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