HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 04/20/2021 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 064, 2021, APPROPRI Agenda Item 30
Item # 30 Page 1
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY April 20, 2021
City Council
STAFF
JC Ward, Senior Planner
Caryn Champine, Director of PDT
Leo Escalante, Specialist, Public Engagement
Adam Stephens, Legal
SUBJECT
First Reading of Ordinance No. 064, 2021, Appropriating Prior Year Reserves for the Establishment of a
Municipal Immigration Legal Defense Fund.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This item has been withdrawn from consideration.
The purpose of this item is to respond to a request from some members of Council for an off-cycle general fund
appropriation to create a Municipal Immigration Legal Fund pilot program. If approved, this appropriation would
create a pilot grant program to provide access to immigration legal services for Fort Collins residents seeking
citizenship or lawful presence. Grant funds will be awarded to legal service providers based on a competitive
process and will be dedicated to program administration, education, and outreach; providing defense for people
at risk of deportation; children seeking Special Immigrant Juvenile Status; and for community members seeking
pathways to citizenship and lawful presence also known as Affirmative Cases. The Council Finance Committee
will review this appropriation request at its April 19, 2021 meeting.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
During the March 23 work session, staff from Neighborhood Services and the Communications and Public
Involvement Department presented their findings from the research conducted on immigration legal defense
funds implemented in 42 different jurisdictions across the country. The information covered included
demographic data and unmet needs assessment in Fort Collins, program design from other jurisdictions,
potential funding and service level options to assist undocumented residents in Fort Collins with pathways to
lawful citizenship and lawful presence, and strategic alignment with Council priorities to improve safety,
community trust, equity and livability.
Key Findings on Greatest Needs in Fort Collins
Staff worked with several service providers in Northern Colorado with expertise in immigration services to assess
current service levels and unmet need for immigration legal services. Based upon this research, the following is
a summary of our key findings to inform Council’s decision on the City’s role in immigration services to Fort
Collins residents.
Limited Availability of Services: Currently there is only one immigration attorney practicing in Fort Collins.
Attorneys in other practice areas may take on immigration clients but are not focused on complex systems
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of administrative or immigration law, making the representation challenging and outcomes less consistent.
In addition to the limited availability of direct legal representation for immigration cases in Fort Collins, legal
advice and documentation assistance for cases related to extension of visas, deferred action for childhood
arrivals (“DACA”) renewal, citizenship, or legal permanent resident (“LPR”) applications are largely
unavailable and can cost hundreds of dollars for consultation with an attorney.
Affordability: According to data provided by community partners from target population surveys and
feedback from engagement activities, the lack of affordable legal services and representation are considered
the biggest barriers to successful integration for immigrants in Fort Collins. Data from regional partners
working with immigrant communities confirms that 2,963 Northern Larimer County residents are eligible for
immigration relief and need low-cost or pro bono legal services to pursue lawful paths to citizenship and
presence. We also learned that many need these services for multiple family members in the same
household. Out of pocket expenses for deportation defense range from $6,000 to $20,000 in filing fees and
$10,000 to $50,000 for attorney costs depending on the specifics and complexity of the case. DACA, Visa,
or LPR applications and renewals have varying filing fees and though the total varies widely, average
approximately $4,000 in attorney costs.
High Demand for Services:
o In Fort Collins, 2,200 residents are eligible for naturalization and the remaining 2,300 non-citizen
immigrants are estimated to be undocumented and currently at risk for detention and deportation.
