Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/15/2017 05A Council Partnerships Committee Meeting Follow-UpBUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDASTATEMENT Item No. 5.A. For Meeting of: August 15, 2017 ITEM TITLE: Council Partnerships Committee meeting follow-up re 1. Discussion of a draft letter to President Trump re: DACA 2. Discussion of draft letter to U.S. Congress members re: H.R. 2997 3. Discussion of draft letter re: Historic Preservation Commission request for funding generated from recorded documents surcharge SUBMITTED BY: Cliff Moore, City Manager SUMMARY EXPLANATION: Discussion Items: 1. Discussion of a draft letter to President Trump re: DACA 2. Discussion of draft letter to U.S. Congress members re: H.R. 2997 3. Discussion of draft letter re: Historic Preservation Commission request for funding generated from recorded documents surcharge ITEM BUDGETED: STRATEGIC PRIORITY: ­004�� APPROVED FOR ,,. SUBMITTAL:Cl* 4 �~ City Manager STAFF RECOMMENDATION: BOARD/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: Forward to full Council for consideration. ATTACHMENTS: Description Upload Date Type D mem 818/2017 Coxer Memo D Draft letter DA CA 8/4/2017 Cowr Memo D Draft letter H.R. 2997 8/4/2017 Cover Memo D draft letter Historic Preservation Commission 8/812017 Cover Memo HENORMOUN To: Yakima City Council Members From: Communications & Public Affairs Director Randy Beehler Subject: Council Partnerships Committee Meeting Follow -Up Date: Tuesday, August 8th, 2017 Council members, At the Council Partnerships Committee meeting held on Tuesday, August 8th, the committee unanimously voted to forward to the full Council three draft letters concerning three separate issues. As a result of the committee's vote, the full Council is being asked to consider during its August 15th business meeting whether any or all of the three letters, which are included in the August 15th business meeting packet, should be sent to the appropriate recipients. The following three items will be included on the Council's August 15th business meeting agenda under the title Council Partnerships Committee Meeting Follow -Up: 1. Discussion of a draft letter to be sent to President Trump under the signature of all City Council members re: DACA 2. Discussion of a draft letter to be sent to various members of the U.S. Congress under Mayor Coffey's signature re: H.R. 2997 3. Discussion of a draft letter to be sent to the Yakima County Board of Commissioners under City of Yakima Historic Preservation Commission Chair Molly Storrs' signature re: a request for funding generated from a recorded documents surcharge Item #1 concerns a proposed response by the City Council regarding the potential for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) to be rescinded or weakened. DACA provides temporary relief from deportation and a two-year work permit to qualifying young adults ages 15 to 30 who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children. A proposed response to the potential for DACA to be rescinded or weakened, in the form of a draft letter under the signature of all Council members, is included in the August 15th Council business meeting packet Item #2 concerns a proposed response by the City Council regarding the 21St Century Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act ("H.R. 2997"). H.R. 2997 contemplates the privatization of the U.S. air traffic control system. A proposed response, in the form of a draft letter under Mayor Coffey's signature and expressing concerns the City has regarding the potential negative effects privatization of the U.S. air traffic control system could have on operations at the Yakima Air Terminal -McAllister Field as well as other airports across the nation, is included in the August 15th Council business meeting packet,. Item #3 concerns a request from the City's Historic Preservation Commission for the commission to send a letter to the Yakima County Board of Commissioners regarding the use of funding generated from document recording fees. A draft letter under the signature of Historic Preservation Committee Chair Molly Storrs and requesting County Commissioners consider allocating a portion of that funding for use by the Historic Preservation Commission to promote historical preservation or historical programs, is included in the August 15th Council business meeting packet. Please let me know if you have any questions or need more information about any of the items that the Council will be asked to consider under Council Partnerships Committee Meeting Follow - Up during the August 15th Council business meeting. DRAFT August---, 2017 The Honorable Donald J. Trump President of the United States The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President, On July 21St, 2017, Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson and 19 other attorneys general from across the United States addressed a letter to you urging that you maintain and defend the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals ("DACA") program that has served more than 750,000 young