Proclamation Practices
Agenda Item 12.D
By Erica Inderlied, City Clerk
Meeting Date: April 1, 2025
What is a Proclamation?
•Ceremonial in nature
•Does not create policy or law
•No applicable regulations currently exist
•Examples:
•Professional association weeks (e.g. Public Works, Dispatchers) •Awareness causes (e.g. Hunger Awareness Week)
•Milestones for staff (e.g. retirement)
•Milestones for community residents (e. g. 100th birthdays)
Types of Proclamations
Third-party request City-initiated
Proclamation of City Council
•Most common
•Offers a public venue
Approved by: Mayor
Written by: Third party
Signed by: Mayor
Delivered: At Council
meeting
Approved by: Mayor or CM
Written by: Staff
Signed by: Mayor
Delivered: At Council
meeting
Proclamation of City/Mayor
May be done if:
•Request is time-sensitive and
no Council meeting in near
future;
•If third party doesn’t care
about public venue; or
•If the subject doesn’t rise to
the level of legislative action
Approved by: Mayor
Written by: Third party
Signed by: Mayor
Delivered: In person at
event (by Mayor, other
Council Member, or
department head);
or mailed
Approved by: Mayor or CM
Written by: Staff or Mayor
Signed by: Mayor
Delivered: In person at
event (by Mayor, other
Council Member, or
department head);
or mailed
Parameters
•No official policy
•Typical practice:
•Proclamations recognizing staff typically approved
•Third party requests must be non-partisan
•Third party requests should have a local nexus with San Luis Obispo County, and preferably with Pismo Beach specifically
Most Common Procedure
•Third party requests a proclamation
•Staff reviews request with Mayor & schedules the item
•Third party provides language & staff conforms it to City template
•Proclamation text published in agenda packet
•“Fancy” version is prepared by staff & signed by Mayor •Council reads proclamation, and Mayor delivers it to the recipient, at a Council Meeting
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Council provide direction on
proclamation practices.
The Council may:
•Leave current practice unchanged
•Direct staff to adjust practices relating to proclamations •Direct staff to draft and return with a Proclamation Policy •Give other direction