HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Actions 11-20-15 Special MtgBESTPITCH
ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL SESSION
NOVEMBER 20, 2015
2:00 P.M.
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
ROOM 450
AGENDA
Call to Order -- Roll Call. All present.
NOTICE
This special meeting will be televised live and replayed on RVTV Channel on
Tuesday, November 24 at 9:00 p.m. and Wednesday November 25 at 3:00 p.m.; and
video streamed by internet through Rev.Net Technologies, Inc., at http: / /www.wrev.net.
2. Statement of Purpose. Council Member Ferris.
3. Comments by Mayor Bowers.
4. Public comments.
5. Comments by Council Members.
6. Adjourned — 4:03 P.M.
CITY OF ROANOKE
CITY COUNCIL
e l 215 Church Avcna, S W.
Noel C. "Taylor Munsipal Building, Suite 456
Virgivia 24011 1536
Telephone (540)N53.2541
DAVID A. BOWERS Far. (540)853 -1145 Caunall Members
Mayo. William D. Bcstpitch
Raphael E. 'Ray" Ferris
Sherman P. Lea
Anita 1. Price
Court G. Rosen
David B. Trinkle
November 19, 2015
Via E -mail
The Honorable Members
of the Roanoke City Council
Roanoke, Virginia
Re: Special Meeting of Council
Dear Mayor Bowers and Members of Council:
Pursuant to Section 10, Meetings of Council, of the Charter of the City of Roanoke, I
hereby call a Special Meeting of Council and provide you with notice of such meeting via e -mail.
The Special Meeting is for the purpose of a discussion of the statement of David A. Bowers issued
on November 18, 2015.
The Special Meeting of Council will be held on Friday, November 20, 2015, at 2:00 p.m.,
in City Council Chamber, 4" Floor Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building, 215 Church Avenue,
S.W., Roanoke, Virginia.
I have discussed this matter with Mayor Bowers and he concurs with my calling this
Special Meeting of Council.
ncerelyy,
Raphael E. Ferris
Council Member
REF /DJC /lsc
c: Christopher P. Morrill, City Manager
Daniel J. Callaghan, City Attorney
Andrea Trent, Acting Director of Finance
Troy Harmon, City Auditor
Stephanie M. Moon Reynolds, City Clerk
The Mayor may adjust the content of these remarks as he speaks.
STATEMENT OF MAYOR DAVID A. BOWERS
NOVEMBER 20, 2015
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AND MY FELLOW ROANOKERS:
SINCE THE RUSSIAN AIRLINE BOMBING, TERRORIST ATTACKS IN PARIS AND
THREATS AGAINST OUR NATION'S CAPITAL, I'VE BEEN VERY CONCERNED, AS
ALL AMERICANS, ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OUR COUNTRY. OVER THE LAST
WEEKEND, WHILE I WAS OUT OF STATE, I HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH PEOPLE
ABOUT THE UNITED STATES RESPONSE TO THE SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS.
MANY PEOPLE WHOM I TALKED WITH DID NOT AGREE WITH MY STANCE, AS I
THINK THAT THIS HUMANITARIAN CRISIS MUST BE BEST DEALT WITH IN A WAY
THAT PROTECTS THE SAFETY OF AMERICANS HERE AT HOME.
I ISSUED A STATEMENT ON THE MAYOR'S OFFICE STATIONERY ON NOVEMBER
18, 2015 INDICATING THAT, ALTHOUGH ROANOKE IS A WELCOMING CITY AND
AMERICA IS THE MELTING POT OF THE WORLD, I HAVE BECOME VERY
CONCERNED IN REGARDS TO THE RELOCATION OF THE SYRIAN REFUGEES
AND THE SAFETY OF AMERICANS.
THE STATEMENT FURTHER MADE REFERENCE TO PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
AND THE SEQUESTRATION IN THE 1940'S OF JAPANESE FOREIGN NATIONALS.
I ANTICIPATED THAT THE STATEMENT MIGHT RECEIVE SOME COVERAGE IN
THE ROANOKE VALLEY, BUT I DID NOT IN ANY WAY ANTICIPATE THAT IT
WOULD TREND INTERNATIONALLY OVER THE INTERNET.
AS THE MAYOR OF ROANOKE, TO OUR CITY, TO EACH MEMBER OF THIS
COUNCIL, AND ALL OF MY FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS WHO HAVE HELD ME IN
THE HIGHEST ESTEEM, I WANT TO SAY TODAY THAT I APOLOGIZE FOR THE
STATEMENT AND TO ALL THOSE OFFENDED BY MY REMARKS. NO ONE ELSE
IS TO BE BLAMED, BUT ME.
