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Sylvania Council rejects citizen initiative petition 6–1 after failed amendment attempt
Summary
The Sylvania City Council on May 18, 2026 adopted Resolution 5-2026 to reject an initiative petition presented April 20; an amendment to soften language was proposed but received no second, and the measure passed 6–1 with one council member dissenting.
The Sylvania City Council voted 6–1 on May 18 to adopt Resolution 5-2026, rejecting the citizen initiative petition that was presented to the city on April 20, 2026. Councilmember Mrs. Westfall introduced the resolution and moved its adoption as an emergency measure.
Councilmember Mr. Hanam unsuccessfully moved to amend the fourth whereas clause, arguing the clause contained factual inaccuracies and asking that the sentence end earlier in the paragraph. He said the proposed initiative’s text includes multiple sections that expressly require interpretation consistent with federal and state law — pointing to specific sections of the initiative — and urged the body to remove language he called incorrect. “That is a clearly false and misleading statement that is designed to protect those members that oppose this legislation,” Mr. Hanam said, explaining he would oppose the resolution for that reason.
The motion to amend received no second and was denied. After brief additional remarks about the ordinance’s stated purpose to limit local assistance to federal civil immigration enforcement and to guarantee equal access to city services regardless of immigration status, the council proceeded to a vote. The clerk called the roll and the resolution passed by a recorded vote of six in favor and one opposed; the lone recorded No vote was cast by Mr. Hanam.
Why it matters: The initiative the council acted on would have placed a local ordinance (described during the meeting as Ordinance 37-2026) before voters. Council adoption of the resolution to reject the petition removes the proposed language from consideration by this council and clears the way for the city to rely on the council’s stated interpretation of the ordinance’s relationship with federal and state law. Supporters and opponents in council framed the disagreement around whether the initiative’s draft overstated conflicts with higher law and whether it was necessary to broadly declare limits on city cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement.
Next steps: Resolution 5-2026 passed as an emergency measure at the May 18 meeting; the council did not schedule further action on the initiative at that session. Public advocates or petition sponsors may pursue other legal or procedural remedies outside the council process.
(Reporting based on Sylvania City Council meeting transcript, May 18, 2026.)
