[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of Shorewood 11-6-2017 by Ord. No. 2087[1]; amended in its entirety 9-16-2019 by Ord. No. 3005. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fair housing — See Ch. 283.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 26, Community Relations Council, adopted as Ch. 11, Art. 9, of the 1986 Code.
A. 
The Village of Shorewood hereby elects to create the Shorewood Human Relations Commission.
B. 
The purpose and function of the Commission shall be the following:
(1) 
Advocate for the rights and values of our community through the protection of human and civil rights.
(2) 
Listening to community member's(s') grievances and complaints relating to discrimination, harassment, vandalism involving a hate crime, and intimidation based on race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, immigration status, sexual orientation, sexual or gender identity or a physical or mental disability so that additional resources and outside agencies can be referred to the community member(s).
(3) 
Use various outreach tools to facilitate and increase resources to community members and businesses with concerns relating to race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, immigration status, sexual orientation, sexual or gender identity or a physical or mental disability.
(4) 
Create an annual report to identify and analyze trends and community concerns brought to the Commission. Present the report to the Village Board for determining Board and/or police action.
(5) 
Provide, coordinate and support educational resources and events, including those of community partners, to strengthen relationships as well as reduce intergroup tensions by ensuring equality of treatment and opportunity to all who live, work, and gather in the Village of Shorewood.
(6) 
Assess and coordinate outreach efforts with public organizations and advocacy groups to educate and raise awareness of existing services to the groups identified in § 26-1B(2).
(7) 
Review internal public organizational processes, procedures, and facilities to determine and/or make recommendations to increase opportunities for the groups identified in § 26-1B(2).
(8) 
Coordinate and cooperate with municipal, county, state, federal and other agencies or organizations in order to promote dialogue and understanding for better human relations.
(9) 
Report to Shorewood Village Police Commission, on an as-needed basis.
(10) 
Provide resources to community members that have concerns related to discrimination in hiring, customer treatment, and business practices of businesses operating in the Village of Shorewood. This includes working with the Shorewood Business Improvement District to address any concerns related to businesses in our community.
A. 
The Commission shall consist of nine members appointed by the Village Board. The two student members must either be Shorewood residents or attend a school in Shorewood. The Judiciary, Personnel and Licensing Committee of the Village Board shall be responsible for screening applications, recommending members and recommending the removal of members, if necessary. The Village will be responsible for initiating the application process, managing the term expirations, and promoting Commission vacancies.
B. 
Members must be Shorewood residents. At least five of the nine members are required to have some experience with the groups listed in § 26-1. Members should reasonably reflect the diversity in the Shorewood community.
C. 
Ex officio nonvoting members shall consist of a School Board representative, Village Board representative to be appointed annually by the Village President, and a representative of the Shorewood Police Department selected by the Police Chief.
D. 
Members shall serve a term of three years, provided that the initial Commission shall consist of three members appointed for a three-year term, two members appointed for a two-year term, and two members appointed for a one-year term. Upon expiration of these respective terms, all appointments thereafter shall be for a three-year term. Student members shall be appointed on one-year terms.
The Commission shall elect every June from its membership a Chair and a Vice Chair. A majority of' the Commission shall constitute a quorum. Members of the Commission shall receive no compensation. The Commission shall meet monthly and/or on an as-needed basis. The Commissions meetings shall be publicly noticed and openly accessible to the public. A staff liaison shall be assigned by the Village Manager to the Commission to take minutes and assemble necessary materials.