I UNDERSTAND FULL WELL MY RESPONSIBILITY AND OBLIGATION TO RECTIFY
THE DAMAGE THAT MY STATEMENT HAS DONE TO THE GOOD IMAGE OF THE
CITY, AND THE REPUTATION OF THIS COUNCIL, OUR CITIZENS AND THE
ROANOKE VALLEY.
PLEASE KNOW THAT I DID NOT INTEND TO CAUSE ANY PAIN OR DAMAGE TO
THE REPUTATION OF ANY PERSON OR THIS GREAT CITY OF ROANOKE OR THE
ROANOKE VALLEY. I WANT YOU TO BELIEVE THIS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN
FORTUNATE TO HAVE SERVED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES AS MAYOR
OF THE ONLY SIX TIME ALL - AMERICA CITY IN OUR COUNTRY. I AM SO PROUD
OF ROANOKE. WE ARE A CITY OF OPENNESS AND DIVERSITY, AND I WANT
YOU TO KNOW AND BELIEVE THAT I WOULD DO NOTHING TO HURT OUR CITY,
THE ROANOKE VALLEY OR THIS COUNCIL. I'VE WORKED HARD FOR 16 YEARS
TO BE A FRIENDLY MAYOR TO ALL OF THE 105 NATIONALITIES IN OUR CITY,
AND I WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO SO.
IN PARTICULAR, I APOLOGIZE TO AMERICANS OF JAPANESE DESCENT FOR
THE UNWISE AND INAPPROPRIATE COMPARISON BETWEEN THE INTERNMENT
OF AMERICANS OF JAPANESE DESCENT DURING WORLD WAR II AND THE
CURRENT REFUGEE CRISIS. ANY SUCH COMPARISON WAS A MISTAKE AND I
APOLOGIZE FOR THIS MISTAKE. IT'S JUST NOT IN MY HEART TO BE RACIST
OR BIGOTED.
MY STATEMENT WAS INTENDED TO BE RESPECTFUL, MEASURED, AND
MODERATE IN TONE AND SUBSTANCE, BUT IT FELL FAR SHORT. PEOPLE
HERE IN ROANOKE KNOW THAT IS HOW I TRY TO HANDLE THINGS, BUT I
DIDN'T DO WELL THIS TIME.
I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN CALLS FOR ME TO RESIGN OVER THIS INCIDENT
AND I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE RECEIVED THOSE CALLS AS WELL. I
HOPE AND PRAY THAT YOU, MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THE
ROANOKE COMMUNITY, WILL ACCEPT MY GENUINE AND HEARTFELT
APOLOGY.
I KNOW FULL WELL THAT I HAVE CAUSED, HOWEVER UNINTENTIONAL, THESE
CONSEQUENCES AND I HOPE AND PRAY THAT I MAY JOIN WITH YOU IN
RECTIFYING THIS MISTAKE. THIS IS IMPORTANT TO MY REPUTATION AS WELL
AS TO YOUR REPUTATION, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO THE REPUTATION OF
OUR BELOVED ROANOKE.
4Qa'u -
013 -26o Intolerance (Convention 1939; Amended 1952;
Reaffirmed 1981; Reaffirmed 1987;
Reviewed 1991; Amended 1995; Mended 1999; Reviewed 2003;
Amended 2007; Amended
2011; Reviewed 2015)
WHEREAS, The General Federation of Women's Clubs believes that
the democratic form of government would be endangered by the
unchecked growth of prejudice and intolerance; and
WHEREAS, The cardinal principles of our democratic institutions
demand respect for the rights of others; and
WHEREAS, Problems resulting from intolerance may have a national
and international impact; therefore
RESOLVED, That the General Federation of Women's Clubs urges its
member clubs to accept responsibility for fostering tolerance, justice
and religious freedom in their clubs and communities.
On behalf of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, I call upon Roanoke
City Council to protect at] the people of Roanoke from the misuse of the
mayor's office that resulted in Wednesday's statement regarding the plight of
Syrian refugees. Please take whatever actions are necessary to make sure
Roaaoke's image reflect the reality that we are a diverse, tolerant and
accepting city.
Respectfully,
Freeda Cathcart
Public Policy Chair for the GFWC Blue Ridge District
540 -598 -7231
ContactFreeda @gmail.com