City Council Resolution on the Rights of the Handicapped

As Chairman of the City Council Planning and Community Development Committee I submitted to the  City Council this resolution in September, 1974.  It passed unanimously.  Later I was to find out that this was the first resolution of its kind passed by any city in the State of Washington. 

RESOLUTION NO. 39-1974
A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE RIGHTS OF THE HANDICAPPED

WHEREAS, there is a portion of the population of the City of Bellingham that is handicapped in their visual or auditory senses or their mental or physical capacities are limited sufficiently to impose a hardship on them, and

WHEREAS, it is the right of every citizen to live as normal a life as possible in the community of his choice among family and friends, and

WHEREAS, City Government has the responsibility for providing leadership in ensuring that the handicapped among its citizens are not further handicapped by the physical design of the city or limited by official or unofficial policies, practices or codes of the city.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BELLINGHAM:

That the city herewith commits itself to pursue such courses of action that shall further the normalization of the lives of the handicapped in this city.

Passed by the Council this 23^rd day of September 1974.

Signed:  David A. Porter, Council President

Approved by me this 25^th Day of September 1974

Signed: R.W. Williams, Mayor