HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-05-16; City Council; ; Consider Approval of a City Council Policy Statement – Invocation at City Council MeetingsCA Review CKM
Meeting Date: May 16, 2023
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Staff Contact: Sheila Cobian, Legislative & Constituent Services Director
sheila.cobian@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-2917
Subject: Consider Approval of a City Council Policy Statement – Invocation at City
Council Meetings
Districts: All
Recommended Action
Adopt a resolution approving City Council Policy Statement – Invocation at City Council
Meetings.
Executive Summary
Carlsbad Municipal Code Chapter 1.20, Section 1.20.060, outlines the order of business for all
City Council meeting agendas. It lists an invocation as being the item of business immediately
following the Pledge of Allegiance and before the approval of minutes. Although an invocation
has routinely been listed as an item of business on the agenda, one has not occurred for several
years.
A member of the City Council recently requested that an invocation be given at a future
meeting. The City Attorney’s Office recommended the development of a City Council policy
statement to address invocation requests. Based on that guidance, staff have established the
attached City Council policy statement for the City Council’s consideration (Exhibit 1,
Attachment A).
Explanation & Analysis
The proposed policy includes a non-discrimination provision, which will also be stated on each
City Council agenda. The scheduling and selection of invocation leaders would be done on a
neutral, first-come, first-served basis without regard to an invocation leader’s denomination or
religion and without favoring invocation leaders based on their belief or non-belief in the
existence of a god.
In addition, staff are recommending that the following guidelines be included in the policy and
provided to each community member before they deliver an invocation at a City Council
meeting:
The invocation leader shall:
•Address the City Council, not the audience
May 16, 2023 Item #11 Page 1 of 23
• Avoid making political statements or discussing local policies or officials
• Refrain from disparaging other faiths
• Avoid advertising their own place of worship, including the time and place of meetings
• Limit remarks to two minutes
Staff are recommending that the invitation to offer an invocation at a City Council meeting be
conducted in a similar manner as to when the City Clerk’s Office performs the annual
advertisement for board, commission and committee vacancies. Following adoption of the City
Council meeting calendar each year, staff would solicit interest from community members who
would like to deliver an invocation at future meetings by advertising in the local newspaper, on
the city’s social media platforms and via a notice on the city’s website.
Staff surveyed the cities in San Diego County to find out which agencies provide for a legislative
invocation and if they have a formal policy in place. The following table reflects the survey
results:
Survey results
City Allows invocation Written policy
Chula Vista Yes No
Coronado On agenda but not done No
Del Mar No No
El Cajon Moment of silence No
Encinitas No No
Escondido Yes (Moment of reflection)
Stated on agenda: “City Council agendas
allow an opportunity for a moment of silence
and reflection at the beginning of the
evening meeting. The City does not
participate in the selection of speakers for
this portion of the agenda, and does not
endorse or sanction any remarks made by
individuals during this time. If you wish to be
recognized during this portion of the agenda,
please notify the City Clerk in advance.”
Imperial Beach No No
La Mesa Yes No
Lemon Grove No No
National City Yes No
Oceanside Yes No
Poway No No
San Diego Yes No
San Marcos Yes No
Santee Yes No
Solana Beach No No
Vista Yes *Yes
*Policy attached as Exhibit 2
May 16, 2023 Item #11 Page 2 of 23
In addition to conducting the survey, staff also obtained sample policies from the cities of
Newport Beach; Coolidge, Ariz., Pensacola, Fla. and the Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska.
(Exhibit 2).
City Council policy statements require a four-fifths vote for approval of all City Council policy
revisions.
Fiscal Analysis
There is no fiscal impact from this action.
Options
Staff provide the following options for the City Council’s consideration:
Option 1 - Adopt the resolution approving the City Council Policy – Invocations at City
Council meetings
Option 2 - Do not adopt the City Council Policy – Invocations at City Council meetings
and direct staff to return to City Council with an ordinance amending Carlsbad Municipal
Code Chapter 1.20, Section 1.20.060(E), eliminating the Invocation from the City Council
agenda order of business.
Next Steps
The City Clerk’s Office staff will publish and post notices inviting community members to
request providing invocations at the remaining City Council meetings for calendar year 2023
and will post the City Council policy on the city’s website to ensure that anyone wishing to
provide an invocation at a City Council meeting is aware of the guidelines.
Environmental Evaluation
This action does not require environmental review because it does not constitute a project
within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act under California Public
Resources Code Section 21065 in that it has no potential to cause either a direct physical
change or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
Exhibits
1.City Council resolution
2.Sample policies
May 16, 2023 Item #11 Page 3 of 23
Exhibit 1
RESOLUTION NO. .
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,
CALIFORNIA, APPROVING CITY COUNCIL POLICY STATEMENT – INVOCATION
AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
WHEREAS, Carlsbad Municipal Code Chapter 1.20, Section 1.20.060, outlines the order of
business for all City Council meeting agendas; and
WHEREAS, an Invocation is listed immediately following the Pledge of Allegiance and prior to
the Approval of Minutes; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to establish a Policy to address invocation requests in a legal,
fair and impartial way.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as
follows:
1. That the above recitations are true and correct.
2. That the City Council approves the proposed City Council Policy Statement – Invocation
at City Council Meetings (Attachment A).
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of
Carlsbad on the __ day of ________, 2023, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
______________________________________
KEITH BLACKBURN, Mayor
______________________________________
SHERRY FREISINGER, City Clerk
(SEAL)
May 16, 2023 Item #11 Page 4 of 23
Policy No.
Date Issued
Resolution No.
Subject:
Invocation at City Council Meetings
Purpose
To ensure that invocations at City Council meetings comply with the law and to develop a
formal process and guidelines to address invocation requests at City Council meetings.
Background
Carlsbad Municipal Code Chapter 1.20, Section 1.20.060, outlines the order of business for all
City Council meeting agendas. An Invocation is listed as being the item of business immediately
following the Pledge of Allegiance and prior to the Approval of Minutes.
By formalizing the process for soliciting interest from community members wishing to provide a
legislative invocation and establishing guidelines through a City Council Policy, City Council and
community member expectations of the process will be clear.
Statement of policy
To formalize the process and guidelines for Invocations at City Council meetings.
Procedure
• Following the annual approval of the City Council Meetings Calendar, the City Clerk’s
Office will prepare a notice and press release soliciting interest from community
members in providing an invocation at future meetings. The notice shall be posted on
the city’s website, in the local newspaper and on the city’s social media platforms.
• Respondents to the notice shall contact the Office of the City Council to identify an
available meeting date. Scheduling shall be on a first-come, first-served basis.
• The respondent may only request to provide one invocation at a time, with subsequent
requests made only after the date of a previously scheduled invocation has passed.
• No respondent shall be scheduled to offer an invocation at consecutive City Council
meetings or at more than four City Council meetings in any calendar year. (These
limitations are intended to help ensure that a variety of speakers are given an
opportunity to provide an invocation and that there is no appearance of City Council
favor.)
• The Executive Assistant to the City Council shall schedule the Invocation on the Agenda
Planning Calendar.
• The Executive Assistant to the City Council shall provide a copy of this City Council Policy
to the community member upon scheduling.
• The following disclaimer shall be included on each City Council agenda:
Any invocation that may be offered at the beginning of the City Council meeting shall be
a voluntary offering of a private person, to and for the benefit of the City Council. No
member of the community is required to attend or participate in the invocation.
Attachment A
May 16, 2023 Item #11 Page 5 of 23
City Council
POLICY STATEMENT
City Council Policy Statement
May 16, 2023
Page 2
Invocation Guidelines
• No member of the City Council, city employee or person in attendance at the meeting
shall be required to participate in any invocation that is offered.
• The invocation shall be delivered by a clergy/religious leader or resident of the City of
Carlsbad.
• The individual delivering the invocation shall check in with the City Clerk at least five
minutes prior to the beginning of the meeting.
• The invocation shall be addressed to the City Council, not the audience.
• The invocation may not disparage other faiths.
• The individual giving the invocation may not advertise their own place of worship,
including the time and place of meetings.
• The invocation may not exceed two minutes.
• No invocation speaker shall receive compensation for their service.
May 16, 2023 Item #11 Page 6 of 23
Exhibit 2
May 16, 2023 Item #11 Page 7 of 23
200-03
PURPOSE
INVOCATIONS
Vista City Council Policy
To prevent discrimination in scheduling invocations at City Council meetings.
POLICY
The invocation at City Council meetings can be offered by a member of any
church located in Vista.
HISTORY
Ado~edJune16, 1983.
200-03 (1)
A-19
1
GUIDELINES FOR INVOCATIONS
The Newport Beach City Council has a long tradition of beginning each City Council
meeting with a pledge of allegiance and an invocation. Recently, the United States
Supreme Court in Town of Greece v. Galloway 134 S.Ct. 1811 (2014) held that “absent a
pattern of prayers that over time denigrate, proselytize, or betray an impermissible
government purpose…” a prayer policy passes constitutional muster. The purpose of
this Policy is to ensure that invocations comply with the law so that the City’s residents
retain the right to open public meetings with words of inspiration and wisdom. The City
Council has determined that invocations that comply with the guidelines in this Policy
are consistent with the United States Supreme Court’s jurisprudence.
1. To solemnize proceedings of the City Council, Boards, Commissions and
Committees, it is the policy of the City Council to allow for an invocation or prayer
to be offered at its meetings for the benefit of the City Council, Board members,
Commission members, Committee members and the community.
2. No member of the City Council, members of any City Board, Commission,
Committee or City employee or any other person in attendance at the meeting
shall be required to participate in any prayer that is offered.
3. The prayer shall be voluntarily delivered by a clergy/religious leader or other
person in the City of Newport Beach. To ensure that such person (“invocational
speaker”) is selected from among a wide pool of the City’s leaders, on a rotating
basis, the invocational speaker shall be selected according to the following
procedure:
a. The City Clerk shall compile and maintain a database (“Congregations
List”) of the religious congregations with an established presence in
Newport Beach.
b. The Congregations List shall be compiled by referencing the listing for
“churches,” “congregations,” or other religious assemblies [religious,
atheist or agnostic groups or assemblies (collectively “Assemblies”)] in the
annual Yellow Pages phone book(s) published for the City of Newport
Beach, research from the Internet, and consultation with local chambers of
commerce. All religious congregations and Assemblies with an established
presence in the local community of Newport Beach are eligible to be
May 16, 2023 Item #11 Page 8 of 23
A-19
2
included in the Congregations List, and any such congregation can confirm
its inclusion by written request to the City Clerk.
c. The Congregations List shall also include the name and contact information
of any chaplain who may serve one (1) or more of the fire departments or
law enforcement agencies of the City of Newport Beach or any nearby
military facilities.
d. The Congregations List shall be updated, by reasonable efforts of the City
Clerk, in November of each calendar year.
e. Within thirty (30) calendar days of the effective date of this Policy, and on
or about December 1 of each calendar year thereafter, the City Clerk shall
mail an invitation addressed to the “congregation leader” of each
congregation listed on the Congregations List, as well as to the individual
chaplains included on the Congregations List.
f. The invitation shall be dated at the top of the page, signed by the City Clerk
at the bottom of the page, and read as follows:
Dear Congregation Leader,
The City Council makes it a policy to invite members of the clergy in the
City of Newport Beach to voluntarily offer a prayer before the beginning of
its meetings. As the leader of one of the congregations with an established
presence in the local community of the City of Newport Beach, or in your
capacity as a chaplain for one of the fire departments or law enforcement
agencies of the City of Newport Beach, the City Council would appreciate if
you would consider offering this important service at an upcoming meeting
of the City Council, City Board, Commission, or Committee.
