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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION APRIL 17, 2023 7 C. Proclamation Discussion City Administrator Perrault noted that in the past proclamations have been done for Public Works Week, Police Week, Night to Unite and when a long-standing employee resigns. Councilmember Holden said there were standards set when Communications was building the new website and social media guidelines. Mayor Grant said he contacted another community and they are in line with what we do, but they did add Arbor Day. They cautioned him about opening up to any proclamation because they've received requests they didn't want to entertain. City Administrator Perrault reported that he had reached out to a few other cities, some do very few proclamations, but others like Roseville, do a lot. Mayor Grant said they could get a proclamation request of something unusual and then they end up debating the merits. Some proclamations could render themselves political in nature. Councilmember Holden said they have received conflicting proclamation requests. Councilmember Fabel felt they didn't need a policy but wasn't in favor of the Council getting wrapped up in a hot button political issue that is divisive within the community. He offered a compromise that in order to issue a proclamation there would have to be a super majority approval. Mayor Grant asked if he was suggesting that if staff received a request they would query the Council to see where they were at? Councilmember Fabel thought staff could inform Councilmembers of requests and any proclamation could come forward from a councilmember as a motion requiring super majority approval. Councilmember Monson was concerned about political requests that have nothing to do with the city. She's not interested in those but also doesn't want to be too rigid. She suggested maybe they could be brought to a work session first to see if there was consent to have it brought forward. Councilmember Holden felt the items need to be related to the City. Mayor Grant agreed that historically Council hasn't gone beyond city issues; public works, police etc. Councilmember Rousseau thought no one would get proclamation happy. If they see something they are passionate about that could have an impact on our community it could get talked about at a work session or at the end of a Council meeting. Mayor Grant said once you open it up you will get proclamation requests from all kinds of agencies. He felt they should all think about it and bring this item back for further discussion at a future work session.