AGENDA: 5/24/2022
FILE NO.: 22-801
ITEM: 2.21
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND FROM: Mayor Sam Liccardo
CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT: SEE BELOW DATE: May 17, 2022 ____________________________________________________________ Approved by:
Date: May 17, 2022
____________________________________________________________ SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF A CEREMONIAL MOMENT OF SILENCE ON MAY 24, 2022, AND APPROVAL OF CITY HALL TOWER AND ROTUNDA LIGHTING DISPLAY ON MAY 26, 2022, IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE VICTIMS OF THE VTA TRAGEDY, SPONSORED BY THE MAYOR’S OFFICE AS CITY COUNCIL
SPONSORED SPECIAL EVENTS TO EXPEND CITY FUNDS AND ACCEPT
DONATIONS OF MATERIALS AND SERVICES FOR THE EVENTS
RECOMMENDATION
1. Approve a Ceremonial Moment of Silence at the May 24, 2022 Council Meeting, and approve the City Hall Tower and Rotunda Lighting Display on May 26, 2022 in Remembrance of the Victims of the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Tragedy.
2. Approve and accept donations from various individuals, businesses, or community groups to support the events.
3. Place the item on Tuesday, May 24th, 2022 Council Agenda for action.
BACKGROUND
On February 1, 2005, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 72517 which requires Councilmembers to submit a memorandum to the Rules Committee regarding proposed City Council sponsored Special Events and the proposed use of any funds. At the May 24th Council meeting, Mayor Sam Liccardo will lead the City Council in a ceremonial moment of silence in remembrance of the victims of the VTA mass shooting. In addition, on May 26, the Tower and Rotunda will be lit dark blue, white, and light blue to remember the victims on the one year anniversary. The events are free and open to the public and will follow all appropriate local public health rules.
On May 26, 2021, a mass shooting occurred in the City of San José where an armed VTA employee opened fire on his colleagues, killing nine people before taking his own life. This senseless and horrific act was deplorable and unconscionable. The lives of the victims’ families are forever changed, and they will never again know the feeling of their loved ones coming home from work.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
Subject: Remembrance for VTA Victims
On the one year anniversary of this tragedy, the City of San José remembers the lives of those lost while serving our community:
• Abdolvahab Alaghmandan
• Adrian Balleza
• Alex Ward Fritch
• Jose Dejesus Hernandez III
• Lars Kepler Lane
• Paul Delacruz Megia
• Timothy Michael Romo
• Michael Joseph Rudometkin
• Taptejdeep Singh
ANALYSIS
City Council Policy 7-14, City Hall Event Lighting Policy, Sections B.1 and C.1 allows Rotunda and Tower lighting in conjunction with proclamations for official actions or ceremonial items as approved by City Council.
Approval by the City Council of the event will ensure compliance with the Council's prior direction regarding Council Special Events. In observance of existing fundraising disclosure requirements, Mayor Liccardo will report any cash or in-kind donations received for the event on their Disclosure of Fundraising Report (DFR-1). Approval of this memorandum will enable the Mayor’s Office, City departments, and the Office of the City Clerk to proceed with the event.
Any cash donations received will be processed pursuant to the City's normal financial and budgetary procedures.
PUBLIC OUTREACH/INTEREST
The Office of the City Clerk will post the item on the City's Website for the May 18th, 2022 Rules Committee Agenda and the May 24, 2022 City Council Agenda.
CEQA
Not a Project, File No. PP17-011, Temporary Special Events resulting in no changes to the physical environment.
Reviewed by:
TONI J. TABER, CMC
City Clerk
For questions, please contact Toni Taber, City Clerk, at (408) 535-1260.