If you are willing to assist the City in this regard, please send a written
reply via E-mail, fax or mail to the City Clerk. Invocations are scheduled on
a first-come, first-serve or other random basis. The dates of the City
Council’s scheduled meetings for the upcoming year are listed on the
following, attached page. Please note, meetings of the City’s Boards,
Commissions, and Committees are held throughout the year. If you have a
preference among the dates, please state that request in your written reply.
May 16, 2023 Item #11 Page 9 of 23
A-19
3
This opportunity is voluntary, and you are free to offer the invocation
according to the dictates of your own conscience. To maintain a spirit of
respect and ecumenism, the City Council requests only that the prayer
opportunity not be exploited as an effort to convert others to the particular
faith of the invocational speaker, nor to disparage any faith or belief different
than that of the invocational speaker.
On behalf of the City Council, I thank you in advance for considering this
invitation.
Sincerely,
City Clerk
g. Consistent with paragraph 6 hereof and, as the invitation letter indicates,
the respondents to the invitation shall be scheduled on a first-come, first-
served or other random basis to deliver invocations.
h. If the selected invocational speaker does not appear at the scheduled
meeting, the Mayor (or board, commission, committee chairperson) may
ask for a volunteer from among the City Council (or Board, Commission,
Committee) or the audience to deliver the invocation.
4. No invocational speaker shall receive compensation for his or her service.
5. The City Clerk shall make every reasonable effort to ensure that a variety of
eligible invocational speakers are scheduled for the City Council meetings. If
others are waiting and have not had an opportunity to deliver an invocation, no
invocational speaker shall be scheduled to offer a prayer at more than three (3)
City Council, Board, Commission or Committee meetings in any calendar year.
6. Neither the City Council, Board, Commission, or Committee members, nor the
City Clerk shall engage in any prior inquiry, review of, or involvement in, the
content of any prayer to be offered by an invocational speaker.
7. This Policy shall be intended for all Boards, Commissions, Committees, or any
other public event of the City of Newport Beach, California.
8. This Policy in not intended, and shall not be implemented or construed in any
way, to affiliate the City Council with, nor express the City Council’s preference
for, any faith or religious denomination. Rather, this Policy is intended to
May 16, 2023 Item #11 Page 10 of 23
A-19
4
acknowledge and express the City Council’s respect for the diversity of religious
denominations and faiths represented and practiced among the citizens of
Newport Beach.
History
Adopted A-19 – 1-27-2004
Amended A-19 – 4-25-2017
May 16, 2023 Item #11 Page 11 of 23
May 16, 2023 Item #11 Page 12 of 23
RESOLUTION No. 15-32
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF COOLIDGE, ARIZONA, ADOPTING A WRITTEN
POLICY REGARDING OPENING INVOCATIONS BEFORE
MEETINGS OF THE COOLIDGE CITY COUNCIL.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Coolidge ("City Council") is an elected legislative
and deliberative public body, serving the citizens of the City of Coolidge, Arizona; and
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to solemnize its proceedings by allowing for an opening
invocation before each meeting; and
WHEREAS, the City Council now desires to adopt this formal, written policy to clarify and
codify its invocation practices; and
WHEREAS, in Town a/Greece v. Galloway, 134 S.Ct. 1811 (2014), the United States Supreme
Court validated opening prayers at meetings of the Town of Greece Board and recognized that it is
constitutionally permissible for a public body to "invoke divine guidance" on its work; and
WHEREAS, the City Council intends to adopt a policy that does not proselytize or advance any
particular faith, or show any purposeful preference of one religious view to the exclusion of others; and
WHEREAS, the City Council is not establishing a policy that defines the constitutional limits
for permissible public invocations; rather, the City Council intends to adopt guidelines that are
consistent with the guidance provided by the courts that have considered the validity of public
invocations; and
WHEREAS, numerous courts have approved an invocation practice that incorporates a neutral
system to invite religions leaders form the local community and/or volunteers to provide an invocation
before public meetings. Town of Greece v. Galloway, 134 S.Ct. 1811 (2014); see also Simpson v.
Chesterfield Cnty. Bd. of Supervisors, 404 F.3d 276 (4th Cir. 2005); cert. denied, 546 U.S. 937 (2005);
Pelphrey v. Cobb Cnty., 547 F.3d 1263 (11 th Cir. 2008); Rubin v. City of Lancaster, 710 F.3d 1087 (9th
Cir. 2013); and
WHEREAS, the City Council intends to adopt a policy that will not show a purposeful
preference of one religious view over another by not permitting the faith of the person offering the
invocation to be considered when extending an invitation or scheduling participation; and
WHEREAS, the City Council accepts as binding the applicability of general principles of law
and all the rights and obligations afforded under the United States and Arizona State Constitutions and
statutes.
I
May 16, 2023 Item #11 Page 13 of 23
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and City Council of the City of
Coolidge, Arizona hereby adopts the following written policy regarding opening invocations before
meetings of the City Council, to wit:
1. Purpose
To establish a policy, criteria, guideEnes and procedures for allowance of an invocation at
regularly scheduled City Council meetings.
2. Scope
This policy affects elected officials and the regular meeting schedule of the Coolidge City
Council.
3. Responsibilities
The City Clerk is responsible for the implementation and update of this policy. The City Council
is responsible for the enforcement of this policy.
4. Policy
4.1 It is the policy of the Coolidge City Council to allow for an invocation, which may
include a prayer, reflective moment of silence or short solemnizing message. An
invocation shall be offered before the regular City Council meetings.
4.2 No member of the City Council, employee of the City or any other person in attendance at
the meeting shall be required to participate in any invocation that is offered, and their
presence, or lack thereof, when the invocation is delivered will have no impact on their
observation or participation in any aspect of the meeting.
4.3 The invocation shall be voluntarily delivered by an eligible member of religious/spiritual
organizations in the incorporated limits of the City of Coolidge, Arizona. To ensure that
such person is selected from among a wide pool of religious/spiritual organizations in the
community, on a rotating basis, the invocation speaker will be selected according to the
procedure in Section 5 .1.
4.4 No invocation speaker shall receive compensation for his or her service.
4.5 No invocation. speaker shall proselytize or otherwise openly seek to promote certain
aspects of doctrine or faith; openly advocate or campaign for conversion of individuals or
groups; or openly advance any faith, belief, doctrine or dogma. No invocation shall
disparage the religious faith or non-religious views of others.
4.6 Invocation shall not exceed 3 minutes in length.
2
May 16, 2023 Item #11 Page 14 of 23
4.7 Anyone violating this policy is subject to disqualification from offering future invocations
and will be removed from the database of religious/spiritual organizations eligible to give
the invocation.
4.8 This policy is not intended, and shall not be implemented or construed in anyway, to
affiliate the City Council with, nor express the City Council's preference for, any faith or
religious/spiritual organization. Rather, this policy is intended to acknowledge and
express the City Council's respect for the diversity of religious and spiritual faiths
represented and practiced among the citizens of the City of Coolidge.
4.9 Neither City Council nor staff shall engage in any inquiry, examination, restriction,
review of, or involvement in the content of any invocation being offered.
4.10 If the selected invocation speaker does not appear at the scheduled meeting, the Mayor
may ask for an adult volunteer from the audience to deliver the invocation or call for a
moment of silence.
4.11 The written agenda document created for the City Council meeting will explain to the
reader that the invocation is a voluntary expression of the private citizen and· is not
intended to affiliate the City Council with, or express the City Council's preference for,
any religious/spiritual organization.
5. Procedures
5.1 Selection Process
a. The City Clerk's office will compile and maintain a database (hereinafter, the
"Religious/Spiritual Organizations List") of the religious/spiritual organizations that
have an established presence in the City of Coolidge, and periodically assemble for
the purpose of discussing or furthering their religious or spiritual perspective. The
Religious/Spiritual Organizations List is intended to be all-inclusive of every diverse
religious or spiritual organization serving the citizens of the City. Any such religious
or spiritual organization can request or confirm its inclusion by specific written
request to the City Clerk. Notice of how religious/spiritual organizations may request
to be considered for delivering an invocation shall be prominently posted on the
City's website.
b. The Religious/Spiritual Organizations List will be complied by referencing the listing
for "churches", "congregations", "synagogues", "mosques", and other religious or
spiritual organizations in the Yellow Pages or similar telephone directory published
for geographic areas within the City, research from the Internet and consultation with
the local chamber of commerce. The Religious/Spiritual Organizations List is
compiled and used as part of the selection process for the purposes of logistics,
3
May 16, 2023 Item #11 Page 15 of 23
efficiency, and equal opportunity for all of the community's religious or spiritual
organizations, which may themselves choose whether to participate in the invocation
process.
c. The Religious/Spiritual Organizations List will also include the name and contact
information of any chaplain who may serve the fire or police department of the City
of Coolidge.
d. The City Clerk will make every reasonable effort to ensure that a variety of eligible
invocation speakers are scheduled for the City Council meetings.
e. In no event shall a speaker be scheduled to offer an invocation at consecutive
meetings of the City Council, or at more than three City Council meetings in any
fiscal year. Similarly, no speaker from the same religious/spiritual organization shall
speak more than three times in any fiscal year.
f. The Religious/Spiritual Organizations List will be updated, by reasonable efforts of
the City Clerk, in November of each year.
g. Within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this policy, and on or about October 1st
of each year thereafter, the City Clerk will mail an invitation addressed to the "leader"
of each religious or spiritual organization listed on the Religious/Spiritual
Organizations List, as well as to the individual chaplains included on the
Religious/Spiritual Organizations List.
h. The invitation letter will be dated at the top of the page, signed by the City Clerk at
th.e bottom of the page, and will read as follows:
Dear Leader,
The City of Coolidge makes it a policy to invite the leader or a representative of
religious or spiritual organizations in the City to voluntarily offer an invocation
before the beginning of its regular City Council meetings.
