This is a request for approval of an amendment to Section 2-3066 of the City Code (Unlawful Discrimination Ordinance) to remove the existing $50 filing fee associated with the submission of discrimination complaints. This proposed amendment is intended to advance the City’s equity objectives and ensure that all individuals have equal and meaningful access to the complaint and enforcement process. It is recommended that City Council approve an amendment to Section 2-3066 of the Unlawful Discrimination Ordinance to eliminate the $50 filing fee and the requirement to submit a Pauper’s Affidavit. The revised provision would allow any person aggrieved by a potential violation to file a complaint with the City Clerk without the payment of a filing fee.

The City has adopted equity as a core principle in the development, implementation, and enforcement of municipal policies. In reviewing the ordinance through this lens, staff identified the filing fee and associated affidavit requirement as inconsistent with the City’s equity objectives. Removing the fee would ensure equal access to the complaint process for all residents regardless of economic status, eliminate procedural burdens that may discourage individuals from asserting their rights under the ordinance, and strengthen the City’s legal posture by reinforcing the fairness and accessibility of its enforcement mechanisms.

The proposed amendment does not affect the substantive rights or obligations under the ordinance, but rather addresses the procedural means by which complaints are filed and processed.

It is recommended that City Council approve an amendment to Section 2-3066 of the Unlawful Discrimination Ordinance to eliminate the $50 filing fee and the requirement to submit a Pauper’s Affidavit. The revised provision would allow any person aggrieved by a potential violation to file a complaint with the City Clerk without the payment of a filing fee.