§ 2-639 — Complaints

Sec. 2-639. - Complaints.

The fair housing office shall upon receipt of a written complaint under oath, made by an aggrieved person charging a violation of any provision of the prohibitive sections of this division, make a prompt and full investigation of the complaint. If after such investigation, the fair housing office determines that a violation has occurred it shall attempt to eliminate the discriminatory housing practices by conciliation and persuasion. If the fair housing office fails in the conciliation proceedings, it shall forward all papers, including the written complaint, investigation, record of conciliation proceedings, factual findings and its recommendation to the city attorney and/or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for further prosecution. The complaint, investigation and conciliation proceedings shall be confidential records and proceedings of the fair housing office shall not be made public except upon the authority of the city council. The city attorney shall review the proceedings and shall take appropriate legal action if it is deemed appropriate. (1) In any proceeding brought pursuant to this section, the burden of proof shall be on the complainant; (2) A complaint provided for in this division shall be filed within thirty (30) days after the alleged discriminatory housing practice occurred. Complaints shall state the facts upon which the allegations of a discriminatory housing practice are based. Complaints may be reasonably and fairly amended at any time. A respondent may file an answer to the complaint against him and with the leave of the fair housing office, which shall be granted whenever it would be reasonable and fair to do so, may amend his answer at any time. Both complaints and answers shall be signed.

(Ord. No. 2013-09-05-0577, § 1, 9-5-13)