According to local immigrant advocacy organizations conducting outreach and operating immigration
hotlines, the estimated unmet need for Fort Collins Detention/Deportation cases is 75-100 per year,
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (“SIJS”) cases is 100 per year, and affirmative cases (DACA, LPR,
Naturalization) is 400 per year.
o As of December 2020, there were 418 Larimer County residents with pending immigration deportation
proceedings initiated by Department of Homeland Security, 83 of whom lacked legal representation.7
The Larimer County case numbers and unrepresented immigrants in detention as of December 2020
are almost double the 2019 case numbers.
o In the Poudre School District, there are 54 students who arrived in the U.S. as unaccompanied minors
seeking asylum because they are unable to return to their countries of origin due to threat of death or
imminent harm. These students could remain in the United States through Special Immigrant Juvenile
Status (“SIJS”). Due to the age of the children and current placement in foster care or with relatives other
than their primary caregivers, these children only have access to immigration legal services through
community programs. The Interfaith Solidarity and Accompaniment Coalition fundraises and connects
children with legal service providers for SIJS cases, but their work is limited by the amount raised and
availability of pro bono attorneys willing to take Fort Collins cases who are also skilled in complex SIJS
cases.
Strategic Alignment
Strategic Outcome - Neighborhood Livability & Social Health 1.4 Advance equity for all, leading with race,
so that a person’s identity or identities is not a predictor of outcomes.
Strategic Outcome - Economic Health 3.2 Understand trends in the local labor market and work with key
partners to grow diverse employment opportunities.
Strategic Outcome - Safe Communities 5.1 Improve overall community safety while continuing to increase
the level of public trust and willingness to use emergency services.
Strategic Outcome - High Performing Government 7.3 Improve effectiveness of community engagement
with enhanced inclusion of all identities, languages and needs.
2020 Legislative Policy Agenda - Immigration and National Border Conditions 1. Supports the humane
treatment of persons who are detained by Immigration Officials and the rapid resolution of legal proceedings
to determine their status; 2. Supports a pathway to legal immigration into the United States that is sustainable
in the long term.
City Council Resolution 2019-100 re: The Immigration Crisis at the Southern Border of the United States
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and its Impact on the Fort Collins Community
Social Sustainability Strategic Plan (2016) - Equity and Inclusion Theme B1.2.b Research existing partner
and community programs to help inform refugee and immigrant populations of their legal rights and
responsibilities; seek opportunities to create programs where none currently exist.
Market Rates
To inform Council’s consideration of the fund amount, staff obtained attorney costs by case type in the Fort
Collins market from nonprofit immigration service providers, Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network
(“RMIAN”) and Interfaith Solidarity and Accompaniment Coalition (“ISAAC”) and are based on actual attorney
and legal staff costs. The amounts listed cover limited filing fees associated with the pro bono representation.
Case Type Pro Bono Legal Costs/Case in
Fort Collins market
Detention/Deportation $6,000/case
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) $4,000/case
“Affirmative Cases”- Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
(DACA), Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR), or Naturalization
$1,000/case
Pilot Program Budget
Startup costs for the program would include funding program administration and pro bono attorney’s costs to
represent a minimum of 10 deportation cases, and to recruit and retain an attorney and support staff to provide
local representation.
The pilot program is proposed for 12 months from June 2021 to June 2022 to allow time to evaluate the long
term need and City role for this program. The program startup costs below are based on this timeframe. This
timing also allows for an informed discussion, if desired, as part of the 2023/2024 Strategic Plan and Budgeting
for Outcomes process.
Note: This timing would create a funding gap of approximately six months in 2022. If desired, Council could
consider an 18 month pilot program to address the funding gap.