As the leader of one of the religious or spiritual organizations with an established
presence in the local community of the City, or in your capacity as a chaplain for the
fire or police department of the City of Coolidge, you are eligible to offer this
important service at an upcoming meeting of the City Council. If you are willing to
assist the City Council in this regard, please send a written reply at your earliest
convenience to the City Clerk's Office at 130 W. Central Avenue, Coolidge, Arizona
85128.
4
May 16, 2023 Item #11 Page 16 of 23
Invocation speakers are scheduled on a first-come, first-served or other random
selection basis. The dates of the City Council's scheduled meetings for the upcoming
year are listed on the following, attached page. If you have a preference among the
dates, please state that request in your reply.
This opportunity is voluntary, and you are free to offer the invocation according to
the dictates of your own conscience; however, please do not exceed three minutes in
your presentation. To maintain a spirit of respect and ecumenism, the City Council
requests only that the invocation opportunity not be exploited as an effort to convert
others to the particular faith of the invocation speaker, nor to disparage any faith or
belief different than that of the invocation speaker.
On behalf of the Coolidge City Council, I thank you in advance for considering this
invitation.
Sincerely,
Clerk to the City of Coolidge
1. The respondents to the invitation will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served or
other random-selection basis to deliver the invocations.
5 .2 Authenticity of Religious Congregation
Should a question arise as to the authenticity of a religious or spiritual organization, the
City Clerk shall refer to criteria used by the Internal Revenue Service in its determination
of those organizations that would legitimately qualify for I.R.S. §501(c)(3) tax-exempt
status.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this policy shall become
effective immediately upon adoption by the Council.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Coolidge, Arizona this 21 st day of
September, 2015.
APPROVED:
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
. 10· -= ~~ CiAttomey
5
RESOLUTION
NO. 17-14
A RESOLUTION
TO BE ENTITLED:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA, REGARDING A CEREMONIAL, OPENING
INVOCATION AND RECITATION OF THE PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE AT COUNCIL MEETINGS PRIOR TO OFFICIAL
POLICYMAKING AND LEGISLATIVE FUNCTIONS; ADOPTING A
POLICY OF NON-EXCLUSION AND SELECTION OF VOLUNTEER
INVOCATION SPEAKERS AND A DIVERSITY OF VIEWPOINTS
AND NON-EXCLUSION OF THOSE IN ATTENDANCE;
PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Pensacola (the “City”) desires to preserve and maintain the
tradition of solemnizing its City Council proceedings by allowing and inviting an opening
invocation and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance before each regular meeting of the City
Council for the benefit of the City Council; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes that our history is replete with official references to the
value and invocation of Divine guidance in deliberations and pronouncements of the Founding
Fathers and contemporary leaders as set forth in the holding of Lynch v. Donnelly, 465 U.S. 668,
675 (1984); and
WHEREAS, the United States Supreme Court and Eleventh District have consistently
upheld the practice of delivering religious invocations before deliberative public bodies
occurring prior to policymaking. See Town of Greece v. Galloway, 572 U.S. __, slip op.,
134 S. Ct. 1811 (2014); Marsh v. Chambers, 463 U.S. 783 (1983); Atheists of Florida, Inc. v.
City of Lakeland, 713 F.3d 577 (11th Cir. 2013); and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes that our City and Nation is comprised of individuals
with a diversity of viewpoints, including but not limited to, faiths, religions, beliefs, and non-
beliefs. Accordingly, the City will make reasonable efforts to invite, locate, and welcome
individuals with a diversity of viewpoints to offer the opening invocation for the benefit of
the City Council, and the City’s policies shall not be intended, implemented, or construed in
any manner to affiliate the City Council or the City with, or express any preference for or
against, any faith, non-faith, belief, non- belief or religious denomination;
WHEREAS, in recognition of the diversity of faiths, ideas, viewpoints, and various
beliefs as referenced herein, it is the policy of the City that sectarian prayer may be allowed that
is solemn and respectful in tone that invites the City Council members to reflect upon shared
ideals and common ends before embarking on the business of governing. However, invocation
speakers are hereby requested to refrain from exploiting the invocation period with proselytizing
or advancing any one belief, view, or religion; disparaging any other faith or belief; denigrating
nonbelievers or religious minorities; threatening damnation; or preaching conversion;
May 16, 2023 Item #11 Page 17 of 23
WHEREAS, in further recognition of the diversity of ideas, viewpoints, and various
beliefs and non-beliefs held within this Country, it is the policy of the City that the opening
invocation and recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance be voluntary and allow participation from
all that wish to participate, but otherwise allow non-participation and an opportunity to exit the
City Council Chambers during the opening invocation and/or recitation of the Pledge of
Allegiance to any who do not wish to witness or participate in same; and
WHEREAS, the City Council intends that this policy and these procedures do not
proselytize or advance any faith, or show any purposeful preference of one religious or non-
religious view to the exclusion of others.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF PENSACOLA, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. INVOCATION PROCEDURE AND POLICIES.
Intent. It is the intent of the City Council to formulate a policy that is consistent with
the Supreme Court’s ruling in Town of Greece v. Galloway, Marsh v. Chambers and the
Eleventh Circuits ruling in Atheists of Florida, Inc. v. City of Lakeland. Further it is the policy
of the City Council that the procedures set forth in this Resolution concerning opening invocation
shall occur at all regular meetings of the City Council. This policy and these procedures are
not intended, shall not be implemented, and shall not be construed in any way, to affiliate the
City Council or the City with, nor express a preference for or against any faith, belief, non-
belief, opinion, religion, non-religion, or denomination. Rather, this policy and these procedures
are intended to acknowledge and express the City Council’s respect for the diversity of religious
and non-religious denominations and faiths represented and practiced among the citizens of the
City and to express the City Council’s respect for its proceedings and the importance of
government and local legislative functions. In no event shall these procedures be intended,
implemented, or construed in any way to compel participation in the opening invocation or
recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Neither the City Council nor the City staff shall require
the public to participate in the opening invocation or recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance; single
out dissidents for opprobrium; or indicate or allow in any manner the City Council’s decisions
to be influenced by a person’s participation or lack of participation in the opening invocation or
recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Timing. After the Call to Order of all regular meetings of the City Council, an opening
invocation as described herein shall occur followed directly by the recitation of the Pledge of
Allegiance. The opening invocation and recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance will occur and be
completed during the opening, ceremonial portion of the City Council meeting and shall in no
event occur, or be construed to occur, during the policymaking or legislative portions of the City
Council meeting.
Speaker Selection. The City Council hereby invites and welcomes the religious
leaders and other representatives of any and all local religions, denominations, faiths, creeds, and
beliefs, including but not limited to, ministers, priests, chaplains, rabbis, deacons, and the like,
to participate in providing opening invocations for the City Council. The opening invocation will
be performed by a local volunteer selected in accordance with these rules.
May 16, 2023 Item #11 Page 18 of 23
The local volunteer selected for leading the opening invocation shall be selected from a wide
pool of local clergy and organization or group leaders as specified below, and he/she shall in no
event receive compensation from the City for his/her participation or services. To ensure that
such person is selected from among a wide pool of local clergy and organization or group
leaders, on a rotating basis, the invocation speaker shall be selected according to the following
procedure:
1. The City Clerk or his/her designee shall compile and maintain a database of the
religious congregations, and other groups and organizations, with an established presence
within the jurisdictional limits of the City of Pensacola. This list shall be established within 60
days of the passage of this resolution.
2. The database shall be compiled examining a broad and diverse pool of religious
leaders and other representatives of any and all local religions, denominations, faiths, creeds, and
beliefs, including but not limited to, ministers, priests, chaplains, rabbis, deacons, clerics, and
the like. The database may be compiled through referencing the listings for “churches,”
“congregations,” other religious and non-religious groups and organizations located, or with an
established presence, within the jurisdictional limits of the City in the annual Yellow Pages
telephone book(s) or comparable data sources, research from the Internet, consultation with local
chambers of commerce or comparable organizations, and any other effective method in the
discretion of the City Clerk or his/her designee. Any such church, congregation, entity,
organization or group within the jurisdictional limits of the City not identified within the database
for participation may request inclusion within the database by written communication directed
to the City Clerk that references the opening invocation. If a resident of the City is a member
of a church, congregation, other religious or non- religious group or organization which is
located outside of the City, such shall be included in the database upon the residents’ written
request to the City. This policy is intended to be and shall be applied in a way that is inclusive
of diverse religious and non-religious congregations, groups and organizations. The database is
compiled and used for purposes of logistics, efficiency, and equal opportunity for all religious and
non- religious leaders within the jurisdictional limits of the City to choose whether to respond
to the City Council’s invitation.
3. The database shall be updated by reasonable efforts of the City Clerk or his/her
designee bi-annually.
4. Potential invocation speakers shall be selected from the database and be invited
by the City Council on a rotating basis; provided, however, reasonable efforts shall be made
to ensure that a variety of invocation speakers are scheduled for City Council meetings.
Notwithstanding the preceding, no invocation speaker shall be scheduled to offer an invocation at
consecutive meetings of the Council, or at more than two (2) City Council meetings in any
twelve (12) month period.
5. Neither the City nor the City Council shall engage in any prior inquiry, review, or
involvement in, the content of any invocation to be offered by an invocation speaker. However,
consistent with U.S. Supreme Court precedent, invocation speakers are hereby advised that the
invocation should not denigrate nonbelievers or religious minorities; threaten damnation; or
preach conversion.
May 16, 2023 Item #11 Page 19 of 23
Statements reflecting ideals relating to peace and security for the nation; safety of our armed
forces, police, firefighters and emergency service personnel; wisdom for the lawmakers; and
justice for the people are encouraged.
6. The City Clerk may add the name and affiliated organization of the selected
invocation speaker for a particular meeting to the Council Agenda next to the “Invocation” item.
Notwithstanding the preceding, such entry or information shall not be considered or construed as
an official agenda item for the public meeting or considered part of the public business to be
transacted by the City Council.
7. In recognition of the transitional process relating to the policies set forth herein,
including but not limited to the completion of the database, the City Clerk or his/her disgnee may
invite religious or non-religious leaders, chaplains, ministers, rabbis or leaders of other groups
or organizations with an established presence within the jurisdictional limits of the City to
conduct the opening invocation until such time as the database is compiled, to offer a moment
of silence, or to forego the opening invocation.
