HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-06-10 13-206 RESOLVECOUNCIL ACTION
Item No. 13-206 , I
Date: June 10, 2013
Item/Subject: RESOLVE , Establishing the Position of the City of Bangor in opposition to the
establishment and collection of a land border crossing fee for both land border
pedestrians and passenger vehicles along the northern and southwest borders of the
United States
Responsible Department:
Commentary:
This Resolve, will state the City's opposition to a border crossing fee and will direct that a copy of the Resolve
be sent to the members of the Maine Congressional delegation, the United States Senate Appropriations
Subcommittee on Homeland Security, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the President.
Current federal law bars the U.S. Treasury and the Attorney General from charging and collecting any fee for
the immigration inspection and pre -inspection of passengers arriving over land at a U.S. port of entry whose
journey originated in Canada, Mexico, any state or U.S. territory, or any adjacent island. The Department of
Homeland Security is currently planning to study the feasibility of imposing a fee for those entering the United
States.
For many border community residents, crossing the border is a common in order to access essential services,
travel to their jobs, to shop and dine, to attend church, and to visit family and friends. Many American
communities and businesses along the northern and southwestern border rely on trade and tourism to power
their economies. The City of Bangor is at the center of the metropolitan markets of Montreal, Quebec, Halifax,
and Saint John and is within ten driving hours of 50% of the Canadian population generating significant amount
taxable consumer retail sales in the Bangor area. A border fee could result in a decrease in tourism and travel
which would have a detrimental impact on the border communities and hinder current and future economic
relationships between the U.S. and its neighbors.
Manager's Comments:
Associated Information:
Budget Approval:
Legal Approval:
Introduced for
Passage
First Reading
Referral
Department Head
Page _of_
.— M an .:-
Finance Director
Assigned to Councilor Longo
CITY OF BANGOR
13-206
JUNE 10, 2013
(TITLE.) Resolve, Establishing the Position of the City of Bangor in opposition to the
establishment and collection of a land border crossing fee for both land border pedestrians and
passenger vehicles along the northern and southwest borders of the United States
WHEREAS, current federal law, 8 USC 1356(e), bars the U.S. Treasury and the Attorney General
from charging and collecting any fee for the immigration inspection and pre -inspection of
passengers arriving over land at a U.S. port of entry whose journey originated in Canada,
Mexico, any state or U.S. territory, or any adjacent island; and
WHEREAS, the federal government is currently planning to study the feasibility of imposing a
-fee for those entering the United States; and
WHEREAS, for many border community residents, crossing the border is a way of life in order to
access essential services, travel to their jobs, to shop and dine, to attend church, and to visit
family and friends; and
WHEREAS, many American communities and businesses along the northern and southwestern
border rely on trade and tourism to power their economies; and
WHEREAS, the City of Bangor is at the center of the metropolitan markets of Montreal, Quebec,
Halifax, and Saint John and is within ten driving hours of 50% of the Canadian population; and
WHEREAS, overall, taxable consumer retail sales in the Bangor area are over three times as
much as the local population would be expected to support due to the geographically large
service area which attract customers from much of northern Maine and the southern Canadian
provinces; and
WHEREAS, a decrease in tourism and travel would have a detrimental impact on these border
communities and hinder current and future economic relationships between the U.S. and its
neighbors.
BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR:
BE IT RESOLVED,
That the City of Bangor takes a position in opposition to the establishment and collection of a
land border crossing fee for both land border pedestrians and passenger vehicles along the
northern and southwest borders of the United States.
13-206
JUNE 109 2013
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
That a copy of this Resolve shall be sent to the members of the Maine Congressional delegation,
the United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, the Secretary of
Homeland Security, and the President.
IN CITY COUNCIL
June 10, 2013
Motion made and seconded for Passage
Passe
CITY CLERK