COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN AMES HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION AND IOWA OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS
The City, on behalf of the Ames Human Relations Commission (AHRC), has regularly contracted with the Iowa Office of Civil Rights (IOCR) to manage the intake and resolution of civil rights complaints. Under this agreement, IOCR pays the City a set amount for each complaint form sent to the IOCR (see agreement attached). The agreement allows the City to use these resources to assist complainants with obtaining and filling out complaint forms and ensuring they are complete and valid.
In FY 2025/26, staff assisted in completing two discrimination complaints. The City received a total of $500 for assisting with completing these two discrimination complaints and sending them to the IOCR for investigation.
IOCR has presented a new agreement for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. Due to the short turnaround time set by the IOCR to sign the agreement, the City requested and received an extension for additional time for Council to review this agreement and to make a decision at this meeting. The AHRC has reviewed this agreement and recommends City Council approval.
- Approve the cooperative agreement between the Ames Human Relations Commission and Iowa Office of Civil Rights.
- Do not approve the agreement.
This agreement outlines that IOCR will investigate and resolve civil rights discrimination complaints. Additionally, IOCR will compensate the City for acting as the intake agent under this agreement.
The City, AHRC, and IOCR have maintained this arrangement for several years. Transferring this time-consuming investigation responsibility to the IOCR will allow the AHRC to focus on connecting and supporting all communities in Ames. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt Alternative No. 1, as described above.