Program StartUp Minimum
Item Amount Description
Program Administration $60,000 Program outreach to target populations, educational
materials, translation and interpretation services,
coordination of legal advice clinics and training sessions,
capacity-building activities for local and regional service
providers, administrative duties related to legal
representation and grant reporting
10 Deportation Cases $60,000 Direct legal representation, intake assessment, and legal
advice for Fort Collins residents facing detention and
deportation, including residents on bond from detention
awaiting immigration hearings
Additional Service Options
Item Amount Description
Additional Deportation
Cases
$6,000/case Direct legal representation, intake assessment, and legal
advice for Fort Collins residents facing detention and
deportation, including residents on bond from detention
awaiting immigration hearings
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SIJS Cases $4,000/case Direct legal representation, intake assessment, and legal
advice for Fort Collins residents who arrived as
unaccompanied minors, are seeking asylum, and are
unable to return to their country of origin due to the threat
of death or imminent harm
“Affirmative” Cases (DACA,
LPR, or Naturalization)
$1,000/case Direct legal representation, intake assessment, and legal
advice for Fort Collins residents who may qualify for
DACA, LPR, or Naturalization pathways to citizenship or
lawful presence
Program Structure
The appropriation for a Municipal Immigration Legal Fund in Fort Collins would establish a grant program to
provide funds to community partners, nonprofit organizations, or legal service providers to offer residents wrap-
around, holistic immigration legal services to meet the most urgent needs, reach the greatest number of impacted
community members, and build trust in the immigrant community through ongoing self-advocacy and program
support from June 2021 to June 2022. If the fund is approved, staff would initiate a request for proposal process
and select service providers through competitive review.
Services Provided
The delivery model for legal services will be outlined in applicants’ proposals and determined by the review team
through the selection process. Proposals will be requested for the following elements:
Fort Collins residency requirement
Direct legal representation for the lifecycle of immigration cases with client intake with the equity-based
universal representation model
Support for legal pathways to citizenship or lawful presence
Legal Advice and Consultations through legal clinics and Know Your Rights trainings
Education and outreach that includes leadership and empowerment training to improve self-advocacy
Program coordinator based in a local nongovernmental organization
Potential future success of these elements in our community is further indicated by the outcomes of the
successful City of Fort Collins Eviction Legal Fund 2020 pilot, which incorporated similar services and employed
direct legal representation, education and outreach, self-advocacy empowerment, and community partner
leadership to reach residents and landlords in need of assistance with eviction prevention.
Program Administration
The Neighborhood Services Department would oversee the grant application and review process, assure
completion of necessary City documentation for the program, and act as the City contact for grant recipients. All
other program administration and coordination among grant recipients will be carried out by a program
coordinator from a partner organization. Housing the program coordinator position with a community partner
rather than in the City of Fort Collins will increase community trust and avoid putting the City in the position of
providing direct legal services. Optimally, the coordinator role would be staffed by someone with paralegal
experience and the potential to assist with program fundraising.
The program coordinator will conduct outreach to target populations, manage creation and distribution of
educational materials that align with language equity principles, secure translation and interpretation services,
coordinate legal advice clinics and training sessions, assist local and regional service providers with building
capacity for immigration legal services, and perform other administrative duties related to legal representation
and grant reporting.
Program Metrics
Establishing program metrics that measure outputs, outcomes, and effectiveness are an important part of
concurrent evaluation and iterative improvement. The program will also offer an opportunity to have a deeper
understanding of the greatest challenges and unmet needs for Fort Collins residents (given limited available
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datapoints). Staff recommends considering the following potential program metrics to assess program
accomplishments and output-based metrics such as participant numbers or number of cases resolved:
# of people receiving free legal advice or training
# of people receiving direct representation (adults/children & case type)
# of people able to lawfully remain in the U.S. due to representation
# of people released on bond during the program compared to past years
# of referrals to the program by other participants
% of participants who feel they are safer due to the program
% of participants who are more knowledgeable about their pathways to citizenship or lawful presence after
the program
% of participants reporting greater likelihood of accessing City or community resources due to the program
It is important to note that some metrics may be difficult or impossible to ascertain during a 12-month pilot
program because of the length of time immigration cases take to navigate the system with average resolution
times for detention/deportation cases of one to two years and naturalization processes of more than one year.
Potential Partners
Through extensive collaboration with stakeholders, staff has identified several potential community partners and
grantor organizations that might be in positions to assist with providing services or expanding a City-sponsored
immigration legal fund.
