Last week, voters in Kalamazoo passed the city’s new anti-discrimination ordinance. This week, city employees are figuring out how to implement it.

According to a story in Sunday’s Kalamazoo Gazette, the city’s new protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity require that individuals alleging discrimination file a written complaint with the city manager.


City contractors are also required to certify that they are in compliance with the new ordinance.

From the story:

Someone wishing to file a complaint would start with the Kalamazoo city manager’s office. A signed, written complaint must be filed within 180 days of an alleged violation.  The document should include “names, dates, witnesses and other factual matters relevant to the claim,” according to the new city ordinance.

After a complaint has been filed, the city manager is required to investigate the allegations within 30 days, and then provide the results of the investigation to both the alleged victim of the discrimination as well as the alleged perpetrator.

In a nod to resolving violations of the ordinance without always having to resort to a courtroom, the ordinance requires that “conciliation and persuasion” — some form of mediation — be attempted before the city attorney launches a prosecution. The maximum fine per violation is $500.