TITLE VI NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY
The City of Ocala values diversity and welcomes input from all interested parties, regardless of cultural identity, background or income level. Moreover, the City does not tolerate discrimination in any of its employment practices, programs, services, or activities. The City of Ocala will not exclude participation in, deny the benefits of, or subject to discrimination anyone on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, or familial status.
LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY (LEP) GUIDANCE
In adherence with Federal regulations, the City of Ocala will make reasonable efforts to ensure its programs, services, and activities are meaningfully accessible to those who do not speak English proficiently. The City of Ocala will utilize its bilingual employees, State and Local Transportation partners, faith-based organizations and community groups, and other language services to provide oral interpretation and translation of program documents, as required. To determine if or when alternate language usage is required for meaningful access, the City of Ocala will assess the program, service, or activity using the following four factors:
- The number of proportion of LEP persons eligible to be served or likely to be encountered by the City of Ocala’s programs, services, or activities.
- The frequency with which LEP individuals come in contact with these programs, services, or activities.
- The nature and importance of the program, service, or activity to people’s lives.
- The resources available to the City of Ocala and costs.
NOTICE UNDER THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA"), and related federal and state laws and regulations prohibit discrimination against individuals who have disabilities. The City of Ocala will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities in its employment practices, programs, services, or activities.
Employment: The City of Ocala does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its hiring or employment practices and complies with all regulations promulgated by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under Title I of the ADA.
Effective Communication: The City of Ocala will generally, upon request, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for qualified persons with disabilities so they can participate equally in City of Ocala programs, services, and activities, including qualified sign language interpreters, documents in Braille, and other ways of making information and communications accessible to people who have speech, hearing, or vision impairments.
Modifications to Policies and Procedures: City of Ocala will make all reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to enjoy all of its programs, services, and activities.
- Anyone who would like to request a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a program, service, or activity of the City of Ocala should contact the appropriate individual as indicated in the public announcement or the ADA/Title VI Coordinator at the address and/or number listed below. The request should be made as soon as possible but no later than forty-eight (48) hours before the scheduled event.
Todd Swanson
Human Resources & Risk Management Director
110 SE Watula Avenue
Phone: (352) 629-8365
Fax: (352) 401-6942
E-mail: tswanson@ocalafl.gov
- Requests for auxiliary aids and services to ensure effective communication for qualified individuals with a disability for public meetings should be directed to the Office of the City Clerk:
Angel B. Jacobs
City Clerk
110 SE Watula Avenue
Ocala FL 34471
Phone: (352) 629-8266
Fax: (352) 629-5208
E-mail: clerk@ocalafl.org
- The ADA does not require the City of Ocala to take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of its programs or services, or impose an undue financial or administrative burden.
CITY OF OCALA COMPLAINT PROCEDURE UNDER
TITLE VI AND THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
The City of Ocala has established a discrimination complaint procedure set forth below and will take prompt and reasonable action to investigate and eliminate discrimination when found. Any person who believes that he or she has been subjected to discrimination based upon race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, familial status, or income status in any of the City’s employment practices, programs, services, or activities may file a complaint with the City of Ocala’s ADA/Title VI Coordinator.
The complaint should be in writing and contain information about the alleged discrimination such the complainant’s name, address and phone number, and location, date and description of the alleged discrimination. Alternative means of filing complaints, such as personal interviews or a tape recording of the complaint will be made available for persons with disabilities upon request.
The complaint should be submitted by the grievant and/or his/her designee as soon as possible but no later than sixty (60) calendar days after the alleged violation to:
Todd Swanson
Human Resources & Risk Management Director
110 SE Watula Avenue
Phone: (352) 629-8365
Fax: (352) 401-6942
E-mail: tswanson@ocalafl.gov
Within a reasonable amount of time not to exceed thirty (30) calendar days after receipt of the complaint, the ADA/Title VI Coordinator or his/her designee will meet with the complainant to discuss the complaint and the possible resolutions. Within fifteen (15) calendar days of the meeting, the ADA/Title VI Coordinator or his/her designee will respond in writing, and where appropriate, in a format accessible to the complainant, such as large print, Braille, or audio tape. The response will explain the position of the City of Ocala and offer options for substantive resolution of the complaint.
If the response by ADA/Title VI Coordinator or his/her designee does not satisfactorily resolve the issue, the complainant and/or his/her designee may appeal the decision within fifteen (15) calendar days after receipt of the response to the City Manager or his/her designee.
Within fifteen (15) calendar days after receipt of the appeal, the City Manager his/her designee will meet with the complainant to discuss the complaint and possible resolutions. Within fifteen (15) calendar days after the meeting, the City Manager or his/her designee will respond in writing, and, where appropriate, in a format accessible to the complainant, with a final resolution of the complaint.
All written complaints received by ADA/Title VI Coordinator or his/her designee, appeals to the City Manager his/her designee, and responses from these two (2) offices will be retained by the City of Ocala for at least three (3) years and summaries for at least five (5) years.
The City of Ocala’s ADA Transition Plan is available for inspection at the City Clerk’s Office located at:
City Hall
110 SE Watula Ave
Ocala, FL 34471
City of Ocala ADA Transition Plan
EEO Utilization Report
SunTran Title VI Compliance and Complaint Form
View the Title VI Compliance and Complaint Form
Title VI/Nondiscrimination Assurance
Title VI Non-Discrimination Assurance
