FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
PUBLIC FORUMS FOR PROPOSED ORDINANCE CHANGES
The Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission will conduct public forums next week on Monday,
January 10, and Tuesday, January 11, over proposed changes to the Chapter 69 of the Municipal
Code. The sessions are free and open to the public.
In order to foster a more inclusive community, the Commission proposes adding gender identity,
retaliation, and lawful source of income as protected classes and extending across-the-board
coverage for all other protected classes. It will also provide changes in the area of public
accommodation that adhere to ADA standards, extend the time to file to 300 days for complaints
in the areas of employment, education, credit, and public accommodation, and extend the time to
file to a year for complaints in the area of housing.
The public forums will cover the changes regarding familial/marital status, gender identity,
lawful source of income, and design/construction requirements in public accommodation. The
forums will include explanations of the ordinance changes, their background, and how they will
affect the way staff conduct investigations. The sessions will also include a question and answer
section, so community members may voice their concerns.
The forums on Monday, January 10 will be held in the Sendak Room of the Cedar Rapids Public
Library in Westdale Mall, starting with familial/marital status from 6 to 7pm. The proposed
changes will extend across-the-board protection in the areas of housing, employment, education,
credit, and public accommodation.
Monday’s forums will conclude with gender identity from 7:15 to 8:15pm. The proposed
changes will add gender identity as a protected class in the areas of housing, employment,
education, public accommodation, and credit. The changes define gender identity as actual or
perceived gender-related identity, expression, appearance, behavior, or other attributes regardless
of the person’s assigned sex at birth.
The forums on Tuesday, January 11 will be held in the social hall of St. Paul’s United Methodist
Church, located at 1340 3rd Ave SE. The forums will start with lawful source of income from
5:30 to 6:30pm. The proposed changes will add lawful source of income as a protected class in
the area of housing. The changes define lawful source of income as any lawful, verifiable source
of money paid directly or indirectly to or on behalf of a renter or buyer of housing, including
income derived from: 1) any lawful profession or occupation; 2) any government or private
assistance, subsidy, voucher, grant, or loan program
Tuesday’s forums will conclude with design/construction requirements in public accommodation
from 7 to 8pm. The proposed ordinance changes will hold designers and/or builders responsible
for meeting ADA requirements in multifamily dwellings and public accommodations from the
date a certificate of occupancy is issued until compliance is achieved.
The proposed changes will be heard by the City Council, and if approved, will take effect
immediately.
For more information, please contact the following individuals at the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights
Commission by email or by calling 319-286-5036.
Paul Nemeth
Community and Educational Outreach Coordinator/AmeriCorps VISTA Associate
Karl Cassell
Executive Director