Grass Valley council adopts amended ceasefire resolution after hours of public comment

Grass Valley City Council on Feb. 25 adopted a resolution calling for a ceasefire between Palestine and Israel, approving a version amended to remove a line that named specific local groups and faiths. The measure passed 3-1 after more than three hours of public testimony from residents on both sides of the issue.

The vote follows extensive public comment in which dozens of speakers—including local residents, students and representatives of civic groups—urged the council to either adopt a ceasefire resolution or to refrain from taking a position, citing concerns about local community cohesion and the limits of city authority.

Mayor Hillary Hodge and Councilmembers Tom Bonamolo and Joseph Ivy voted in favor of the amended resolution; Councilmember Ralph Arbuckle voted no. The amended motion, which was adopted, removed language in the draft that had explicitly named “our Arab, Jewish, and Muslim residents” after debate about accuracy and the wording’s potential to inflame local tensions.

Supporters told the council that U.S. military aid to Israel and continued bombardment in Gaza made a local symbolic stance important. "We have to use our voice," said one speaker who said tax dollars were funding weapons used overseas. Several speakers described personal family losses and called the vote the “bare minimum” action the city could take.

Opponents said the City Council lacked the legal authority and expertise to influence foreign policy and warned that a local resolution would deepen divisions in Grass Valley. "This is not a local issue," a business owner said during public comment, adding that the resolution would alienate residents and threaten local cohesion.

Council members stressed the symbolic nature of the action. In discussion before the final motion, Councilmember Bonamolo said the resolution was intended as an expression of the city’s values and a starting point for further, constructive community conversations. Councilmember Arbuckle urged the council not to adopt the resolution and to focus on traditional municipal responsibilities.

Mayor Hodge asked the public to remain respectful during debate and to continue conversations beyond the meeting; councilmembers said they planned to hold follow-up dialogues with community members to address the tensions that surfaced during public comment.

The adopted document directs the city to call publicly for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access; it does not create new city authority or impose actions on other levels of government. Council staff said the resolution is symbolic and does not bind federal policy or redirect city funds.

Council members said the resolution’s adoption should not foreclose additional community-led forums or policy efforts; they urged residents to continue civic engagement and discussions in smaller settings to reduce division and work toward local solutions to safety and civil discourse.