Mayor & City Council

MINUTES Special Session of the College Park City Council Tuesday, June 6, 2017 Council Chambers 11:27 p.m. – 11:29 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Wojahn; Councilmembers Kabir, Nagle, Brennan, Dennis, Kujawa, and Cook. ABSENT: Councilmembers Stullich and Day. ALSO PRESENT: Scott Somers, City Manager; Janeen Miller, City Clerk; Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney; Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager; Bob Ryan, Director of Public Services; Chris Keosian, Student Liaison; Julianne Heberlein, Deputy Student Liaison. During a regularly scheduled Worksession of the College Park City Council, a motion was made by Councilmember Brennan and seconded by Councilmember Dennis to enter into a Special Session to discuss the display of the Pride Flag at City Hall. The motion carried 6-0-0 and the Council entered into the Special Session at 11:27 p.m. ACTION ITEM 17-G-87 Request to Display the Pride Flag at City Hall Councilmember Brennan said last year the Council approved the display of the Pride Flag on City Hall. The whole community was impacted last year by the tragedy at the Pulse Nightclub where 49 people were killed. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer is asking cities nationwide to raise the colors of the flag to represent affirmation of the LGBT community. This action is consistent with the Council’s position on matters of diversity and language that is in our City Charter. He continued that the words that we use as a City impact the environment around us and we need to demonstrate in our language and in our symbolism what we stand for as a City. He asked that we do this annually. A motion was made by Councilmember Brennan and seconded by Councilmember Nagle that the City raise the Pride Flag annually for one week during Pride Week as it is recognized by the National Capital Region in celebration of our principle of inclusion. Councilmember Nagle said in the present political environment this is more important than ever. Mayor Wojahn said because we are doing this late this year, he suggests extending this by one day, to include June 12, in memory of the Pulse Nightclub tragedy. The motion passed 4-1-1 (Cook opposed; Kabir abstained). ADJOURN: A motion was made by Councilmember Dennis and seconded by Councilmember Brennan to adjourn the Special Session, and with a vote of 6 – 0 – 0 Mayor Wojahn adjourned the Special Session at 11:27 p.m. ____________________________________________ Janeen S. Miller, CMC Date City Clerk Approved