Civil Rights Commission — Davenport, IA
Date: 2025-08-12
Time: 12:00

CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION MEETING

 CITY OF DAVENPORT, IOWA

 Tuesday, August 12, 2025; 12:00 PM

 Virtual Via Zoom:
 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84869608008?pwd=MUhuMUNSUnp4WlZndk9tbXZiMlY1UT09

 AMID CONCERNS ABOUT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS) WITHIN OUR
 COMMUNITY, AS AN ONGOING MITIGATION MEASURE, IN COMPLIANCE WITH CDC
 RECOMMENDATIONS, THE COMMISSION WILL HOST ITS NEXT MONTHLY MEETING,
SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 12, 2025, AT NOON THROUGH A VIRTUAL FORMAT. THIS ACTION
 HAS BEEN TAKEN DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19. THE HEALTH
 AND SAFETY OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, VISITORS, CUSTOMERS AND OUR STAFF AT THE
DAVENPORT CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION IS ALWAYS A TOP PRIORITY. IT IS WITH THIS IN
 MIND THAT WE HAVE TAKEN THIS STEP TO MITIGATE THE POSSIBILITY OF COMMUNITY
TRANSMISSION. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SIGN UP TO ATTEND OUR NEXT MEETING, PLEASE
  REGISTER IN ADVANCE FOR THIS MEETING - YOU WILL FIND THE LINK IN THE AGENDA
 UNDER ROLL CALL. AFTER REGISTERING, YOU WILL RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION EMAIL
 CONTAINING INFORMATION ABOUT JOINING THE MEETING.


I. Roll Call

 Virtual Via Zoom:
 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84869608008?pwd=MUhuMUNSUnp4WlZndk9tbXZiMlY1UT09

II. Approval of Agenda

III. Approval of Minutes

 A. July 2025 Minutes

IV. Director's Report

 A. July 2025 Director's Report

 B. July 2025 Case Status Report

V. New Business

VI. Old Business

 A. Comission Position Salaries

 1. Civil Rights Specialist

 2. Civil Rights Investigator
 B. Commission/Remodel/Relocation Updates

 1. Requirements for Commission Relocation

 2. 3506 N Harrison Relocation

 C. Davenport Civil Rights Commission Council Resolution

VII. Public Comment and Presentation

VIII. Adjourn

IX. Next Meeting

CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION MEETING

 CITY OF DAVENPORT, IOWA

 Tuesday, August 12, 2025; 12:00 PM

 Virtual Via Zoom:
 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84869608008?pwd=MUhuMUNSUnp4WlZndk9tbXZiMlY1UT09

 AMID CONCERNS ABOUT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS) WITHIN OUR
 COMMUNITY, AS AN ONGOING MITIGATION MEASURE, IN COMPLIANCE WITH CDC
 RECOMMENDATIONS, THE COMMISSION WILL HOST ITS NEXT MONTHLY MEETING,
SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 12, 2025, AT NOON THROUGH A VIRTUAL FORMAT. THIS ACTION
 HAS BEEN TAKEN DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19. THE HEALTH
 AND SAFETY OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, VISITORS, CUSTOMERS AND OUR STAFF AT THE
DAVENPORT CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION IS ALWAYS A TOP PRIORITY. IT IS WITH THIS IN
 MIND THAT WE HAVE TAKEN THIS STEP TO MITIGATE THE POSSIBILITY OF COMMUNITY
TRANSMISSION. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SIGN UP TO ATTEND OUR NEXT MEETING, PLEASE
  REGISTER IN ADVANCE FOR THIS MEETING - YOU WILL FIND THE LINK IN THE AGENDA
 UNDER ROLL CALL. AFTER REGISTERING, YOU WILL RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION EMAIL
 CONTAINING INFORMATION ABOUT JOINING THE MEETING.


I. Roll Call

 Virtual Via Zoom:
 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84869608008?pwd=MUhuMUNSUnp4WlZndk9tbXZiMlY1UT09

II. Approval of Agenda

III. Approval of Minutes

 A. July 2025 Minutes

IV. Director's Report

 A. July 2025 Director's Report

 B. July 2025 Case Status Report

V. New Business

VI. Old Business

 A. Comission Position Salaries

 1. Civil Rights Specialist

 2. Civil Rights Investigator
 B. Commission/Remodel/Relocation Updates

 1. Requirements for Commission Relocation

 2. 3506 N Harrison Relocation

 C. Davenport Civil Rights Commission Council Resolution

VII. Public Comment and Presentation

VIII. Adjourn

IX. Next Meeting
 City of Davenport
 Civil Rights Commission
Department: Civil Rights Action / Date
Contact Info: | 8/12/2025
Subject:
July 2025 Minutes

Attachments:
1. JULY 2025 Meeting MInutes
 CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION MEETING
 CITY OF DAVENPORT, IA
 TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2025


The Davenport Civil Rights Commission met and Called to Order: 12:04 via Zoom.
Commissioner Mike Guster presided over the meeting.