8. In the event an upcoming meeting of the City Council does not have a volunteer
opening invocation speaker for that meeting, the City Council reserves the right to invite religious
or non-religious leaders, chaplains, ministers, rabbis or leaders of other groups or organizations
to conduct the opening invocation for that meeting, and in the event no such speaker is
available, the City Council President may choose any speaker; offer a moment of silence; or
forego the opening invocation.
Conduct of Proceedings. No member of the City Council, City employee or staff, or
any other person in attendance at the meeting shall be required to participate in any opening
invocation that is offered or to rise and/or recite the Pledge of Allegiance. An opportunity to exit
the City Council chambers and return upon completion of the opening invocation shall be afforded
to those who do not wish to participate or witness same.
Persons in attendance at the City Council meeting are invited to stand during the
opening invocation and are invited to stand and/or recite the Pledge of Allegiance. However,
such invitation shall not be construed as a demand, order, or any other type of command. Such
invitation constitutes a general invitation that a person in attendance may stand and/or participate
if he/she wishes to do so for such observances. An opportunity to exit the City Council
Chambers and return upon completion of the Pledge of Allegiance shall be afforded to those
who do not wish to participate or witness same
Agenda Disclaimer. The following statement shall be placed at the bottom of City
Council meeting agendas:
Any opening invocation that is offered before the official start of the Council meeting
shall be the voluntary offering of a private person, to and for the benefit of the Council.
The views or beliefs expressed by the invocation speaker have not been previously
reviewed or approved by the City Council or the city staff, and the City is not allowed
by law to endorse the religious or non-religious beliefs or views of such speaker.
Persons in attendance at the City Council meeting are invited to stand during
the
May 16, 2023 Item #11 Page 20 of 23
invocation and to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. However, such invitation
shall not be construed as a demand, order, or any other type of command. No
person in attendance at the meeting shall be required to participate in any opening
invocation that is offered or to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance. You may
remain seated within the City Council Chambers or exit the City Council Chambers
and return upon completion of the opening invocation and/or Pledge of Allegiance
if you do not wish to participate in or witness the opening invocation and/or the
recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
SECTION 2: CONFLICTS/SUPERSEDE. This Resolution shall supersede any
previous rules, policies, procedures, or resolutions to the extent of any conflict with this
Resolution.
SECTION 3: SEVERABILITY. If any portion of this Resolution is finally determined
by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, unconstitutional, unenforceable, or void, the
balance of the Resolution shall continue in full force and effect.
SECTION 4: EFFECTIVE DATE. This Resolution shall become effective on the fifth
business day after adoption, unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 4.03(d) of the City Charter
of the City of Pensacola.
Adopted: ______________________________
Approved: ______________________________
President of City Council
Attest:
__________________________________
City Clerk
May 16, 2023 Item #11 Page 21 of 23
Kenai Peninsula Borough
Office of the Borough Clerk
144 North Binkley, Soldotna, Alaska 99669 (907) 714-2160 ~ Fax (907) 714-2388
INVOCATION POLICY
Policy Effective November 20, 2018 per Resolution 2018-053
1. It is the intent of the assembly to allow a private citizen to solemnize the
proceedings of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly. It is the policy of the
assembly to allow for an invocation, which may include a short prayer or a
solemnizing message, to be offered at the beginning of its meetings for the
benefit of the assembly to accommodate the spiritual needs of the public
officials.
2. No member or employee of the assembly or any other person in attendance
at the meeting shall be required to participate in the invocation that is offered
and such decision shall have no impact on the ability of the person to actively
participate in the business of the assembly.
3. No member or employee of the assembly will direct the public to stand, bow,
or in any way participate in the invocation, make public note of a person’s
presence or absence, attention or inattention during the invocation, or
indicate that decisions of the assembly will in any way be influenced by a
person’s acquiescence in the invocation opportunity.
4. The invocation shall be voluntarily delivered by a resident of the Kenai
Peninsula Borough.
5. To ensure that the opportunity to give an invocation is available to a wide
pool of representatives the invocation speaker shall be selected according to
the following procedure:
a. The Clerk’s office shall keep a calendar for all dates of assembly meetings. A
person wishing to give an invocation must submit a dated, written request for
an invocation to the clerk’s office for only one invocation at a time.
b. The policy is intended to be applied in a way that is all-inclusive and diverse
to represent the faiths of the residents of the Kenai Peninsula Borough. Should
a question arise as to the qualification of a person requesting to give an
invocation, the assembly president shall make the decision by referring to this
policy, and may request clarification from the applicant if needed.
c. The respondents to the notice shall be scheduled on a first-come, first-serve
basis to deliver the invocation, provided each respondent may only ask to
May 16, 2023 Item #11 Page 22 of 23
provide one invocation at a time, with subsequent requests only made after
the date of previously scheduled invocation has passed. In any event, no
respondent shall be scheduled to offer an invocation at consecutive
assembly meetings or at more than four assembly meetings in any calendar
year. These limitations are intended to help ensure that a variety of speakers
are given an opportunity to provide an invocation and that there is no
appearance that the assembly favors or promotes any one faith over
another.
d. In the event an eligible individual from the Kenai Peninsula Borough believes
that the Clerk or President has not complied with the terms of this policy, the
individual has the right to have the matter reviewed by the Assembly.
e. If an individual scheduled to offer an invocation is not in attendance at an
assembly meeting when the invocation is scheduled to be given, the
assembly President or an assembly member may be asked by the President
to provide the invocation or the meeting may proceed without an invocation
being offered.
6. No invocation speaker shall receive compensation for his or her service.
7. No guidelines or limitations shall be issued regarding an invocation’s content,
except that the assembly shall request by the language of this policy that no
invocation should proselytize or advance any faith, or disparage the religious
faith or non-religious views of others.
8. No assembly member nor employee in the clerk’s office shall engage in any
prior inquiry, review of, or involvement in the content of any invocation to be
offered by an invocation speaker.
9. To clarify the assembly’s intentions, the following disclaimer shall be included
on any printed assembly meeting agenda for a meeting during which an
invocation may be provided immediately below the invocation:
“Any invocation that may be offered at the beginning of the assembly
meeting shall be a voluntary offering of a private person, to and for the
benefit of the assembly. No member of the community is required to
attend or participate in the invocation.”
10. This policy is not intended, and shall not be implemented or construed in any
way, to affiliate the assembly with, nor express the assembly’s preference for,
any faith or religious denomination. Rather, this policy is intended to
acknowledge and express the assembly’s respect for the diversity of religious
denominations and faiths represented and practiced among the residents of
the borough.
May 16, 2023 Item #11 Page 23 of 23
All Receive -Age hda item # ll
For the Information of the:
COUNCIL
From:
Date I 1.? CA_CC_/
Vanessa Forsythe <vforsythe13@gmail.com> CM_ACM _Z_ DCM (3)_✓_
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Tuesday, May 16, 2023 11 :04 AM
City Clerk; Teresa Acosta; Priya Bhat-Patel; Keith Blackburn; Carolyn Luna; Melanie
Burkholder
City Council Public Comment May 16 -Item 11
Dear Honorable Mayor Blackburn and City Council Members
I firmly believe in the separation of church and state as written within our Constitution and Bill of Rights. I urge all
members of the City Co_uncil to vote against supporting a council invocation.It is inappropriate and wrong to include an
invocation at public governance meetings, including City Council meetings. I am a Christian and go to meet with my
community of faith to pray in community with like minded individuals. I also attend interfaith and faith services with
people of different faiths and respect their right to pray in the manner and places their community gathers. I do not
believe it necessary for others to feel pressured in any way to adopt my beliefs or have to be part of my prayer
community. I do not want to go to City Council meetings, a public place of governance, to recognize an invocation being
iterated (whether it is directed to the city council or the public).
Also it would not be possible to provide a means for all faiths and denominations to participate in an invocation by
simply indicating "a first come, first served basis". Adopting such a policy would not be inclusive of all faiths and those
not practicing a particular faith or belief could feel excluded and not comfortable attending and participating in city
council meetings.
In the information provided by staff most other communities do not have a written policy and very few actually have
invocations at their public meetings. If members of the city council feel the need to have a moment of private reflection
that could be incorporated at the start of the meeting. But aren't the city council meetings long enough?
Submitted with Sincerity
Vanessa
Vanessa Forsythe RN MSN
2177 Vista La Nisa Carlsbad CA 92009
Pronouns: She/Her
CleanEarth4Kids
California Nurses for Environmental Health and Justice
"Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks -no form of
government can render us secure." James Madison ·
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1
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Amy Davis <505amyd@gmail.com>
Tuesday, May 16, 2023 11 :09 AM
City Clerk
Vote NO on Agenda Item #11
Dear Mayor and City Council Members,
I urge you to vote NO in rejecting approval of the invocation at City Council Meetings, Agenda Item #11. It is never
appropriate for the convening of a governmental meeting to include a religious prayer, and/or "invocation".
The separation between church and state protects us all. It makes our country more fair, more equal, and more
inclusive. Religious freedoms protect everyone's right to believe, or not to believe, as long as they don't harm others.
Religious freedom is for everyone. It protects the most devout believer, to the most committed atheist and everybody in
between. It's a fundamental human right that our government should not violate, or misuse to discriminate or exclude.
There are at least 221 recognized religions in the United States according to the Armed Services, in a list released by the
Department of Defense. It is unreasonable to suggest that the City Council of Carlsbad could include all of those
recognized religions. Therefore, approving invocation at City Council Meetings creates an atmosphere of exclusion,
preference and inequality.
The "wall of separation between church and state" is an American ideal, it is the first clause in the BIii of Rights. Keeping
government completely out of religion protects every American's right to practice or not to practice according to their
own beliefs.
It.is your duty as government officials to protect our rights.
Sincerely,
Amy Davis
Carlsbad Resident
refe re need: https://www .dis patch .com/ story/I ifestyle/fa ith/2017 /05/12/ a-wide r-ra nge-bel iefs/985693007 /
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1
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Hope Nelson <hopefromthehood@gmail.com>
Tuesday, May 16, 2023 11 :18 AM
Keith Blackburn; Priya Bhat-Patel; Teresa Acosta; Melanie Burkholder; Carolyn Luna; City
Clerk
Regarding Agenda Item #11, Carlsbad City Council Meeting 05/16/2023
Imposing an invocation as part of a City Council meeting is an
infringement of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United
States which is the stated separation of Church and State.
I thought Carlsbad City Council did away with the invocation when former
Council Member Packard retired. My personal experience was that
whenever Council Member Packard did the invocation, my gut would
· turn, as one never knew, due to his own beliefs, how unintentionally
close to insulting he would come.
I encourage the current City Council to not go back to those times. You
cannot control what someone might say. You also cannot control what
someone might feel when the line gets too close to being crossed. You
must show respect for all, religious or not, sectarian or not, practicing or
not. An invocation clearly does not reflect that.
