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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