Redlands Municipal Code Ch. 2.66 Human Relations Commission

There is a human relations commission established to serve in an advisory capacity to the city council and to aid the city in achieving better human relations by providing assistance to all persons and groups in promoting goodwill and better relations among all people. (Ord. 2895 §1, 2019)

The human relations commission shall consist of seven (7) members who shall each, with the exception of the student members, serve for a four (4) year term and until his or her successor is appointed. Five (5) members shall each be selected from one (1) council district, and be appointed by the Council Member of that corresponding district. Vacancies on the commission shall be filled by appointment as set forth above and the term of a commissioner appointed to fill a vacancy shall be for a four (4) year period. No person shall serve more than two (2) consecutive terms unless appointed to an additional term by a four-fifths (4/5) vote of the city council. The commission members shall serve without compensation, shall each be a resident of the city, with the exception of the student members, and shall be neither a member of any other standing commission, board or committee of the city nor an employee thereof. Two commission members appointed by the city council shall be from the sophomore or junior class of a Redlands high school or college student. The student member's term shall be for one year, beginning January 1 and ending December 31. The student members shall be considered two of the seven (7) members of the commission with full voting powers. Four (4) members of the commission shall constitute a quorum. (Ord. 2995 § 14, 2025:Ord. 2895 § 1, 2019)

Any member of the commission who absents himself or herself from any three (3) consecutive regular meetings of the commission, unless excused from such absence by consent of the commission expressed by action recorded in its minutes, shall thereby automatically forfeit his or her position as a member of the commission immediately after adjournment of any such third consecutive meeting at which such member has not appeared. The chairperson or secretary of the commission shall thereupon, within three (3) business days, notify in writing the city council, and any such person so ceasing to be a member of the commission, of such fact; whereupon the vacancy so created shall be filled by appointment pursuant to section 2.66.020 of this chapter. (Ord. 2895 §1, 2019)

The commission shall annually elect a chairperson and a vice chairperson and there is no prohibition to the number of terms a member may serve in either capacity. The commission shall keep records of all of its proceedings and actions and shall meet quarterly in the months established by separate resolution of the City Council, which may be amended from time to time. (Ord. 2995 § 15, 2025:Ord. 2895 § 1, 2019)

The powers, duties and responsibilities of the commission shall include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

A. To foster mutual respect and understanding with regard to race, religion, national origin, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability or other minority affiliation;

B. To undertake such studies in any field of human relationship in the community as in the judgment of the commission will aid in effectuating its general purposes;

C. To recommend such educational programs as, in the judgment of the commission, will increase goodwill among inhabitants of the community and open new opportunities into all phases of community life for all inhabitants;

D. To hold public meetings, in the interest of the constructive resolution of prejudice and discrimination occasioned thereby;

E. To issue such publications and reports as in its judgment will tend to effectuate the purposes of this chapter;

F. To enlist the cooperation and participation of the various racial and nationality groups, community organizations, industry and labor organizations, media or mass communication, fraternal and benevolent associations, and other groups in an educational campaign devoted to fostering among the diverse groups of the community mutual esteem, justice and equity;

G. To recommend to the city council that agencies under the jurisdiction of the city take such action as will fulfill the purposes of this chapter;

H. To submit an annual report to the city council. (Ord. 2895 §1, 2019)