The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About05 - Affirming that the City Council Stands in Solidarity with its Iranian -American Community Members as their Relatives and Associates are Suffering through Current Human Rights Injustices in IranQ SEW Pp�T CITY OF O � z NEWPORT BEACH <,FORN'P City Council Staff Report January 10, 2023 Agenda Item No. 5 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: Tara Finnigan, Assistant City Manager - 949-644-3001, tinnigan@newportbeachca.gov PREPARED BY: Melanie Franceschini, Management Analyst, mfranceschini@newportbeachca.gov PHONE: 949-644-3028 TITLE: Resolution No. 2023-3: Affirming that the City Council Stands in Solidarity with its Iranian -American Community Members as their Relatives and Associates are Suffering through Current Human Rights Injustices in Iran ABSTRACT: At its December 13, 2022 meeting, the Newport Beach City Council voted, via a straw poll, in favor of staff returning with a revised resolution for the City Council's consideration that would, if adopted, express that the City Council stands in solidarity with its Iranian -American community members against the current human rights injustices occurring in Iran. RECOMMENDATIONS: a) Determine this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because this action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly; and b) Adopt Resolution No. 2023-3, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Newport Beach, California, Affirming that the City Council stands in Solidarity with its Iranian -American Community Members as their Relatives and Associates are Suffering through Current Human Rights Injustices in Iran. DISCUSSION: In response to a request by Council Member Diane Dixon, at its October 25, 2022 meeting, a majority of the Newport Beach City Council supported having staff draft a resolution regarding the condemnation of the government of Iran for the physical beating and death of Mahsa Amini. The death of Mahsa Amini sparked an Iranian, female -led revolution involving thousands of Iranian civilians and allies taking to the streets around the world to protest the brutality and repression of the Iranian regime against its citizens. 5-1 Resolution No. 2023-3: Affirming that the City Council Stands in Solidarity with its Iranian -American Community Members as their Relatives and Associates are Suffering through Current Human Rights Injustices in Iran January 10, 2023 Page 2 At the November 15, 2022 meeting, the City Council was presented with a resolution condemning the Iranian morality police and the government of Iran. The City Council decided to not adopt the resolution because the resolution focused on international issues. At the December 13, 2022 meeting, in response to a request made by Council Member Joy Brenner, the City Council voted, via straw poll, in favor of staff returning with a revised resolution for the Council's consideration. Resolution No. 2023-3, if approved, would convey that the Newport Beach City stands in solidarity with its Iranian -American community members against the current human rights injustices occurring in Iran. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact related to this item. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: Staff recommends the City Council find this action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly. NOTICING: The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the City Council considers the item). ATTACHMENT: Attachment A — Resolution No. 2023-3 5-2 ATTACHMENT A RESOLUTION NO. 2023-3 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AFFIRMING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH ITS IRANIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS THEIR RELATIVES AND ASSOCIATES ARE SUFFERING THROUGH CURRENT HUMAN RIGHTS INJUSTICES IN IRAN WHEREAS, on September 13, 2022, Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman, was arrested by Gasht-e Ershad, also known as the Islamic Republic of Iran's "morality police," for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly in violation of Iran's compulsory dress codes and subsequently died as a result of police brutality; WHEREAS, Mahsa Amini's death sparked the first Iranian female -led revolution of our time, involving thousands of Iranian civilians, including teenagers, students, men, and women of all ages, taking to the streets and university campuses to protest the brutality and repression of the Iranian regime against its citizens; WHEREAS, Iranian authorities have sought to suppress freedom of speech and dissent by implementing violent repression of nonviolent protests, censorship, torture, punishing journalists, and restricting internet access; WHEREAS, despite that repression, protests have continued to expand for women's rights and for the rights of religious and ethnic minorities in Iran; WHEREAS, across the world, thousands of marchers continue to demonstrate to support the people of Iran and send a message that their bravery in risking their lives to dismantle the status quo enforced by a fanatical, theocratic regime is not in vain; WHEREAS, according to the National Organization for Civil Registration, the United States has the highest number of Iranians outside of Iran, close to 1,000,000 people, with over one-half residing in California; and WHEREAS, Iranians have made important contributions as Californians in the fields of finance, technology, law, medicine, education, sports, media, the arts, the military, and government. NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Newport Beach resolves as follows: Section 1: The City Council stands in solidarity with its Iranian -American community members, particularly Iranian -American women, as their relatives and associates are suffering through the current human rights injustices in Iran. 5-3 Resolution No. 2023- Page 2 of 2 Section 2: The recitals provided in this resolution are true and correct and are incorporated into the operative part of this resolution. Section 3: If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this resolution is, for any reason, held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining portions of this resolution. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this resolution, and each section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase hereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid or unconstitutional. Section 4: The City Council finds the adoption of this resolution is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 6, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly. Section 5: This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the City Council, and the City Clerk shall certify the vote adopting the resolution. ADOPTED this 10th day of January, 2023. Noah Blom Mayor ATTEST: Leilani I. Brown City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: CI ATTORNEY'S YOFICE a on C. Harp City Attorney 5-4