During their regular meeting on Monday, January 13, the Plymouth Common Council heard a presentation on the possibility of issuing city IDs (Identity Document). Presenting the purpose and management of the new type of identification was Ed Rodriguez and a representative from La Casa de Amistad.
Other Indiana cities, including South Bend and Goshen, have adopted the use of a city ID card that allows residents who do not have other forms of needed identification to access community resources such as, but not limited to, entrance into government buildings for services, libraries, hospitals, schools and child care facilities, filling pharmacy prescriptions, and financial services.
A city ID could help in the emergency care needed by police or emergency response teams. Plymouth Police Chief, David Bacon, spoke in support of the program to assist law enforcement with verifying IDs.
Speaking on behalf of Plymouth Schools was Superintendent Andy Hartley. Hartley said the school corporation fully supports the program that would allow parents to be involved in the schools. He went on to explain that Goshen Schools uses the same verification system as PCSC and he would work with Goshen administrators to determine how to use it with city IDs.
To receive city ID, applicants would have to provide documentation of residing within the city.
Management of the ids would be handled by a non-profit organization and issued on a cost basis to each recipient. According to Senter, three non-profit organizations have already come forth to manage the program. La Casa de Amistad was one of the three that had contacted the mayor prior to the meeting.
Board member Jeff Houin suggested that they could modify the name used by Goshen and call it the Plymouth Resident Identification Enrollment Card (“PRIDE card”).
Greg Compton, board member, asked several questions as to how they would verify the required documents. Other board questions concerned procedures and how the IDs could be used. It was noted that it is difficult for undocumented individuals to obtain employment. The presenters clarified that the city ID could not be used for employment purposes.
Although other communities have initiated similar programs by mayoral proclamation, Senter said he would bring it to the council as a resolution and it will be put on the January 27 agenda for a consideration.
