RULES COMMITTEE AGENDA: 4/23/25
ITEM: B.3
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND
CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Vice Mayor Pam Foley
Councilmember David Cohen
SUBJECT: SEE BELOW DATE: April 15, 2025
APPROVED:
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF PRIDE AND TRANSGENDER FLAG RAISINGS AND
LIGHTING FOR PRIDE MONTH SPONSORED BY COUNCIL DISTRICT
9 AND COUNCIL DISTRICT 4 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 Raising for Pride Month on June 3, 2025 as a City Council sponsored Special Event and approve the expenditure of funds;
2. Approve the 2025 lighting programming on June 1-7, 2025 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 May 6, 2025 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.
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 June 3, 2025 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.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
May 2, 2024
Subject: Pride Month
Rev 1/2018
The Pride Month Lighting Programming will occur June 1-7, 2025 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, Vice Mayor Pam Foley and Councilmember David Cohen 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 9 and 4, 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 April 23, 2025, Rules Committee Agenda and the May 7, 2025 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.