immigrants so well since it was established in 2012. We, the City Council of the City of Yakima, Washington, wholeheartedly join with Attorney General Ferguson and his fellow attorneys general who added their signatures to the July 21St letter in strongly advocating for your support of DACA. The fertile Yakima Valley has long been recognized as a leading agricultural region not only in the U.S., but around the world. Our valley produces more apples, hops, and mint than anywhere else in the country. Other tree fruits like cherries, pears, and peaches, as well as wine grapes, a wide variety of vegetables, and multiple other crops thrive here because of the Yakima Valley's unique soil conditions and climate, sophisticated irrigation networks, leadership in technological advances in agriculture, and unwavering commitment of generations of farming families. The Yakima Valley's agriculture -centric economy, though, would not and could not be as successful as it has been were it not for the qualified and skilled labor force — a labor force largely consisting of immigrants - that harvests, packs, and ships the multitude of crops grown here to markets around the globe. Quite literally, the backbone of our region's internationally -renowned agricultural economy is that immigrant -based labor force. For many of the children of our area's immigrant agricultural workers, the Yakima Valley is the only home they have ever known. This is where they grew up. This is where their families, friends, jobs and lives are. This is their community. DACA offers those daughters and sons of Yakima Valley immigrants a tangible and realistic opportunity to live out the American dream. DACA provides the descendants of the very people who have contributed so enormously to establishing the Yakima Valley as a global agricultural force a legitimate and genuine chance to continue their education, to continue to work and to contribute to our economy, and to continue to realize their American dreams. Supporting comprehensive immigration reform is among the Yakima City Council's highest federal legislative priorities. As the elected policy-making body for the largest city in the Central Washington region and the county -seat of Yakima County, we fundamentally recognize the invaluable impact immigrants have had and will continue to have on our community. Immigrants and their children are intricately woven into the fabric of the Yakima Valley and its economy. Immigrants and their children are inexorably ingrained in our region's past, present, and future. As was noted in the July 21St letter to you from Attorney General Ferguson and 19 of his colleagues, you have repeatedly expressed your support of Dreamers. Those "incredible kids", as you have described them, are relying on the promise you made to handle this issue "with heart." The nearly 800,000 Dreamers who were brought to this country by their parents and have since been granted DACA after completing applications, submitting to and passing background checks, and applying for a work permit believed you when you said they should "rest easy." It is on their behalf, and that of the entire Yakima community, that we, the Yakima City Council, implore you to keep their dreams alive by rejecting any attempt to rescind or weaken DACA and, instead, staunchly and adamantly champion its continuation now and for many years to come. Sincerely, Mayor Kathy Coffey Councilmember Dulce Gutierrez Councilmember Bill Lover Councilmember Holly Cousens Assistant Mayor Carmen Mendez Councilmember Avina Gutierrez Councilmember Maureen Adkison August -----, 2017 The Honorable Suzan DelBene 2442 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Jaime Herrera Beutler 1107 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Cathy McMorris Rodgers 1314 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Pramila Jayapal 319 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Adam Smith 2264 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Ladies and Gentlemen, DRAFT The Honorable Rick Larsen 2113 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Dan Newhouse 1318 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Derek Kilmer 1520 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Dave Reichert 1127 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Denny Heck 425 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 As members of Washington's congressional delegation, we strongly urge you to oppose the 21st Century Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act (H. R. 2997; the "21st Century AIRR Act"). The privatization of our nation's air traffic control ("ATC") system that this legislation contemplates would have severe consequences for the Yakima region and other communities across our state. We are deeply concerned that the 21St Century AIRR Act's proposed transfer of ATC functions to an independent, not-for-profit entity would unduly limit congressional oversight of our nation's aviation system. In our own region, congressional action has helped to preserve essential aviation functions such as the Yakima Air