HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-06-16; City Council; ; Assembly Joint Resolutions Nos. 30 and 33 – Relative to Nuclear WeaponsCA Review CKM
Meeting Date: June 16, 2020
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Staff Contact: Jason Haber, Intergovernmental Affairs Director
Jason.haber@carlsbadca.gov, 760‐434‐2958
Subject: Assembly Joint Resolutions Nos. 30 and 33 – Relative to Nuclear Weapons
Recommended Action
Consider adoption of a resolution expressing the City Council’s support for California Assembly
Joint Resolutions Nos. 30 and 33 – Relative to nuclear weapons.
Executive Summary
This report presents for City Council consideration a resolution in support of California
Assembly Joint Resolution Nos. 30 and 33 – Relative to nuclear weapons (Exhibit 1), to be
delivered to the cities of Futtsu, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki, Japan and sent to the city’s state and
federal representatives as part of the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the use of
atomic weapons in Japan, as directed by the City Council at the Dec. 10, 2019, City Council
meeting.
Discussion
Assembly Joint Resolution No. 30 – Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017
California Assembly Joint Resolution No. 30 (Attachment A) was introduced on Feb. 20, 2018, by
Assembly Member Cecilia Aguiar‐Curry. The resolution was adopted by the State Legislature
and filed with the Secretary of State Sept. 5, 2018.
AJR 30 urges the United States Congress to speedily take up and pass the Restricting First Use of
Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017 and send it to the president for his signature. The Restricting First
Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017 was reintroduced in the United States House of
Representatives on Jan. 17, 2019, by Representative Ted Lieu of California as H.R. 669 – the
Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2019 (Attachment B). An identical bill (S. 200)
was reintroduced in the United States Senate on Jan. 24, 2019, by Senator Edward Markey of
Massachusetts. The bills have been referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, respectively.
H.R. 669 and S. 200 would establish that, “it is the policy of the United States that no first‐use
nuclear strike should be conducted absent a declaration of war by Congress.” The bills further
provide that “the President may not use the Armed Forces of the United States to conduct a
June 16, 2020 Item #1 Page 1 of 25
first‐use nuclear strike unless such strike is conducted pursuant to a declaration of war by
Congress that expressly authorizes such strike.”
Assembly Joint Resolution No. 33 – Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
California Assembly Joint Resolution No. 33 (Attachment C) was introduced on Feb. 20, 2018, by
Assembly Member Monica Limón. The resolution was adopted by the State Legislature and filed
with the secretary of state Sept. 5, 2018.
AJR 33 urges our federal leaders and our nation to embrace the United Nations Treaty on the
Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (Attachment D), make nuclear disarmament the centerpiece of
our national security policy and spearhead a global effort to prevent nuclear war.
In 2017, a United Nations conference was convened to negotiate a legally binding instrument to
prohibit nuclear weapons, with an intent towards their total elimination. The Treaty on the
Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was adopted by the conference on July 7, 2017, by a vote of
122 states in favor, with one vote against (Netherlands) and one abstention (Singapore). The
United States did not take part in the negotiation and adoption of the treaty, is not a signatory
state, and has not ratified, accepted or approved being bound by its terms.
The treaty will become effective 90 days after the fiftieth instrument – that is, an evidence of a
legal action – of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession has been given to the secretary‐
general of the United Nations. To date, 37 nation states have ratified the treaty.
Fiscal Analysis
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with the recommended action.
Next Steps
If the City Council adopts a resolution in support of California Assembly Joint Resolution Nos. 30
and 33, the resolution will be signed by the mayor and distributed in accordance with the City
Council’s direction.
Environmental Evaluation (CEQA)
In keeping with Public Resources Code section 21065, this action does not constitute a
“project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act in that it has no
potential to cause either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably
foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and therefore does not require
environmental review.
Public Notification
Public notice of this item was posted in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act and it was
available for public viewing and review at least 72 hours prior to scheduled meeting date.
Exhibits
1. City Council resolution
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RESOLUTION NO. 2020-108
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,
CALIFORNIA, SUPPORTING CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION NOS.
