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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-022 Establishing policy protecting individuals engaged in nonviolent civil rights demonstrations, as requirement in obtaining CDBG funds RESOLUTION NO. 05-022 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND ESTABLISHING A POLICY PROTECTING INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN NONVIOLENT CIVIL RIGHTS DEMONSTRATION AS A REQUIREMENT IN OBTAINING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) FUNDS TO CONDUCT AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR PORT TOWNSEND AND EAST JEFFERSON COUNTY WHEREAS, the City of Port Townsend and Jefferson County have agreed to jointly apply for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to conduct an affordable housing needs assessment for Port Townsend and Jefferson County; and WHEREAS, the Washington State Department of Community Trade and Economic Development has approved a grant of $40,000 for the affordable housing needs assessment; and WHEREAS, to qualify for the CDBG grant, the city must adopt an Excessive Force Policy; and WHEREAS, the Congress of the United States has passed Section 104(1) to Title I ofthe Housing and Community Development Act stating that no CDBG funds may be obligated or expended by any unit of general local government that fails to adopt and enforce a policy of prohibiting the use of excessive force by local law enforcement agencies within its jurisdiction against any individuals engaged in nonviolent civil rights demonstrations; or fails to adopt and enforce a policy of enforcing applicable state and local laws against physically barring entrance to or exit from a facility or location which is the subject of nonviolent civil rights demonstrations within its jurisdiction; and WHEREAS, the City of Port Townsend has received a Community Development Block Grant and is required to comply with Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act; and WHEREAS, the failure to enforce such policies may cause the City to lose its grant or eligibility for future federal grants; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council ofthe City of Port Townsend as follows: SECTION I. It is the Policy ofthe City that excessive force by local law enforcement agencies shall not be used against individuals engaged in lawful and nonviolent civil rights demonstrations within the City boundaries. 1 Resolution 05-022 SECTION 2. It is the Policy of the City to enforce applicable state and local laws against the physical barring of an entrance to or exit from a facility or location which is the subject of nonviolent civil rights demonstrations within its jurisdiction. SECTION 3. The City Council directs the Police Chiefto implement this Resolution by amending applicable police department procedures. ADOPTED by the City Council ofthe City of Port Townsend at a regular meeting thereof, held this sixth day of June, 2005. (2~-' ~ i' I--~ Catharine Robinson, Mayor Attest: Approved as to form: Q'n~ ~¿h Pamela Kolacy, CMC v '""""7 City Clerk ~~ John P. Watts City Attorney 2 Resolution 05-022