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Title:
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(1) Consideration of the Section Titled “Invocation” Which Appears on the City Council and Other City Legislative Body Agendas, and (2) (If Desired) Direction to the City Manager Related Thereto.
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City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended the City Council consider the subject of the section titled
“Invocation” which appears on the City Council and other City Legislative Body
Agendas, and (2) (if desired) provide direction to the City Manager regarding this
subject.
BACKGROUND:
During the May 12, 2014 City Council meeting, the City Council directed the City
Manager to place this discussion on an upcoming agenda. Staff has provided
public notification regarding this subject in accordance with the public notification
noted above.
DISCUSSION:
California Government Code Section 54950, the Ralph M. Brown Act (Act), includes
a requirement for a Legislative Body (as defined in the Act) to post an agenda for its
meetings and also sets forth general requirements of the contents of the agenda
{Section 54954.2(a)(1) and (2)}. Such requirements do not include the legal
requirement for an Invocation, nor is it legally prohibited by the Act. As a matter of
past practice and as a matter of staff’s recollection, the term “Invocation” has
appeared on the City Council agendas since at least 1970 (and it is highly likely the
practice goes back even further).
Meeting Date: 06/09/14 Item Number: A-1
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM: (1) Consideration of the Section Titled “Invocation”
Which Appears on the City Council and Other City Legislative Body Agendas, and
(2) (If Desired) Direction to the City Manager Related Thereto.
Contact Person/Dept.: Martin R. Cole Phone Number: (310) 253-6000
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [ ] Action Item: [X] Attachments: []
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date: _______________
Public Notification: Meetings and Agendas – City Council (06/04/14); Publication of a
Courtesy Notice (05/29/14 and 06/05/14); Posting on the City’s Electronic Public
Notification Page and Gov-Delivery Notice (06/03/14)
Department Approval:
Martin R. Cole (06/02/14)
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (06/03/14)
Chief Financial Officer Approval:
Jeff Muir (by M. Noller) (06/03/14)
City Manager Approval:
John M. Nachbar (06/03/14) City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
In addition to the provisions of the Brown Act, courts generally have found that a City
Council may make the determination whether to place an invocation on the City
Council Agenda. There is no legal requirement to do so, nor is there a prohibition
against it. A City Council may determine to place an invocation (which might involve
prayer under certain parameters) or other similar type of item on the agenda (for
example “thought for the day” or “weekly inspiration”), or determine to have no such
item.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this agenda item.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
MOTION:
That the City Council:
Discuss this item and direct the City Manager as deemed appropriate.