Ripon’s elected leaders may challenge the state legislature’s directive that decreed California a sanctuary state for undocumented immigrants when they meet tonight.
If they do, Ripon will join a small but growing list of California cities and counties joining the federal government in their lawsuit against California’s Sanctuary State decision.
The Ripon City Council’s open session will begin at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 259 N. Wilma Ave.
The resolution the council will consider adopting is titled “City of Ripon expressing its intent to comply with federal immigration law” reads as follows:
“WHEREAS, the elected members of the Ripon City Council of the City of Ripon have a duty, by virtue of their oath of office, to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California; and
WHEREAS, the City Council acknowledges that illegal immigration, and the proper role of the State and Federal Governments with respect thereto, is and remains one of the most difficult and controversial public policy issues facing California and the Nation as a whole; and
WHEREAS, the effects of illegal immigration on persons, families, businesses and communities are profound and far reaching; and
WHEREAS, the 2017 passage of AB 450 (“Immigrant Worker Protection Act”), AB 103, and Senate Bill 54 (the “California Values Act”) by the California Legislature has only served to polarize the electorate and to create confusion concerning the proper role of state and local governments with respect to immigration policy; and WHEREAS, legal experts warn that the California Values Act is inconsistent with and constitutes a direct challenge to existing federal law, including but not limited to the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigration Responsibility Act (8 USC 1373) and as such, is constitutionally suspect; and
WHEREAS, the California Values Act is the subject of a legal challenge by the Federal Government (United States v. State of California, U.S. District Court Case No. 2:18cv00490 JAM (KJN)), which creates further uncertainty for cities and counties in California.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS:
1.That the City Council of the City of Ripon hereby urges the California Legislature and the Governor of the State of California to recognize that illegal immigration and immigration policy in general is primarily and constitutionally a federal matter.
2.That in view of the inconsistency between the California Values Act and existing federal law, the City Council will comply with federal law.
3.That the City Attorney is authorized to join in amicus curiae briefs in support of the federal government’s legal challenge to the California Values Act.”

Landscaping services
contract before council
The Ripon City Council will also discuss awarding the landscape maintenance services bid to Grover Landscape Services, Inc. at tonight’s monthly meeting.
At $179,412, Grover was the low bidder in taking over the City’s landscape maintenance district. Of that, $126,636 will be associated with the landscaped areas within the public right-of-way – with the exception of Main Street between Wilma Avenue and Nourse Street – that’s not included in the City maintenance district but, instead, will be financed via the Street & Road fund, according to the report by Director of Public Works Ted Johnston.
He added that the City was forced to eliminate 17 full-time positions during the recession nearly 10 years ago, in particular, those positions in Public Works in the Parks Department.
The City has been strategic in using one-time revenues to make investments in technology or facility while saving operational dollars to make the existing Public Works staff more efficient, Johnston added.
“Even with this, the Public Works department continues to struggle to provide a high level of service to the community with less staff,” he said.
Grover and Odyssey Landscaping Company, Inc. submitted bids for the services.
In other agenda items:
uStaff will present a report on the wind-down process of the Redevelopment Agency.
uStaff will also report out on the State of California’s requirement as related to recycling centers being affiliated with grocery stores.
uCouncil is scheduled to discuss approving the Policy Goals and Implementation Plan for the fiscal year 2018-19.
uElected leaders, in addition, will discuss the staff presentation on the Capital Improvement Program Report for 2018-19.
For more information, call 209.599.2108 or log on to www.cityofripon.org.