Number
151081
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. PEREZ AND DAVIS
Title
Resolution establishing a Joint Task Force on Community Identification Cards to review and make recommendations relating to the creation and issuance of community identification cards.
Analysis
This resolution establishes a Joint Task Force on Community Identification Cards to address current challenges to residents without proper identification and create the framework for the establishment of a community ID card.
The 7-member Joint Task Force shall consist of the Common Council President or designee, 1 member appointed by the Common Council President and two members appointed by the Mayor. Three additional members are to be authorized by County Board resolution.
The resolution further directs that support and assistance to the Joint Task Force be provided as appropriate by the City Clerk’s Office, the City Attorney’s Office, and the Intergovernmental Relations Division-Department of Administration and other department.
The resolution dissolves the Joint Task Force if a parallel resolution and corresponding budgetary authorization is not approved by the Milwaukee County Board within 3 Milwaukee Common Council cycles.
The resolution directs that a Memorandum of Understanding containing the findings and recommendations of the Joint Task Force be coetaneously submitted to the Common Council and County Board.
Body
Whereas, Many residents, including immigrants, children and students, the homeless, transgendered individuals, the indigent, the disabled and elderly, runaway youth, adult survivors of domestic violence and others, currently suffer from the lack of official identification, which restricts their access to law enforcement, financial institutions, jobs, housing, and home and workplace protections; and
Whereas, Many marginalized communities lack a valid form of identification and without identification are afraid to report crimes to local law enforcement; and
Whereas, Those who lack valid forms of identification are also afraid to report labor and housing law violations, such as blighted properties, slum landlords, and workplace health, safety and wage violations, to the appropriate authorities; and
Whereas, Without valid forms of identification, it is difficult to open bank accounts, and immigrants carrying large amounts of cash are therefore specifically targeted for robbery and other violent crime; and
Whereas, A lack of appropriate identification translates into limited access to financial institutions and a fear of police and other government officials, thus resulting in decreased participation in the formal local economy and other civic matters; and
Whereas, Multiple City and County agencies issues discrete passes and cards to residents; and
Whereas, A community identification card will make it easier for all residents to participate in local and regional commerce by opening bank accounts, establishing credit, and accessing loans and the housing market; and
Whereas, A community identification card will fill a void by providing an official form of personal identification for many residents who currently lack identification; and
Whereas, A community identification card shall not provide assistant for those applying for State assistance, nor be considered a valid ID for voting purposes.
Whereas, A community identification card will unify the local community, make it safer and more secure, benefit the local economy, and facilitate participation in public and private civic activities; and
Whereas, The cities of Oakland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New Haven, New York City, Richmond, Newark, and Hartford have implemented such community ID programs and have reported increases in reporting of crimes and civic engagement in those cities; and
Whereas, A Joint Task Force on Community Identification Cards will take appropriate measures to implement meaningful benefits and uses for a Milwaukee community identification card, develop substantial partnerships for its creation and distribution and ensure the card is widely used and accepted, thereby being of the greatest benefit to the residents and the aforementioned marginalized populations; and
Whereas, The Joint Task Force on Community Identification Cards will explore any cost saving benefits of employing a third-party administrator to create and issue the identification cards; and
Whereas, The community ID card will be unique to Milwaukee County and will be produced with the highest privacy and security measures built in to protect the public safety and prevent counterfeit reproduction; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that a Joint Task Force on Community Identification Cards is created, consisting of:
1. The Common Council President or the President’s designee.
2. One member appointed by the Common Council President.
3. Two members appointed by the Mayor.
4. Three additional members, to be authorized in a manner prescribed by County Board resolution.
; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Common Council President shall appoint a co-chair from among the members of the Task Force, and the County Board shall appoint a co-chair in a manner prescribed by County Board resolution; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Task Force is directed to create a Memorandum of Understanding between the City and County that establishes the framework for the creation and issuance of community ID cards, to include, but not be limited to cost-sharing principles, general ID information, ID creation and distribution practices, application requirements, and Joint Task Force procedures and policies; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Task Force shall not expend City funds prior to joint acceptance of the Memorandum of Understanding by both the City and County; and, be it
Further Resolved. That the findings and recommendations of the Joint Task Force shall address current challenges to public safety and lawful commerce by those without proper identification; and, be it
Further Resolved, The Joint Task Force on Community Identification Cards shall study the possibility of consolidating many of the City- and County-issued passes and cards onto one uniform community identification card; and, be it
Further Resolved, The Joint Task Force on Community Identification Cards shall develop a Memorandum of Understanding between the City and County detailing shared costs, card and pass consolidation efforts, locations for production and distribution of the community ID card, and other findings and recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Task Force shall consider best practices from other communities when crafting its recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City Clerk’s Office, the City Attorney’s Office, the Intergovernmental Relations Division-Department of Administration, and other appropriate departments, shall provide staff as deemed necessary to support and assist the Joint Task Force; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Task Force shall be dissolved upon the submission of its report of findings and recommendations and a Memorandum of Understanding to the Common Council and County Board.
Drafter
LRB159592-3
Adam Wickersham
11/3/2015