Civil Rights Commission

CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION MEETING CITY OF DAVENPORT, IOWA Tuesday, April 14, 2026; 12:00 PM Virtual Via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84869608008?pwd=MUhuMUNSUnp4WlZndk9tbXZiMlY1UT09 I. Roll Call Virtual Via Zoom:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84869608008?pwd=MUhuMUNSUnp4WlZndk9tbXZiMlY1UT09 II. Approval of Agenda III. Approval of Minutes A. March 2026 Minutes IV. Director's Report A. March 2026 Director's Report B. March 2026 Case Status Report V. New Business A. H-0123-0043-23 B. Legislative Updates VI. Old Business VII. Public Comment and Presentation VIII. Adjourn IX. Next Meeting  City of Davenport Civil Rights Commission Department: Civil Rights Action / Date Contact Info: | 4/14/2026 Subject: March 2026 Minutes Attachments: 1. DCRS Reg Meeting March 10, 2026  DAVENPORT CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION Minutes of Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 10, 2026; 12:30 PM The Davenport Civil Rights Commission (DCRC) met at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, 2026, online using Zoom. Commission Chair Michael Guster presided over the meeting. Commission Chairman Guster had Commissioner Transou take the roll call. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Ethelene Boyd Michael Guster Frank Holley Charlene Upchurch-Taylor Jeff Transou COMMISSIONERS ABSENT None OTHER PERSONS PRESENT: Director Lacey Others from the community AGENDA Commissioner Guster called for the approval of the agenda. Commissioner Holley made a motion to approve the agenda; Commissioner Upchurch-Taylor seconded the motion. All Commissioners approved the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES On motion by Commissioner Holley, seconded by Commissioner Upchurch-Taylor, minutes of the regular meeting of February 10, 2026, were approved. All Commissioners voted yes. DIRECTOR’S REPORT The Director stated there was no right to sue letters in February, and one housing settlement addressing race and disability discrimination with retaliation and specific-performance relief and policy change, there was relief in the public interest. Director Lacey stated there were six cases closed in February, three employment, one housing, and the two of those we did not have jurisdiction, so they were referred to another agency. The Director stated the Commission currently has 174 employment cases, 21 accommodations, and 19 education cases. The Director described meetings with city leadership, participation in city goal-setting workshops on housing and unhoused programming, an EEOC technical review, federal contracting updates after an Alaska conference, and work with public works and a contractor on a property relocation proposal; the Director noted pending clarification about FY27 staffing and changes to a work-sharing funding cap. Commissioners asked about the Alaska conference content and whether Commissioners should attend compliance meetings. Director Lacey explained the sessions focus on contract compliance, case processing, and cross-filing with federal agencies, and stated Commissioner attendance would likely have a limited utility. The Director stated public works staff, and their contractor will produce a revised relocation property proposal that aligns the August list of needs with the current budget and the Director’s updated feedback. Director Lacey will obtain and report back on the proposed FY27 staffing status and whether the advertised position remains authorized following the budget update. Director Lacey will request an updated HUD Form 1044 to correct the missing funding and follow up until the funding document is corrected. Staff will add an agenda item about legislative impacts on civil rights enforcement for the April 14, 2026, Commission meeting. The Director contacted City Administrator Gleason to schedule a meeting with the Chairman Guster, and Vice Chair Holley, to open the lines of communication scheduled for tomorrow that would also include meeting with Alderman Newton. The Director conducted a Black History Month training course in collaboration with the Davenport Library. Putnam Museum reps were there and invited folks to the exhibit. NEW BUSINESS A. E-0074-0039-17 The Commission reviewed the probable-cause employment case, Director Lacey recommended against a public hearing because of limited Commission resources and multiple pending hearings. A motion was made by Commissioner Boyd to not take the case to public hearing; it was seconded by Commissioner Holley. The motion was carried unanimously. OLD BUSINESS None PUBLIC COMMENT AND PRESENTATION Commissioner Boyd expressed distress about recent legislative activity on Civil Rights and requested this concern be put on the agenda for the next meeting. The request was accepted for the