Please respect the First Amendment and all citizens of Carlsbad. Vote
'NO' on reinstating the invocation.
Res pectf u I ly,
Hope and Vince Nelson
Carlsbad Residents
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1
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Stephanie White <stephwhite23@me.com>
Tuesday, May 16, 2023 11 :36 AM
City Clerk
Opposition to agenda item 11-including invocations at the start of meetings
I am firmly opposed to including invocations at any city meeting or event as it is a violation of the separation of church
and state. We must keep our city inclusive of all religions and belief systems.
Sincerely,
Stephanie White
2060 Laurie Circle
Carlsbad, CA 92008
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1
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Council Internet Email
Tuesday, May 16, 2023 12:46 PM
City Clerk
FW: Agenda Item #11
From: Bill Fowler <wwfowler@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2023 12:35 PM
To: Melanie Burkholder <Melanie.Burkholder@carlsbadca.gov>; Council Internet Email <CityCouncil@carlsbadca.gov>;
Teresa Acosta <Teresa.Acosta@carlsbadca.gov>; Priya Bhat-Patel <Priya.Bhat-Patel@carlsbadca.gov>; Carolyn Luna
<Carolyn. Luna@carlsbadca.gov>; Keith Blackburn <Keith.Blackburn@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: Agenda Item #11
Council Member,
I am absolutely against the intrusion of any religious symbolism, direct or indirect, in any process of the Carlsbad City
Council. Please vote against the proposal.
. William Fowler
D2 Resident
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1
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Christine Smoczynski <CHRIS_ENHLS@yahoo.com >
Monday, May 15, 2023 3:04 PM
City Clerk
Invocation
All Receive -Agenda Item # _ll_
For the Information of the:
CITY COU/NCIL j
Date'1U13 CA cc~
CM _~_AcM }_ocM (3)_
I support Carlsbad reinstating the Invocation at the beginning of City Council meetings.
Thank you,
Christine Smoczynski
Sent from my iPhone
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1
nize the sender and know the content i
From:
Sent:.
To:
Subject:
Ch ristine Smoczynski <CHRIS_ENHLS@yahoo.com>
Monday, May 15, 2023 3:05 PM
City Clerk
.Agenda 11
I support Carlsbad reinstating the Invocation at the beginning of City Council meetings.
Thank you,
Ken Smoczynski
Sent from my iPho ne
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1
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Dear Carlsbad Council Members,
Lela <lela@lelaforcarlsbad.com>
Monday, May 15, 2023 4:38 PM
City Clerk; Council Internet Email
Agenda Item 11: CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A CITY COUNCIL POLICY STATEMENT -
INVOCATION CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
As a person of faith, raised in the church, I appreciate taking time each day to reflect in mindful prayer and meditation.
However, a prayer, or invocation, at a public government meeting is not appropriate even when all faiths and non-faiths
are invited to participate.
If the Carlsbad Council Members are supportive of this motion (agenda no. 11), perhaps they can consider the
alternative of replacing the phrase 'invocation' with 'moment of silence.' This pause, or silence, before a meeting can
allow all members in attendance to center themselves and focus on the task at hand. Anything beyond that is not
needed and inappropriate for a government meeting.
Regards,
Lela Panagides
District 2 Resident
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Dear City of Carlsbad.
Susan Clifford <sarclifford@gmail.com>
Monday, May 15, 2023 4:56 PM
City Clerk
Invocation at the beginning of City Council Meetings
We support the invocation at the beginning of City Council meetings.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Mr. and Mrs.
Richard and Susan Clifford
7027 Cinnamon Teal St, Carlsbad, CA 92011
901237 7061
District 49
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Carlsbad City Council,
Barbara Diamond <diamondbarb@gmail.com>
Monday, May 15, 2023 6:42 PM
City Clerk
#11
It's imperative that you vote NO to preserve the separation of church and state.
Respectfully,
Barbara C. Diamond
Barbara
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1
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Mary Haupt <maryhaupt@yahoo.com>
Monday, May 15, 2023 7:24 PM
City Clerk
Asking the council to vote NO on the adoption of the resolution for the invocation.
Agenda 11 .
Separation of church (or the like) and state cannot be violated!
1. Appropriate and recommended wording for the presiding officer to Convene:
1. It is sufficient for the stated or appointed moderator/convenor to call the meeting to order
with a simple statement like "Will the meeting please come to order." (Or wording to that
effect.) The convening moderator then proceeds to the stated purpose, roll call, approval of
the proposed agenda (if necessary), and other opening announcements.
2. Call to Order generally does not include additional statements and actions.
2. It is never appropriate or allowable for the convening of a governmental meeting to include
a religious prayer, "Invocation," statement of belief, unbelief, or personal philosophy.
1. To include an invocation, statement of belief, or unbelief in the convening and conduct of
a governmental meeting immediately creates a violation of the legal guarantees
for equality/equity for all persons. With the myriad of denominations, churches, sects,
associations, organizations, and privately held personal creeds, it is impossible to give
equal opportunity and expression to each and everyone.
2. The governmental body in such a position would commit grievous error and legal jeopardy
of favoring a particular reiigion or creed over the myriad of others by the inclusion of a
prayer or invocation, whether by a clergyperson or anyone else.
3. While the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the
United States of America does not precisely define the term "Establishment," to
grievously err by including an Invocation, prayer, statement of belief or unbelief in
governmental meetings on any level -federal, state, county, city, school · board, other
boards and commissions -would inevitably imply an "establishing" or official recognition
of that particular religion or other adherent responsible for the Invocation. Separation of
church (or the like) and state cannot be violated.
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Stephanie Griffin <sbritt2896@gmail.com>
Monday, May 15, 2023 7:42 PM
City Clerk
May 16 Agenda Items
Greetings! I'm writing in support of agenda items #11 and #12.
In particular, regarding item #12 for a budget workshop -I think this practice should always be in practice for approving
budgets over $100K. The citizens of Carlsbad deserve transparency and strong fiscal responsibility.
Thank you!
Wa rm regards,
Stephanie Griffin
Carlsbad D2 Resident
Sent from my iPhone
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Dear Mayor and Council,
Nikki Faddick <nfaddick@gmail.com>
Monday, May 15, 2023 7:57 PM
City Clerk; Priya Bhat-Patel; Keith Blackburn; Carolyn Luna; Melanie Burkholder; Teresa
Acosta
Agenda item #11: Invocation at City Council Meetings
I am writing to oppose the proposed addition of invocation at the outset of our council meetings. Such an invocation
defies the American democratic principle of separation of church and state. It is not possible for this activity to be
inclusive of all of the faith traditions practiced by ou r residents and is by default not inclusive of atheists. It was Ronald
Reagan who said: "We establish no religion in this country, we command no worship, we mandate no belief, no r will we
ever, Church and state are, and must remain, separate."
Please reject this divisive idea and keep our council meetings free religious involvement as our Founding Fathers
intended.
Sincerely,
Nikki Faddick
D3 Resident
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Dear Council
Judy Frankel <judyfrankel@att.net>
Monday, May 15, 2023 8:17 PM
Keith Blackburn; Priya Bhat-Patel; Teresa Acosta; Council Internet Email; City Clerk;
Melanie Burkholder
Agenda Item Re Invocation
As a concerned citizen committed to the principles of democracy and the separation of church and state,
I firmly believe in the importance of keeping religious practices separate from governmental affairs.
Therefore, we urge all members of the City Council to vote against supporting a council invocation.
Let us maintain the cherished principle of the separation of church and state, fostering an inclusive and
equitable environment where all residents feel valued and represented. Together, we can uphold the
fundamental principles upon which our democracy was built and ensure a government that serves the best
interests of all its constituents.
By voting against supporting a council invocation, we are not attacking anyone's faith or belief system. On the
contrary, we are advocating for the principle of religious freedom, ensuring that everyone's rights and
perspectives are respected and protected. We affirm our commitment to a government that remains neutral
on matters of religion, preserving the integrity of our democratic proc~sses and upholding the rights of all
citizens.
Our city council has a responsibility to prioritize the needs and concerns of all residents equally, regardless of
their religious beliefs. Encouraging public prayer or religious invocations within the council chambers can
create an environment that is exclusive, potentially making some individuals feel unwelcome or
uncomfortable while participating in civic affairs.
Thank you, ·
Judy Frankel
Calavera Hills
Sent from AT&T Yahoo Mail on Android
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Tim and Misty O'Healy <ohea lytim.misty@gmail.com>
Monday, May 15, 2023 8:32 PM
City Clerk; Keit h Blackburn; Carolyn Luna; Pri ya Bhat-Patel; Teresa Acosta; M elanie
Burkh older
Agenda item #11 -CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A CITY COU NCIL POLICY STATEMENT -
INVOCATION CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
Dear Mayor & Council Members,
As residents of Carlsbad since 2006 and concerned citizens committed to the principles of democracy
and the separation of church and state, we adamantly believe in the importance of keeping religious
practices separate from governmental affairs. Therefore, we urge all members of the City Council to
vote against supporting a council invocation.
It is absolutely essential that we maintain the cherished principle of the separation of church and
state, fostering an inclusive and equitable environment where all residents in our diverse community
feel valued and represented . Together', we can uphold the fundamental principles upon which our
democracy was founded and built to ensure a government that serves the best interests of all its
constituents.
We are not attacking anyone's faith or belief system by voting against supporting a council invocation .
. It is quite the opposite as we are advocating for the principle of relig ious freedom, ensuring that
everyone's rights and perspectives are respected and protected. We are deeply committed to a
government that remains neutral on matters of religion, preserving the integrity.of our democratic
processes and upholding the rights of our diverse citizens
It is our city council's responsibility to prioritize the needs and concerns of all residents equally,
regardless of their religious beliefs. Encouraging public prayer or religious invocations within the
council chambers creates an environment with the potential to make some individuals feel excluded,
unwelcome or uncomfortable while participating in civic affairs.
1
Respectfully,
Tim and Misty O'Healy, 92011
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From:
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To:
Subject:
SG Anderson <hmspinafore2@gmail.com>
Monday, May 15, 2023 9:07 PM
City Clerk
VOTE NO on including prayer in City Council meetings Agenda #11
To Mayor and Council Members:
As a concerned citizen committed to the principles of democracy and the separation of church and state,
I firmly believe in the importance of keeping religious practices separate from governmental affairs.
Therefore, we urge all members of the City Council to vote against supporting a council invocation.
Let us maintain the cherished principle of the separation of church and state, fostering an inclusive and
equitable environment where all residents feel valued and represented. Together, we can uphold the
fundamental principles upon which our democracy was built and ensure a government that serves the best
interests of all its constituents.
