A. Any person who claims to have been injured by a discriminatory housing practice or who believes that they will be irrevocably injured by a discriminatory housing practice that is about to occur (hereafter “aggrieved person”) may file a complaint with the chief administrative officer. Complaints shall be in writing and shall contain such information, and be in such form as the chief administrative officer requires. Upon receipt of such a complaint, the chief administrative officer shall furnish a copy of the same to the person or persons who have committed, or are about to commit, the alleged discriminatory housing practice. Within thirty days after receiving a complaint or within thirty days after the expiration of any period referenced under subsection C of this section, the chief administrative officer shall investigate the complaint and give notice in writing to the aggrieved person whether they intend to resolve it. If the chief administrative officer decides to resolve the complaints, they shall proceed to try to eliminate or correct the alleged discriminatory housing practice by informal methods of conference, conciliation and persuasion. Nothing said or done in the course of such informal endeavors may be made public or used as evidence in a subsequent proceeding under the ordinance codified in this chapter without the written consent of the persons concerned. Any employee of the chief administrative officer who shall make public any information in violation of this provision shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than ninety days.
B. A complaint under subsection A of this section shall be filed within one hundred and eighty days after the alleged discriminatory housing practice occurred. Complaints shall be in writing and shall state the facts upon which the allegations of a discriminatory housing practice are based. Complaints may be reasonably and fairly amended at any time. A respondent may file an answer to the complaint against him and with the leave of the chief administrative officer, which shall be granted whenever it would be reasonable and fair to do so, may amend his answer at any time. Both complaints and answers shall be verified.
C. If within thirty days after a complaint is filed with the chief administrative officer, the chief administrative officer has been unable to obtain voluntary compliance with the ordinance codified in this chapter, the aggrieved person may, within thirty days thereafter, file a complaint with the secretary of the department of housing and urban development. The chief administrative officer will assist in this filing.
D. If the chief administrative officer has been unable to obtain voluntary compliance within thirty days of the complaint, the aggrieved person may, within thirty days thereafter commence a civil action in any appropriate court, against the respondent named in the complaint, to enforce the rights granted or protected by the ordinance codified in this chapter, insofar as such rights relate to the subject of the complaint. If the court finds that a discriminatory housing practice has occurred or is about to occur, the court may enjoin the respondent from engaging in such practice or order such affirmative action as may be appropriate.
E. In any proceeding brought pursuant to this section, the burden of proof shall be on the complainant.
F. Whenever an action filed by an individual comes to trial, the chief administrative officer shall immediately terminate all efforts to obtain voluntary compliance. (Ord. 1620-2000 § 2(part), 2000).