ROLL CALL:

COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:

Mike Guster
Frank Holley
Charlene Upchurch-Taylor
Glenn Peterson
Ethelene Boyd

COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:

Jeff Transou

OTHER ATTENDEES:

Director Latrice Lacey
The City of Davenport

AGENDA:
Commissioner Mike Guster called for the approval of the agenda. It was moved by
Commissioner Ethelene Boyd to accept the agenda: seconded by Commissioner Gary Peterson;
motion carried.


APPROVAL of JUNE 2025 MINUTES:
 It was moved by Commissioner Ethelene Boyd to accept the minutes with any necessary
corrections; Seconded by Commissioner Glenn Peterson; motion carried.

DIRECTOR’S REPORT:
 • No right to sue letters issued in the month of June.
 • No mediation or conciliation settlements in the month of June.
 • Still waiting for response regarding salary.
 • Commissioner Guster wants Director Lacey to get clarification from the City who is
 making the decision about salaries. Is it the Commission or the City?
 • Director Lacey doesn’t want the Commission to be legally responsible for changing
 salaries.
 • Commissioner Guster suggested we table the topic until Director Lacey comes back and
 finds out more information. It was moved by Commissioner Frank Holley and 2nd by
 Commissioner Ethelene Boyd; Motion carried.
 • Director Lacey will do the research herself or follow up with the Corporation Council to
 get answers to the questions and then have the information ready to be presented at the
 next Commission meeting.
 • Director Lacey received from the City Administrator Doug Maxeiner an email concerning
 the possibility of the Commission moving to another facility. This would postpone the
 remodeling of the present facility and use the funds for the next. Fire Station 3 is the
 location mentioned.
 • Commissioner Guster suggested that Director Lacey set up a walk through the Fire
 Station. Look at the pros and cons of relocating before deciding.
 • It was moved by Commissioner Ethelene Boyd to table until August the assessment for
 the move to a different building. Seconded by Commissioner Upchurch-Taylor; motion
 carried.
 • Director Lacey filed a motion to dismiss on the Judicial Review Proceeding
 • Director Lacey will need to file a reply to the respondent’s resistance on that this week,
 • Director Lacey stated we have another brief reply due to one of the housing cases that’s
 ending public hearing.

NEW BUSINESS: None

OLD BUSINESS: None

PUBLIC COMMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS: None

NEXT MEETING:
Regular DCRC Meeting, August 12, 2025

ADJOURN:

Commissioner Mike Guster called to adjourn the meeting. It was moved by Commissioner
Charlene Upchurch-Taylor and Seconded by Commissioner Glenn Peterson to adjourn the
meeting at 1:30pm; motion carried.


Submitted by,


Commissioner Charlene Upchurch-Taylor



Commissioner Charlene Upchurch-Taylor,
Secretary
 City of Davenport
 Civil Rights Commission
Department: Civil Rights Action / Date
Contact Info: | 8/12/2025
Subject:
July 2025 Director's Report

Attachments:
1. July 2025 DR
 DIRECTOR’S REPORT FOR THE DAVENPORT CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION FOR
 July 2025

 I. CASE STATUS
 1. No “right to sue” letters were issued in the month of July.
 2. No cases settled in mediation in the month of July.
 II. OTHER ACTIVITY
 1. The Director completed case processing documentation.
 2. The Director worked on pre-hearing preparation.
 3. The Director met with the Interim IT Director to discuss IT related questions for the
 of ce.
 4. The Director attended the pre-bid meeting for the of ce remodel.
 5. The Director conducted a 35th Anniversary of the ADA training.
 6. The Director continues to await a substantive response regarding salary assessment data
 for the agency’s investigation-related positions. The Director has conducted further
 analysis, as it was unclear how the Commission could be subject to adverse effects or
 limitations arising from actions taken by city staff. The Director has not received any
 information which shows that the city staff obtained authority to negotiate on behalf of
 the Commission. The Director has not received any followup providing an update on the
 potential legal remedies or recommendations, to date.
 7. The Director attended the Civil Service Commission meeting.
 8. The Director attended the IAOHRA Midwest meeting, the conference will be held in
 October in Anchorage, Alaska, we are still awaiting the receipt of the agenda.
 9. The Director worked with Councilman Kelly and Councilwoman Burkholder and
 Corporate Counsel to update the proposed resolution, it was passed at the July 23, 2025.
 10. The Director toured the property proposed for the of ce relocation to conduct a
 preliminary assessment of whether it meets the Commission’s needs for a new space.
 11. The Director worked on post hearing brie ng in the housing public hearing.
 12. The Director has yet to receive responsive information from the City Administrator
 regarding the information from Finance relating to the HUD funding, where we were
 noti ed that Finance would no longer do the Finance-related certi cation for our HUD
 contract, despite controlling the funding and the lack of response from Human
 Resources, the delays in processing personnel actions by Finance and Human Resources,
 the unilateral removal of the Civil Rights Investigator job posting from Human
 Resources and the absence of resolution to the internal complaint regarding the
 interception of the Commission’s con dential mail, submitted on December 20, 2023.
 13. The Director continued to monitor COVID-191 rates and its impact on of ce functions.
 14. The Director worked on case resolution documents.
 15. The Director worked on litigation.
 16. The Director has continued to pause reviewing applications for the Civil Rights
 Specialist position as we have continued to await information on the next step for setting
 salaries.