By voting against supporting a council invocation, we are not attacking anyone's faith or belief system. On the
contrary, we are advocating for the principle of religious freedom, ensuring that everyone's rights and
perspectives are respected and protected. We affirm our commitment to a government that remains neutral
on matters of religion, preserving the integrity of our democratic processes and upholding the rights of all
citizens.
Our city council has a re sponsibility to prioritize the needs and concerns of all residents equally, regardless of
their religious beliefs. Encouraging public prayer or religious invocations within the council chambers can
create an environment that is exclusive, potentially making some individuals feel unwelcome or
uncomfortable while participating in civic affairs.
Thank you,
5. Anderson, District 1
920 Wind Drift, Carlsbad
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From:
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Subject:
Joanne Goglia <jsgoglia@gmail.com>
Monday, May 15, 2023 10:10 PM
City Clerk
Prayer at meetings
I'm opposed to introducing anything of a religious nature into a governmental proceeding. Seriously, how would you
choose which religion the prayer would represent? Would the prayer be Buddhist, catholic, Greek orthodox,
pentecostal, Jewish or what???? And now that 20% of the country are atheists why should they be subjected to any
religious activity? Let's remember our founding fathers' admonition to keep church and state separate.
Respectfully submitted,
Joanne Goglia, age 77
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From:
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To:
Subject:
Tamara Dixon <tamara9497@yahoo.com>
Monday, May 15, 2023 11 :25 PM
City Clerk
Support item #11
I am in support of Carlsbad reinstating the Invocation at the beginning of City Council
meetings.
Thank you.
Tamara Dixon
D4
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Teresa DeZazzo <treedezo@gmail.com>
Tuesday, May 16, 2023 12:42 AM
City Clerk; Keith Blackburn; Carolyn Luna; Priya Bhat-Patel; Teresa Acosta; Melanie
Burkholder
Vote NO on Agenda Item #11, May 16, 2023
Greetings -I urge you to vote NO on agenda item #11: Invocation at meetings. I strongly believe that each of us holds
our own values & beliefs in our own heads & hearts. An invocation is unnecessary, and it will exclude some and include
others, at a place where all should feel their presence is equally important. Keep City Council meetings for City Council
business. Thank you. Teresa Dezazzo, Encinitas resident and frequent Carlsbad visitor
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From:
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Subject:
Dear City Council members,
katrina olson <bolsonkat@gmail.com>
Tuesday, May 16, 2023 6:22 AM
City Clerk; Teresa Acosta; Priya Bhat-Patel; Keith Blackburn; Carolyn Luna; Melanie
Burkholder
VOTE NO on Agenda #11 at the May 16 City Council Meeting -Consider approval of a
City Council policy statement re: invocation (prayer) at meetings.
I am a resident of Carlsbad who believes strongly in the separation of religion and government. I would ask that you vote
NO on this item of holding an invocation (prayer) prior to your meetings. It is your job to represent the interests of all of
the citizens in your districts-of all backgrounds and all faiths. By invoking religion as part of your government functions
you would automatically create a sense of exclusion to those who have a different set of beliefs than you. We want all of
our diverse Carlsbad citizens included, engaged and empowered to participate in our democratic processes.
Sincerely,
Katrina Olson
2051 Cima Ct
Carlsbad, CA 92009
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From:
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Good Morning,
ejehan turker <ejehanturker@icloud.com>
Tuesday, May 16, 2023 8:02 AM
City Clerk
Opposed to Agenda Item #11
As a resident of Carlsbad, I'm writing to oppose the implantation of an 11invocation" (ie. prayer) at the onset of City
Council meetings. The City of Carlsbad is a wonderful, inclusive place where all people should feel a part of a community.
The attempt by one of the city council members, who is publicly known as a religious extremist, to inject this polarizing
act into our public space is unacceptable.
Vote NO on prayer at the Carlsbad City Council meeting.
Thank you,
Ejehan Turker
Sent from my iPhone
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Jason Fackler <garageboy_3@yahoo.com>
Tuesday, May 16; 2023 8:40 AM
City Clerk
Agenda #11
Dear Mayor & City Councilmembers,
I encourage you to vote NO on the invocation. I am a firm supporter of
keeping state & church separate.
There is no place for religion in our publicly funded meetings.
Thanks,
Jason Fackler
D3 Resident
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From:
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To:
Subject:
Sam Ward <sam_m_ward@yahoo.com>
Tuesday, May 16, 2023 8:42 AM
City Clerk
Council Docket Item 11
Dear Mayor and Councilmembers:
An unnamed Councilmember has apparently suggested that the City of Carlsbad begin allowing faith-based
invocations at the beginning of each council meeting. The majority of community members who have written to
the council regarding this proposal urge the Council to vote no. I stand with these neighbors.
As of Tuesday morning, the only two community members who has spoken in favor of this item in and detail
highlight the goals of the proponents of the invocation, one decrying a "godless society," and another decrying
her neighbors who "neglect to praise the creator of this beautiful land -creator god" and quoting a statement
that "no human laws should be suffered to contradict" the "divine law" that can be "found only in the holy
scriptures." These community members make clear that the goal of the supporters of this proposal is to use our
government as a means of impressing their faith upon our community.
The Council must recognize that while the adoption of an invocation may be red meat for the extremes of the
political spectrum, the goal of its proponents is to drive unnecessarily divisive debates in our community and to
undercut the separation of church and state that is a bedrock of our union. Carlsbad doesn't need culture wars
driven by those bent on putting their faith in front of our Constitution.
The 2020 U.S. Religion Census (https://www.usreligioncensus.org/), prepared by the Association of
Statisticians of American Religious Bodies, tracked affiliation with 3 72 different faith groups, seeking to
identify what percentage of Americans identified themselves as adherents to particular faiths or any faith.
Significantly, the 2020 U.S. Religion Census showed that just 41.2% of San Diego County residents identified
.themselves as having any religious affiliation. The largest single faith in San Diego County represents less than
23% of our rieighbors. Thus, adoption of any invocation, will, by its very nature, exclude, and ignore the values
of, the majority of our neighbors. Rather than building our community, this proposal will divide it further.
For the above reasons, I encourage the City Council to reject this proposal and avoid investing any further staff
time or taxpayer dollars in considering this issue.
Rather, I would encourage the Council, and my Council representative, to focus on issues that impact the health
and safety of our community in District I every day, such as traffic calming throughout District I ; expediting
the Barrio lighting improvements; securing the remaining funding necessary to restore the Buena Vista Lagoon;
improving access to the beach from the Barrio; adopting a long term plan for the funding of train track
trenching; adopting coherent development standards in the Village and Barrio. Please, rather than bringing
culture wars to our town, focus on improving our community focus on the work that needs to be done in our
community
Sam Ward
2438 Jefferson Street
Carlsbad, CA 92008
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From:
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Subject:
Toni Rudden <tonirudden@yahoo.com>
Tuesday, May 16, 2023 8:49 AM
City Clerk
Item #11 on agenda tonight 5/ 16/23
I am opposed to an invocation (prayer) at the beginning of the city council meetings, saying the pledge to the flag is
enough, we already are divided politically, don't cause divisions with religious beliefs. Church and state should be
separated. (As stated in our Bill of Rights) Thank you Marie Rudden District 1 Resident (2790 Wilson St, Carlsbad)
Sent from my iPhone
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From:
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Subject:
Attachments:
Kasha Cohen <kashacohen09@gmail.com>
Tuesday, May 16, 2023 9:24 AM
City Clerk
NO ON INVOCATION
THE CARLSBAD CITY COUNCIL-Agenda May 16.pdf
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Council Internet Email
Monday, May 15, 2023 10:07 AM
City Clerk
FW: Please vote NO
From: Priya Bhat-Patel <Priya .Bhat-Patel@carlsbadca.gov>
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2023 9:47 AM
To: Council Internet Email <CityCouncil@carls_badca .gov>
Subject: Fwd: Please vote NO
Dr. Priya Bhat-Patel
she/her/hers
Council Member, District 3
City of Carlsbad
1200 Carlsbad Village Dr.
Carlsbad, CA 92008
www.carlsbadca.gov
442-339-2830 (o) I 760-473-8726 (c)
priya.bhat-patel@carlsbadca.gov ·
Begin forwarded message:
From: Geri Ingram <geriingram@gmail.com>
Date: May 15, 2023 at 9:42:56 AM PDT
To: Priya Bhat-Patel <Priya.Bhat-Patel@carlsbadca.gov>
Cc: Geri Ingram <geriingram@gmail.com>
Subject: Please vote NO
Dear Priya,
All Receive -Agenda Item # J.L
For t he Information of the:
~FffifOUNCl,L
Date ~CA ✓ CC j
cM L AcM _)__ocM (3)l
As a neighbor and supporter of your office on the City Council, I am writing to let you know that I am
surprised and dismayed at the suggestion that the Council is considering changing City policy to include
an "invocation" at City Council Meetings.
The Constitution's protection of religious freedom ensures that everyone's rights and perspectives are
respected and protected. I am committed to a government that remains neutral on matters of
religion, faith, spirituality as well as agnosticism, atheism and pantheism. In order to preserve the
integrity of our democratic processes and uphold.the rights of all citizens, olir city council must protect
the concerns of all residents equally, Encouraging public prayer or religious invocations within the
council chambers will eventually create an environment that is exclusive, making some individuals --such
as myself--feel unwelcome or uncomfort able while participating in civic affairs.
Thank you,
Geri Ingram
1
I I ,I
District 3
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From:
Sent:
Peggy <peggybartley45@proton.me>
Monday, May 15, 2023 11 :35 AM
To: City Clerk
Subject: Agenda 11
I support Carlsbad reinstating the Invocation at the beginning of City Council meetings.
We are experiencing what a Godless society looks like:
• lack of respect for all authority
• violence
• theft
• property damage
• drugs
• suicide
• alcohol
• broken/fatherless homes
• genderdysphoria
• sexual immorality: STDs, unwanted pregnancies, abortion
Sincerely,
Margaret L Bartley
District 49
"Though liberals do a great deal of talking about hearfng other points of view, it sometimes shocks them.to learn that there are other
points of view." William F. Buckley
Sent with Proton Mail secure email.
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From:
Sent:
To:
cmmckee@roadrunner.com
Monday, May 15, 2023 11 :59 AM
City Clerk
Subject: agenda 11
I support Council Member Burkholder's request to reinstate the Invocation.
Thank you,
Carole McKee D1
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From:
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To:
Subject:
Krisha Ma rkowicz < krisha2700@yahoo.com >
Monday, May 15, 2023 12:24 PM
City Clerk
Support agenda 11
I support Carlsbad reinstating the Invocation at the beginning of City Council meetings.
