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Council adopts PATH naturalization program as annual city initiative
Summary
Ogden City Council on a unanimous vote approved Resolution 2025-3 to formalize the city—s Path to Citizenship (PATH) program as an annual initiative. The program, piloted in 2024, pairs classes, legal assistance and tutoring to help lawful permanent residents complete naturalization.
Ogden City Council voted to adopt Resolution 2025-3 on a roll-call vote, formalizing the PATH (Path to Citizenship) program as an annual city initiative aimed at helping lawful permanent residents complete U.S. naturalization. Council Member Graff moved to adopt the resolution, Council Member Blair seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
The program presented to the council was led by Linda Lartigue, Ogden—s Community Engagement Administrator. Lartigue told the council that the initial, one-time PATH cohort launched in January 2024 enrolled 18 participants and that "as of today, 17 of those have successfully attained their US citizenship." She said the city—s partners for the program will remain Weber County Library Systems, Catholic Community Services, My Hometown Ogden and United Way of Northern Utah, with United Way stepping back from acting as the program—s physical agent going forward.
Lartigue outlined key program elements and budget items discussed at the work session: Catholic Community Services will receive $50 per participant per cycle for legal support; the program plans for a maximum class size of 30 participants; and the N-400 application filing fee of $710 per applicant is a listed expense. She also described civic-engagement and language-access training ideas drawn from a recent Welcoming America conference attended by city staff and partners.
The PATH pilot began with applications in November 2023 and classes from January to March 2024. Lartigue said the cohort represented countries including Germany, South Africa, Brazil, Bolivia and Mexico and that nine participants attended an oath ceremony hosted by the city on Sept. 30, 2024.
The resolution directs the city to offer PATH annually and to continue working with the named community partners. Following the roll call vote (Blair: aye; Graff: aye; Hyer: aye; Meyers/Myers: aye; Vice Chair White: aye; Chair Richey: aye), the council recorded the adoption of Resolution 2025-3.
Implementation details discussed at the meeting include the $50 per-participant award to Catholic Community Services, the stated maximum of 30 participants per cycle, and continued partner roles for the Weber County Library Systems and My Hometown Ogden. The council did not add additional funding amounts beyond those presented by staff at the meeting.
The city will proceed to schedule the program in future cycles, working with the partner organizations named in the resolution.
