Accessibility

The City of La Palma is committed to ensuring that people with disabilities are able to take part in, and benefit from, the entire range of public programs, services, and activities offered by the City. The City continually strives to modify its facilities, programs, policies, or practices, as necessary, to ensure such access is provided.

Notice Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

In accordance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA"), the City of La Palma will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities.

Employment

The City of La Palma does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its hiring or employment practices and complies with all regulations promulgated by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under Title I of the ADA.

Effective Communication

The City of La Palma will generally, upon request, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for qualified persons with disabilities so they can participate equally in City of La Palma’s programs, services, and activities.

Modifications to Policies and Procedures

The City of La Palma will make all reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to enjoy all of its programs, services, and activities. For example, individuals with service animals are welcomed in City of La Palma offices, even where pets are generally prohibited.

Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a program, service, or activity of City of La Palma, should contact the City ADA Coordinator as soon as possible but no later than 48 hours before the scheduled event.

The ADA does not require the City of La Palma to take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of its programs or services, or impose an undue financial or administrative burden.

The City of La Palma will not place a surcharge on a particular individual with a disability or any group of individuals with disabilities to cover the cost of providing auxiliary aids/services or reasonable modifications of policy, such as retrieving items from locations that are open to the public but are not accessible to persons who use wheelchairs.

Grievance Procedure

This Complaint and Grievance Procedure is established to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  It may be used by anyone who wishes to file a complaint or grievance alleging discrimination based on disability in the provision of services, activities, programs, or benefits by the City of La Palma. The City of La Palma’s Personnel Policy governs employment-related complaints of disability discrimination.

The City of La Palma wants to hear concerns and complaints from citizens to provide accessible programs, services, and activities.  A member of the public can contact the City of La Palma with a comment, concern, or complaint without filing a formal grievance.  A formal grievance can be filed by completing the City of La Palma’s Grievance Form.

It is preferred that the formal grievance be in writing and contain information about the alleged discrimination such as name, address, phone number of complainant, location, date, and description of the problem.  Alternative means of filing complaints, such as personal interviews with the complaint, will be made available for persons with disabilities upon request.  If additional accommodations are needed, please contact the ADA Coordinator.  The complaint should be submitted by the grievant and/or his/her designee as soon as possible but no later than 60 calendar days after the alleged violation to:

Assistant to the City Manager, ADA Coordinator 
7822 Walker Street
La Palma, CA 90623
(714) 690-3300
Administration@cityoflapalma.org

Within 30 calendar days after receipt of the complaint, the Assistant to the City Manager or [his/her] designee will meet with the complainant to discuss the complaint and the possible resolutions.  Within 30 calendar days of the meeting, the Assistant to the City Manager or designee will respond in writing, and where appropriate, in a format accessible to the complainant, such as large print or Braille. The response will explain the position of the City of La Palma and offer options for substantive resolution of the complaint.

If the response by the Assistant to the City Manager or designee does not satisfactorily resolve the issue, the complainant and/or his/her designee may appeal the decision within 30 calendar days after receipt of the response to the City Manager.

Within 30 calendar days after receipt of the appeal, the City Manager will meet with the complainant to discuss the complaint and possible resolutions. Within 30 calendar days after the meeting, the City Manager will respond in writing, and, where appropriate, in a format accessible to the complainant, with a final resolution of the complaint.

ADA Grievance Form