Grievance Procedure

The Just Cities Institute does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, or sex in administration of its programs or activities, and, Just Cities does not intimidate or retaliate against any individual or group because they have exercised their rights to participate in actions protected, or oppose action prohibited, by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7, or for the purpose of interfering with such rights.

Grievance Procedure

Purpose: In compliance with 40 C.F.R., Parts 5 and 7, Section 7.90(a), Just Cities has established a grievance procedure to ensure prompt and fair resolution of complaints alleging violations of Title VI, Section 601 of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and/or the Just Cities’s non-discrimination policy, in the administration of Just Cities’s programs and activities.

The grievance procedure is intended to address allegations of discrimination on the basis of:

  • Race;

  • Color;

  • National origin;

  • Religion;

  • Disability;

  • Income;

  • Age; or

  • Gender

The grievance procedure provides a process for filing a timely complaint to the proper authority and describes the process that will be used to investigate and resolve the complaint. However, the procedures do not apply to administrative actions that are being pursued in another forum.

Submission of a Complaint

Filing of Complaint

A person (or the authorized representative of a person) who believes that they or a class of persons have been discriminated against may file a complaint with Just Cities.  The Human Resources Director is designated as the Civil Rights Coordinator.  Any complaints should:

  • Be submitted in writing;

  • Be filed within 60 days of an alleged violation (except as otherwise indicated in the following paragraph);

  • Describe with specificity the action(s) by Just Cities that allegedly resulted in discrimination in violation of 40 C.F. R Parts 5 and 7;

  • Describe with specificity the discrimination that allegedly occurred or will occur as the result of such action(s);

  • Identify the partied impacted or potentially impacted by the alleged discrimination.

Just Cities may request additional information from the complainant if this information is needed to meet the complaint requirements described above. Just Cities may waive requirement 1.b in its discretion in order to address allegations of potential discrimination caused by pending actions at the earliest appropriate and feasible juncture, or, for good cause, to address complaints failed more than 60 days after an alleged violation.

All written complaints shall be addressed to:

Just Cities

c/o Human Resources Director

2150 Allston Way,

Suite 340

Berkeley, CA 94704

Or via email to the Human Resources Director. If the complaint is against the Human Resources Director, the complainant can issue the complaint to the Executive Director.

Within 10 days of receiving a written complaint, Just Cities will provide the complainant with written notice of receipt. At this time, Just Cities may request any additional information needed to meet the complaint requirements above.  Within 10 days of receiving any additional information, Just Cities will provide the complainant with written notice that the complaint filing is complete.

Disposition of Complaints

Within 120 days of accepting a written complaint, Just Cities will respond in writing to the complainant with resolution.