Minutes – Special Meeting – 09.13.23 Page 1 of 2
MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
City Council of the Town of Colma
Colma Community Center
1520 Hillside Boulevard
Colma, CA 94014
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
11:00 A.M.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Helen Fisicaro called the meeting to order at 11:04 a.m.
Council Present – Mayor Joanne F. del Rosario, Vice Mayor John Irish Goodwin and Council Members Carrie Slaughter and Helen Fisicaro were present. Council Member Ken Gonzalez was absent.
Staff Present – City Manager Daniel Barros, Chief of Police John Munsey, Director of Public Works Brad Donohue, Police Commander Sherwin Lum, Recreation Services Manager Angelika Abellana, City Clerk Caitlin Corley and Administrative Technician Abigail Dometita were in attendance.
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS
Mayor del Rosario welcomed special guests present from the local Armenian community:
• Very Reverend Father Smpad Saboundjian, pastor of St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church
• Mrs. Grace Andonian, principal of Krouzian-Zekarian-Vasbouragan Armenian School • David Ojakian, Western Region Director, Armenian Assembly of America • John Kevranian, Northern California Regional Council Co-Chair, Armenian Assembly of America
• Father Mesrop Ash, Saint John Armenian Apostolic Church from San Francisco. • Sevana Panosian, teacher from Krouzian-Zekarian-Vasbouragan Armenian School • Delegation of students from Krouzian-Zekarian-Vasbouragan Armenian School
PROCLAMATION IN HONOR OF ARMENIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY
Mayor del Rosario stated, “We are honored to have you all here with us today on Armenia’s 32nd Independence Day, as we raise the Flag of Armenia. Colma has strong ties to the Armenian Community, and we are so pleased and proud to be able to recognize the important contributions that they have made here in Colma and more broadly in the United States.” Mayor del Rosario then read a proclamation in recognition of Armenian Independence Day and invited Very Reverend Father Smpad Saboundjian, pastor of St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church and Mrs. Grace Andonian, principal of Krouzian-Zekarian-Vasbouragan Armenian School, to come forward to accept the proclamation. They both made remarks.
Minutes – Special Meeting – 09.13.23 Page 2 of 2
The Mayor invite student speaker Daron Nazarian, 8th Grader at Krouzian-Zekarian- Vasbouragan Armenian School, to the podium to make remarks.
REMARKS BY VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
Council Member Goodwin made remarks.
RAISING OF THE ARMENIAN FLAG
Colma Police Officers raised the Armenian Flag, while students from Krouzian-Zekarian- Vasbouragan Armenian School sang the Armenian National Anthem.
REMARKS BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
The Mayor asked if any members of the public wished to speak. The follow people made remarks:
• Fr. Mestop Ash, pastor of St. John Armenian Church
• David Ojakian, Western Region Director, Armenian Assembly of America
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor del Rosario adjourned the meeting at 11:30 a.m. and invited everyone to stay for coffee and Armenian treats.
Respectfully submitted,
Caitlin Corley
City Clerk