30 AND 33-RELATIVE TO NUCLEAR WEAPONS
Exhibit 1
WHEREAS, the City of Carlsbad supports legislation that recognizes and prevents the adverse
impacts affecting the public health and welfare of its citizens, and particularly minors; and
WHEREAS, nuclear weapons are uniquely powerful instruments with the capability to instantly
kill millions of people, including noncombatants and children, and to create long-term health and
environmental damage throughout the world; and
WHEREAS, California Assembly Joint Resolution No. 30 (Attachment A) urges the United States
Congress to speedily take up and pass the Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017, and
send it to the President for his signature; and
WHEREAS, the Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017 has been reintroduced in
the United States House of Representatives as H.R 669 (Attachment B) and in the United States
Senate as S. 200, both entitled the Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2019; and
WHEREAS, these bills seek to establish a national policy of no first use of nuclear weapons
without a Congressional Declaration of War and a requirement of a specific authorization by Congress
for first use of nuclear weapons without limiting retaliation for another party's first use, all consistent
with the United States Constitution; and
WHEREAS, California Assembly Joint Resolution No. 33 (Attachment C) urges our federal
leaders and our nation to embrace the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
(Attachment D) and make nuclear disarmament the centerpiece of our national security policy; and
WHEREAS, California Assembly Joint Resolution No. 33 also calls upon our federal leaders and
our nation to spearhead 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,
taking U.S. nuclear weapons off hair-trigger alert, canceling the plan to replace its entire arsenal with
enhanced weapons, and actively pursuing a verifiable agreement among nuclear-armed states to
eliminate their nuclear arsenals.
June 16, 2020 Item #1 Page 3 of 25
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as
follows:
1. That the above recitations are true and correct.
2. That the City of Carlsbad supports California Assembly Joint Resolution Nos. 30 and 33
-Relative to nuclear weapons.
3. That a certified copy of this Resolution will be sent to the cities of Futtsu, Hiroshima, and
Nagasaki, Japan, and to the city's state and federal representatives.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of
Carlsbad, California, on the 16th day of June 2020, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
Blackburn, Bhat-Patel, Schumacher.
Hall.
None.
MATT HALL, Mayor
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO ) ss.
I, Sherry Freisinger, Deputy City Clerk of the City of Carlsbad, County of San Diego, State
of California, hereby certify that I have compared the foregoing copy with the original
RESOLUTION NO. 2020-108, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,
CALIFORNIA, SUPPORTING CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION NOS. 330 AND 33 -
RELATIVE TO NUCLEAR WEAPONS with the original now on file in the Office of the City Clerk
of the City of Carlsbad; that the same contains a full, true and correct transcript therefrom
and of the whole thereof.
Witness my hand and the seal of said City of Carlsbad, this 17th day of June 2020.
(SEAL)
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Attachment A
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Attachment B
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Attachment C
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Tammy Cloud-McMinn
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Dear City Council Members,
Susan Roberts <smroberts.58@gmail.com>
Saturday, June 13, 2020 7:45 AM
City Clerk
Agenda Item #1 -AJR 30
All Receive -Agenda Item# J_ ,
For the Information of the:
CIJY COUNCIL
Date lo} I l.pcA c .,,,,,.-
. CM ..-'ACM .....,...DCM (3) ~
I am concerned about the direction the City Council is taking. We are now considering national security weapons
options. Are you, as a city.council, informed enough to make a decision regarding our national security? Where do yciu
get your expertise from? I would like to see this debated before we jump on board with someone's opinion. You are
representing the entire city, not just your own political agenda. I am all for peace in the world, but we can't let nefarious
nations become more powerful while we remove important options. Let's worry about issues that a city can actually
control. You were not elected to be our representatives on national security. ·
Susan Roberts
CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content
is safe.
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Tammy Cloud-McMinn
From:
Sent:
To:
Council Internet Email
Tuesday, June 16, 2020 8:39 AM
City Clerk
Subject: FW: Assembly Joint Resolution No. 30 and 33 -Relative to Nuclear weapons
Regarding Agenda Item #1
From: Robert Leider <robertleider@yahoo.com>
Sent: Monday, June 15, 2020 7:48 PM
To: Council Internet Email <CityCouncil@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: Assembly Joint Resolution No. 30 and 33 -Relative to Nuclear weapons
Hi,
All Receive -Agenda Item# L
For the Information of the:
f CJTY COUNCIL
DatelP../..l.1f2-CA ~cc~
CM ..r ACM ..-DCM {3) ✓
I urge tabling or voting no on supporting Assembly Joint Resolutions No. 30 and 33. Resolution No. 30 is meaningless in
preventing or discouraging any nuclear exchange of weapons. Resolution No. 33 would be a disaster if followed by the
US, as it would leave China, Russian , and N. Korea to take even more aggressive bullying action with their neighbors as
well as the United States.
Please vote no, or table this resolution. There are far more important items that City of Carlsbad needs to attend to that
city government can actually affect.
Thank you,
Robert Leider
Carlsbad, CA
CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content
is safe.
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