Terminal -McAllister Field's contract tower and contract weather observers. More broadly, congressional oversight is vital to ensure that the public interest is protected, including through the preservation of access to air service for communities large and small throughout the country. In this regard, we believe there is a significant risk that an independent ATC entity substantially controlled by the major airlines would act to benefit those very airlines by prioritizing operations and investment at their large hub airports. This shift in emphasis would be to the detriment of air service access at hundreds of other commercial service and general aviation airports in this country, including Yakima Air Terminal -McAllister Field and other regional airports in Washington. The FAA reauthorization legislation currently pending in the Senate, which does not include the ATC privatization proposal, represents a more reasonable path forward to provide stable and predictable funding for FAA programs. We would greatly appreciate your support in advancing legislation that more closely resembles the Senate bill into law this year, and ensuring that the ATC privatization provisions of the 2111 Century AIRR Act do not become law. If the effort to pass comprehensive reauthorization legislation falls short, we ask that you pursue a meaningful extension of current law through September 30, 2018, to allow the FAA to issue all entitlement and discretionary grants for airport improvement projects that will be undertaken in the coming year. We are grateful for your consistent and strong support of the Yakima Air Terminal - McAllister Field and look forward to working with you on this important legislation. Sincerely, Mayor Kathy Coffey I�Ili �I11i 1 1 1 1 111; 11111 iiil���: 1111 Il Illl�ili �i iii 111 Il iilii ili ii i. .. .. ,1 YAKIMA HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION CITY OF YAKIMA HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION 17_4@$ To: Yakima County Commissioners From: City of Yakima Historic Preservation C Sion Subject: Request for distribution to promote his al preser tion. The City of Yakima is one of seventy-one Certified Local Government's (CL the State of Washington. As a CLG participant a the City of Yakima is responsible to maintain a historic preservation commission, survey local historic properties, enforce state or local preservation laws, review National Register Nominations, and provide for public participation in historic preservation activities. 1% The Historic Preser ion Commission deve ops an annual wor program of various projects to promote and develop throughout the year. The commission consists of volunteers appointed by the City Council and is assisted by a staff liaison from the planning department. Aside from staff time, the commission has no dedicated budget. In accordance with RCW 36.22.170, a portion (one dollar) of the five dollar surcharge for recorded documents "...shall be used at the discretion of the county commissioners to promote historical preservation or historical progras, which may include preservation of historic documents." It is our understanding that t is money has been solely used for the preservation of historic documents. Our request is that a small amo of the money that can be used at the BOCC's discretion be made available to the City of Yakima's Historic Preservation Commission to supplement the yearly work program. This money would be instrumental in promoting historic preservation efforts in Yakima. Some example of how this money has been used elsewhere can be found here: http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/permitting/historic/historic-grants.html Thank you for your consideration. Molly Storrs, Chair Commission Members Molly Storrs • Whitney Stohr • Nancy Kenmotsu • Karl Pasten • Leslie Wahl • Cynthia Hall Dlstrl ute at t e-d- _ y Meeting. - r j. �r�f CQ& ��'a' AYllsslon: Connect and educate Latina families to i*HOGAR transform lives and our Yakima Valley. August 8, 2017 Dear Yakima City Council, On behalf of La Casa Hogar's Board of Directors,students and staff,La Casa Hogar expresses its strong support for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and for your decision to submit a letter to President Donald Trump. Who arse DACA recipients in Yakima? DACA recipients are our bankers,bank tellers, loan officers, nonprofit employees,healthcare workers,agricultural employees,colleagues, friends,teachers,managers, students,confidants,lawyers,doctors. The average DACA recipient is employed,earns $17 per hour and is 22 years old.' The Migration Policy Institute estimates that 6,000 of Yakima County's residents are eligible, current recipients,or will be eligible for DACA;this represents the second largest DACA—eligible population in the state (second to King County).2 This program is critical to the success of Yakima's economy, Washington's economy and the United States economy. As of March 2017, 19,581 DACA applications were accepted by USCIS3 in Washington State. Economic Impacts A national survey regarding the impacts of DACA was conducted in September 2016 through a partnership of Tom K. Wong,United We Dream,National Immigration Law Center,and Center for American Progress conducted. 