Cotati City Council
Agenda Staff Report
Item type: REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION)
To: City Council
Subject: PROCEDURE DURING READING OF LAND
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Date: December 12, 2023
Written by: Damien O'Bid, City Manager
Recommendation
It is recommended the City Council discuss the procedure during the reading of the Land Acknowledgment statement and provide verbal direction to staff.
Background
On October 24, 2023 the City Council approved a resolution modifying the City Council Rules (2023-01) to add a Land Acknowledgement statement to the regular City Council meeting agenda. At the same time, the City Council also approved motions to include a longer Land Acknowledgement statement on the City website and framed and posted in the City Council Chambers.
Analysis/Discussion
With the addition of the Land Acknowledgement statement to the Agenda, there was no discussion about procedure during the reading of the statement. At the November 28, 2023 City Council meeting, Councilmember Lemus suggested that the City Council stand during the reading of the Land Acknowledgement and then remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance, which is the next agenda item. A discussion about this was not agendized, so the City Council agreed to discuss this at a future meeting.
Staff have not extensively researched the topic. However, Councilmember Lemus has provided a couple of examples for the City Council’s consideration, as follows:
In Sonoma County, Rohnert currently reads a Land Acknowledgment as part of the agenda.
When the City Council reaches the Land Acknowledgement portion of the agenda, the Rohnert Park City Council (the Mayor) asks that everyone stand for the reading of the Land Acknowledgement. The next agendized item is the Pledge of Allegiance, so they remain standing through that item.
The City of Sacramento has a procedure similar to Rohnert Park, with an opening statement of “Please rise for the opening acknowledgements in honor of Sacramento’s Indigenous People and Tribal Lands.” This is followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Cotati City Council has a similar agenda order and could implement this procedure if desired by the City Council.
Financial Considerations
None.
Environmental Issues
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is not a project which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, pursuant to CEQA Guideline section 15378.