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BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. 6.
For Meeting of: May 25, 2021
ITEM TITLE: Discussion of proclamation and letters of support policies
SUBMITTED BY: Robert Harrison, City Manager
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
At the April 20, 2021 Council meeting, staff was directed to add this topic to a future study
session. Attached is an excerpt from the Council Rules of Procedure regarding letters of
support. The City's proclamation policy has not been updated since the 1990's.An
updated redline version of the proclamation is included for your review and consideration.
ITEM BUDGETED:
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL BY THE CITY MANAGER
RECOMMENDATION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
ci excerpt council vales of pr lures 4/2$/20 1 r Me
L pr r dline 5/21/20 1 a r Me 0
C clean pr 5/21/2021 r Me 0
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7. Council contacts with others
(a) Council members who meet with, speak to, or otherwise appear before a
community group or another governmental agency or representative must clearly
state if his/her statement reflects her/his personal opinion as an individual
Council member or if it is the official stance of the Council.
(b) When Council members represent the City or attend meetings in an official
capacity as Council member, they must support and advocate the official City
position on an issue, not a personal viewpoint.
(c) Once the City Council has taken a position on an issue, all official City
correspondence regarding the issue will reflect the Council's adopted position.
(d) City letterhead shall not be used for correspondence of Council members
representing a dissenting point of view from an official Council position.
(e) As a matter of prudence, any communication by an individual Council member
that does not express an official and established Council position may be shared
with the full Council.
(f) In accordance with a policy adopted by the City Council, the Council will consider
and process requests for letters of support submitted by non-profit organizations
regarding prospective and/or existing programs, services, plans, proposals,
applications, etc. utilizing the procedure outlined in the policy, which includes
initial review and recommendation by the Council Partnerships Committee and
eventual consideration and action by the full Council.
(g) In accordance with a policy adopted by the City Council, the Council may
consider requests to support or oppose ballot measures utilizing the procedure
outlined in the policy, which includes initial review and recommendation by the
Council Partnerships Committee regarding whether the Council should conduct
or not conduct a public hearing on the ballot measure at issue and eventual
consideration and action by the full Council. Should the Council vote to conduct
a public hearing on the request to support or oppose a ballot measure, following
such hearing the Council may vote to support the ballot measure, vote to oppose
the ballot measure, or take no further action.
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Proclamation Issuance ltneef;-Policy
Proda... atom.
Proclamations issued by the is-Elf ieeCitV Council ideally provide an opportunity for the
Mayor Council to recognize exceptional events and people. when he cannot acknorrloilre them
1n psr.s.n. The goal of a proclamation is to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary
achievements of Yakima atizencrommunity members and non-profit organizations that serve
Yakima, honor occasions of importance and significance, and increase public awareness of
issues to improve the well being of the people of this city.
-Rtrrlaegatin. `^li;;Submitting a Request for a Proclamation:
Requests for proclamations are submitted to the Council's Office. Requests should include the
followinq information:
1. ;-tha#-Rcequests need to be submitted 30 days prior to the due date.
2. All requests should clearly include the name, address and telephone number of the person
making the request, as well as to who and where the document should be addressed and
mailed (if different from the requester). If the proclamation is to be read and presented-at a
Council meeting, please provide the name of the person accepting the proclamation at least
two days prior to the meeting.
2.3. Draft sample or model proclamation language,
&4, Requests should include background information of the individual or
organizations connection to the City of Yakima.
4-e. Whether the proclamation has been issued by the City in previous years. Requests
must be made each year: requests are not annually renewed.
reviewed in a case-by-case irasis.
The City is unable to accommodate proclamations for out-of-city events or for-
profit causes.
&7, The City asks that National or International groups requesting proclamations
must have an in-city sponsor.
Submission of a proclamation request does not guarantee issuance. Due to the volume of
submissions received, we cannot grant every request. However,we want to recognize and
honor your organization's outstanding contributions, commitment, and excellence to our
comm unity.
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Proclamation Issuance Guidelines:
Proclamations are to be utilized exclusively for ceremonial and recognition purposes. They are
not to have policy implications or suggest an official City position on a cause or occasion. The
City does not generally provide publicity (e.g., press releases) regarding the proclamations
issuance; this is the responsibility of the requesting organization. However, the City will
publicize the proclamation on occasion as it sees fit.
Proclamations deemed to be requested for the following purposes will not be issued:
a. Matters of political controversy
b. Individuals/organizations seeking political or commercial endorsement
c. Religious events or matters of religious nature
d. Individuals/organizations with no direct relationship to the City of Yakima
e. Events contrary to City policies
The City reserves the right to approve or deny requests and to make any edits to sample or
model proclamation language provided to the City.