Organization Potential Role Opportunities
Vera Institute of Justice Grantor Up to $100,000 matching grant funds for
municipal immigration legal funds for
detention/deportation cases
U.S. Citizenship & Immigration
Services “Citizenship &
Assimilation Grants”
Grantor Average award of $250,000 to nonprofit
organizations for LPR citizenship preparation
services including education
Rocky Mountain Immigrant
Advocacy Network (RMIAN)
Grant Recipient Currently providing immigration legal services
to other Colorado communities with existing
relationships with attorneys
Catholic Charities Grant Recipient Currently providing immigration legal services
to other Colorado communities with existing
relationships with attorneys
Alianza NORCO Grant Recipient Currently providing education, outreach, and
support services to immigrants in Fort Collins
Interfaith Solidarity and
Accompaniment Coalition
(ISAAC)
Grant Recipient Currently providing support for SIJS cases with
existing relationships with attorneys
Fuerza Latina Grant Recipient Currently providing education, outreach, and
support services to immigrants in Fort Collins
Colorado State University Grant Recipient Currently providing immigration legal services
to all full-time students. Additional funding
might allow expansion to services for
undocumented staff and part-time students.
University of Colorado Law
School
Grant Recipient Currently providing student law office clinic
representation for some immigration cases
University of Denver - Sturm
College of Law
Grant Recipient Currently providing student law office clinic
representation for some immigration cases
Colorado Access to Justice
Commission
Technical
Assistance
Assistance connecting volunteer attorneys
with clients
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City Manager Darin Atteberry, contacted Larimer County Manager, Linda Hoffmann, in April 2021 regarding the
potential for collaboration and partnership to provide immigration legal services to both City and County
residents. Partnerships with Larimer County will need to be aligned with policies regarding the use of City funds
to benefit the residents of Fort Collins.
Pilot Start Up Timeline
Timeline indicates an estimate of length of each step following a funding appropriation.
Next Steps: If this appropriation is approved by Council, staff anticipates releasing a request for proposal from
legal service providers to perform work under a competitive selection process in the second quarter of 2021 and
anticipates work to begin in the third quarter of 2021.
CITY FINANCIAL IMPACTS
If adopted, this appropriation Ordinance would require the use of $____________ of General Fund Reserves.
BOARD / COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
The Human Relations Commission recommends support of a municipal immigration legal fund as outlined in
its memo to Council dated April 14, 2021.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Work Session Summary March 2021 (PDF)
2. Human Relations Board Letter of Support (PDF)
3. Powerpoint Presentation (PDF)
ATTACHMENT 1
DATE: April 14, 2021
TO: Mayor Wade Troxell
City Councilmembers
City Manager Darin Atteberry
CC: Sarah Kane
Dawn Kennedy
Carol Thomas
FROM: The Human Relations Commission
RE: Fort Collins Immigration Legal Defense Fund
During our April 8th meeting, the Human Relations Commission (HRC) received a compelling
presentation from Patricia Miller, Alianza NORCO, and Claudia Perez, La Cocina, regarding the
proposed Fort Collins Immigration Legal Defense Fund. The HRC fully supports the creation of
this Fund to support the City’s Strategic Plan; specifically, that “equity and inclusion are
frameworks to accomplish the City’s goals of sustaining an environment where residents and
visitors feel welcome, safe, and valued in the community.”
An Immigration Legal Defense Fund will help our City’s immigrant adults and children move
closer to:
• Legal equity and due process
• Economic equity
• Health and safety equity
With 11,000 immigrant residents in Fort Collins, we believe that the City’s return on investment
in creating an Immigration Legal Defense Fund will be significant. Providing quality low
cost/pro bono legal services to assist immigrants with cases related to detention and deportation,
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, DACA, Lawful Permanent Residency, Temporary Protected
Status, and naturalization to become a US citizen will build the social and economic health of the
immigrant community and, in turn, our entire community. Absent this Fund, our immigrant
community will continue to be at risk for higher levels of physical and mental health issues,
economic and housing instability and, in addition, will lack the belief that they are safe and
belong to our community.
