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Cotati advisory committee hears calls for noncompliance ordinance on ICE, agrees to agendize further review
Summary
Community members urged the Cotati Police Advisory Committee to recommend a noncompliance ordinance limiting local cooperation with ICE and restricting use of city resources; the committee agreed to table the topic and agendize it for the next meeting to allow research and recommended options.
Dozens of public commenters urged the Cotati Police Advisory Committee to recommend the city consider a formal noncompliance ordinance to limit municipal cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Roberta Taylor of the Ner Shalom congregation told the committee she had submitted a draft noncompliance ordinance and urged the city to "uphold the civil rights, dignity, health, and safety of all immigrants in Cotati by adopting a noncompliance ordinance." Taylor asked the city to prohibit sharing information with ICE, bar use of city resources for federal operations, require training for city employees, and use city alert systems to warn residents.
Other speakers from Ner Shalom and community groups framed the request as protecting vulnerable residents and urged the city to plan steps now. "I am here this evening to support and encourage the Cotati City Council to uphold the civil rights, dignity, health, and safety of all immigrants in Cotati by adopting a noncompliance ordinance," Taylor said.
Staff and the chief described how the item reached the advisory committee from City Council and noted legal constraints when local jurisdictions interact with federal agencies. A staff member and committee members cited regional precedents (including a Santa Rosa resolution) and said federal preemption limits municipal authority, so the committee should weigh options carefully.
Chair Jarrett suggested tabling the discussion to the next meeting so committee members could research Santa Rosas approach, review legal limits and prepare recommendations to forward to the council. Several committee members supported agendizing a formal review. The item drew requests for practical steps as well, including public education, rights information for businesses and employees, and coordination with county legal services.
No ordinance or formal council-level action was adopted at the meeting; the committee directed staff to place the topic on a future agenda for further research and possible recommendation to the City Council.
