Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Governance Procedures topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council begins review of proclamation, certificate and resolution procedures after member requests
Summary
Councilmembers discussed updating the city’s council handbook and administrative procedures so proclamations, certificates and memorial resolutions can be issued more consistently; council agreed to pursue a handbook update and to add the topic to upcoming agendas.
The San Fernando City Council opened a discussion on Monday about how the city issues proclamations, certificates of recognition and resolutions after Councilmember Patty Lopez said residents have sometimes been unable to obtain the forms of recognition they requested.
Why this matters: Councilmembers said clearer procedures and consistent turnaround times would better serve residents and civic groups seeking recognition and would make city practice more transparent. The discussion touched on whether an individual can receive a formal resolution or should instead be recognized with a proclamation or certificate.
Staff, policy and next steps The city clerk and staff explained that under the current council handbook proclamations are public declarations of endorsement for events or personal matters (such as birthdays) and certificates of appreciation are used for individuals who have provided long-term service to the city; staff said existing policy does not generally provide for issuing a numbered resolution to an individual. The clerk said the practice could be changed but would require an update to the council handbook and policy.
Councilmembers proposed specific process improvements including: a standardized request form with clear instructions; advance notice timelines for requests (suggested 3–4 weeks); guidance on the number of "presentations" or certificates at recognition events so ceremonies remain reasonably brief; standard formatting for proclamations and resolutions; and clear staff responses to requesters about whether a recognition will be provided.
Councilmember Lopez requested the council consider allowing memorial resolutions and higher-profile recognitions for long-time contributors such as local artists; other members expressed support for exploring options and agreed staff should survey neighboring cities’ practices. Staff said it would reach out to other city clerks for sample policies and return with recommendations, and councilmembers asked staff to include the item in the council handbook update and to provide periodic status notes to the council until the policy is finalized.
Immediate action On a related point, the council voted to approve two recognition requests as proclamations at the meeting after a motion and second; roll call showed unanimous support among members present for converting those specific requests into proclamations. Staff will follow up on formatting and logistics and work on a handbook amendment to clarify policy going forward.
