Cedar Falls Human Rights Commission reviews FY2025 activities, reports nine complaints
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Commissioner TW Ingram presented the Cedar Falls Human Rights Commission FY2025 annual report, noting a bylaw change reducing commissioners from 11 to 9, nine complaints handled (some referred to IOCR/EEOC and Waterloo), and $3,000 in city funding with $137.93 unspent.
The Cedar Falls Human Rights Commission presented its fiscal year 2025 annual report to the Committee of the Whole on Monday. Commissioner TW Ingram summarized the commission’s work, reported complaint handling, and outlined outreach and budget figures.
In the report, Ingram said the commission amended its bylaws in October 2024 to reduce the number of commissioners from 11 to 9 to ease quorum challenges and speed response to complaints. “This change provides HRC the ability to serve the city and meeting quorum more efficiently,” Ingram said.
The commission documented nine complaints received in FY2025. Ingram said one complaint involving disability and alleged retaliation was submitted to the Iowa Civil Rights Commission (now referenced as IOCR) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and another complaint involving race and retaliation was submitted to the EEOC. One complaint that concerned housing was referred to the housing commission because, per city ordinance and the cooperative agreement with the state of Iowa, the HRC does not investigate housing complaints. Ingram also said five complainants could not be reached for intake.
The report listed the HRC’s outreach and events in FY2025, including an annual summit, meet‑and‑greet, Women’s History Month partner events, participation in Cedar Valley Pride Fest, a Hate Crimes Forum staged in February 2025, and coordination with the Waterloo Civil Rights Commission and state and federal resources. Ingram said the forum proceeded without an in‑person Community Relations Service representative because of federal budget constraints.
On finances, Ingram reported the commission’s FY2025 general fund allocation from the city was $3,000. The HRC spent $2,862.07, leaving $137.93 unspent. Income from the HRC’s summit totaled $1,253 and was fully expended.
Council members thanked the commission for its work and asked procedural questions. Ingram said she will remain in her role until her term expires in 2027 and introduced Crystal Waltz as the incoming HRC chair who will present the FY2026 report going forward. The committee did not take formal action on the report during the meeting.
The committee moved on to other agenda items; the HRC’s report remains a public record and will inform future commission activity and staffing.