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 17. The Director continues to work on the development of training and professional
 development opportunities related to the staf ng realignment related to the forced
 departure of the Asst. Director/Housing Programs Manager.
 18. Housing Analyst worked on housing investigations.
 19. Housing Analyst worked on housing inquiries.
 20. Housing Analyst worked on case resolutions.
 21. Investigations Manager worked on case le reviews and updates.
 22. Investigations Manager worked on case resolutions.
 23. Investigations Manager worked on complaint intakes.
 24. Investigations Manager worked on expedited investigation and subpoena enforcement.
 III. OLD BUSINESS
 1. Ongoing discrimination, harassment and bullying of Commission staff.
 1. Retaliatory actions against Commission staff and further examples of different
 treatment.
 2. Legal Department refusal to accept Commission referral.
 3. Use of racial slurs in City Hall. City’s failure to initiate complaint investigation.
 4. Investigation of hostile working environment, still no ndings over a year after the
 initiation of the investigation.
 5. Continued refusal to process vacation correction, despite receiving their legal opinion
 which clearly indicates that the Commission’s procedure for processing the correction
 was appropriate.
 6. Constructive discharge of Commission employees.
 7. Staf ng Concerns - Investigation position postings and salary.
 8. The Commission continues to face delays and obstructive actions by City Administration
 that have hindered resolution of matters previously presented to the City Council. These
 actions appear to undermine the Commission’s mission and re ect ongoing retaliation
 and retaliatory harassment in response to substantiated complaints of discrimination and
 harassment.
 9. Salary Update Procedure - The Director received an email on August __, 2025 which
 directs her to follow Administrative Policy 1.6, which was already done.
 10. Of ce Relocation - The Director has conducted a preliminary accessibility audit of the
 property, there appears to be suf cient room for the Commission and it appears to be able
 to be updated within the budget set for the of ce remodel.
 11. Council Resolution - The resolution was passed on July 23, 2025.

 IV. NEW BUSINESS
 1. Commission inclusion in the city’s union agreement.




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 City of Davenport
 Civil Rights Commission
Department: Civil Rights Action / Date
Contact Info: | 8/12/2025
Subject:
July 2025 Case Status Report

Attachments:
None
 City of Davenport
 Civil Rights Commission
Department: Civil Rights Action / Date
Contact Info: | 8/12/2025
Subject:
Comission Position Salaries

Attachments:
None
 City of Davenport
 Civil Rights Commission
Department: Civil Rights Action / Date
Contact Info: | 8/12/2025
Subject:
Civil Rights Specialist

Attachments:
None
 City of Davenport
 Civil Rights Commission
Department: Civil Rights Action / Date
Contact Info: | 8/12/2025
Subject:
Civil Rights Investigator

Attachments:
None
 City of Davenport
 Civil Rights Commission
Department: Civil Rights Action / Date
Contact Info: | 8/12/2025
Subject:
Commission/Remodel/Relocation Updates

Attachments:
None
 City of Davenport
 Civil Rights Commission
Department: Civil Rights Action / Date
Contact Info: | 8/12/2025
Subject:
Requirements for Commission Relocation

Attachments:
None
 City of Davenport
 Civil Rights Commission
Department: Civil Rights Action / Date
Contact Info: | 8/12/2025
Subject:
3506 N Harrison Relocation

Attachments:
None
 City of Davenport
 Civil Rights Commission
Department: Civil Rights Action / Date
Contact Info: | 8/12/2025
Subject:
Davenport Civil Rights Commission Council Resolution

Attachments:
None