Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout6. Marriage Amendment Discussion 4 6. CITY OF SHAKOPEE Memorandum TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Mark McNeill, City Administrator SUBJECT: Marriage Amendment Discussion DATE: September 27, 2012 Comment: ACTION SOUGHT: Council should choose to adopt one of three Resolutions that have been drafted referencing the Constitutional Amendment for the "Recognition of Marriage ", or otherwise take no position. BACKGROUND: At the September 4 City Council meeting, a speaker at the "Involved Citizens" portion of the meeting requested that the Council pass a resolution in opposition to the constitutional amendment regarding marriage that will be considered by Minnesota voters on November 6. After some discussion, the consensus of the Council was to bring the issue back for consideration at a future meeting. Not all Council members were in attendance at the September 18 meeting, and so no action was scheduled at that time. However, at that meeting, three proponents of the constitutional amendment appeared as "Involved Citizens, ", asking that the Council either pass a resolution of support of the Marriage Amendment, or alternatively, determine that (as they stated) "it doesn't belong in this forum ". Resolutions both in favor and opposed to the Marriage Amendment are attached. However, since the last Council meeting, one of the Councilors asked that staff prepare a third resolution, urging Shakopee voters to become informed and then vote their conscience on the November 6, but otherwise taking no formal City Council position. ALTERNATIVES: The Council can choose one of the three attached Resolutions. Alternatively, it can choose not to act on the issue. RECOMMENDATION: This is not something which is typically considered to be City business. The Council needs to decide for itself whether it wants to take the position and, if so, what that might be. ACTION REQUIRED: The Council should determine its preference and take action as appropriate. Szl i t tLutio Mark McNeill MM:en City Administrator A RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED "RECOGNITION OF MARRIAGE" CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WHEREAS, in 2011 the Minnesota State Legislature voted to include the following question on the election ballot in November, 2012; "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota ? "; and WHEREAS, the proposed amendment would add a new Section 13 to the Minnesota Constitution stating: "Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota. "; and WHEREAS, the City of Shakopee City Council believes that such an amendment is damaging to the cultural and economic fabric of our community; and WHEREAS, the City of Shakopee City Council holds that the Constitution of the State of Minnesota does not exist to codify discrimination and exclusion but instead to protect individual rights. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Shakopee hereby opposes the proposed constitutional amendment entitled "Recognition of Marriage Solely Between One Man and One Woman," and urges its residents to vote "No" on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. Adopted in regular session of the City Council of the City of Shakopee, Minnesota held this Second day of October, 2012. Mayor of the City of Shakopee ATTEST: City Clerk C3 RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION IN FAVOR OF THE PASSING THE MINNESOTA MARRIAGE PROTECTION AMENDMENT WHEREAS, emphasizing that marriage, as the union of one man and one woman, has served as the foundation of society since before Minnesota was a state; and WHEREAS, affirming that marriage, as the union of one man and one woman is in the public good and serves the interests of men, of women, of children and of society itself; and WHEREAS, deeply concerned that attempts by politicians and a lawsuit to redefine marriage at currently underway in Minnesota; and WHEREAS, fully aware that the Minnesota Marriage Protection Amendment simply allows voters to protect our state's current definition of marriage as a union of one man and one woman. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and City Council of the City of Shakopee, Minnesota, that it supports the Minnesota Marriage Protection Amendment that preserves Minnesota's historic and traditional definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Adopted in regular session of the City Council of the City of Shakopee, Minnesota held this Second day of October, 2012. Mayor of the City of Shakopee ATTEST: City Clerk C. RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION REGARDING THE PROPOSED "RECOGNITION OF MARRIAGE" CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WHEREAS, in 2011 the Minnesota State Legislature to have Minnesota voters decide the following question on the November 6, 2012 ballot; "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota ? "; and WHEREAS, Minnesotans on both sides of the issue have opinions and in many cases strong feelings about the validity of the question; and WHEREAS, Minnesotans will have the opportunity to vote on said question in November; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Shakopee City Council has chosen not to take a position as a body on this subject, either for or against, but rather, urges Shakopee residents to become fully informed on the issue on the ballot, and vote for themselves on November 6, 2012. Adopted in regular session of the City Council of the City of Shakopee, Minnesota held this Second day of October, 2012. Mayor of the City of Shakopee ATTEST: City Clerk