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Council adopts revised ADA Title II grievance policy, designates city attorney as ADA coordinator
Summary
Council adopted a resolution updating the city's ADA Title II grievance policy to reflect a recent reorganization and to set investigation timelines that aim to resolve most complaints within about 60 days.
The Kent City Council on May 20 adopted a resolution updating the city's Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II grievance policy and redesignating the ADA coordinator following an internal reorganization.
Assistant City Attorney Samantha Doyle told the committee the federal ADA requires cities with more than 50 employees to establish grievance procedures and to designate an ADA coordinator. Following the departure of the city's former risk manager and the reassignment of risk management to the city attorney’s office, staff proposed naming the city attorney as the ADA coordinator and revising language and timelines in the grievance policy.
Doyle explained the proposed process: within 15 days of receiving a complaint the ADA coordinator and a representative from the applicable department will contact the complainant; the department will investigate and deliver a report to the ADA coordinator within 45 days; and the ADA coordinator will respond in an appropriate format within 15 days thereafter. Doyle said this schedule generally yields a resolution within about 60 days in most cases.
Council member Boyce asked whether a 60-day maximum might be too long for serious issues. Doyle responded that the timeline provides discretion for the coordinator to act promptly depending on the facts and severity of the complaint.
The council moved and seconded the motion to adopt Resolution No. 2089 revising the city's ADA Title II grievance policy; the motion passed by voice vote.
