The Woodland City Council will vote Tuesday on whether to require its contractors to prove they employ only legal workers.
The council will decide whether to implement the use of E-Verify for contracts worth $10,000 or more for a one-year trial. E-Verify is a database operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that allows employers to check the citizenship status of their workers.
o What: Woodland City Council will discuss requiring contractors to use E-Verify to check worker eligibility.
? When: 7 p.m. Tuesday.
? Where: City Hall, 100 Davidson Ave., Woodland.
? Also on the agenda: Interview and appointment of new member, presentation on waste control.
Woodland already uses E-Verify to check the status of new city employees but does not use the database for contractors.
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The proposed resolution would require contractors to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program within 60 days of the city executing the contract. The contractor would be required to provide the city with the memorandum of understanding, written verification and a certified payroll list.
Contractors that fail to meet the reporting deadlines could be considered in breach of contract and be suspended from bidding on future projects for two years or until they meet the requirements.
Using E-Verify for contractors would require more city staff time and resources. City staff recommended a one-year trial of the program. After one year, staff would report back to the council and finance committee on the program’s enforcement, as well as staff time and monitoring dedicated to the program.
This isn’t the first time the Woodland City Council has considered implementing E-Verify.
Last month, the city’s finance committee recommended the council adopt the use of E-Verify for contracts worth $1,000 or more. City clerk/treasurer Mari Ripp voiced concerns about the resolution, which required her to draft and implement policies and ensure city departments were monitoring compliance.
The council tabled the resolution and the finance committee — on which council members Benjamin Fredricks, J.J. Burke and Al Swindell serve — took another look at the resolution.
After a few revisions, the proposal is heading back to the council Tuesday. The council meeting is at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 100 Davidson Ave.
Other cities and Clark County have adopted policies requiring the use of E-Verify for contracts.
The city of Washougal requires E-Verify for city contracts of $100,000 or more; Vancouver requires it for contracts of $500,000 or more. Clark County recently reduced the contract amount requiring use of E-Verify from $1 million to $25,000 or more.
