RULES COMMITTEE AGENDA: 5/22/2024
ITEM: B.3
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND
CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Councilmember Pam Foley
Councilmember Dev Davis
Councilmember Omar Torres
SUBJECT: SEE BELOW DATE: May 15, 2024
APPROVED:
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF PRIDE AND TRANSGENDER FLAG RAISINGS AND LIGHTING FOR PRIDE WEEK SPONSORED BY COUNCIL DISTRICT 3, COUNCIL DISTRICT 6, AND COUNCIL DISTRICT 9 AS A CITY
COUNCIL SPONSORED SPECIAL EVENT TO EXPEND CITY FUNDS
AND ACCEPT DONATIONS OF MATERIALS AND SERVICES FOR THE
EVENT.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Approve the Progressive Pride and Transgender Flag Raisings for Pride Week (August 19- 25, 2024) as a City Council sponsored Special Event and approve the expenditure of funds;
2. Approve the 2024 Silicon Valley Pride lighting ceremony (August 19-25, 2024), as a City Council sponsored Special Event and approve the expenditure of funds;
3. Approve and accept donations from various individuals, businesses, or community groups to support the event; and
4. Place the item on the June 4, 2024, 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.
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.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
May 2, 2024
Subject: Pride Week
Rev 1/2018
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.
A Pride Flag (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, black, and with a circular symbol for those who identify as intersexual) and a Transgender flag raising on August 20, 2024, will commemorate the special event. Since 1970, every June has been recognized as Pride Month nationally to celebrate and recognize the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, and others (LGBTQ+) community, allies, and advocates.
The Pride Week Lighting Ceremony will occur August 19-25, 2024, and the Tower and Rotunda will be lit in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.
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 Omar Torres, Councilmember Dev Davis, and Councilmember Pam Foley, 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 Districts 3, 6, and 9, 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 22, 2024, Rules Committee Agenda and the June 4, 2024, City Council Agenda.
CEQA
Not a Project, File No. PP17-011, Temporary Special Events resulting in no changes to the physical environment.
Reviewed by:
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
May 2, 2024
Subject: Pride Week
Rev 1/2018
TONI J. TABER, CMC
City Clerk
For questions, please contact Toni Taber, City Clerk, at (408) 535-1260.