April 14, 2026, meeting. ADJOURN Commissioner Holley made a motion to adjourn the meeting, it was seconded by Commissioner Upchurch-Taylor, all Commissioners voted yes to adjourn the meeting. The meeting ended at 12:52 p.m. NEXT MEETING The next regular meeting of the Commission is April 14, 2026, at 12 noon. Submitted by Commission Secretary, Jeff Transou  City of Davenport Civil Rights Commission Department: Civil Rights Action / Date Contact Info: | 4/14/2026 Subject: March 2026 Director's Report Attachments: 1. April 2026 Director's Report DIRECTOR’S REPORT FOR THE DAVENPORT CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION FOR March 2026 I. CASE STATUS 1. One “right to sue” letter was issued in the month of March. 2. One case settled in conciliation in the month of March. This case involved allegations of race and disability discrimination in employment. The case resolved for $30,000 for the Complainant and relief in the public interest. II. OTHER ACTIVITY 1. The Director completed case processing documentation. 2. The Director met with City Administrator Gleason, Alderwoman Newton, Chairperson Guster and Vice Chairperson Holley to followup on some matters that have remained unresolved from prior meetings. 3. The Director worked with staff on the updated proposal on the property proposed for the office relocation tailored to the specific requests submitted by the Commission. 4. The Director still has not received commitment from the CFO to attend the Commission meeting to go over the answers to the questions posed following the Joint Work session with the City Council, the initial request was for attendance at the November meeting. 5. The Director reviewed updated technical services. 6. The Director updated fair housing training materials. 7. The Director researched and worked on a draft of new case processing materials for staff pursuant to new legislation. 8. The Director attended an ADA Litigation Update training. 9. The Director attended an education law training. 10. The Director attended a Civil Rights training. 11. The Director attended Emerging Issues in Administrative Law training. 12. There remains no resolution to the internal complaint regarding the interception of the Commission’s confidential mail, it was submitted on December 20, 2023. 13. The Director continues to monitor COVID-191 rates and its impact on office functions. 14. The Director worked on case resolution documents. 15. The Director worked on litigation. 16. The Director continues to pause review of applications for the open positions pending an update on FY27 budget. 17. The Director continues to work on the update of training materials and professional development opportunities related to the staffing realignment related to the forced departure of the Asst. Director/Housing Programs Manager. 18. The Director and Administrative Assistant worked on updating documents to reflect changes to case processing. 19. The Housing Analyst position continues to be staffed on an interim basis by the Civil Rights Intake staff member. 20. The Civil Rights Intake Specialist worked on housing investigations. 1 Also, measles, influenza and RSV.  21. The Civil Rights Intake Specialist worked on housing inquiries. 22. The Civil Rights Intake Specialist worked on case resolutions. 23. The Senior Civil Rights Analyst worked on case intakes. 24. The Senior Civil Rights Analyst worked on investigations. 25. The Senior Civil Rights Analyst worked on case resolutions. 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. The investigation of hostile working environment, still no findings over two years after the initiation of the investigation. 5. Continued refusal to process vacation correction, despite the subsequent resolution directing the reversal of any decisions infringing on the Commission’s decision making authority. 6. Constructive discharge of Commission employees. 7. 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 be intended to undermine the Commission’s mission and reflect ongoing retaliation and retaliatory harassment in response to substantiated complaints of discrimination and harassment. 8. Office Relocation - Still awaiting updates on the funding and viability of this project. 9. Council Resolution - The resolution was passed July 23, 2025 however past actions have not been corrected. IV. NEW BUSINESS 1. Budget Update 2. SF579 Implications  City of Davenport Civil Rights Commission Department: Civil Rights Action / Date Contact Info: | 4/14/2026 Subject: March 2026 Case Status Report Attachments: None  City of Davenport Civil Rights Commission Department: Civil Rights Action / Date Contact Info: | 4/14/2026 Subject: H-0123-0043-23 Attachments: None  City of Davenport Civil Rights Commission Department: Civil Rights Action / Date Contact Info: | 4/14/2026 Subject: Legislative Updates Attachments: None