INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT/DISCRIMINATION
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INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into this 12th
day of March
1996, by and between PINELLAS COUNTY, a political subdivision of the State of Florida, and the
CITY OF CLEARWATER.
The parties hereto mutually agree to the following:
WHEREAS, the Home Rule Charter for Pinellas County, Florida, Article III, Section 2,02( e),
directs the Board of County Commissioners of Pin ell as County, Florida, to establish provisions for
the protection of human rights for all people in Pinellas County from discrimination based upon
religion, political affiliation, race, color, age, sex, or national origin; and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Pin ell as County, Florida, has enacted
an ordinance, codified at Chapter 70 of the Pinellas County Code, which prohibits discrimination
in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap and familial status, and
which prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national
origin, age, disability and marital status, and which prohibits discrimination in public
accommodations on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex or disability; and
WHEREAS, the CITY OF CLEARWATER has existing administrative procedures and
personnel for conciliation, processing and enforcing of municipal ordinances relating to human rights
complaints within its municipal boundaries; and
WHEREAS, the local laws of the CITY OF CLEARWATER prohibiting discrimination in
employment are considered to be "substantially equivalent" to federal and state laws; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 70 of the Pinellas County Code, prohibiting discrimination III
employment and housing, is considered to be "substantially equivalent" to federal and state laws;
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and
WHEREAS, this "substantially equivalency" status permits a local agency to handle
discrimination complaints which are reported rather than having the state or federal government
intervene to investigate and process such complaints; and
WHEREAS, utilization ofthe existing Clearwater Community Relations Board, appointed
by the CITY OF CLEARWATER, for the enforcement of the COUNTY's ordinance which prohibits
discrimination in employment and public accommodations is in the best interests of the citizens of
PINELLAS COUNTY; and
WHEREAS, utilization of the existing staff of the Clearwater Community Relations Division
of the CITY OF CLEARWATER to investigate charges of discrimination in employment, housing
and public accommodations is in the best interests ofthe citizens of the county; and
WHEREAS, PINELLAS COUNTY and the CITY OF CLEARWATER have determined that
it is in the best interests of the citizens in the county to provide enforcement of the COUNTY's
ordinance prohibiting discrimination in housing, by the COUNTY's Human Rights Review Board;
and
WHEREAS, this Agreement is authorized by the provisions of Section 163,01, Florida
Statutes, which authorized the exercise by agreement of two or more public agencies of any power
common to them,
WIT N E SSE T H:
IT IS HEREBY MUTUALLY AGREED between PINELLAS COUNTY and the CITY OF
CLEARWATER that:
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1, PINELLAS COUNTY delegates authority for the investigation, processing,
conciliation and enforcement of complaints brought under Chapter 70 of the Pinellas Countv Code,
which relate to discrimination in employment and public accommodations, to the CITY OF
CLEARWATER for that portion of PINELLAS COUNTY north of U1merton Road,
2, PINELLAS COUNTY further delegates authority for only the investigation and
processing of complaints regarding discrimination in housing, as prohibited under Chapter 70 of the
Pinellas Countv Code, to the CITY OF CLEARWATER for that portion of Pine lias County north
of Ulmerton Road, All enforcement and decision-making authority pertaining to Fair Housing
Complaints shall remain exclusively with PINELLAS COUNTY, including the acceptance and
service of Fair Housing Complaints, dual filing of same with the U,S, Department of Housing and
Urban Development, and cause determinations, and all other decisions on administrative and judicial
enforcement.
3, All complaint investigations conducted by the CITY OF CLEAR WATER pursuant
to this Agreement shall be subject to periodic review by PINELLAS COUNTY for purposes of
quality assurance and controL
4, PINELLAS COUNTY agrees to allocate funds to the CITY OF CLEARWATER for
additional staff and operational costs due to the increased case load associated with serving that
portion of Pine lias County,
5, It is mutually agreed that all personnel employed by the CITY OF CLEARWATER,
with funds allocated pursuant to this Agreement, shall be employees of the CITY OF
CLEARWATER and not of PINEL LAS COUNTY
6, Amendment, This Agreement may be amended in writing by consent of the parties
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hereto, which shall become effective in the same manner as provided in paragraph 8 below,
7, The Effective Date, This Agreement and any amendments thereto shall become
effective upon filing with the Clerk of Circuit Court, Pinellas County, Florida,
8, Term and Renewal. This Agreement shall continue in force and effect for a period
not to exceed twenty-four (24) months, Any party hereto may terminate its participation in this
agreement by notifying the other party not later than sixty (60) days prior to the effective date of its
withdrawal.
9, Revocation of Prior Agreement, This Agreement hereby supersedes and revokes any
pnor agreement between the parties hereto regarding the enforcement and investigation of
complaints of discrimination under the Pinellas County Human Rights Ordinance,
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties to this Agreement have caused their names to be
affixed hereto by proper officers,
CITY OF CLEARWATER
ATTEST:
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City lerk / .',
By:
$~er
PINELLAS COUNTY, a political
subdivision of the State of Florida, acting
by and through its Board of County
:~ma~~~ V~
Chairman
Assistant County Attorney
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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ATTEST:
KARLEEN F, De BLAKER, Clerk
By: /J~ -R- x13t'~
, Deputy Clerk
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APPROVED AS TO FORM:
tvJaJ/ 4f.J&
tl,-\,City Attorney
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COUNTER-SIGNATURES:
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tI teomm~sioner
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