ATTACHMENT 2
The HRC requests our City leaders to allocate the required funds to establish an Immigration
Legal Defense Fund. We believe our immigrant community must have access to quality,
affordable legal services to demonstrate to Fort Collins residents that equity and inclusion are at
the heart of what makes Fort Collins a healthy, safe and welcoming community for all.
Thank you for your consideration.
1JC Ward, Leo Escalante
Municipal Immigration Legal Fund
Appropriation
ATTACHMENT 3
Agenda Overview
2
1.Strategic Alignment
2.Key Local Findings
3.Market Rates
4.Pilot Program Budget
5.Program Structure, Services Provided, Program Ad ministration & Metrics
6.Potential Partners
7.Pilot Start Up Timeline
Adoption Consideration
3
Does Council wish to adopt an Ordinance to allocate funding from prior
year reserves for the immigrant legal services fund pilot program,on First
Reading?
Strategic Alignment
4
Strategic Outcomes 2020 Legislative
Policy Agenda
City Council
Resolution 2019-100
Social Sustainability
Strategic Plan (2016)
Neighborhood Livability &
Social Health 1.4
Economic Health 3.2
Safe Communities 5.1
High Performing
Government 7.3
Immigration and National
Border Conditions
The Immigration Crisis at
the Southern Border of the
United States and its Impact
on the Fort Collins
Community
Equity and Inclusion Theme
B1.2.b
Key Local Findings
5
•Limited Availability of Local Immigration Legal Services
o One immigration attorney in Fort Collins
o No community partners providing pro bono legal advice clinics
•Affordability
o 2,963 Northern Larimer County residents are eligible for immigration relief and need low-cost or
pro bono legal services
o Immigration attorney costs range from $4,000 for affirmative cases and $10,000-50,000 for
deportation cases plus filing and application fees
•High Demand for Immigration Legal Services
o Approximately 2,300 Fort Collins residents are undocumented and at risk for deportation
o 83 Larimer County residents are in detention, facing deportation, and unrepresented
o 54 Poudre School District students are eligible for SIJS and need pro bono representation in the
process
Market Rates
6
Case Type Pro Bono
Legal Costs
per Case in Fort
Collins market
Detention/Deportation $6,000/case
Special Immigrant Juvenile
Status (SIJS)
$4,000/case
“Affirmative Cases”-Deferred
Ac tion for Childhood Arrivals
(DACA),Lawful Permanent
Resident (LPR), or Naturalization
$1,000/case
•Information on pro bono attorney
costs by case type in the Fort
Collins market was provided by:
o Rocky Mountain Immigrant
Advocacy Network (RMIAN)
o Interfaith Solidarity and
Accompaniment Coalition
(ISAAC)
Pilot Program Budget
7
Item Cost for 1
ye ar pilot
Program
Ad ministration
$60,000
10 Deportation
Cases
$60,000
Program Start Up Minimum
Additional Service Options
Item Amount Description
Additional
Deportation Cases
$6,000/case Direct legal representation,intake assessment,
and legal advice for Fort Collins residents facing
detention and deportation,including residents on
bond from detention awaiting immigration
hearings
SIJS Cases $4,000/case Direct legal representation,intake assessment,
and legal advice for Fort Collins residents who
arrived as unaccompanied minors,are seeking
asylum,and are unable to return to their country
of origin due to the threat of death or imminent
harm
“Affirmative” Cases
(DACA, LPR, or
Naturalization)
$1,000/case Direct legal representation,intake assessment,
and legal advice for Fort Collins residents who
may qualify for DACA,LPR,or Naturalization
pathways to citizenship or lawful presence
Program Structure
8
•Establish a grant program to provide funds to
community-based organizations and/or legal
service providers
•Grant recipients would offer residents wrap-
around, holistic immigration legal services to meet
most urgent needs, and build trust in the
immigrant community through ongoing self-
advocacy
•The City would initiate a request for
proposal process and select service providers
through competitive review
Services Provided
9
•Fort Collins Residency Requirement
•Direct legal representation for the lifecycle of
immigration cases
•Support for legal pathways to citizenship or
lawful presence
•Legal Advice and Consultations through legal
clinics and Know Yo ur Rights trainings
•Education and outreach
•Program coordinator based in a local
nongovernmental organization
Proposals will request the following service delivery:
Program Administration
1
0
•Neighborhood Services will oversee:
o Grant application
o Review process
o Completion of necessary City
documentation
o Act as City contact for grant
recipients
•Additional program administration
and coordination will be carried out by
a program coordinator from a partner
organization
Program Metrics
11
•Nº of people receiving free legal advice or training
•Nºof people receiving direct representation
(adults/children & case type)
•Nºof people able to lawfully remain in the U.S.
