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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12551RESOLUTION NO. 12551 A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURES AND RULES OF COUNCIL RELATING TO INVOCATIONS BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PUEBLO, that: (brackets indicate matter deleted; underscoring indicates matter added) SECTION 1. The Legislative Procedures and Rules of Council are amended by the addition of a new Rule 15.2, to read as follows: 15.2 Invocations. (a) Invocation or legislative prayer may be given individually by members of the City Council or by a religious leader selected in the following manner: (1) The City Clerk shall annually send an invitation to religious leaders from congregations in the City of Pueblo, Colorado listed in the local phone book or otherwise made known in writing to the City Clerk. (2) Based on response to invitations received by the City Clerk, the City Clerk shall maintain a record of religious leaders and schedule the giving of invocations on a first- come, first-serve basis. (b) Invocations must be non-sectarian with elements of the American civil religion and not be used to proselytize or advance one faith or belief or to disparage any other faith or belief and should avoid invoking the name of a specific deity or supernatural being. (c) Invocations are for the purpose of solemnizing City Council meetings, seeking Divine guidance on the works of the City Council, bringing the unifying aspects of our heritage to the difficult task of public deliberation, and encouraging the recognition by the City Council of what is worthy of appreciation in society. (d) Invocations are given for the benefit of the City Council; however, persons attending the City Council meeting may participate during the invocation but need not do so. (e) Invocations shall be reasonable in length of time in accordance with their purpose and shall in no event exceed three (3) minutes. SECTION 2 This Resolution shall become effective upon approval and passage. INTRODUCED: December 10, 2012 BY: Leroy Garcia COUNCIL PERSON Background Paper for Proposed RESOLUTION DATE: AGENDA ITEM # M-8 December 10, 2012 DEPARTMENT: CITY CLERK’S OFFICE GINA DUTCHER, CITY CLERK TITLE A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURES AND RULES OF COUNCIL RELATING TO INVOCATIONS ISSUE: Should the City Council amend the Legislative Procedures and Rules of Council as they relate to Invocations? RECOMMENDATION: Approve the Resolution. BACKGROUND: Consistent with many legislative bodies, the City Council has historically opened its meetings with a brief invocation. The Legislative Procedures and Rules of Council (“Rules”) allow for invocations at meetings of the City Council. The Rules, however, do not specifically set forth the procedure for invocations. The proposed Rule 15.2 sets forth this procedure and reflects and assures that the invocation is accessible to people who come from a variety of backgrounds without exclusion or preference for any particular faith. The City Council invocations reflect our values both as a nation of faith and as a country of free religious exercise. FINANCIAL IMPACT: None