Worthington City Council is moving forward with two initiatives aimed at fostering respectful public dialogue and supporting the immigrant community. Council members agreed to draft a values statement for public meetings and directed the Community Relations Commission to help compile vetted resources for immigrant residents.
Civility Statement Initiative
Council Member Joy Dong proposed creating a statement to be read before the visitor comments portion of council meetings, drawing inspiration from a similar practice used by the Worthington School Board.
Council Member Amy Lloyd, who previously served as School Board President, explained the history behind the school board's approach. She noted that the language was originally developed in consultation with legal counsel in response to instances of hateful language during public meetings. The goal was to reinforce community values while respecting First Amendment rights.
Lloyd suggested that adopting similar language would benefit not only City Council but could also serve as a tool for the city's various boards and commissions that host public comments.
The council agreed to form a drafting committee consisting of Council Members Pratt, Dong, and Ramirez. The group will work with legal counsel and City Manager Stewart to develop proposed language before bringing it back to the full council for review.
Council members endorsed this approach, noting that having a starting point would help move the process forward efficiently.
Immigrant Community Support Resources
Council Member Joy Dong thanked city staff for their prompt response in posting a social media message supporting the immigrant community, including translated versions. Building on that effort, Dong raised the question of how to maintain and expand a list of resources for immigrant residents.
Council Member Ramirez suggested engaging the Community Relations Commission to help compile vetted resources, noting that this work aligns with the commission's mission of education on issues of fair and equal treatment. Ramirez reported having a preliminary conversation with the CRC chair, who expressed enthusiasm about taking on this work.
City Manager Stewart emphasized the importance of proper vetting before publishing any resources and suggested leveraging existing lists as an alternative. "Any resources we put out, we should fully vet to make sure because we are putting the city's name behind these being legitimate, respected, well-regarded, well-run groups," Stewart said.
Council members discussed whether to create the city's own comprehensive list or refer residents to existing resources, such as those compiled by the City of Columbus. Assistant City Manager David McCorkle noted that Columbus has a resource list, though it was last updated in 2022.
The council agreed that any proposal from the CRC should include a vetting process with city oversight before publication. Ramirez volunteered to serve as the council liaison for this effort, working with McCorkle, who typically staffs the commission.
The CRC's next meeting is scheduled for February 3rd, where the commission is expected to begin discussing the matter. Council members emphasized that they want to see the CRC's recommendations in proposal form before taking action, ensuring shared responsibility for vetting resources.