Forest Grove
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
FOREST ~ GROVE OREGON A place where f a milies and businesses thrive. NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE CITY OF FOREST GROVE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Forest Grove City Council will holding a Public Hearing Monday, January 9, 2017, at 7:00 p.m. or thereafter, in the Community Auditorium, 1915 Main Street, Forest Grove, to consider whether to enact a resolution affirming the City of Forest Grove's commitment to a safe, open and friendly community for all people regardless of immigration status. The purpose of the hearing is to broaden discussions and take public input, preliminary to any Council action. This hearing is open to the public and interested parties are encouraged to attend. Written comments or testimony may be submitted at the hearing, e-mailed to aruggles@forestgrove or.gov, or sent to the attention of the City Recorder's Office, P.O. Box 326, 1924 Council Street, Forest Grove, OR 97116, prior to the hearing. For further information, please contact Anna Ruggles, City Recorder, at 503.992.3235, or via e-mail [email protected]. AVISO DE AUDIENCIA PUBLICA PARA LA CIUDAD DE FOREST GROVE POR MEDIO DE LA PRESENTE SE INFORMA que el Concejo Municipal de Forest Grove llevan~ a cabo una audiencia publica el dia lunes 9 de enero de 2017, a las 7:00p.m. ode aqui en adelante, en el Auditorio Comunitario del 1915 Main Street, en Forest Grove, para considerar Ia promulgaci6n de una resoluci6n que afirme el compromise de Ia Ciudad de Forest Grove de ser una comunidad segura, abierta e inclusiva para todas las personas, independientemente de su situaci6n migratoria. El prop6sito de Ia audiencia es ampliar el debate y escuchar los comentarios del publico antes de que el Concejo tome cualquier acci6n. Esta audiencia esta abierta al publico y se anima a las partes interesadas a asistir. Los comentarios o testimonies por escrito pueden ser presentados en Ia audiencia, enviados por correo electr6nico a [email protected], o enviados a Ia atenci6n de Ia Oficina del Registro de Ia Ciudad (City Recorder's Office) , P.O. Box 326, 1924 Council Street, Forest Grove, OR 97116, antes de Ia audiencia. Para mas informacion, comuniquese con Anna Ruggles, encargada del Registro de Ia Ciudad, al 503.992.3235, o pore-mail [email protected]. ### Anna D. Ruggles, CMC, City Recorder City of Forest Grove CITY OF FOREST GROVE P. 0 . BOX 326 FOREST GROVE, OR 97116 503·992·3200 www.forestgrove-or.gov WRITTEN TESTIMONY RECEIVED CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 9, 2017 ITEM 6. PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER WHETHER TO ENACT A RESOLUTION AFFIRMING THE CITY OF FOREST GROVE'S COMMITMENT TO A SAFE, OPEN, AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY FOR ALL PEOPLE 1. Michael Ross, e-mail dated December 22, 2016 2. Kathlene Postma, e-mail dated January 1, 2017 3. Sara DeFilipps, e-mail dated January 4, 2017 4. Charlotte, Lumae, e-mail dated January 4, 2017 Anna Ruggles From: Michael Ross ~ . ~m> Sent: Thursday, December 2~ To: Anna Ruggles Subject: Sanctuary Forest Grove City Council As a Forest Grove taxpayer, 49320 NW Ruby Lane, Forest Grove, 97116, I oppose any action of the City Council that would violate federal law, or fail to enforce federal laws. Article I. Section 8, clause 4 of the Constitution entrusts the federal legislative branch with the power to "establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization." This clear textual command for uniformity establishes that the federal government. specifically Congress, is responsible for crafting the laws that determine how and when noncitizens can become naturalized citizens of the United States. Federal immigration law has been around since 1790, only one year after the Constitution. Common sense dictates, as well. that only the federal government can sensibly make laws governing who can enter the country, since one state does not have jurisdiction over another. The City Council has no legal or constitutional authority in this area, and should enforce existing federal law. The City Council and its constituents should pursue legislative and suffrage means to change the law if they disagree with it. Otherwise, keep out of it. Blessings, Mike Ross 1 Anna Ruggles From: Kathlene Postma < > Sent: Sunday, January 01 , 2017 11 : To: Anna Ruggles Subject: Forest Grove a sanctuary city Dear Council Members, I support the city council making a resolution affirming the inclusiveness of our community and our unwillingness to participate in actions against local people because of their immigration status. Even though to outsiders we may seem to be simply a suburb of Portland, the reality is we are a vibrant and diverse community. Our neighborhoods are made up of a mix of people of different faiths and politics. Our public