Item B: HRC - Recommendations from HR Listening Project

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Des Moines, Iowa Primary Functions of Human Rights Office and Staff: The Director is appointed by the Mayor and City Council and reports to the Human Rights Commission and is the primary staff charged with supporting the Commission’s work plan. He or she also oversees the investigatory process of complaints and receives recommendations from the investigators on how to proceed with the case. If the alleged violation is upheld by the investigators, the director tries to negotiate a settlement between the involved parties. This settlement will be case-specific. If no agreement can be reached, a public hearing will be held. The decision of this hearing can be appealed to the Human Rights Commission who can call witnesses and is privy to all available information gathered by the investigators. Should the respondent (person found to be in violation of the Code) be unhappy with the finding of the Commission, the case can be further appealed to District Court. According to the current Director, cases are typically resolved before making it to court. The Director also teaches classes at the Police Academy on diversity and discrimination. Investigators are impartial fact-seekers who receive complaints and manage investigations. After an official charge is sent to the parties involved, the investigators interview both parties, all available witnesses and review pertinent documents. After considering the details of the case, they make a finding of probable cause or no probable cause and in the case of the former, give a recommendation to the Director for how to go forward in negotiating a settlement. City Attorney is available to advise the office at any stage during the investigation process and should the case go to district court, will be the acting attorney. However, in cases involving the city in any way, the Director will contract with private attorneys to avoid any conflict of interest. The Human Rights Commission is charged with responding to claims of discrimination with investigation, conciliation or mediation when possible, doing community outreach, receiving complaints from residents, offering public education on fair housing laws and advising City Council. The Commission holds an annual educational event with the Real Estate Association on renter’s rights and landlord/tenant relations in addition to an annual symposium addressing the Human Rights implications of emerging community issues. This year’s symposium will address the right to marry within the gay community. The Commission may convene ad hoc subcommittees when it deems it necessary but must do so with a specific mandate as to its goal and function and will operate within a fixed timeline. According to the Director, subcommittees operate as work groups and typically engage in research or planning activities which are later brought back to the entire Commission. These committees are used only intermittently as the Commission is relatively small in size allowing for all Commissioners to participate in work activities. When complaints are received by the Office of Human Rights, Commissioners will aid the community member in filing the necessary paper work and will offer mediation services if both parties agree to it. If mediation fails, or if either party does not agree to the process, the case will be handed over to the 15 | Page