Greetings/Other Recognition
Greetings from the Mayor/Council or other forms of recognition can be issued when a
proclamation request doesn't meet guidelines. Greetings and/or other recognition shall be used
to honor special events or individuals within tho City of Yakima. These may include conventions,
community celebrations, award ceremonies, college graduations, etc. The Mayor'Council also
strongly encourages personal achievement and wishes to showcase significant milestones in the
lives of Yakima residents. We The City asks that recognitions please be submitted 30 days prior
to due dat , .
Please e-mail requests to citycouncil2(Wvakimawa.gov. If you have draft language,
please include it as an attachment or paste it into the body of the e-mail.
Thank You!
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Date(s) of Proclamation
Date needed by (we are unable to guarantee completion without two weeks advanced notice),
Name of requestor & organization
Requestor's complete address, phone number, & email
Please provide mailing address for the proclamation (if different from above)
Proclaiming a Day, Week, or Month? (circle one)
Reissue Request from Previous Year(s)? Yes No (circle one) Date(s)
Draft Language included? Yes No (circle one) Number of Pages
Please briefly describe your group, organization, or cause:
Please briefly describe the purpose(s) you would like a proclamation to serve, or the
message that you would like to convey:
Will you be submitting the proclamation to any publication(s)? Yes No (circle one)
Name of Publication(s):
Please briefly describe display/distribution plans for this proclamation:
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Proclamation Issuance Policy
Proclamations issued by the City Council ideally provide an opportunity for the Council to
recognize exceptional events and people. The goal of a proclamation is to recognize and
celebrate the extraordinary achievements of community members and non-profit organizations
that serve Yakima, honor occasions of importance and significance, and increase public
awareness of issues to improve the well being of the people of this city.
Submitting a Request for a Proclamation:
Requests for proclamations are submitted to the Council's Office. Requests should include the
following information:
1. Requests need to be submitted 30 days prior to the due date.
2. All requests should clearly include the name, address and telephone number of the person
making the request, as well as to who and where the document should be addressed and
mailed (if different from the requester). If the proclamation is to be read and presented at a
Council meeting, please provide the name of the person accepting the proclamation at least
two days prior to the meeting.
3. Draft sample or model proclamation language.
4. Requests should include background information of the individual or organizations
connection to the City of Yakima.
5. Whether the proclamation has been issued by the City in previous years. Requests must be
made each year; requests are not annually renewed.
6. The City is unable to accommodate proclamations for out-of-city events or for-profit causes.
7. The City asks that National or International groups requesting proclamations must have an
in-city sponsor.
Submission of a proclamation request does not guarantee issuance. Due to the volume of
submissions received,we cannot grant every request. However,we want to recognize and
honor your organization's outstanding contributions, commitment, and excellence to our
community.
Proclamation Issuance Guidelines:
Proclamations are to be utilized exclusively for ceremonial and recognition purposes. They are
not to have policy implications or suggest an official City position on a cause or occasion. The
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City does not generally provide publicity (e.g., press releases) regarding the proclamations
issuance; this is the responsibility of the requesting organization. However, the City will
publicize the proclamation on occasion as it sees fit.
Proclamations deemed to be requested for the following purposes will not be issued:
a. Matters of political controversy
b. Individuals/organizations seeking political or commercial endorsement
c. Religious events or matters of religious nature
d. Individuals/organizations with no direct relationship to the City of Yakima
e. Events contrary to City policies
The City reserves the right to approve or deny requests and to make any edits to sample or
model proclamation language provided to the City.
Greetings/Other Recognition:
Greetings from the Mayor/Council or other forms of recognition can be issued when a
proclamation request doesn't meet guidelines. Greetings and/or other recognition shall be used
to honor special events or individuals in Yakima. These may include conventions, community
celebrations, award ceremonies, college graduations, etc. The Mayor/Council also strongly
encourage personal achievement and wish to showcase significant milestones in the lives of
Yakima residents. The City asks that recognitions please be submitted 30 days prior to due date.
Please e-mail requests to ccouncil2{cr�yakima a.gov. If you have draft language, please
include it as an attachment or paste it into the body of the e-mail.
Thank You!
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Date(s) of Proclamation
Date needed by (we are unable to guarantee completion without two weeks advanced notice)
Name of requestor & organization
Requestor's complete address, phone number, & email
Please provide mailing address for the proclamation (if different from above)
Proclaiming a Day, Week, or Month? (circle one)
Reissue Request from Previous Year(s)?Yes No (circle one) Date(s)
Draft Language included? Yes No (circle one) Number of Pages
Please briefly describe your group, organization, or cause:
Please briefly describe the purpose(s) you would like a proclamation to serve, or the
message that you would like to convey:
Will you be submitting the proclamation to any publication(s)?Yes No (circle one)
Name of Publication(s):
Please briefly describe display/distribution plans for this proclamation: