HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2359 - Establishing a written policy for the presentation of invocations at City Council MeetingsCITY OF MARYSVILLE
Marysville, Washington
RESOLUTION 23 Sq
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MARYSVILLE, SNOHOMISH COUNTY ,
WASHINGTON , ESTABLISHING A WRITTEN POLICY FOR THE
PRESENTATION OF INVOCATIONS AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS .
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Marysville City Council to set the tone for the City of
Marysville for the conduct of its City Council meetings during 2014 and for years to come; and
WHEREAS, invocations can serve the secular purpose of solemnizing public occasions
and encouraging the recognition of things that are worthy of appreciation in society; and
WHEREAS, in order to continue the long standing history and tradition of legislative
invocation established by the drafters of the Constitution, it is the policy of the City to permit
in vocations to be presented at the commencement of City Council meetings ; and
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Marysville City Council to recognize and respect spiritual
di v ersity; and
WHEREAS, it is the wish of the Marysville City Council to conform its written invocation
policy with the holdings in recent case law and to express the City's commitment to spiritual neutrality;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF MARYSVILLE, WASHINGTON AS FOLLOWS:
1. The Marysville City Council will continue to begin the regular City Council meetings with an
invocation presented by representatives of the greater Marysville area spiritual community.
2. The City will advertise at least once per year that it is seeking interested members of public from
any and all religious denominations or spiritual organizations to present invocations at City Council
meetings . In cooperation with such groups, the City Clerk shall establish a list of religious and
spiritual organizations located within the greater Marysville area. The list shall be available to the
public and additional organizations shall be added at the request of any organization. Notice of the
opportunity to give the invocation will be sent to all organizations on the list. In cooperation with
such groups , a sign up procedure will be established by the City for scheduling of interested
volunteers .
3 . The opportunity to offer an invocation is voluntary and the contents of the invocation may be
dictated by the beliefs of the individual or organization offering the invocation. As a general
guideline only, it is requested that invocations be limited to approximately 90 seconds .
4 . The City shall endeavor to provide a copy of this resolution to each volunteer in advance of his or
her presentation of the invocation.
5. Resolution No . 2064 is hereby repealed for the reason that it is replaced by this Resolution .
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PASS ED by the City Council and APPROVED by the Mayor this ). 7#-day of ~· 2014.
CITY OF MARYSVILLE Q
By·--5...~~~~~~~--~
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A L(YBRN)ie;ify City Clerk
Approved as to form : ()
By~~~_y
RANTK:WEED, City Attorney
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