HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/02/2023 04A.i. Draft Missing and Unidentified Persons Awareness Month proclamation BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No.A.i.
For Meeting of: May 2, 2023
ITEM TITLE: Draft Missing and Unidentified Persons Awareness Month
proclamation
SUBMITTED BY: Bob Harrison, City Manager
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
Attached is a draft copy of a Missing and Unidentified Persons Awareness Month proclamation.
If approved, the proclamation will be read and presented at the May 16th Council meeting.
ITEM BUDGETED:
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL BY THE CITY MANAGER
RECOMMENDATION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
Missing and Unidentified Persons Awareness Month 4/28/2023 Cover Memo
proclamation
2
CITY 0q `Y.ARIM
TRoCLA DTIo
wlEAS, at any given time there are an estimated100,000 active missing persons cases in the
`UnitedStates—The National Institute of Justice has called it "The Nations Silent Mass Disaster"; and
WHEREAS, there are more than 800 families in the State with a loved one that is missing with 35
active missing persons cases being from'Yakima County and25 of those cases are missing from the City of
Yakima; and
WHEREAS, there are an estimated 40,000 sets of unidentified human remains being held in the
offices of coroners/medical examiners across the'UnitedStates In the State of Washington, there are 159 sets
of unidentified human remains, 3 are from Yakima County and_1 of those is from the City of Yakima for a
woman that was found deceased on July 25, 1977—almost 46 years ago; and
WHEREAS, anyone, regardless of age,gender, ethnicity, education orsocia(status could someday
have a Coved one go missing or even go missing themselves; and
1441EREAS, the circumstances leading to a disappearance are varied(i e. 6y their own decision,
runaway,suicide,foul play/murder, kidnapping,sex trafficking, or a national-disaster or catastrophe) and
'IERAS, missing persons that are homeless,gang affiliated, suffering from mentalillness or
addactedto drugs oralcoholoften receive very little attention from law enforcement and very little sympathy
from the public and
IEcAS, when a person goes missing they should 6e searched for regardless of age or if they are
homeless,suffering front mental disorders, or addicted to drugs or alcohol--it is important that they not become
merely a statistic, and
14,11EREAS, if-you are concernedforsomeone's safety andwe(fare and do not know their
whereabouts orif-they are alive or deadyou shouldfile a missing person's report with your to cal law
enforcement agency as soon as possible, there is no waiting period and
WHEREAS, every missing person is someone's child regardless of the age they were when they went
missing and the families left behind both need and deserve to have closure. L.ackof closure is extremely painful
and can have long Casting effects that can make it difficult to move forward in Cafe because you don't know if
you should continue to hope or if you should grieve.
NOW, VIERVFORE, I Janice Deccio, Mayor of the City of Yakima and on behalf of the'Yakima
City Council, do here6y proclaim May 2023 as
"MIssln rI NrD HIED TEQUONS
M g ESS Mom"
in the City of'Yakima and askal(people to join me in this observance.
Dated this 16t6 day of May, 2023
Janice Deccio, Mayor