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CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM |
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Department: |
City Manager’s Office |
Commission Meeting Date: March 7, 2017 |
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Staff Contact: |
Casey Toomay |
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Recommendations/Options/Action Requested: |
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Staff recommends the City Commission take the following actions related to requests for additional protections for marginalized groups: 1) Proclaim the City of Lawrence a welcoming city; 2) Authorize the Mayor to co-sign a letter, along with student body presidents from Haskell and The University of Kansas, encouraging our federal delegation to uphold protections for marginalized groups; 3) Draft a letter encouraging The University of Kansas to consider expanding legal resources for students and potentially non-students looking for legal advice related to immigration issues; 4) Direct staff to work with The University of Kansas to co-sponsor a community presentation on immigration law; 5) Authorize staff to write letters of opposition of pending state legislation; and 6) Authorize staff to reach out to interested agencies to discuss the City’s position on these issues. |
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Executive Summary: |
In December of 2016, a group of students from Lawrence High School (LHS) conducted a walk out from LHS to City Hall. They met with the City Manager and provided a letter, outlining a number of requests related to the safety of marginalized groups in our community. The City Manager directed staff to meet with the students and return to the City Commission with recommendations on how to move forward.
Later that month, the City also learned that the University of Kansas Student Senate (Senate) passed Resolution 2017-310, asking the City to disclose its support for undocumented individuals. The City Manager directed staff to meet with Senate leadership to incorporate their concerns into the recommendations as well.
Staff held a number of meetings with both groups. The meetings were very productive and many of the concerns of students were addressed through an explanation of current City practicing involving local law enforcement. Both groups also gained an understanding of the financial resources at risk for the City, as outlined in the attached memo prepared by the City Attorney’s Office.
The memo addresses the recent executive order as well as existing federal law and pending state legislation related to so called, “sanctuary cities”. It explains the City would risk forfeiting all moneys remitted to the City by the State of Kansas as well as some or all federal grants received by the City.
Based on advice from the City Attorney’s Office as well as input from both student groups, staff recommends the City Commission take the following actions: · Proclaim the City of Lawrence a welcoming city. This proclamation would reiterate a similar proclamation made in 2015 declaring that Lawrence is an inclusive community that values immigrants and fosters a welcoming and safe environment for all. · Authorize the Mayor to co-sign a letter, along with student body presidents from Haskell and KU, encouraging our federal delegation to uphold protections for marginalized groups. This letter would show solidarity between the City, Haskell Indian Nations University, and The University of Kansas around promoting a safe environment for all. · Draft a letter encouraging The University of Kansas to consider expanding legal resources for students and potentially non-students looking for legal advice related to immigration issues. One resource needed most by individuals facing immigration issues is legal advice. The University of Kansas may have resources they can provide to students and others in the community at little or no cost. While the City cannot provide private individuals with legal advice, the City could request the University consider doing so using facility and students at the KU School of Law. · Direct staff to work with the University of Kansas to co-sponsor a community presentation on immigration law. Co-sponsoring a presentation by an attorney or others knowledgeable on immigration law would be another way for the community to learn about resources that may be available to those in need. · Authorize staff to write letters of opposition of pending state legislation. State legislation related to “sanctuary cities” was not anticipated when the Commission approved their legislative priority statement. Therefore, Commission action would be necessary to direct staff to write letters of opposition to legislation related to sanctuary cities as outlined in the attached memo. · Authorize staff to reach out to interested agencies to discuss the City’s position on these issues. There was significant benefit from the meetings held between staff and the interested student groups. There may be other groups in the community that would be interested in hearing the City’s current law enforcement practices related to these issues. These meetings could also help alleviate the fears of some in the community. |
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Strategic Goal Area: |
Public Safety |
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Fiscal Impact (Amount/Source): |
Under the current executive order and pending state legislation, the City would jeopardize over $42.7 million of funds remitted to the City by the State and $6.1 million of federal grants by declaring itself a sanctuary city.
Alternatively, there is very little cost associated with the other recommendations and all could be accomplished with funds in the City Attorney’s budget for 2017. |
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Attachments: |
Resolution from KU Student Senate |
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Reviewed By: (for CMO use only) |
☐TM ☐DS ☒CT ☐BM |