[R.O. 1996 § 120.500; Ord. No. 4482 § 1, 3-3-2014]
There is hereby established a Human
Relations Commission, which Commission shall be selected, serve and
have the powers and responsibilities set forth herein.
[R.O. 1996 § 120.510; Ord. No. 4482 § 1, 3-3-2014]
A.
It is declared to be the public policy
of the City to fulfill its responsibility in securing for all citizens
equal opportunity in employment, public accommodations, public services
and housing and to continually strive to eliminate and prevent discrimination,
including but not limited to segregation or separation, in these areas
against individuals and groups for reasons, including, but not limited
to, race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identification, ethnicity,
family structure, physical ability, religious affiliation, age, color,
language, national origin, veteran status or ancestry.
[Ord. No. 4847, 8-19-2019]
B.
To this end, the City firmly believes in
and supports the human rights provisions as set forth in Sections
213.040 through 213.070, RSMo., delineating unlawful discrimination
practices in housing, commercial real estate loans, employment, public
accommodations and other practices as detailed therein. The City will
work to prevent or eliminate such conduct and to assist the State,
if so requested, in resolving complaints alleging discrimination,
as may be necessary, by developing strategies to anticipate, prepare
for, and alleviate community tensions arising from intergroup conflict,
providing resources and direction to a complainant as necessary, and
assisting the State, Federal agencies, and other civil rights organizations
in conflict resolution as needed and directed by the Mayor and Council.
C.
Furthermore, it is hereby declared to be
the policy of the City to promote diversity awareness and inclusion
through education, meaningful community partnerships, and the establishment
of an open forum for dialogue and discussion of issues affecting the
community related to such topics for the primary purpose of eliminating
or preventing discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for
each citizen of Blue Springs to live a safe, peaceful life in a community
that treats all persons with dignity and respect.
[R.O. 1996 § 120.520; Ord. No. 4482 § 1, 3-3-2014; Ord. No. 4656, 4-17-2017; Ord. No.
4745, 5-21-2018; Ord. No. 4813, 4-15-2019; Ord. No. 5047, 9-20-2021; Ord. No. 5111, 4-18-2022]
A.
Purpose. The purpose of the Human Relations
Commission is to foster the improvement of human relations among and
between citizens of all cultural backgrounds so as to provide all
individuals with an equitable opportunity to grow and participate
to the best of their ability in our economic, educational, political,
and social systems.
B.
Members Of Human Relations Commission.
1.
There shall be a Human Relations
Commission consisting of seven (7) members and a non-voting liaison
appointed by the Blue Springs School District. The Mayor, with the
consent and approval of a majority of the City Council, shall appoint
all members of the Human Relations Commission. Members shall serve
for three (3) year terms. All members shall be residents of Blue Springs,
with the exception of appointments from community partner agencies,
which shall be current employees or members of the organization. Best
efforts will be made to have representation from each Council District.
Appointment of a successor or reappointment of a member shall be effective
on or about May 1 following expiration of the member’s term.
Members shall continue to hold office until reappointed or their successor
is appointed. The Mayor, with the consent and approval of a majority
of the City Council, shall appoint a person to fill the unexpired
term of that member.
2.
Student Members. In addition, there
may be one (1) student member of the Human Relations Commission. The
student member must be, at the time of their service on the Commission,
a student of a high school within the City limits. The Human Relations
Commission may seek nominations from high schools located within the
City limits, review the applications and select candidates for interviews.
The Human Relations Commission may recommend a student member for
appointment by the Mayor, with the consent and approval of a majority
of the Council. The student member may serve a one-year term as a
non-voting member of the Commission.
3.
Any member of the Human Relations Commission may be removed from
office for misconduct, neglect of duty, or lack of qualifications
by executive order of the Mayor after receiving the consent of a majority
of the entire City Council, or by a five-sevenths (5/7) vote of the
City Council on its own initiative.
C.
The
Mayor, with the consent and approval of a majority of the City Council,
shall appoint a Chair and Vice Chair annually on or about May 1 for
a term of one (1) year. No member shall serve more than two (2) consecutive
terms as Chair or Vice Chair.
D.
Any
sub-committee of the Human Relations Commission shall require approval
of the City Attorney and City Council. Any approved sub-committees
shall abide by all Sunshine Laws.
E.
The City Administrator shall assign staff
support, and the City shall budget monetary support for the Commission,
including, but not limited to, the evaluation of potential grant opportunities
and other available/dedicated resources that might become available
from time to time.
F.
Rules
of Procedure shall be adopted and amended from time to time by Resolution
by the City Council.
G.
Meetings
of the Human Relations Commission shall be held at the call of the
Chair and at such other times as the Human Relations Commission may
determine.
[R.O. 1996 § 120.530; Ord. No. 4482 § 1, 3-3-2014; Ord.
No. 5047, 9-20-2021]
A.
The
Commission, through its members, agents, and committee task forces,
shall have the following functions, duties and responsibilities:
1.
Promote mutual understanding and
respect among all diverse groups in the City and seek solutions to
related problems concerning citizens of the City with the objective
to provide an environment in which each citizen shall have the opportunity
to grow to their maximum potential and be treated with dignity and
respect.
2.
Address issues of prejudice among
various groups in the City and to create harmonious relationships
among citizens, groups and agencies within the City.
3.
Encourage the cooperation of all
groups, both private and public, to foster better human relations
among the citizenry of Blue Springs and within the surrounding communities
when those relations will significantly impact the quality of life
in Blue Springs.
4.
Identify issues of concern, develop
action plans, and coordinate discussions between appropriate individuals
or groups if needed in order to lessen tensions and promote human
relations in the City.
5.
Assemble and study pertinent data
specifically requested by the Mayor and City Council.
6.
Advise, consult, and present to the
Council and the City Administrator matters involving discrimination
in order to assure effective compliance with non-discriminatory policies
and ordinances.
7.
Advise and make other recommendations
to the City Council and the City Administrator about legislation,
policies, procedures and practices of the City and other public entities
as are consistent with the purposes of this Article.
8.
Upon specific direction of the Council,
form conciliation councils and task forces.
a.
These groups will aid in effectuating
the purposes of this Article; to study the problem of discrimination
in all or specific fields or instances of discrimination because of
race, religion, color, sex, familial status, sexual preference or
orientation, age, disability, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry,
language, or veteran status; to foster through community effort, or
otherwise, good will, cooperation and conciliation among the groups
and elements in the population of the City; and to make recommendations
to the City for the development of policies and procedures, and for
programs of formal and informal education, which the Commission may
recommend to the City.
b.
These groups may be composed of Commission
members and representative citizens serving without pay. Every effort
shall be made to ensure that each district of the City shall be represented
by at least one (1) member of each group.
c.
The Commission may consult with the
City Council and City Administrator to accomplish the acts authorized
by this Subsection. It may, by voluntary conferences with parties
in interest, endeavor by conciliation and persuasion, to eliminate
discrimination in all the stated fields and to foster good will and
cooperation among all elements of the population of the City. The
Commission, as a whole or a committee thereof, may also serve as a
resource to citizens who believe they have suffered discrimination.
9.
Provide to the City Council and City
Administrator for possible dissemination such publications and results
of its investigations and research that in its judgment will tend
to promote good will and minimize or eliminate discrimination because
of race, religion, color, sex, familial status, sexual preference
or orientation, age, disability, ethnicity, language, national origin,
ancestry, disability or veteran status.
10.
Prepare an annual report for the
City Council concerning the Commission's activities under the provisions
of this Article, with recommendations and pertinent comments.
