Cotati residents urge council to adopt non‑cooperation policy with ICE; council asks staff to return with options

Dozens of residents and faith‑community leaders told the Cotati City Council on March 10 that the city should adopt a non‑cooperation ordinance to limit local collaboration with federal immigration enforcement and to prepare rapid‑response guidance for residents and businesses.

Robera Teller, chair of Sedi, the social‑justice arm of Nar Shalom synagogue, told the council she submitted a draft ordinance and urged action: “Please pass a non‑olaboration ordinance. If not now, when?” Other speakers — including Robin Bird Feather, Elaine Leer, Elana Feldman, Liz Finn, Reinat Bastado, and Linda Evans — described fear in the community, recounted family histories of persecution, and asked the council to prohibit use of city property for ICE staging, train staff on residents’ constitutional rights, and use the city’s alert system to notify residents if enforcement activity occurs.

Cotati Police Chief Simmons responded to the comments, saying local officers do not enforce federal immigration law and describing county‑level coordination: “We don’t enforce federal law in any way or immigration law. But if we see something that potentially violates state or local law, we will report that and document it.” He emphasized de‑escalation, documentation (including body‑worn cameras), and established reporting channels to the state attorney general’s office for alleged federal misconduct.

Council members characterized the matter as urgent. Several members said they did not want to wait months for the usual advisory‑committee process. The council did not adopt an ordinance at the meeting but voted to place a broad agenda item on the next council agenda directing staff to: research existing city and county ordinances and policies, present options and draft language (including the draft submitted by Nar Shalom), summarize enforcement and legal constraints, and coordinate outreach with the Sonoma County Sanctuary Coalition and the Police Advisory Committee. The council asked staff to consider whether a joint meeting or a special meeting of the advisory committee would accelerate the process.

What’s next: Staff will prepare a report with options for council consideration at the next posted meeting; the council signaled it expects sample ordinance language, operational steps for city departments, and coordination with community stakeholders before any ordinance would be introduced.