Thank you,
Krisha Wolter
District 3
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From:
Sent:
To:
kelly.leberthon 12@gmail.com
Monday, May 15, 2023 12:37 PM
City Clerk
Subject: Agenda 11
Dear Mayor Blackburn and Council Members:
Please support reinstating the Invocation to the City Council meetings.
As elected officials in our local government you might benefit from a brief reflection on the
formation of our country's government and who you serve.
"The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of
human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which
have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the
separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a
decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which
impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Right~, that among these are Life, Liberty
and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among
Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of
Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to
abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and
organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and
Happiness ... " https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/ declaration-transcript
Sadly, some of our citizens seem to reject the founding principles of our country; they reject the
Constitution and the Declaration of Independence upon which the Constitution is based! In their
frenzy to declare man all powerful, they are rejecting Natural Law which properly places the Creator
of all above the created. They worship at the altar of praising Indian tribes on the land, but neglect to
praise the Creator of this beautiful land -Creator God.
"Man, considered as a creature, must necessarily be subject to the laws of his creator, for he
is entirely a dependent being .... as man depends absolutely upon his maker for every thing, it
is necessary that he should in all points conform to his maker's will .
... This law of nature, being co-equal with mankind and dictated by God himself, is of
course superior in obligation to any other. It is binding over all the globe, in all countries, and at
all times: no human laws are of any validity, if contrary to this ... The doctrines thus delivered we
call the revealed or divine law, and they are to be found only in the holy scriptures .... are
found upon comparison to be really a part of the original law of nature ... Upon these two
foundations, the law of nature and the law of revelation, depend all human laws; that is to
say, no human laws should be suffered to contradict these." Blackstone's Commentaries on
the Laws of England https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th century/blackstone in tro.asp#2
Thank you,
Kelly Le Berth on D 1
1
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Deborah Forman <profdeb2@gmail.com>
Monday, May 15, 2023 1: 10 PM
City Clerk
Proposal regarding invocation
I am opposed to adoption of this resolution. Invocations are typically religious in nature. I believe strongly in the
separation of church and state as protected by the Constitution.• As a public body, the City Council should not be
engaging in any practice with religious overtones. If members of the council wish to make an invocation or blessing, they
can do so privately, without bringing religion into their official business. Carlsbad is a wonderful city, and I have been
quite happy with the work of the council overall. Please do not adopt this unnecessary and divisive resolution.
Deborah Forman
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Diana A <dra805@gmail.com>
Satu rday, May 13, 2023 12:52 PM
All Receive -Age nd.i Item # Ji
For t he Information of the:
City Clerk; Priya Bhat-Patel; Keith Blackburn; Ca rolyn Luna; Melanie Burkholder; Teresa
Acosta
Agenda item #1 1: CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A CITY COUNCIL POLICY STATEM ENT-
INVOCATION CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS -
Dear Mayor & Council Members,
As a concerned citizen committed to the principles of democracy and the separation of church and
state, I firmly believe in the importance of keeping religious practices separate from governmental
affairs. Therefore, we urge all members of the City Council to vote against supporting a council
invocation.
Let us maintain the cherished principle of the separation of church and state, fostering an inclusive
and equitable environment where all residents feel valued and represented. Together, we can uphold
the fundamental principles upon which our democracy was built and ensure a government that serves
the best interests of all its constituents.
By voting against supporting a council invocation, we are not attacking anyone's faith or belief system.
On the contrary, we are advocating for the principle of religious freedom, ensuring that everyone's
rights and perspectives are respected and protected. We affirm our commitment to a government that
remains neutral on matters of religion, preserving the integrity of our democratic processes and
upholding the rights of all citizens
Our city council has a responsibility to prioritize the needs and concerns of all residents equally,
regardless of their religious beliefs. Encouraging public prayer or religious invocations within the
council chambers can create an environment that is exclusive, potentially making some individuals
feel unwelcome or uncomfortable while participating in civic affairs.
1
Thank you,
Diana Aguirre, District 3 Resident
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From:
Sent:
To:
Curtis Wilbur <lizardite@yahoo.com>
Saturday, May 13, 2023 1 :33 PM
City Clerk
"'
Subject: Item 11 on the upcoming May 16th City Council meeting
To Whom It May Concern,
With all due respect, I think having a prayer at a city council meeting is wildly inappropriate. We elect
a council and mayor to solve problems and plan for changes in the city. Having an invocation event
as part of the meeting process is at the very least a waste of councilmembers' time, and looks very
much like a form of religious bullying to some of those who are likely in attendance. The purpose of
these meetings is to better the physical lives of Carlsbad residents. If a member of this governing
body cannot put that goal in front of a personal mission to proselytize city residents, then perhaps that
member should stand down and let someone else take the job who is better able to separate their
faith from their governmental functions (as indicated by by the First Amendment of the Constitution).
Have all the invocations you want outside the council meetings. But please don't force the rest of us
to lock step with your own spiritual journey.
Curtis Wilbur
Carlsbad, City Council District 3
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From:
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BuffaloGal60 < BuffaloGal60@proton.me>
Saturday, May 13, 2023 1 :37 PM
City Clerk
Agenda 11
I support Carlsbad reinstating the Invocation at the beginning of City Council meetings.
Thank you,
Maril Adrian
District 2
and then the people said "no"
the end ...
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1
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Carlsbad City Council Members:
Mary Jean Tibbels <maryjeantibbels@gmail.com>
Saturday, May 13, 2023 1 :54 PM
City Clerk
Invocation
We support Carlsbad reinstating the Invocation at the beginning of City Council meetings. Our country definitely needs
guidance that humans alone cannot provide.
Thank you,
Terry & Mary Jean Tibbels
3991 Scott Dr.
Carlsbad, CA
1
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Chih-Wu Chang <chihwu.chang@gmail.com>
Saturday, May 13, 2023 2:10 PM
City Clerk; Priya Bhat-Patel; Keith Blackburn; Carolyn Luna; Melanie Burkholder; Teresa
Acosta
Pei-Tei Chang
Agenda #11 (of May 16 City Council Meeting) -CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A CITY
COUNCIL POLICY STATEMENT -INVOCATION AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
Dear Mayor and City Council Members,
It is our greatest concern that the City of Carlsbad is considering approval of
invocation at City Council Meetings. We urge you to vote No in rejecting
approval of the invocation at City Council Meetings.
It is never appropriate or allowable for the convening of a governmental
meeting to include a religious prayer, "invocation," statement of belief,
unbelief, or personal philosophy.
Firstly, to include an invocation, statement of belief, or unbelief in the
convening and conduct of ·a-governmental meeting immediately violates the
legal guarantees for equality/ equity for all persons. With the myriad of
denominations, churches, sects, associations, organizations, and privately held
personal creeds, it is impossible to give everyone equal opportunity and
expression.
Secondly, the governmental body in such a position would commit a grievous
error and legal jeopardy of favoring a particular religion or creed over a myriad
of others by including a prayer or invocation, whether by a clergyperson or
anyone else.
Thirdly, while the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the
Constitution of the United States of America does not precisely define the term
"Establishment," to grievously err by including an Invocation, prayer,
statement of belief or unbelief in governmental meetings on any level -
federal, state, county, city, school board, other boards, and commissions -
would inevitably imply an "establishing" or official recognition of that particular
religion or other adherent responsible for the Invocation. Separation of
church (or the like) and state cannot be violated.
It is sufficient for the stated or appointed moderator/convenor to call the
meeting to order with a simple statement like "Will the meeting please come
to order." (Or wording to that effect.) The convening moderator then proceeds
1
to the stated purpose, roll call, approval of the proposed agenda (if
necessary), and other opening announcements.
Sincerely Yours,
Pei-Tei and Chih-Wu Chang
6488 Paseo Vuelo
Carlsbad, CA 92009
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From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Dear Mayor & Council Members,
Narima Lopes <nmlopes2@yahoo.com>
Saturday, May 13, 2023 3:47 PM
City Clerk
Priya Bhat-Patel; Carolyn Luna; Melanie Burkholder; Keith Blackburn; Teresa Acosta
Agenda item #11: CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A CITY COUNCIL POLICY STATEMENT-
INVOCATION CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS -
I am concerned about Agenda lten #11. I firmly believe in the importance of keeping religious practices separate from
governmental affairs (separation of Church and State). Therefore, I urge all members of the City Council to vote against
supporting a council invocation.
Let us maintain the cherished principle of the separation of church and state, fostering an inclusive and equitable
environment where all residents feel valued and represented. Together, we can uphold the fundamental principles upon
which our democracy was built and ensure a government that serves the best interests of all its constituents.
Our city council has a responsibility to prioritize the needs and concerns of all residents equally, regardless of their
religious beliefs. Encouraging public prayer or religious invocations within the council chambers can create an
environment that is exclusive, potentially making some individuals feel unwelcome or uncomfortable while participating in
civic affairs.
Thank you for your consideration
Narima Lopes
Carlsbad Resident (District 3)
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From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Dear Mayor & Council Members,
Stephen Bartram < blackbart7562@gmail.com >
Sunday, May 14, 2023 12:29 PM
City Clerk
Priya Bhat-Patel; .Melanie Burkholder; teressa.acosta@carlsbadca.gov; Carolyn Luna;
Keith Blackburn
Subject: Agenda item #11 : CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A CITY COUNCIL POLICY
STATEMENT -INVOCATION CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS -
Agenda Item #11. Keeping religious practices separate from governmental affairs is fundamental to our republic. The
founding fathers were clear in their writing to ensure there is clear separation of Church and State. Therefore, I urge all
members of the City Council to vote against supporting a council invocation.
Our city council has a responsibility to prioritize the needs and concerns of all residents equally,
regardless of their religious beliefs. Encouraging public prayer by a religious invocation within the
council chambers will create an environment that is exclusionary.
Sincerely,
Steve Bartram 7964 Grado El Tupelo, Carlsbad, 92009
en attachments or click on links unless ou recognize the sender and know the content i
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Dear Mayor & Council Members,
Lynda Daniels <1ynda6367@yahoo.com>
Sunday, May 14, 2023 12:41 PM
City Clerk
May 16 CITY COUNCIL MEETING Agenda item#!!
I am concerned about Agenda lten #11. I firmly believe in the importance of keeping religious
practices separate from governmental affairs (separation of Church and State). Therefore, I urge all
members of the City Council to vote against supporting a council invocation.
Let us maintain the cherished principle of the separation of church and state, fostering an inclusive
and equitable environment where all residents feel valued and represented. Together, we can uphold
the fundamental principles upon which our democracy was built and ensure a government that serves
the best interests of all its constituents.
