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10/21/2025
T-32001.032 / 2255815 1
Council Agenda: 11-18-2025
Item No.: 2.19
DRAFT – Contact the Office of the City Clerk at (408) 535-1260 or [email protected] for final document.
RESOLUTION NO. ______________
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN
JOSE AUTHORIZING “FREE USE” OF THE JANET GRAY
HAYES ROTUNDA AND EAST PLAZA FOR THE 10TH
ANNUAL NOWRUZ CELEBRATION ON SATURDAY,
MARCH 14, 2026, HOSTED BY THE LIBRARY
DEPARTMENT
WHEREAS, in June 2019, the Council of the City of San José (“City”) adopted Resolution No. 79138, incorporating the fees and charges for use of City Hall facilities and plaza into the City’s Schedule of Fees and Charges under Resolution No. 72737, as amended (“Schedule of Fees and Charges”); and
WHEREAS, Section 13.080 of the Schedule of Fees and Charges authorizes City Departments to have “Free Use” of the City Hall facilities and plaza for events that 1) qualify as official City business; 2) are free and open to the public; 3) occur on a Sunday through Friday; and 4) are booked thirty (30) days in advance; and
WHEREAS, the City’s Library Department will host the 10th Annual Nowruz Celebration at the Janet Gray Hayes Rotunda and East Plaza on Saturday, March 14, 2026; and
WHEREAS, Nowruz, also known as the Persian New Year, marks the arrival of spring and the beginning of the new year in the Persian calendar, symbolizing renewal, unity, and hope; and
WHEREAS, the Library’s Nowruz Celebration is free and open to all members of the public, features live entertainment by local music and dance groups, Persian language story time, and will display a collection of Persian books for people to browse and check out; and
NVF:NXN:CLS
10/21/2025
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Council Agenda: 11-18-2025
Item No.: 2.19
DRAFT – Contact the Office of the City Clerk at (408) 535-1260 or [email protected] for final document.
WHEREAS, the Library’s Nowruz Celebration was first hosted at the West Valley Branch in 2016 and has since expanded to other library locations, due to strong community interest, and in March 2025, the Nowruz Celebration held at the Almaden Branch Library welcomed approximately 1,200 attendees of all ages and backgrounds; and
WHEREAS, “Free Use” does not apply to events which are held on Saturdays and, therefore, Council approval is necessary to authorize free use of the Janet Gray Hayes Rotunda and East Plaza for the event; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to allow for the free use of the Janet Gray Hayes Rotunda and East Plaza for the 10th Annual Nowruz Celebration because of the public benefits of strengthening cultural understanding, promoting community engagement, supporting lifelong learning, and increasing public participation by allowing participants of all ages throughout San José and beyond to attend; and
WHEREAS, the City finds that the 10th Annual Nowruz Celebration qualifies as official City business as the Library Department will assume the lead role of planning and coordinating the event, including the agenda, designing the promotional collateral, securing performing groups and community resources, decorating, and coordinating other activities; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to allow for the free use of the Janet Gray Hayes Rotunda and East Plaza for the 10th Annual Nowruz Celebration on Saturday, March 14, 2026;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN JOSE THAT:
NVF:NXN:CLS
10/21/2025
T-32001.032 / 2255815 3
Council Agenda: 11-18-2025
Item No.: 2.19
DRAFT – Contact the Office of the City Clerk at (408) 535-1260 or [email protected] for final document.
The City Council hereby authorizes “Free Use” of the Janet Gray Hayes Rotunda and East Plaza for the 10th Annual Nowruz Celebration on Saturday, March 14, 2026, hosted by the Library Department as this event will provide the public benefits of strengthening cultural understanding, promoting community engagement, and supporting lifelong learning.
ADOPTED this _____ day of ___________, 2025, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
DISQUALIFIED:
MATT MAHAN
Mayor
ATTEST:
TONI J. TABER, MMC
City Clerk