Title VI Policy

Notifying the Public of Rights Under Title VI

The City of Ocala/SunTran operates its programs and services without regard to race, color, and national origin in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Any person who believes she or he has been aggrieved by any unlawful discriminatory practice under Title VI may file a complaint with the City of Ocala no more than 180 days after the alleged incident.

For more information on the City of Ocala’s civil rights program, and the procedures to file a complaint, contact (352) 401-3994; email hrrisk@ocalafl.gov; or visit our administrative office at 110 SE Watula Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471. For more information, visit www.ocalafl.org/government/title-vi-ada-compliance-and-accessibility.

A complainant may file a complaint directly with the Federal Transit Administration no more than 180 days after the alleged incident by filing a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights, Attention: Title VI Program Coordinator, East Building, 5th Floor-TCR, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20590.

If information is needed in another language, or for more information on the City of Ocala and SunTran’s Title VI obligations, please contact the City of Ocala at (352) 401-3994 or SunTran at (352) 401-6999 or visit the City of Ocala website.

Title VI Complaint Procedure

Verbal & Non-Written Complaints

Any person who believes that he or she, or any specific class of persons, has been subjected to discrimination or retaliation by SunTran staff may file a verbal or written complaint no more than 180 days after the alleged incident, as such actions are prohibited by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Verbal and non-written complaints received by the City of Ocala shall be resolved by the Transit Manager. The Transit Manager will acknowledge receipt of the complaint(s) and within ten (10) calendar days inform the Complainant in writing of any action taken or proposed action to address the complaint(s). If actions that have been taken or are proposed to be taken to resolve the situation are not satisfactory to the Complainant, the Transit Manager will advise the Complainant to file a written complaint in the manner outlined in the Written Complaint Section.

The City of Ocala will maintain a log of all verbal and non-written complaints received by the agency. The log will include all of the following information:

  • Name and mailing address of Complainant;
  • Name of Respondent;
  • Basis of complaint (i.e., race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, familial status, or retaliation);
  • Date verbal or non-written complaint(s) was/were received;
  • Explanation of the complaint and the actions that have been taken or are proposed to resolve the issue raised in the complaint.

Written Complaints

If the Complainant does not feel that verbal or non-written procedures have satisfactorily resolved the complaint, or if at any time the Complainant files a written complaint no more than 180 days after the alleged incident, the Transit Manager shall refer the Complainant to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District Five Title VI Coordinator for processing in accordance with approved State procedures. Additionally, the Transit Manager shall advise the Complainant of other avenues of redress that are available, such as the Florida Department of Transportation’s Equal Opportunity Office (EOO). Additionally, if the Transit Manager has previously investigated the complaint, the Transit Manager will provide a copy of the reported finding and proposed disposition to the FDOT District Five Title VI Coordinator.

All written complaints received by the City of Ocala shall be immediately referred by the Transit Manager to the FDOT District Five Title VI Coordinator. The Transit Manager will advise the FDOT District Five Title VI Coordinator within five (5) calendar days of the receipt of the complaint. The following information will be included in every notification to the FDOT District Five Title VI Coordinator:

  • Name, address, and phone number of the Complainant;
  • Name(s) and address(es) of the Respondent;
  • Basis of complaint (i.e., race, color, national origin);
  • Date of alleged discriminatory act(s);
  • Date of complaint received by the City of Ocala;
  • A statement of the complaint;
  • Other agencies (state, local, or federal) where the complaint has been filed;
  • An explanation of the actions the Transit Manager has taken to or proposed to resolve the complaint(s).

Any person who wishes to file a written complaint may choose to use the forms available below: