Rights Commission.
The purpose of the Human Rights Commission shall be to advise the
City Commission and the City Manager and assist with efforts to bring
greater equity and inclusion of diverse groups within the City of
Royal Oak.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Groups of people who have identities that are subject to
protection against discrimination under federal, state or local law.
This may include, but is not limited to: race, color, religion, national
origin, sex, age, height, weight, condition of pregnancy, marital
status, physical or mental limitation, source of income, family responsibilities,
sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status.
The staff ex officio member shall be responsible for working
with the Commission and the chair in organizing their agendas, minutes,
and other documents; maintaining records and handling administrative
elements of the program.
The Human Rights Commission shall be made up of nine total members.
Eight of those shall be appointed by the City Commission, including
seven voting members and one nonvoting student member. A minimum of
four voting members shall be Royal Oak residents, and three voting
members may be filled by applicants with a vested interest in the
community, such as a business owner, employee of a business located
in the City or a property owner who does not live in the City. One
member shall be a staff ex officio member who does not have the ability
to vote and is appointed by the City Manager or their designee.
Members of the Human Rights Commission shall be appointed for a term of three years on a staggered rotation. To form the Human Rights Commission in the first year, the City Commission shall appoint two members to a one-year term, two members to a two-year term and three members to a three-year term. The student position shall be appointed in accordance with our § 12-11 for student appointments.
The Human Rights Commission is hereby authorized and empowered
to do the following:
A.
To work with residents, community organizations and federal, state,
and local government offices, units, activities and agencies to promote
programs, policies, and procedures to ensure equity between and among
all protected groups.
B.
To create and implement an inclusive community plan for the City
which increases public awareness of issues; promotes education and
understanding; provides, enables, or enhances services; articulates
planned collaboration; and promotes public participation.
C.
To make recommendations concerning programs and training to the appropriate
decisionmakers, and seek the establishment of programs that will foster
mutual understanding and respect between all people regarding different
protected classes and in the City protected by federal and state antidiscrimination
laws for the purpose of discouraging and eliminating intergroup tension,
discrimination, harassment or prejudice.
D.
To conduct public forums, town meetings, educational and other programs
to promote the mutual understanding, dignity, and respect among all
citizens and visitors and work to discourage and prevent discriminatory
practices against any such group. Except in accordance with the provisions
governing complaints and investigations, these hearings shall be of
a nonadjudicatory nature and shall not constitute investigations or
adjudication of individual complaints regarding unlawful discrimination
under Michigan law.
E.
To provide information to the community regarding the process of
making complaints of violations of Royal Oak's Human Rights Ordinance[1] and provide referrals of complaints to appropriate agencies,
including the Michigan Department of Civil Rights or to the City Attorney.
F.
To study problems which may result in patterns of tension, discrimination
or prejudice within the City, and make recommendations regarding policies,
procedures, practices and legislation to the City Commission, City
Manager and/or other stakeholders.
G.
To issue publications and results of investigation and research to
minimize or eliminate discrimination, harassment, prejudice, intergroup
tension, cultural insensitivity and promote goodwill; however, the
identity of the parties involved shall not be disclosed.
H.
To accept contributions from any person or agency to assist in the
implementation of the purposes of this chapter and to see and enlist
the cooperation of private, charitable, religious, labor, and civic
and benevolent organizations for the purposes of this chapter. Funds
raised and held by the Commission are public funds and shall be reserved
for the purposes of this chapter.
I.
To do all other acts and deeds necessary and proper to carry out
and accomplish effectively the purposes, functions and services contemplated
by the provisions of this Commission, including the promulgation of
rules and regulations implementing the powers and authority hereby
vested in the Human Rights Commission.
J.
To serve as an advisory body to the City Commission and the City
Manager.
K.
To prepare an annual written report on its work, functions, and services
for each year in August.
A.
The Human Rights Commission shall elect a Chair, Vice Chair, and
any other officers deemed necessary at the beginning of the first
meeting of each year. The Chair shall preside over meetings and will
serve as a voting member of the Commission. The Vice Chair shall perform
the duties of the Chair in their absence. The staff ex officio member
shall serve as the Secretary and shall record the minutes for proceedings
of the Commission.
B.
At least four voting members of the Human Rights Commission shall
constitute a quorum for the approval of motions and transaction of
its business. The Commission shall adopt rules for the transaction
of its business which shall provide for the time and place of holding
meetings.
C.
The concurring affirmative vote of four members shall constitute
approval of any formal action taken by the Commission, including,
but not limited to, the approval of goals, plans, or applications
before the Commission for review.
E.
The Commission shall keep a record of its proceedings and actions.
A writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained
by the Commission or subcommittees of the Commission in the performance
of an official function shall be made available to the public in compliance
with the Michigan Open Meetings Act.
F.
The Human Rights Commission shall adopt bylaws and rules of procedure
consistent with this chapter.
If any section, subsection, clause, phrase or portion of this
chapter is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any
court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate,
distinct and independent portion of this chapter, and such holding
shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this chapter.
This chapter shall take effect 10 days after the final passage
thereof.
