File a Title VI Complaint with Vista Transit

Any person who believes that they, individually or as a member of any specific class of individuals, has been subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin, with respect to Vista Transit’s programs, activities, services, or other transit related benefits, may file a written Complaint with the City Nondiscrimination Coordinator or the Vista Transit Administrator. A Complaint may be filed by the individual or by a representative. A Complaint must be filed within 180 days after the date of the alleged discrimination, but complainants are encouraged to submit complaints as soon as possible. Vista Transit will promptly investigate all Complaints filed under Title VI, pursuant to this Regulation.

Title VI Complaint Process

The U.S. Department of Transportation, through the Federal Transportation Administration (FTA), provides federal funding to the City of Sierra Vista, Vista Transit. As a condition of this funding, the FTA requires Vista Transit, as s subrecipient, to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and ensures that no person is excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any of its programs or services on the basis of race, color, or national origin. If an inquiry progresses into a formal complain, individuals may submit their complaint directly to the City of Sierra Vista/Vista Transit by mail, email, or personal delivery.

Title VI Inquiry/Complaint Process

The City of Sierra Vista / Vista Transit's Title VI inquiry/complaint procedure is described below.

Any person who believes they have been subjected to unlawful discriminatory practice under Title VI has a right to file a complain. Any such complaint must be filed in writing with the Title VI Coordinator (the Coordinator) within 180 days following the date of the alleged discrimination action. 

Information on the complaint process is available at the Vista Transit Center, City Hall, and online. The process and form may also be obtained via email request at TitleVI@SierraVistaAZ.gov.

Complaints may be submitted to any of the following contacts:

1. City of Sierra Vista - Title VI Coordinator
   1011 N Coronado Drive
   Sierra Vista, AZ 85635
   (520) 458-3315
2. Vista Transit - Transit Administrator
   2050 E Wilcox Drive
   Sierra Vista, AZ 85635
3. E-mail to TitleVI@SierraVistaAZ.gov

Complainants will be advised they may submit their formal complaint to the City of Sierra Vista and Vista Transit or to an external Federal agency, such as the FTA. However, should a formal complaint be filed with the City and the Federal agency simultaneously, the Federal complaint will supersede the City's complaint, and the City complaint procedures will be suspended pending the Federal agency's finding. Every effort will be made to obtain a timely resolution of complaints.

The City of Sierra Vista / Vista Transit Title VI Coordinator will adhere to following Title VI formal complaint procedures.

1. The formal complaint must meet the following requirements to undergo a Title VI investigation.
   • The Complaint shall be in writing and signed by the complainant(s). In cases where a formal complainant is unable or incapable of providing a written statement, a verbal complaint may be made. The coordinator can assist the person in converting a verbal complain to writing the formal complainant. All complaints must, however, be signed by the complainant or his/her representative.
   • Include the date of the alleged act of discrimination, date when the complainant became aware of the alleged discrimination, date on which the conduct occurred, and the latest instance of conduct.
   • Present a detailed description of the issues, including names and job titles of those individuals perceived as parties to the discriminatory activity.
   • Formal complaints must be filed within 180 calendar days of the alleged incident in compliance with applicable law.
2. The coordinator will maintain a log of all Title VI complaints identifying complainant's name, factual allegations, alleged harm, and basis for the discrimination complaint based on a protected class.
3. Within 14 business days of receiving the formal complaint, the Coordinator will determine jurisdiction, sufficiency, and any need for additional information. The coordinator will attempt to contact the complainant if additional information is needed. The complainant will have 60 days from the date of the letter to send the requested information to the Coordinator. If the complainant fails to respond as requested, the Coordinator may terminate the investigation and close the complaint.
4. The Coordinator will assign a formal complaint number, send an acknowledgment letter to the complainant informing him/her that the City of Sierra Vista / Vista Transit has received the formal complaint. The acknowledgment letter will include contact information for the complainant to obtain status updates. The Coordinator will forward the formal complaint to Vista Transit for investigation.
5. Within 90 calendar days of receipt of the complaint or requested additional information, the Coordinator will issue either: 1) a closure letter or 2) a letter of finding (LOF). A closure letter summarizes the allegations and states there was not a Title VI violation or there was insufficient evidence to substantiate the alleged violation and that the complaint will be closed. A LOF summarizes the allegations and notifies the complainant whether the complaint has merit. If the complaint is substantiated, the LOF will outline the appropriate corrective actions that will be taken to resolve the issue.
6. Local Agency Appeal Process: If the complainant is unsatisfied with the decision of the Title VI Coordinator, an appeal may be filed with the City Manager of the City of Sierra Vista (CM). If an appeal is filed with the CM, the complaint and investigation will be reviewed by the City Manager and a response will be issued with 14 business days.
7. The complainant may also file an appeal with the appropriate Federal agency for review of the decision.