Our city council has a responsibility to prioritize the needs and concerns of all residents equally,
regardless '
of their religious beliefs. Encouraging public prayer or religious invocations within the council
chambers
can create an environment that is exclusive, potentially making some individuals feel unwelcome or
uncomfortable while participating in civic affairs.
Thank you for your consideration,
LYNDA DANIELS
4547 Picadilly Court
Carlsbad, CA 92010
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From:
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To:
Subject:
Dear Mayor & Council Members,
weigleynaz@gmail.com
Sunday, May 14, 2023 1:35 PM
City Clerk; Priya Bhat-Patel; Keith Blackburn; Carolyn Luna; Melanie Burkholder; Teresa
Acosta
Agenda item #11: CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A CITY COUNCIL POLICY STATEMENT-
INVOCATION CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS-
As an American Muslim I am offended regarding this Agenda Item #11 . Furthermore I will take this as direct attack to
my religion and will file a complaint if not corrected and a censure against a person proposing it. I firmly believe in the
importance of keeping religious practices separate from governmental affairs (separation of Church and State).
Therefore, I urge all members of the City Council to vote against supporting Agenda Item #11 council invocation.
Let us maintain the cherished principle of the separation of church and state, fostering an inclusive and equitable
environment where all residents feel valued and represented.
Our city council has a responsibility to prioritize the needs and concerns of all residents equally, regardless of their
religious beliefs. Encouraging public prayer or religious invocations within the council chambers can create an
environment that is exclusive, potentially making some individuals feel unwelcome or uncomfortable while participating
in civic affairs.
Thank you for your consideration
Naz Weigley
Carlsbad Resident (District 2)
Sent from Mail for Windows
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From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Dear Mayor and Council,
Stephanie Wells <ms.sicily@gmail.com>
Sunday, May 14, 2023 2:09 PM
City Clerk
11. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A CITY COUNCIL POLICY STATEMENT-INVOCATION AT
CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
I am writing to express my concerns regarding the inclusion of invocations at the start of the council meetings.
As an engaged and concerned citizen within our community, I firmly believe that it is essential for our city
council to promote inclusivity, neutrality, and respect for diverse religious and non-religious beliefs.
While invocations may have historically served as a tradition to bring a sense of solemnity and unity to the
proceedings, it is crucial to consider the potential ramifications and implications of such practices in our
modern and diverse society. Inclusive governance necessitates that all community members, regardless of
their religious or philosophical affiliations, feel respected, valued, and represented within the public sphere.
The inclusion of invocations at the start of council meetings can inadvertently marginalize or exclude certain
religious or non-religious groups, creating an environment that may be perceived as endorsing a specific belief
system over others. In a multicultural and pluralistic society like ours, it is crucial for our city council to uphold
the principles of religious freedom, neutrality, and the separation of church and state.
By refraining from including invocations at the start of council meetings, we can ensure that our
government remains neutral and does not favor or prioritize one particular religion or belief system.
This approach will foster an environment of inclusivity, where individuals from all walks of life can
participate in local governance without feeling marginalized or disenfranchised.
I kindly urge you to consider the concerns raised by citizens like myself and vote against the inclusion of
invocations at the start of city council meetings. Instead, let us focus on fostering an atmosphere that
encourages diverse participation, respects all viewpoints, and upholds the principles of religious freedom and
inclusivity that are the cornerstone of our democratic society.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I trust that you will carefully consider the views expressed by
concerned citizens like myself and make a decision that reflects the best interests of our entire community.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Wells
01 resident, 92008
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From:
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Cc:
Subject:
Manek Dustoor <mdustoor@inquerygroup.com>
Sunday, May 14, 2023 3:09 PM
City Clerk
Priya Bhat-Patel; Carolyn Luna; Melanie Burkholder; Keith Blackburn; Teresa Acosta
CArlsbad City Council Agenda Item #11
To The Mayor & City Council of Carlsbad:
We are concerned about Item #11 on your current Agenda that refers to "Invocation at City Council
Meetings". What exactly is this "invocation"? Is it a religious prayer or an odd mix of religious sentiments
woven into an invocation? Is it a request to a higher power that the participants are infused with
enlightenment? Without further clarity as to what exactly this invocation represents we strongly recommend
that the City Council reject supporting a Council Invocation.
Sincerely,
Manek & Meher Dustoor
6977 Ammonite Place
Carlsbad, CA 92009
phone: 760.448.6668
email: mdustoor@inquerygroup.com
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Dear Mayor and City Council,
Mike McMahon <2mmcmahon@gmail.com>
Sunday, May 14, 2023 4:27 PM
City Clerk
City Council Comment for May 16, Agenda item 11 -Invocation at City Council
Meetings
An invocation by definition (Merriam-Webster) is "the act or process of petitioning for help or support, specifically a
prayer of entreaty (as the beginning of a service of worship). "
We need to maintain our democracy's principle of separation of church and state and not introduce guidance and
support of religion, no matter how subtle, in any form to our city's governmental process. We need to encourage
community participation for all citizens and provide an inclusive and welcoming environment at city council meetings.
Please, Do not adopt the City Council Policy-Invocations at City Council meetings and direct staff to return to City
Council with an ordinance amending Carlsbad Municipal Code Chapter 1.20, Section 1.20.060(E), eliminating the
Invocation from the City Council agenda order of business.
Thank you for your consideration
Mike McMahon
2645 Sutter St
Carlsbad, CA 92010
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Sharon B <exclusivesportstic kets@gmail.com>
Sunday, May 14, 2023 4:53 PM
City Clerk
Opinion on agenda #11
Dear Mayor and City Council Members,
I urge you to vote NO on Agenda Item #11 -Consider Approval of City Council Policy
Statement -Invocation at City Council Meetings.
When citizens who hold a wide variety of religious beliefs or hold none at all attend a
government meeting, how is it considered appropriate to subject them to official
prayer? Prayer offered as part of a public proceeding will make some listeners feel
excluded. That runs counter to the 1st Amendment's prohibition of an "establishment of
religion." Religion is a very personal private thing between individuals and their deity, and
to put it on blatant broadcast at a PUBLIC meeting is simply an attempt to portray an
image of "Godliness" for political gain -which is absolutely the opposite of being so. We
have so many other important issues and the fact this is even on the agenda is taking
away time and energy from things that actually matter. May I suggest that those who want
to pray at meetings, do so individually, as Scripture even asks them to do:
Matthew6
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the
synagogues and on the street comers to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have
received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray
to your Father, who is unseen."
Sharon Bodon
2604 B El Camino Real
Carlsbad, 92008
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Kasha Cohen <kashacohen09@gmail.com>
Sunday, May 14, 2023 6:03 PM
City Clerk
INVOCATION
Dear County Clerk and City Council Members.,
I HOPE IT IS IN HEBEW!
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From: Council Internet Email
Sent:
To:
Monday, May 15, 2023 8:17 AM
City Clerk
Subject: FW: Agenda Item #11
-----Original Message-----
From: Simone Maclellan <spmaclellan@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 14, 2023 12:56 PM
To: Council Internet Email <CityCouncil@carlsbadca.gov>
Subject: Agenda Item #11
Dear Mayor and Council Members,
I oppose Agenda Item #11 because the separation of Church and State is fundamental in our country's Constitution
which prioritizes diversity and inclusion of all people regardless of their faiths. Religious practice of one's faith is a
private matter and not to be brought into the workplace out of respect of others' faiths.
Our City Council should lead the way to make all residents feel welcomed and well aappreciated without the narrow
barrier of religions to divide our diverse comm unity.
Thank you for your consideration of my appeal to vote No on Item 11.
With warm regards,
Simone Maclellan
6389 Paseo Aspada
Carlsbad, CA 92009
We
Sent from my iPhone
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Howard Hsu <hlsh62@yahoo.com>
Monday, May 15, 2023 9:42 AM
City Clerk
Agenda Item #11
Dear Mayor and Council members;
We would like you to vote no on Agenda #11. It is critical to separate government policy from
religious beliefs and avoiding favoring one religion over other beliefs.
Sheila and Howard Hsu
1301 Bulrush Ct
Carlsbad, _ca 92011
3
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Sheila Cobian, Legislative & Constituent Services Director
May 16, 2023
Consider Approval of a City Council
Policy Statement –Invocation at City
Council Meetings
{ City of
Carlsbad
BACKGROUND
•CMC Section 1.20.060 governs the
order of business for Council Meeting
Agendas
•Invocation follows Pledge of Allegiance
Item 11: Invocation at City Council Meetings
{city of
Carlsbad
SURVEY Item 11: Invocation at City Council Meetings
Survey results
City Allows invocation Written policy
Chula Vista Yes No
Coronado On agenda but not done No
Del Mar No No
El Cajon Moment of silence No
Encinitas No No
Escondido Yes (Moment of reflection)Stated on agenda
Imperial Beach No No
La Mesa Yes No
Lemon Grove No No
National City Yes No
Oceanside Yes No
Poway No No
San Diego Yes No
San Marcos Yes No
Santee Yes No
Solana Beach No No
Vista Yes Yes
SURVEY RESULTS
City Allows invocation?Written policy
Chula Vista Yes No
Coronado On agenda but not done No
Del Mar No No
El Cajon Moment of silence No
Encinitas No No
Escondido Yes (Moment of reflection)Stated on agenda
Imperial Beach No No
La Mesa Yes No
Lemon Grove No No
National City Yes No
Oceanside Yes No
Poway No No
San Diego Yes No
San Marcos Yes No
Santee Yes No
Solana Beach No No
Vista Yes Yes
PROPOSED POLICY
•Advertise Invitation Annually
•First-Come, First-Served Basis
•Coordinated through the City Council’s
Executive Assistant
•Agenda to include disclaimer
Item 11: Invocation at City Council Meetings
{city of
Carlsbad
PROPOSED POLICY
Invocation leader shall:
•Address City Council
•Avoid making political statements
•Refrain from disparaging other faiths
•Avoid advertising own place of worship
•Limit remarks to two minutes
Item 11: Invocation at City Council Meetings
{city of
Carlsbad
OPTIONS Item 11: Invocation at City Council Meetings
Option 1 -Adopt the resolution approving the
City Council Policy –Invocations at City Council
meetings
Option 2 -Do not adopt the City Council Policy
and direct staff to return to City Council with
an ordinance amending Carlsbad Municipal
Code Chapter 1.20, Section 1.20.060(E),
eliminating the Invocation from the City
Council agenda order of business.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Adopt the resolution approving City
Council Policy Statement –Invocation at
City Council Meetings
Item 11: Invocation at City Council Meetings
{ City of
Carlsbad
Thank you
Item 11: Invocation at City Council Meetings
QUESTIONS & COMMENTS
{ City of
Carlsbad