due to representation
•Nºof people released on bond during the
program compared past years
•Nºof referrals to the program by other
participants
•Pct. of participants who feel they are safer due
to the program
•Pct.of participants who are more knowledgeable
about their pathways to citizenship or lawful
presence after the program
•Pct.of participants reporting greater likelihood of
accessing City or community resources due to the
program
Metrics
Potential Partners
12
Organization Potential Role Opportunities
Vera Institute of Justice Grantor Up to $100,000 matching grant funds for municipal immigration legal
funds for detention/deportation cases
U.S. Citizenship &Immigration Services “Citizenship
& Assimilation Grants”
Grantor Average award of $250,000 to nonprofit organizations for LPR
citizenship preparation services including education
Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network
(RMIAN)
Grant Recipient Currently providing immigration legal services to other Colorado
communities with existing relationships with attorneys
Catholic Charities Grant Recipient Currently providing immigration legal services to other Colorado
communities with existing relationships with attorneys
Alianza NORCO Grant Recipient Currently providing education,outreach,and support services to
immigrants in Fort Collins
Interfaith Solidarity and Accompaniment Coalition
(ISAAC)
Grant Recipient Currently providing support for SIJS cases with existing relationships with
attorneys
Fuerza Latina Grant Recipient Currently providing education,outreach,and support services to
immigrants in Fort Collins
Colorado State University Grant Recipient Currently providing immigration legal services to all full-time students.
Additional funding might allow expansion to services for undocumented
staff and part-time students.
University of Colorado Law School Grant Recipient Currently providing student law
office clinic representation for some immigration cases
University of Denver –Sturm College of Law Grant Recipient Currently providing student law office clinic representation for some
immigration cases
Colorado Access to Justice Commission Technical Assistance Assistance connecting volunteer attorneys with clients
Pilot Start Up Timeline
13
Adoption Consideration
1
4
Does Council wish to adopt an Ordinance to allocate funding from prior
year reserves for the immigrant legal services fund pilot program,on First
Reading?
