CITY OF SEBASTOPOL CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM REPORT FOR MEETING OF: June 3, 2025
=========================================================================================== To: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
From: Acting City Manager Mary Gourley
Subject: Approval of Resolution Authorizing the flying of the Lesbian, Gay Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Flag over City Hall During June 2025; and Authorizing use of Pride Colors in the City logo and communications during June 2025. =========================================================================================== RECOMMENDATION(S):
That the City Council Consider Approval of Resolution Authorizing the flying of the Lesbian, Gay Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Flag over City Hall During June 2025; and Authorizing use of Pride Colors in the City logo and communications during June 2025.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City Council recognizes the importance of a diverse and inclusive community that embraces individuals of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Sebastopol has a longstanding tradition of recognizing and celebrating the diverse communities that contribute to the cultural, social, and economic fabric of the city. Past proclamations have honored Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Juneteenth, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and other significant observances. The proposal aligns with the city's existing practice of recognizing various heritage months and awareness campaigns.
DISCUSSION:
June is internationally recognized as Pride Month, commemorating the historic Stonewall Riots of June 1969, which marked a turning point in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. The City of Sebastopol has a history of leadership in promoting LGBTQ+ rights and has continued each year to honor June as a symbolic month in which LGBTQ+ people and allies come together to celebrate and affirm freedom and pride. This action approves the Resolution proclaiming June as LGBTQ+; will also authorize the Council to display the Rainbow LGBTQ+ Pride Flag at Sebastopol Cit Hall during the month of June 2025; and approve use of the pride colors in the city logos and communications during June 2025.
Earlier this evening, the Council read a proclamation recognizing June 2025 as Pride Month within the City of Sebastopol. Recognizing Pride Month aligns with the City’s values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. A proclamation would publicly affirm Sebastopol’s support for the LGBTQ+ community and its commitment to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for all residents, workers, and visitors.
The proclamation would also serve as an educational opportunity and a symbol of solidarity, particularly for LGBTQ+ youth and marginalized individuals who may face discrimination or exclusion.
Staff Analysis:
Staff supports the resolution authorizing flying of the flag over City Hall for the month of June 2025 as well as authorizing the use of the pride colors in the city logos and communications during June 2025. City staff is also drafting a formal city flag policy that will be returned to the council for consideration at a later publicly noticed Council meeting.
Agenda Item Number: 3 Agenda Item Number: 3
City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: June 3, 2025
City Council Goals/Priorities; and/or General Plan Consistency:
This agenda item represents the City Council goals/priorities as follows:
Goal 1: COMMUNITY VITALITY
Enhance Sebastopol as a great place to live that values community health and well-being.
Goal 4. HIGH PERFORMANCE ORGANIZATION
Restoring public trust
Improve Public Communications
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact with approval of this item.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH:
This item has been noticed in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act and was available for public viewing and review at least 72 hours prior to schedule meeting date. The City has also used social media to promote and advertise the City Council Meeting Agenda Items.
As of the writing of this agenda item report, the City has not received any public comment. If staff receives public comment from interested parties following the publication and distribution of this agenda item report, such comments will be provided to the City Council as supplemental materials before or at the meeting and will be posted to the city website.
RESTATED RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council Approve Resolution Authorizing the flying of the Lesbian, Gay Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Flag over City Hall During June 2025; and Authorizing use of Pride Colors in the City logo and communications during June 2025.
CITY COUNCIL OPTIONS:
1. That the City Council not support the resolution; or
2. That the City Council provide direction to staff for amendment to Resolution
ATTACHMENT(S):
Resolution
APPROVALS:
Department Head Responsible for Agenda Item: Mary Gourley Approval Date: 5-25-2025 CEQA Determination (Community Development/Planning): Emi Theriault Approval Date: 5-26-2025 This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is not a project which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines.
Administrative Services (Financial): Ana Kwong Approval Date: 5-25-2025 Costs authorized in City Approved Budget: ☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ N/A Account Code (if applicable) (Please list which account the funds are to be allocated from).
City Attorney Approval Alex Mog Approval Date: 5-25-2025 Acting City Manager Approval: Mary Gourley Approval Date: 5-25-2025 Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number: 3
City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: June 3, 2025
RESOLUTION NUMBER: XXXX-2025
CITY OF SEBASTOPOL
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL ADOPTING A RESOLUTION Authorizing the flying of the Lesbian, Gay Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Flag over City Hall During June 2025; and Authorizing use of Pride Colors in the City logo and communications during June 2025.
WHEREAS, the City of Sebastopol recognizes and honors the rich diversity of its residents and is committed to supporting visibility, dignity, and equality for all members of the community; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Sebastopol wishes to express its support for Pride Month and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, and other LGBTQ+ residents of Sebastopol; and WHEREAS, Pride Month is observed annually in June to celebrate the joy, resilience, and vibrancy of the LGBTQ+ community, to honor their vital contributions, and to recognize the historical and ongoing struggles they have faced and continue to face; and
WHEREAS, Pride Month is rooted in both liberation and resistance, originating from the historic events of June 28, 1969, when Black and Brown transgender and gender nonconforming activists demonstrated courage and resilience in the face of police harassment and discrimination; and WHEREAS, the City of Sebastopol celebrates June 2025 as “Pride Month” and encourages all community members to take meaningful action to support and affirm the equitable rights, dignity, treatment, health, and safety of LGBTQ+ individuals; and
WHEREAS, Pride Month is a time to recognize the contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals to our society, reflect on the ongoing struggle for civil rights, and reaffirm the right of all people to live free from discrimination and prejudice; and
WHEREAS, by recognizing Pride Month, the City of Sebastopol reaffirms its commitment to promoting acceptance, advancing human rights, and celebrating the diversity that strengthens and enriches the community; and WHEREAS, the display of the LGBTQ+ Pride Flag serves as a public symbol of the City’s commitment to diversity, visibility, and inclusion; and
WHEREAS, the City’s flagpoles are not intended to serve as a forum for free expression by the public, but rather to convey official expressions of the City’s values and commitments; and WHEREAS, the LGBTQ+ Pride Flag will be flown on the Sebastopol City Hall flagpole for the full month of June 2025.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Sebastopol hereby recognizes June 2025 as Pride Month in the City of Sebastopol and authorizes the display of the LGBTQ+ Pride Flag on the Sebastopol City Hall flagpole for the duration of the month, ending no later than July 1, 2025, in celebration and honor of LGBTQ+ Pride Month.
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number: 3
City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: June 3, 2025
The above and foregoing Resolution was duly passed, approved, and adopted at a meeting by the City Council on the 3rd day of June, 2025.
I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by the City of Sebastopol City Council by the following vote:
VOTE:
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
Abstain:
APPROVED:
Stephen Zollman, Mayor
ATTEST:
Mary Gourley, Acting City Manager/Assistant City Manager/City Clerk, MMC APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Alex Mog, City Attorney
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number: 3
City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: June 3, 2025