Council Meetings

CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 6, 2012

RESOLUTION NO. 2012-08

A RESOLUTION of the City Council of the City of Lakewood, Washington, endorsing the successful use of E-Verify in the City of Lakewood and opposing HB2568

WHEREAS, E-Verify is a free, Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that allows participating employers to electronically verify the eligibility of their newly hired employees; and

WHEREAS, E-Verify has proven successful in helping prevent identity theft, stolen social security numbers, and serves the citizens of the City of Lakewood by protecting jobs for legal residents and returning veterans; and

WHEREAS, on June 1, 2009 Ordinance 492 was passed by the City Council.  The measure created Chapter 01.42 of the Lakewood Municipal Code and requires the City to participate in the E-Verify program, to verify the employment eligibility of new hires using the program and to require certain persons and entities contracting with the City of Lakewood to participate in the program; and

WHEREAS, Pierce County and other local governments have also successfully adopted E-Verify; and

WHEREAS, HB2568 would undermine the important citizen protections provided by E-Verify and would deny the City of Lakewood the right to manage their own personnel and public works contracting; and

WHEREAS, Optional Code Cities are intended to have broad authority to govern their own affairs; and

WHEREAS, adoption of HB 2568 would undermine the City’s efforts to use city resources to the maximum benefit of City of Lakewood residents;

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD, WASHINGTON HEREBY RESOLVES as follows:

Section 1.        The City Council of the City of Lakewood opposes adoption of HB 2568.

Section 2.        This Resolution shall be in full force and effect upon passage and signatures hereon.

PASSED by the City Council this               day of                                               , 2012.

CITY OF LAKEWOOD

                                                                            _________________________________                                                                                         Douglas G. Richardson, Mayor

Attest:

________________________________     

Alice M. Bush, MMC, City Clerk

Approved as to form:

_______________________________

Heidi Ann Wachter, City Attorney