07072009 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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B. Legal advice regarding law applicable to legislative prayer. C. Land acquisition for expansion of City's water/wastewater system in the northwest quadrant of San Marcos. D. Deliberation on offers of possible incentives to entities considering locating or expanding in the San Marcos community. The Executive Session adjourned at 6:59 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2009. Reconvene and Consider Action on Item Discussed During Executive Session. The San Marcos City Council reconvened into regular session at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2009. No action was required from Executive Session. 4. Invocation Pastor Tom Ray, with the Hill Country Church, provided the invocation. 5. Pledge of Allegiance Councilmember Thomaides led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance. 6. Citizen Comments Kenneth Paninski, 63 Elm Hill Court, stated that he is in favor of prayer. He reported that on is April 10, 1962 Alderman Swift made a motion to start meetings with prayer. In 2007 invocations were put in the order of business. Then Lamar Hankins complained and a letter from the ACLU was received requesting we stop the practice. He stated that separation of church and state is not in the constitution. The issue of legislative prayer has been challenged before the Supreme Court in 1947, 1952, 1963 and 1983. The court struck these down based on historical practice. No one is funding the prayer. Different faiths have been invited. There have been non-sectarian prayers and Cherokee. The Buddhists were invited, but they declined. Mark Maniscalo, 1307 Progress, thanked the Council for their time and energy and sacrifice to the City. Like a person is identified by their character, a city is identified by character, service, commitment and hospitality. Through the Council we have godliness, and we are under His protection and provisions. He thanked the Council for calling upon His name. Tom Ray, 415 Bella Vista, stated he is impressed with the Council, and he is proud of the City government. He read excerpts from an address to George Washington from Ben Franklin on the importance of prayer and exhorting him to reinstitute daily prayer. Chris Birkhimer, 1703 N. IH 35, Apt. 4G, asked the City Council to keep the policy we have on prayer. He noted that government is made of people who rule over other people. Under a priest's collar or the dress the mayor wears, we are all just common people. Answering to a God who is higher than us and developing a relationship with him can cause a great change in a • person's life. RM070709 Minutes Page 2