Sylvania council refers immigration-related ordinance and values resolution to committee

Sylvania Mayor opened the discussion of two administration-drafted measures on April 20, saying the proposals aim to balance community values with clarity about city procedures during federal immigration enforcement actions. He told the council the packet was briefly pulled from public posting for IT redaction after staff found contact information that could be used to spoof residents.

The mayor described key ordinance provisions that would leave the city responsible for local traffic and crowd control when federal agencies operate in Sylvania but would also increase transparency: "If approved, the legislation requires that council be notified of policy changes that involve immigration enforcement matters," he said, and added the police department's five most recent annual reports (2021–2025) will be posted online. Patty Barnes, a resident who identified herself from Apple Creek Road, said she is worried about modern surveillance tactics, asking whether technologies like "stingrays" and off‑warrant phone-stimulation were considered. The mayor and council replied that use of such federal technologies is outside city control and decisions about school facilities (raised by Barnes) would be up to the school district.

Council member Westfall moved to set a Committee of the Whole meeting for Monday, May 4 at 6:00 p.m. and to refer the ordinance (referred in transcript as ordinance 75) and Resolution 4 (2026) for review; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The referral was recorded as a unanimous voice vote.