schools are very diverse, with half of the student population people of color. We have an immense amount of goodwill in our town. It is something to protect and fo ster. The prospect of children being separated from their parents because they don't yet have all the necessary paperwork or some of our neighbors removed from our community for the same reason is disturbing and frightening. We cannot have people turning on each other or families being afraid. We cannot let national politics tum our town into an ugly place, one where people tum a blind eye to the cruel treatment of our neighbors. We should instead be supporting each other and continuing to work together on keeping and always improving our peaceful community. Thank you for your hard work on behalf of our town. Best Wishes, Kathlene Postma - C Street 1 Anna Ruggles From: Sara Defilipps ~ Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2017 10:34 AM To: Anna Ruggles Subject: Immigration hearing To whom it may concern, I'm writing to express my concern and opinion on the upcoming hearing about Forest Grove's immigrant policy because I'm unable to attend the hearing. I feel very strongly that we need to stay a safe place for a ll people and not encourage the hate and discrimination towards people seeking refuge and a better life. These ore families in our community and I don't see them as criminals. I feel it's not the city's job to enforce this particular federal law because we ore a small community that thrives on inclusion, not discrimination. Please keep Forest Grove a safe hoven for all human beings and don't spend money on tearing our community aport. I appreciate your consideration. Thank you, Sora DeFilipps Sent from my iPhone Anna Ruggles From: Charlotte Lumae > Sent: VVednesday, Janua~ To: Anna Ruggles Subject: Question about amount of federal funding of Forest Grove; seeking answer within the week to prepare for public hearing. Dear Anna Ruggles, I am a member of our local Forest Grove SURJ chapter and the Social Equity Committee of the Sustainability Commission, and this week I am helping residents prepare for the upcoming public hearing to consider a resolution to commit to a safe and inclusive community regardless of immigration status. http://wvvw.forestgrove-or.gov/news/latest-news/city-council-will-consider-commitment-to-a-safe-and-inclusive community. html I would like to request information about the city budget, specifically, how much federal funding could be at risk if Forest Grove were a Sanctuary City, and it somehow came to pass that Trump somehow pulled all federal funding from all sanctuary cities. Numbers for the city as a whole and law enforcement in particular would be much appreciated. For example, here is the risk for the sanctuary city of Portland, Oregon as reported by Mother Jones magazine: Up to 1.3 percent of its total budget and up to 2 percent of its police budget is at risk. If it would take more than a couple of days to make an exact answer, even a rough estimate would be very helpful, as we hope to share the information ASAP, before this weekend, so folks can prepare to have an informed discussion. Thank you for considering this question, and thank you for all you do for our city. Sincerely, Charlotte Lumae Charlotte Lumae, M.Ed. Academic Tutor .. 22nd Avenue (at A Street) Forest Grove, Oregon 9711 6 1 CITY RECORDER USE ONL Y: AGENDA ITEM #: FOREST ~ MEETING DATE: {.p ' GROVE OREGON FINALACTION: ______ A place where families and businesses thrive. TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Jesse VanderZanden, City Manager Paul Elsner, City Attorney MEETING DATE: January 9, 2017 SUBJECT TITLE: Public Hearing to consider whether to enact a resolution affirming the City of Forest Grove's commitment to a safe, open, and inclusive community for all people. BACKGROUND: At the December 1ih , 2016 meeting , Mayor Truax introduced a letter favoring a public hearing in January regarding a "sanctuary city" designation for Forest Grove. The consensus of the Council was to hold a public hearing and solicit input prior to making a decision. The Mayor's letter followed testimony from two 1 citizens at the November 28 h City Council meeting and a letter from State Rep. Susan Mclain encouraging a "sanctuary city" designation. The term "Sanctuary City" does not have a legal definition. Wikipedia defines it as: "A sanctuary city has adopted a policy of protecting undocumented immigrants by not prosecuting them solely for violating federal immigration laws in the country they are now living illegally. Such a policy can be set out expressly in a law (de jure) or observed only in practice (de facto) . The term applies generally to cities that do not use municipal funds or resources to enforce national immigration laws, and usually forbid police or municipal employees to inquire about a person's immigration status.