1,308 individuals responded to the online survey (the methodology can be accessed online4);key findings include: • Increased Wages and Financial Security. 63% found a job with better pay,and wages increased by an average of 42% which translates to increased tax revenues.Additionally,47%opened a bank account and 57%got their first credit card. 12%bought a home. • Safer Roads. 90%of respondents got a driver's license or a state ID for the first time. 54%bought their first car and 93%of those who purchased a car also purchased auto insurance. • Competitive Employers. 97% of recipients are bilingual,and 75% stated that was viewed as an asset to their employer. Nearly half (48%) of respondents were not employed prior to receiving DACA. Furthermore, if DACA recipients lost their employment authorization and could no longer receive temporary immigration relief benefits through DACA,the CATO Institute estimates a "$280 billion reduction in economic growth over the next decade"5 would result. Strong step and more advocacy is needed.As you know, DACA offers work authorization to individuals who immigrated to the United States as minors and who satisfy a very strict set of qualifications.This program does not offer immigration documentation,lawful residency,a visa or a path to naturalization. While tremendously impactful, it is also limited as DACA recipients are ineligible to vote,and cannot access 'Albright,Logan,Brannon,Ike."The Economic and Fiscal Impact of Repealing DACA." 18 Jan 2017.CATO Institute,CATO at Liberty. https://www.c.ato.ory(blog/economic-fiscal-impact reMalurg{laca.(8 August 2017). '"Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals(DACA)Data Tools."Migration Policy Institute.kitty://www.migmfionpolicy.orx/UroK ams/data- hub/deferred-actiou-childhood-arrivals-daca-profiles.8 August 2017. '"Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals(DACA)Data Tools."Migration Policy Institute.littp://www.mizationpolicy.org/programs/data- hub/deferred-acdop-cluldhood-arrivals-daca-profiles.8 August 2017. 'Center for American Progress.New DACA SwveyFina1.September 2016. ht�i s://cdit.arneiicarrorogressaction.ortt/content/uploads/2016/10121111136/2016-data survey draft updated-FINAL2.pdf(August8,2017). 5 Albright,Logan,Brannon,Ike."The Economic and Fiscal Impact of Repealing DACA." 18 Jan 2017.CATO Institute,CATO at Liberty. his://ww,",.cato.oric/blog/economic-fiscal-impact-reMalin¢-daca.(8 August 2017). 106 South 6th Street I Yakima., WA 98901 1 509.457.5058 Na' Mission: Connect and educate Latina families to OQHOGAR transform lives and our Yakima Valley. rr ns"eca of Uo government programs such as healthcare subsidies or federal loans. While DACA helps individuals live with a little less worry about losing their jobs,being detained and deported6, many DACA recipients live in a perpetual state of uncertainty and insecurity about their next steps in life and their families. DACA offers lawful employment authorization only and must be renewed every two years at a high cost of$495. The average DACA recipient is young;such a high level of uncertainty and financial burden is psychologically and fiscally challenging for many of our nation's young people and Yakima's young people.Many of DACA-recipients'parents work in agriculture and do not have immigration documentation either. Resultantly, DACA recipients are sometimes the most "stable" member of the family in terms of immigration documentation. These same families contribute to Yakima's agricultural and manufacturing industries,and these industries contribute resources and food to the state and the nation. Thus,the instability of this sector of our community (DACA recipients and their families) impacts those respective state and national economies as well. Instability among this sector of Yakima—financial,psychological, health or in otherwise— impacts the success of Yakima's economy, Washington's economy and the United States'economy. Thank you for your strong support and advocacy at local, state and national levels for this program. DACA directly impacts La Casa Hogar and the thousands of families La Casa Hogar serves each year. We urge you to both continue your support and consider longer term solutions for DACA recipients that can offer pathways to naturalization or lawful residency.Many DACA recipients are already among the "best and the brightest" in our community here in Yakima;Yakima is stronger, healthier and more competitive because of these community members. Sincerely, Laura Armstrong, Executive Director and the Board of Directors of La Casa Hogar laura(a-,lacasahogar.org/509-457-5058 `Gonzales,Roberto G.,Bautista-Chavez.,Anjoe M."Two Years and Counting:Assessing the Growing Power of DACA.° 16 Jan 2014.American Immigration Council.httt>s://i%,%%lv.americanimmigradoncouncil.org/researel►/hvo-years-aiid-counting-assessing-groiiina-rower-(Iaca.M August 2017). 106 South 6t" Street I Yakima, WA 98901 1 509.457.5058