TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND FROM: Toni J. Taber, CMC
CITY COUNCIL City Clerk
SUBJECT: SEE BELOW DATE: August 15, 2023
SUBJECT: Approval of Progressive Pride and Transgender Flag Raisings, 2023 Silicon Valley Pride Lighting, and Proclamation Recognizing Silicon Valley Pride Sponsored by Council District 9, Council District 6, and Council District 3 as City Council Sponsored Special Events to Expend City Funds and Accept Donations of Materials and Services for the Events
Recommendation
(a) Approve the Progressive Pride and Transgender flag raisings and the 2023 Silicon Valley Pride lighting ceremony scheduled from August 21 to 27, 2023 as City Council sponsored Special Events and approve the expenditure of funds; and (b) Approve and accept donations from various individuals, businesses, or community groups to support the event.
CEQA: Not a Project, File No. PP17-011, Temporary Special Events resulting in no changes to the physical environment. (Foley, Davis and Torres)
[Rules Committee referral 8/9/2023 - Item A.1.a]
COUNCIL AGENDA: 8/15/2023
ITEM: 2.22
FILE NO: 23-1097
Councilmember Pam Foley
Councilmember Dev Davis
Councilmember Omar Torres
HONORABLE MAYOR AND
CITY COUNCIL
TO: FROM:
SUBJECT: SEE BELOW DATE: 08/07/23
Approved Date
SUBJECT: Approval of Progressive Pride and Transgender Flag Raisings and 2023 Silicon Valley Pride Lighting Sponsored by Council District 9, Council District 6, and Council District 3 as City Council Sponsored Special Events to Expend City Funds and Accept Donations of Materials and Services for the Events
RECOMMENDATION
1. Approve the Progressive Pride and Transgender Flag Raisings (August 21-27, 2023) as a City Council Sponsored Special Event and approve the expenditure of funds;
2. Approve the 2023 Silicon Valley Pride lighting ceremony (August 21-27, 2023) as a City Council sponsored Special Event and approve the expenditure of funds; and
3. Approve and accept donations from various individuals, businesses, or community groups to support the event; and
4. Place the item on the Tuesday, August 15, 2023, City 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 and Open Government Committee regarding proposed City Council sponsored Special Events and the proposed use of any funds.
Silicon Valley Pride first began back in 1975 as a gay rights rally and evolved into the San José Pride Festival in 1976. During the following year, in 1977, San José added its first pride parade to the celebration. In 2014, the San José Pride Festival transformed once again into Silicon Valley Pride so that the organization could foster a greater sense of unity amongst San José’s neighboring cities.
08/07/23
This Pride Festival is now the largest Pride celebration of the entire South Bay community and is an inclusive family-friendly event that everyone can enjoy, typically taking place in Downtown San José. It is because of this festival that the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer communities and its abundant allies may celebrate their lives loudly and proudly by marching, dancing, and singing together.
Silicon Valley Pride is in-person this year to celebrate the annual LGBTQ+ Parade and Festival on Saturday, August 26, 2023, and Sunday, August 27, 2023. The LGBTQ+ community will be setting up their annual festival in the Plaza de César Chávez Park in downtown San José to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.
To honor Silicon Valley Pride and their extraordinary work, City Hall will raise the Progressive Pride Flag (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, teal, white, black, brown, and intersex) and Transgender Flag (teal, pink, and white) from August 21-27, 2023. City Hall Tower will be lit up in rainbow and transgender themed colors from August 21-27, 2023 and City Hall Rotunda will be lit up in rainbow and transgender themed colors from August 22-28, 2022.
ANALYSIS
The raising of the Progressive Pride and Transgender Flags are permitted under Council Policy 2-1, Section C.3 — Flags Displayed in Conjunction with Official Ceremonial Items: “Other flags may be displayed in conjunction with official actions, ceremonial items, or proclamations of the City Council. 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, Councilmember Pam Foley and Councilmember Dev Davis 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 Council District 9 and 6, 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 August 9, 2022 Rules Committee Agenda and the August 15, 2023 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.