HomeMy WebLinkAboutR2002-051RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS ENDORSING THE NATIONAL
LEAGUE OF CITIES HOMETOWN SECURITY DAY TO EMPHASIZE THE ESSENTIAL
ROLE OF AMERICA'S CITIES IN HOMELAND DEFENSE AND THE NEED FOR A
FEDERAL-LOCAL PARTNERSHIP; URGING CONGRESS TO PASS THE HOMELAND
SECURITY BILL AND TO FINALIZE FUNDING FOR HOMELAND SECURITY; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 have changed life throughout the
Nation, and robbed Americans of their sense of security; and
WHEREAS, the attacks have far reaching implications for all cities and towns and their
first responders now on the front lines of hometown defense; and
WHEREAS, cities have shouldered the full financial burden for hometown security at a
cost of approximately $3 billion since September 2001; and
WHEREAS, at significant cost to local taxpayers across America, cities have met their
many new hometown security challenges by updating their emergency plans to met multiple new
threats such as dirty bombs, biological and chemical weapons, taking on security duties at
commercial airports, identifying and assessing their vulnerabilities, and improving collaboration,
communication and information sharing within their regions and with state and federal
government; and
WHEREAS, cities cannot carry this new financial burden alone much longer and
continue to maintain other essential local services without raising local taxes or cutting services;
and
WHEREAS, a recent National League of Cities survey shows that, for the first time since
1992, a majority of cities are less able to meet their financial needs because of a fall off in
revenues due to the economic downturn and the surge in spending for hometown security; and
WHEREAS, Congress and the President have not taken advantage of a rare moment of
bipartisan urdty by failing to act decisively on federal homeland security coordination and
funding; NOW, THEREFORE,
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DENTON HEREBY RESOLVES:
SECTION 1. That the City of Denton endorses the National League of Cities' Hometown
Security Day to draw attention to the essential role of America's cities and towns as the t~ont line
of homeland defense and the urgent need for a hue federal-local partnership to carry out this new
responsibility.
SECTION 2. That the City of Denton joins the National League of Cities in urging
Congress and the President to work out their differences and pass a homeland security bill now
to provide a federal fi:amework for a unified and coordinated response to terrorism.
SECTION 3. That the City of Denton urges Congress, with the full support of the
President, to finalize immediately 2003 funding for homeland security, particularly the $3.5
billion promised for first responders and the $22 million per month reimbursement promised to
cities and towns for providing local law enforcement at the Nation's commercial airports.
SECTION 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage and
approval.
PASSED AND APPROVED this the /~-~_~ day of f~7~_~ ,2002.
EULINE BROCK, MAYOR
ATTEST:
JENNIFER WALTERS, CITY SECRETARY
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM:
HERBERT L. PROUTY, CITY ATTORNEY
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