Ord 2387 2/12/1968 . ,► ,
ORDINANCE NO. aO 7
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE IV OF CHAPTER 2
OF THE WICHITA FALLS CODE OF ORDINANCES BY THE
ADDITION THERETO OF DIVISION 3, ESTABLISHING THE
CITY OF WICHITA FALLS HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION;
PRESCRIBING ITS DUTIES AND TERM OF OFFICE; AND
DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN OF THE CITY
OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, THAT:
SECTION 1. Article IV of Chapter 2 of the Wichita
Falls Code of Ordinances is hereby amended by the addition
thereto of Division 3 to read as follows:
"DIVISION 3. HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
Sec. 2-155. Purpose, creation, membership and term of
Commission.
For the purpose of promoting mutual appreciation of the
privileges and responsibilities of citizenship among all racial,
religious, ethnic, and nationality groups, and for the purpose
of discouraging, by all lawful means, any misuse of freedom
which deprives the community of the benefits of free commerce
and full utilization of all human resources from all racial,
religious, ethnic, and nationality groups, the City of Wichita
Falls Human Relations Commission is hereby established. The
Commission shall be composed of fifteen residents of the City
of Wichita Falls who shall be appointed by the Board of Aldermen
to serve without compensation. The Commissioners shall be as
nearly as possible representative of the several social, economic,
religious, cultural, ethnic, and racial groups which comprise
the population of the City of Wichita Falls. Of the Commission
members first appointed, five shall be appointed to serve terms
ending December 31, 1968; five to serve terms ending December
31, 1969; and five to serve terms ending December 31, 1970.
Thereafter all appointments shall be for terms of three years.
Sec. 2-156. Organization and conduct of business.
The Board of Aldermen shall appoint one Commissioner to
serve as a chairman. The Commission shall appoint such other
officers from among its members, and adopt such rules for the
transaction of its authorized business, as it may elect. The
City Manager shall assign to the Commission an employee of the
City to serve as executive secretary, and such other employees
as may be necessary to perform the functions of the Commission.
Sec. 2-157 . Duties and functions.
The Commission shall:
1. Advise and consult with the Board of Aldermen on all
matters involving racial, religious, or ethnic discrimination,
and devise practices for equal opportunity.
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2 . Serve in an advisory and consultative capacity to
all City departments, advisory boards, and regulatory agencies
to assure effective compliance with nondiscrimination policies
and orders, and recommend to the Board of Aldermen measures
aimed at improving the ability of various departments and agen-
cies to insure equal protection of any and all persons and
groups against discrimination.
3. Recommend to the Board of Aldermen legislation to
aid in programs designed to eliminate prejudice and discrimina-
tion and encourage community support for such legislation.
4. Aid in the formulation of local community groups
in such neighborhoods as needed to carry out specific programs.
Initiate and facilitate discussions and negotiations between
individuals and groups to lessen tensions and improve under-
standing in the community.
5. Assist in the enforcement of all laws prohibiting
discrimination against persons where such jurisdiction is not
specifically vested in another agency.
6. Receive and investigate complaints and initiate
investigations of tensions, acts of prejudice, and practices
of discrimination.
7 . Conduct public hearings on complaints and investi-
gate and report to the Board of Aldermen in writing facts ,
findings, and recommendations after using persuasion, mediation,
and conciliation before any public hearing, and after making
certain that any persons named in any report of investigation
was given the opportunity to be heard before the Commission
with the right to examine and cross-examine witnesses.
8. Institute and conduct educational programs to pro-
mote equal treatment, opportunity, and understanding and sponsor
meetings, institutes, forums, and courses of instruction to lead
to a clearer understanding and solution of human relations prob-
lems.
9. Assist in training City employees to use methods
of dealing with intergroup relations that result in respect for
equal rights and equal treatment, and cooperate with the local
police department in developing and including human rights
courses in the curriculum of police training.
10. Conduct research, obtain factual data, and hold
public hearings to ascertain the status and treatment of racial,
religious, and ethnic groups in the City, and the best means
of progressively improving human relations.
11. Provide services and information to the City Manager
and heads of all City departments and agencies to achieve the
purposes of this division.
12. Cooperate with all City, State, County, Federal and
other governmental agencies, as well as racial, religious, ethnic,
nationality, educational, community, civic, fraternal, benevolent
and other groups, associations , societies, and individuals with
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constructive talents and resources helpful in achieving mutual
appreciation of the privileges and the responsibilities of
citizenship in a land of freedom enriched by free commerce and
full utilization of all human resources from all racial, reli-
gious, ethnic, and national groups therein.
13. Submit a report of its activities to the Board
of Aldermen on or before December 31st of each year. "
SECTION 2 . Whereas an emergency is apparent for the
immediate preservation of order, health, safety and general wel-
fare of the public, this ordinance is declared an emergency mea-
sure and shall become effective immediately upon its passage.
PASSED AND APPROVED this the 12th day of February, 1968.
MA OR
ATTEST :
City Clerk