§ 9.36.100. Same—Powers; duties.

A.

The human relations commission, as established by Chapter 2.32, shall serve under the provisions of this chapter and shall have the following duties and powers:

1.

To act to eliminate unlawful real estate practices;

2.

To act to assure persons living, working or desiring to live in Collinsville opportunity to purchase, lease or occupy real property in Collinsville without discrimination because of race, color, religion or national origin;

3.

To receive, initiate and investigate complaints alleging unlawful real estate practices. Any complaint initiated by or received by the commission shall be in writing and signed by the chairman of the commission, and shall fully set forth circumstances of the alleged violation, and the source of all information upon which the complaint is based, including the names and addresses of all complainants;

4.

To recommend that the City Council instruct the corporation counsel to seek a temporary restraining order or injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction when the commission has reasonable cause to believe that an unfair real estate practice has occurred or will occur;

5.

To eliminate any unfair real estate practice by conciliation, conference and/or persuasion;

6.

To hold public hearings at any place within the City limits publicly announced a reasonable time in advance, in the event that its efforts are ineffective, or where it deems that such efforts will be ineffective;

7.

To make findings of fact and submit recommendations to the City Council with respect to the granting, suspension and revocation of a real estate broker's license to transact business in Collinsville;

8.

To publish its findings of fact and recommended orders in accordance with the provisions of this chapter after submission to the City Council;

9.

To render from time to time, but not less than every six (6) months, a written report to the City Council of its activities and recommendations with respect to fair real estate practice, which written reports shall be made public after submission to the City Council.

B.

All meetings and proceedings pursuant to this chapter shall be open to the public, to interested parties and to the press. All records, papers and exhibits of or in such meetings and proceedings shall be open to inspection, examination, and copying (at the expense of the copier) by members of the public, interested parties or the press, subject to reasonable safeguards against interfering with such meetings or proceedings, the work of the commission or its staff, or the official use and safekeeping of such records, papers, or exhibits.

(Prior Code, § 6.16.040; Code 1996, § 9.36.100)