§ 139.02. Duties.

The community relations commission is created and established to recommend ways and means of initiating and improving city government programs designed to eliminate discrimination or to remove the effects of past discrimination.

In performing this function, the commission shall strive to increase the effectiveness of these programs, to increase the fairness with which these programs are operated and to increase inter-departmental harmony in the operations of these programs. To achieve these objectives the community relations commission shall:

(a)

Promote the development of mutual understanding and respect among all racial, religious, nationality, cultural and ethnic groups in the city of Columbus by making recommendations to city officials on means to prevent discriminatory practices against such groups.

(b)

Aid in seeing that no person is deprived of equal services by city government by reason of discrimination on account of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, political orientation, sexual orientation or handicap.

(c)

Encourage, receive, investigate and evaluate from any person of discrimination by city employees, and make public the procedures which a person may use to complain of discrimination.

(d)

Confer with the city attorney on such complaints pertaining to the city of Columbus or criminal conduct as appear to require a legal process after initial investigation and/or failure to achieve conciliation.

(e)

Initiate and conduct mediation hearings in situations in which the commission has reason to believe that discrimination has occurred.

(f)

Investigate upon request or initiate investigation of racial incidents and make recommendations for corrective action and coordinate efforts toward their resolution.

(g)

Verify information relating to complaints of alleged discrimination practices.

(h)

Formulate, develop and disseminate programs of community information, educational materials, and reports which will assist in the elimination of prejudice, intolerance and discrimination or which promote good will and result in better human relations.

(i)

Coordinate with the city's equal employment officers, local employers, unions, and employment agencies to improve employment opportunities in city government for persons who have been the traditional targets of discrimination in employment.

(j)

Assist community groups and various fraternal, service and benevolent organizations in the promotion of educational campaigns devoted to the elimination of group prejudices, racial or neighborhood tensions, and tolerance and discrimination.

(k)

Conduct research to ascertain the status and treatment of racial, religious, and ethnic groups in the city and the best means of progressively improving human relations in Columbus.

(l)

Cooperate with and render assistance to the mayor's action center, the equal employment opportunity officers and other branches of city government in the area of human rights.

(m)

Cooperate with and render assistance to county, state, federal and other governmental agencies in the area of discrimination.

(n)

Prepare and publish an annual report and such other factual reports and recommendations as it deems necessary concerning problems relating to the discrimination, racial tensions and other human relations concern. Copies of all such reports and recommendations shall be filed with the city council.

(Ord. No. 1079-2016 , §§ 2, 5, 6-6-2016)

Editor's note

Ord. No. 1079-2016 , §§ 2, 5, adopted June 6, 2016, amended § 139.02 in its entirety to read as set out herein. Former § 139.02 pertained to establishment of department and derived from Ord. 1655-92.