City Code

Section 140 - Human Rights and Relations Commission

140.01 Policy Statement. It is the public policy of the Council to:

1. Work and cooperate with the Board of Education of Independent School District No. 273, Minnesota (the "School Board") to carry out the purpose and intent of this Section.

2. Secure for all of the residents of the City freedom from discrimination because of race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, or national origin in connection with employment, housing and real property, public accommodations, public services and education.

3. Support the home, family and human relations in the City.

4. Cooperate with the State Department of Human Rights, the Minnesota League of Human Rights Commissions and other agencies in their programs of human rights.

140.02 Establishment. To further accomplishment of the above policies, the Human Rights and Relations Commission (the "Commission") is hereby established.

140.03 Duties. The Commission shall:

1. Advise and counsel the Council and School Board on matters relating to discrimination and human relations referred to herein.

2. Implement such programs of education and community action which are designed to effectuate the public policy stated in Subsection 140.01 and which have been approved by the Council.

3. Cooperate with the State Department of Human Rights, the State League of Human Rights Commissions and other agencies and programs which relate to the public policy stated herein.

4. Investigate, study, report and undertake other functions as are assigned to local commissions under and pursuant to M.S. 363, and to discharge its duties under M.S. 363 with regard to specific matters referred to it by the State Commissioner of Human Rights or filed with it by individuals.

140.04 Membership. The Commission shall consist of 12 regular members, appointed by the Mayor with the consent of a majority of the Council, but six of the 12 regular members shall be from a list presented to the Council by the School Board. The Commission may appoint an ex officio youth member to the Commission to participate in all discussions. Members of the Commission shall be residents of the City, be appointed for a term of three years and serve until a successor shall have been appointed. Upon termination of a member's term, that member's successor shall be appointed for the remainder of such term. Whenever the term of a member originally proposed by the School Board expires, that member's successor shall be chosen from a list presented by the School Board. Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation and may resign voluntarily or be removed by majority vote of the Council or pursuant to Subsection 180 of this Code. Commission members who discontinue legal residency in the City may be removed from office by the Mayor with the consent of a majority of the members of the Council.

140.05 Organization. The Commission shall:

1. Elect from its members a chair and a vice chair, each of whom shall serve for a period of not more than two years.

2. Adopt such bylaws as shall be necessary or desirable for conduct of its business.

3. Appoint a secretary from its membership or request that a staff secretary be furnished by the City or the School District. If a secretary is assigned by the City, the secretary shall perform only such clerical duties on behalf of the Commission as may be assigned by the chair with the consent of the Manager. Additional advisory staff may be assigned to the Commission by the Manager.

140.06 Meetings. All meetings of the Commission shall be open to the public, be governed by Roberts Rules of Order, and otherwise be held pursuant to its bylaws. The Commission shall hold its regular meetings on such fixed date and in such fixed place as it from time to time shall determine. The minutes of all meetings shall be recorded and a copy thereof transmitted to each member of the Council and School Board.

History: Ord 106 3-1-73; amended by Ord 106-A 1-16-78, Ord 106-A2 6-27-79; Ord 2000-2. 2-1-00; Ord 2004-12, 8-3-04