The City of Punta Gorda, Florida, hereby gives public notice that is the policy of the City of Punta Gorda to assure full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statues and regulations in the operation of all programs and services without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, income or family status. Any person who believes they have been aggrieved by any unlawful discriminatory practice under Title VI has the right to file a formal complaint with the City of Punta Gorda, Florida. Any such complaint must be filed in writing or in person with the City’s Title VI Coordinator. For more information on the City of Punta Gorda, Florida civil rights program, and the procedures to file a civil rights complaint:

• Phone 941-575-3308
• TTY 941-575-5013
• E-mail: humres@pgorda.us
• Physical & Mailing Address
  • 326 W. Marion Avenue
  • Punta Gorda, Florida, 33950

The City of Punta Gorda works to ensure that all persons regardless of their proficiency in English have access to the benefits of all of the City’s programs and services. If you need documents translated or an interpreter to have access to a program or service you should contact the City’s Title VI Coordinator at 941-575-3308.

The purpose of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is to prohibit programs that receive federal funds from discriminating against participants on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, income or family status. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as codified in 42 U.S.C. 2000d, states:

No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
The intent of the law is to ensure that all persons, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, income or family status, are allowed to participate in federally funded programs and services. To ensure that the City meets its compliance responsibility, procedures have been established to provide for monitoring of Title VI compliance, activities and complaint processing

At the August 13, 2014, the City Council of Punta Gorda adopted a Title VI Non-Discrimination Policy. The purpose of this policy is to state the City of Punta Gorda’s commitment to fully comply with all Non-Discrimination provisions pursuant to Title VI of the Civil rights Act of 1964 and other applicable statues and regulations related. 

In order to ensure compliance with Title VI, the City of Punta Gorda takes steps to ensure that LEP persons have access to all programs and services provided by the City. The City takes reasonable steps to ensure that LEP person(s) are given adequate information and are able to understand the services and benefits available. The City also ensures that the LEP person can effectively communicate the relevant circumstances of his or her situation. . The most important step in meeting this obligation is providing language assistance necessary to ensure such access, at no cost to the LEP person.

Discrimination is an action or inaction, intentional or not, through which any intended beneficiary, solely because of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, income or family status has been subjected to unequal treatment or impact, under any City of Punta Gorda program or service.

Discrimination based on the grounds referenced above limit the opportunity for individuals and groups to gain equal access to services and programs. In administering federally assisted programs and activities, the City of Punta Gorda cannot discriminate either directly or indirectly through contractual or other means by:

• Denying program services, financial aids or other benefits;
• Providing different program services, financial aids or other benefits, or providing them in a manner different from that provided to others;
• Segregating or separately treating individuals or groups in any manner related to the receipt of any program service or benefit;
• Restricting in any way the enjoyment of any advantage or privilege enjoyed by others receiving any program service or other benefits
• Denying person(s) the opportunity to participate as a member of a planning, advisory or similar body;
• Denying person(s) the opportunity to participate in the program through the provision of services, or affording the opportunity to do so differently from those afforded others.

What Is Covered by Title VI?

Any federally assisted programs for the provision of services and/or other benefits. Such programs include education or training, work opportunities, health, welfare, rehabilitating, housing, construction, transportation, hiring, location of facilities, welfare services, program effects people in applicable communities, and law enforcement and environmental issues or other services, whether provided directly by the City of Punta Gorda or indirectly through contracts or other arrangements with other agents.

What Is Federal Financial Assistance?

 Federal financial assistance means more than just money. It is also aid that enhances the ability to improve or expand allocation of a recipient’s own resources. Some examples include:

• Grants
• Loans
• Bonds
• Tax-exempt Bonds
• Property
• Loan of Personnel
• Tax Incentives and tax exempt status
• Students Aid
• Training of employees
• Technical assistance, etc.

If an agency receives any federal financial assistance for any program or activity, the entire agency is required to comply with Title VI, not just that particular program.

How Does Title VI Apply To Public Policy?

Title VI is the mechanism that ensures that federal financial assistance, which drives or promotes economic development, infrastructure improvements, service delivery, and minority participation in decision-making is done without discrimination. The intent is to ensure that all persons have fair participation and representation in the planning and execution of public policy.

Authorities Enabling Title VI

The two main authorities enabling Title VI implementation, compliance and enforcement are the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987. However, other statutes, laws, regulations, executive orders and the United States Constitution provide guidance for the effective execution of the objectives of Title VI. These include:

20 United States Code (U.S.C.) 1681et seq., Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987 (clarifying congressional intent to prohibit discrimination in all programs and activities of federal aid recipients, regardless of whether or not they are federally assisted)

23 U.S.C. 324, Highway Act of 1973 (adding sex as a protected class and authorizing use of Title VI enforcement measures to sex discrimination)

29 U.S.C. 701 et seq., Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (prohibiting discrimination based on disability in federal funded programs or services)

42 U.S.C. 2000d-2000d-7, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (providing that no person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from, participation in, or be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program, or activity receiving Federal financial assistance)

42 U.S.C. 6101 et seq., Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (prohibiting discrimination based on age in any federally funded program or activity)

42 U.S.C. 12131 et seq., American with Disabilities Act of 1990 (prohibiting discrimination based on disability in programs or services operated by government entities)

Executive Order 12898 (1994) (directing federal agencies to address disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects in programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income populations)

Executive Order 13166 (2004) (requiring federal agencies to improve access to programs and services for those who are limited English proficient and to provide guidance to federal aid recipients on taking reasonable steps to provide meaningful access for those who LEP)