A person may also file a complaint directly with:

Federal Transit Administration
Civil Rights Division
Attention: Complaint Team
East Building, 5th Floor - TCR
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590

For information or guidance on how to file a complaint directly with the City of Sierra Vista / Vista Transit or obtain more information regarding Title VI, please contact Vista Transit, the City of Sierra Vista / Vista Transit Title VI Coordinator, or visit the Title VI webpage at https://www.sierravistaaz.gov/our-city/ada-civil-rights/title-vi

Required Information

Complaint must include the following information:

1. A complaint must be in writing and signed and dated by the complainant or their representative before any action can be taken.
2. A complaint shall state, as fully as possible, the facts and circumstances surrounding the alleged discrimination, including the name and address of the complainant, the date, time and location of the incident. The Complaint shall include a description of the program, activity or service on which the alleged discrimination occurred.

Complaint Form

A complaint form is available and can be used to file a Title VI complaint with the City of Sierra Vista and Vista Transit. The complaint form in English or Spanish can be downloaded from the City Website or can be requested from Vista Transit or at City Hall. If requested, the form will be made in an accessible format or language. Complaint forms can be obtained at:

1. Vista Transit’s website
2. A complaint form can be mailed, faxed or emailed by calling Vista Transit at 520-417-4888 or City Hall at 520-458-3315.
3. A complaint form can be picked up at the Vista Transit Center 2050 E. Wilcox, Sierra Vista, AZ, 85635 or City Hall 1011 N. Coronado Dr., Sierra Vista AZ, 85635, or at Public Works 401 Giulio Cesare, Sierra Vista AZ, 85635.
4. A complaint form may be requested by emailing TitleVI@SierraVistaAZ.gov, or  Jill.Adams@SierraVistaAZ.gov.
5. By faxing a request or letter to 520-417-6996 or 520-458-0584.

If the Complaint is received by anyone other than the Title VI Nondiscrimination Coordinator or Vista Transit’s Administrator, the individual in receipt of the Complaint shall forward it to the Nondiscrimination Coordinator, the Transit Administrator, or their designee as soon as practicable but no later than two (2) working days of receipt. The Nondiscrimination Coordinator or the Transit Administrator shall immediately provide a copy of the complaint to the Director of the program, activity or service that is alleged to be non compliant with Title VI regulations.

Efforts to Contact Complainant

The Transit Administrator, Nondiscrimination Coordinator, or a designee shall make efforts to speak (meeting or telephone conversation) with the complainant, at which time the complainant may give written or oral evidence supporting the allegation that their rights under Title VI have been violated. The Transit Administrator, the Nondiscrimination Coordinator, or a designee shall review and consider the all the information provided by the complainant, if any, and any other evidence available regarding the allegations of the complaint. Vista Transit’s Transit Administrator or the Nondiscrimination Coordinator shall prepare a written report of their findings.

If corrective action is required, a timetable for the completion of such action shall be included.

Completion of Investigation

No later than twenty (20) business days following receipt of the initial complaint, the Transit Administrator, Nondiscrimination Coordinator, or their designee shall inform the complainant of the findings and any corrective action to be taken as a result of the complaint together with the timetable for completion of such action.

Appeal Process

If the complainant chooses to file their Complaint with the City Manager, then the complaint and any supporting documentation should be submitted at City Hall, 1011 N. Coronado Dr., Sierra Vista, AZ 85635 within five (5) business days of receipt of the results of the original investigation. Upon review of the file, the City Manager shall notify the complainant of what actions, if any, will be taken as a result of the review within ten (10) working days of the City Manager’s notification that the complainant is not satisfied with the results of the Vista Transit’s Transit Administrator or Nondiscrimination Coordinator’s investigation. The decision of the City Manager shall be final.

Timeline Waiver

Any timeline set forth herein may be extended by the Transit Administrator or Nondiscrimination Coordinator upon a showing of good cause.

Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

If the complainant is not satisfied with the findings and/or action of the Transit Administrator, Nondiscrimination Coordinator, or their designee, then the complainant may file their Complaint with the City Manager or file a separate complaint with the FTA’s Office of Civil Rights at:

Federal Transit Administration Office of Civil Rights
Attn: Complaint Team
East Building, 5th Floor – TCR
1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, DC 20590

Deficiencies With Title VI Compliance

Compliance Reviews will be conducted periodically by FTA, as part of its ongoing responsibility pursuant to its authority under 49 CFR 21.11(a).

If FTA determines that Vista Transit is in noncompliance with Title VI, it will transmit a Letter of Finding that describes FTA’s determination and requests that Vista Transit voluntarily take corrective action(s) which FTA deems necessary and appropriate.

Vista Transit will submit a remedial action plan including a list of planned corrective actions and, if necessary, sufficient reasons and justification for FTA to reconsider any of its findings or recommendations within 30 days of receipt of FTA’s Letter of Finding.

Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.
They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below.

Acrobat Reader Windows Media Player Word Viewer Excel Viewer PowerPoint Viewer