San Luis council adopts ordinance requiring an opening invocation at regular meetings after council debate

San Luis — The San Luis City Council voted to adopt Ordinance 4‑62, amending the city code to require an opening invocation at regular council meetings and establishing guidelines for invocation speakers.

A staff presentation explained that the ordinance would add the invocation to the order of business (after the Pledge of Allegiance) and include guidance intended to make the practice non‑discriminatory: invocations may be a prayer, a moment of silence or other solemnizing ceremony; speakers should direct remarks to the council rather than the public; they should not disparage other faiths, advertise a place of worship, engage in campaign activity or exceed five minutes. Staff also said a disclaimer would appear on agendas and that city chaplains would be used first and a nondiscriminatory selection method used if no chaplain is available.

Councilmember Maria Cecilia Cruz spoke at length in support of the ordinance and framed her remarks in religious terms, referencing Jeremiah 29:7 and historical examples of governmental prayer. She said, in part, “When you humble yourself and call upon his name, you can expect blessings.”

The ordinance passed on voice vote; the motion and adoption were recorded as carried. Staff said the administrative steps for implementing the ordinance will include publishing invocation guidance, placing the invocation on agendas after the Pledge of Allegiance and adding the stated disclaimer.

Ending: The City Clerk’s office will publish the invocation guidelines and include the required disclaimer on future agendas.