HomeMy WebLinkAbout011921_ra02JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Philip Morley, Jefferson County Administrato
DATE: January 19, 2021
RE: Proclamation to Designate January 22, 2021 for Celebrating the United
Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Commissioners intend to read and adopt the attached proclamation
designating January 22, 2021 for celebrating the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of
Nuclear Weapons. The Commissioners may also give direction to staff to send a copy of the
signed proclamation to incoming President Biden and Vice President Harris, Senators Patty
Murray and Maria Cantwell and Representative Derek Kilmer.
ANALYSIS: Doug Milholland and other community members have asked the Board of County
Commissioners to adopt a proclamation designating January 22, 2021 for celebrating the United
Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which becomes effective that same day.
The Board may consider the enclosed draft proclamation, which is based on a submittal by Mr.
Milholland, with minor edits by staff. The County Commissioners discussed this request during
their regular meeting on January 11, and asked that the proclamation be presented for adoption at
their next meeting on January 19.
The UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons can be viewed by clicking on this link:
http://Undoes ore/A/CONF.229/2017/8. Additional background about the Treaty can be viewed on this link:
https•//www un ore/disarmament/wmd/nuclear/tpnw/#•—:text=The%20Trea`/`20on%20the%2OProhibition%20of%2ONuclear%2OWeapons
stockpile%2C%20use%20or%20threaten%20to%20use%20nuclear%20weapons..
The preamble of the draft proclamation references prior resolutions adopted by the County
Commissioners, Board of Health and Port Townsend City Council. On June 3, 2019, the Board
of County Commissioners adopted Resolution No. 030-19 asking nationally elected officials to
negotiate for the elimination of all nuclear weapons.
FISCAL IMPACT: N/A.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the Board read the proclamation out loud and then
adopt the proclamation regarding January 22. The Board could also direct staff to send a copy of
the signed proclamation to incoming President Biden and Vice President Harris, Senators Patty
Murray and Maria Cantwell and Representative Derek Kilmer.
BY:.:,
Philip Morle Cnty Administra Date
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, the Jefferson County Commissioners, the Port Townsend City Council and
the Jefferson County Board of Health each passed resolutions in 2019 asking our nationally
elected officials to negotiate for the elimination of all nuclear weapons; and
WHEREAS, the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, ratified
by fifty countries on October 24, 2020, becomes international law on January 22, 2021; and
WHEREAS, the United States could lead a global effort to prevent nuclear war by:
• Renouncing the option of using nuclear weapons first,
• Ending the President's sole, unchecked authority to launch a nuclear attack,
• Not beginning testing of nuclear weapons again,
• Taking U.S. nuclear weapons off hair-trigger alert,
• Canceling the plan to replace its entire arsenal with next -generation nuclear
weapons, and
• Joining nations around the world pursuing a verifiable, multilateral agreement
among nuclear -armed states to eliminate their nuclear arsenals;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Jefferson County Commissioners
hereby proclaim January 22, 2021 a day of joyous celebration in Jefferson County in solidarity
with all nations, states, cities and towns that also supported the passage of the United Nations
Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons; encourage all citizens to join in ringing bells at
noon on January 22nd; and invite citizens to send celebratory letters to incoming President Biden
and Vice President Harris, Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and Representative Derek
Kilmer, encouraging them to earnestly seek passage by the United States of the United Nations
Treaty banning nuclear weapons.
APPROVED this 191h day of January, 2021.
SEAL:
ATTEST:
Carolyn Gallaway, CMC
Clerk of the Board
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Kate Dean, Chair
Heidi Eisenhour, Member
Greg Brotherton, Member