January 2019

AFFIRMING A WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE CITY

At their meeting on December 4, the members of the City Council unanimously approved this Resolution:

RESOLUTION 18-54

A RESOLUTION OF THE LAKE OSWEGO CITY COUNCIL AFFIRMING A WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE CITY

Whereas on September 5, 2017, the Lake Oswego City Council signed a proclamation reiterating its commitment to being a safe, caring and respectful community where hate in any form is not tolerated; and

WHEREAS the City of Lake Oswego is striving to become increasingly welcoming, inclusive, representative, and responsive to historically underrepresented and underserved communities; and

WHEREAS our Country and City’s shared prosperity is in part the result of contributions of people of many nationalities and races; and

WHEREAS it is important to recognize that governmental action can affect the inclusiveness of a community; for example, prior to its repeal in 1927, the exclusionary clause of the Oregon Constitution adopted in 1857, perpetuated racial discrimination against racial minorities by excluding their immigration into the state and before being held unconstitutional, so did deed restrictions by prohibiting transferring property based on classifications such as race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation; and

WHEREAS the City’s cultural and policy environment is made better when all of our City’s residents have the opportunity to fully participate in the social, civic, and economic fabric of their City; and

WHEREAS the City acknowledges the inherent worth and dignity of all persons and believes everyone should be treated with respect regardless of race, color, national origin, immigration or refugee/asylum status, ethnicity, primary language, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, mental, emotional and/or physical ability, age, or economic status; and

WHEREAS the City has committed to provide City services and the full range of public safety services; and

WHEREAS our City is stronger when all people are free from fear, intimidation, harassment, and uncertainty; and

WHEREAS the City Council, as the governing body of the City that is home to over 37,000 residents, has identified equity, diversity, inclusion, prosperity, health, and community safety among its desired outcomes; and

WHEREAS the City of Lake Oswego embraces service, professionalism, integrity, respect, individual accountability, and trust as core values of the City government and leadership.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that:

1. The City Council reaffirms its commitment to valuing diversity, equity and inclusion by providing stability, opportunity, safety and justice for everyone living, working, and visiting the City;
2. The City Council embraces, welcomes and celebrates its immigrant and refugee/asylum residents to the collective prosperity of all residents;
3. The City Council commits to continuing to work to eliminate racial disparities and other forms of discrimination and ensure that every Lake Oswego resident has the opportunity to thrive;
4. The City Council reaffirms its commitment to establishing trust;
5. The City Council reaffirms its commitment to the City government’s core values of service, professionalism, integrity, respect, individual accountability and trust;
6. The City Council directs staff to continue to respectfully serve all residents of the City regardless of race, color, national origin, immigration or refugee/asylum status, ethnicity, primary language, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, mental, emotional and/or physical ability, age, or economic status.

Holiday Breakfast

Many thanks to Gail Hoddevik for organizing our employee holiday breakfast on December 20. Here are some photos (most courtesy of Dave Arpin):