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ORDINANCE NO. 064, 2021
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
APPROPRIATING PRIOR YEAR RESERVES
FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A
MUNICIPAL IMMIGRATION LEGAL DEFENSE FUND
WHEREAS, while immigration policy and enforcement are controlled by the federal
government, the Fort Collins City Council noted in the 2020 Legislative Policy Agenda that
“issues pertaining to civil rights at the United States’ borders and immigration law more broadly
have wide impacts that can directly impact the day-to-day life of Fort Collins residents”; and
WHEREAS, on October 1, 2019, the City Council approved Resolution 2019-100
detailing concerns that fear resulting from federal immigration law and enforcement policies
could discourage Fort Collins immigrant residents from engaging with safety personnel, Police
Services, and other City departments to access services and resources; and
WHEREAS, Fort Collins has an immigrant community of more than 11,000 people, or
6.8% of the total population, 15% of children in Fort Collins liv e with at least one immigrant
parent, and 75% of these children are themselves US citizens; and
WHEREAS, of the approximately 4,500 Fort Collins residents that are currently not
United States citizens, 2,200 residents are eligible for naturalization and the remaining 2,300
non-citizen immigrants are estimated to be undocumented and at risk for detention and
deportation; and
WHEREAS, in December 2020, there were 418 Larimer County residents with pending
immigration deportation proceedings, 83 of whom lacked legal representation; and
WHEREAS, 2,963 Northern Larimer County residents are eligible for immigration relief
and need low-cost or pro bono legal services to pursue lawful paths to citizenship; and
WHEREAS, any non-citizen, including lawful permanent residents, refugees, and people
who entered legally on visas, can be placed in deportation proceedings; and
WHEREAS, many people in deportation proceedings have valid legal claims to remain in
the United States but cannot effectively assert those claims or gather necessary evidence without
legal representation; and
WHEREAS, Fort Collins lacks available pro bono or low-cost legal advice and assistance
for cases related to extension of visas, DACA renewal, citizenship, or legal permanent resident
applications as there is one immigration attorney practicing in Fort Collins and although
community partners are providing assistance for immigrants, no organizations currently provide
pro bono or low-cost immigration legal defense and advice for Fort Collins residents; and
WHEREAS, the Municipal Immigration Legal Fund in Fort Collins would establish a
grant program (“Program”) to provide funds to community partners, nonprofit organizations, or
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legal service providers to offer residents wrap-around, holistic immigration legal services to meet
the most urgent needs, reach the greatest number of impacted community members, and build
trust in the immigrant community through ongoing self-advocacy and program support through
December 2021; and
WHEREAS, the City would initiate the Program through a request for proposal process
and select service providers through competitive review; and
WHEREAS, the delivery model for the Program’s legal services will be outlined in
applicants’ proposals and determined by the review team through the selection process; and
WHEREAS, proposals for the Program will be requested for direct legal representation
for the lifecycle of immigration cases with client intake with the equity-based universal
representation model; support for legal pathways to citizenship or lawful presence; legal advice
and consultations through legal clinics and Know Your Rights trainings; education and outreach
that includes leadership and empowerment training to improve self-advocacy; and program
coordination based within a local nongovernmental organization; and
WHEREAS, Article V, Section 9 of the City Charter permits the City Council, upon the
recommendation of the City Manager, to appropriate by ordinance at any time during the fiscal
year such funds for expenditure as may be available from reserves accumulated in prior years,
notwithstanding that such reserves were not previously appropriated; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager has recommended the appropriation described herein and
determined that this appropriation is available and previously unappropriated from the General
Fund and will not cause the total amount appropriated in the General Fund to exceed the current
estimate of actual and anticipated revenues to be received in that fund during any fiscal year; and
WHEREAS, this appropriation benefits public health, safety and welfare of the residents
of Fort Collins and serves the public purpose of advancing equity for all, leading with race, so
that a person’s identity or identities is not a predic tor of outcomes; improving overall community
safety while continuing to increase the level of public trust and willingness to use emergency
services; and improving effectiveness of community engagement with enhanced inclusion of all
identities, languages and needs.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes and adopts the determinations and
findings contained in the recitals set forth above.
Section 2. That the City Council hereby authorizes the City Manager, or their
designee, to initiate and facilitate the Program in a manner consistent with this Ordinance.
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Section 3. That there is hereby appropriated from prior year reserves in the General
Fund the sum of ______________ ($______) for expenditure from the General Fund for the
establishment of a municipal immigration legal defense fund.
Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 20th day of
April, A.D. 2021, and to be presented for final passage on the 4th day of May, A.D. 2021.
__________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
City Clerk
Passed and adopted on final reading on this 4th day of May, A.D. 2021.
__________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
City Clerk