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Planning Commission to open meetings with rotating, inclusive invocation
Summary
The commission voted to open future meetings with a brief, rotating invocation drawn from a shared list of clergy that is open to all faiths, following guidelines the county attorney said minimize First Amendment risk; staff will assemble a rotating list for December.
The Planning Commission voted Nov. 5 to add a brief invocation at the start of its meetings, using a rotating list of clergy representatives open to all faiths and following the Board of Supervisors’ guidelines. The motion, introduced by Commissioner Whitaker, passed after discussion about inclusivity and legal limits.
County Attorney Mr. Fox advised the commission the practice is permissible if invocations are welcoming, inclusive and not coercive. "The prayer given has to be welcoming and inclusive and focused on the deliberative nature of the legislative process," Mr. Fox said, noting that the commission should avoid language that suggests attendees or future applicants who decline to participate will be treated less favorably.
Commissioners debated whether members of the commission should give invocations or whether the commission should use outside clergy on a rotating list; several members said the Board’s rotating list is a workable model. The commission approved the motion and asked staff to compile a list and arrange an invocation to begin at the commission’s first meeting in December (staff said they would attempt to arrange it and asked for flexibility). Several commissioners requested a short time limit for invocations to keep meetings on schedule.
The commission’s action will be implemented administratively by staff, who said they would consult the Board’s roster and invite diverse faith‑based organizations to participate.
