TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND FROM: Toni J. Taber, CMC
CITY COUNCIL City Clerk
SUBJECT: SEE BELOW DATE: September 12, 2023
SUBJECT: Retroactive Approval of Ethiopian Flag Raising Ceremony and Tower Lighting Sponsored by the Mayor's Office as a City Council Sponsored Special Event to Expend City Funds and Accept Donations of Materials and Services for the Events
Recommendation
As recommended by the Rules and Open Government Committee on August 30, 2023:
(a) Retroactively approve the Ethiopian Flag Raising Ceremony and Tower Lighting scheduled on September 7, 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 events.
CEQA: Not a Project, File No. PP17-011, Temporary Special Events resulting in no changes to the physical environment. (Mayor)
[Rules Committee referral 8/30/2023 - Item B.3]
COUNCIL AGENDA: 9/12/2023
ITEM: 2.13
FILE NO: 23-1194
1 RULES AGENDA: 8/30/2023
ITEM: B.3
Memorandum
TO: City Council FROM: Mayor Matt Mahan
SUBJECT: SEE BELOW DATE: August 30, 2023
APPROVED:
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF THE ETHIOPIAN FLAG RAISING CEREMONY AND
TOWER LIGHTING AS A CITY SPONSORED SPECIAL EVENT, TO EXPEND CITY
FUNDS AND AUTHORIZATION TO ACCEPT DONATIONS OF MATERIALS AND
SERVICES FOR THE EVENT
RECOMMENDATION
1. Approve the Ethiopian Flag Raising Ceremony to be held on September 7, 2023 as a City Council sponsored Special Event and approve the expenditure of funds.
2. Approve City Hall Tower lighting in green, yellow, and red scheduled September 6, 2023 to September 13, 2023 in celebration of the Ethiopian New Year.
3. Approve and accept donations from various individuals, businesses or community groups to support the event.
4. Place the item on Tuesday, September 12, 2023 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.
San José City Council Policy 7-14, City Hall Event Lighting Policy, Sections B.1 and C.1 allows the Tower lighting in conjunction with proclamations for official actions or ceremonial items as approved by City Council. The City Hall Tower will be illuminated in green, yellow, and red for the dates of September 6, 2023 to September 13, 2023 for the colors of the Ethiopian Heritage Flag and in celebration of the Ethiopian New Year.
The Ethiopian Flag Raising Ceremony will be held on September 7, 2023 at San Jose City Hall Plaza and sponsored by Mayor Matt Mahan. On Thursday, September 7, 2023, the City of San Jose will raise the Ethiopian Heritage Flag as a ceremonial flag in honor of the Ethiopian New Year which takes place on September 10. The City has flown the Ethiopian Heritage flag for nearly twenty years. The Ethiopian-American community will celebrate the Ethiopian New Year in San Jose by displays of their common heritage—including song, prose, and the heritage flag—
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
Subject: Ethiopian Flag Raising & Tower Lighting
2 not with any political statements about one particular sitting government or another. The Ethiopian heritage is represented by this simple green, yellow and red flag. The flag-raising honors the Ethiopian-American community residing in the San Jose metropolitan area, and the event has no relationship to a specific political party or government in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian community made the request to fly the same Heritage flag for 2023.
Ethiopian New Year will be Proclaimed on September 7, 2023, at City Hall and sponsored by Mayor Mahan. The Ethiopian Heritage Flag flag will be raised on September 7, 2023 with a ceremonial event. The flag will fly from September 7, 2023 - September 14, 2023.
ANALYSIS
The raising of the Ethiopian Heritage Flag is 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. It also allows for extended lighting beyond one cycle between sundown and sunrise.
Approval by the City Council of the event will ensure compliance with the Council's prior direction regarding Council Special Events. Approval of this memorandum will enable Council Mayor’s Office, City departments, and the Office of the City Clerk to proceed with the event.
PUBLIC OUTREACH/INTEREST
The Office of the City Clerk will post the item on the City's Website for the September 12, 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.