Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilmember Cashman. And we'd like to wish a happy birthday to Councilmember Black, who is not here, but whose birthday is tomorrow. There are no presentations this evening. There are no communications. We have one proclamation being read this evening. Councilmember CdeBaca, will you please read Proclamation 20 2-0276.
Speaker 4: Thank you. Yes, I can. Proclamation number 22 to 76 congratulating the Denver St Patrick's Day Parade Committee on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the annual parade on March 12, 2022. Whereas Denver has one of the largest cultural parades in the United States and the largest Saint Patrick's Day parade west of the Mississippi. And. Whereas, this year's theme is centered around the return of the Irish and honors the 60th anniversary of the parade. And. Whereas, the Denver St Patrick's Day Parade exemplifies a peaceful celebration among the community of diverse citizens who gather together with a glance toward the Celtic past and a look toward the future while enjoying Irish cultural fanfare , pipe and drum bands, Irish step dancing and honoring all divisions of our military to the delight of over 300,000 spectators. And. Whereas, we offer our congratulations and thanks to all volunteers of the Denver St Patrick's Day Parade Committee, including many who have passed on but are still remembered for their endless hours and never ending commitment, which is what makes this celebration possible. And. Whereas, we hope the Colorado Sun and the Mile High Air lifts the spirits of all who marched or attend the 60th Annual Parade on Saturday, March 12, 2022. And we hope for a warm wind at our backs as we celebrate the Irish culture in the great state of Colorado. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Council of the City and County of Denver that the Council hereby congratulates the Denver St Patrick's Day Parade Committee, a volunteer organization on a well-organized, peaceful and spirited gathering at the 60th annual event, and that the clerk and Clerk of the city and county of Denver shall test and affix the seal of the city and county of Denver to this proclamation and that a copy be transmitted to the Denver St Patrick's Day Parade Committee President Michael O'Neill. Thank you.
Speaker 1: Thank you, Councilmember CdeBaca. Your motion to adopt.
Speaker 4: I move that proclamation 22 dash to 76, be adopted.
Speaker 1: Thank you. It's been moved and seconded. Comments by members of Council. Council member CdeBaca.
Speaker 4: Thank you very much. Just very happy to have this proclamation this year and actually see a potential parade happening. Last year this was the beginning of everything getting shut down and so very excited to welcome you all here and welcome the parade back to Denver.
Speaker 1: Thank you. Council member. Council member. Flynn.
Speaker 5: Thank you, Madam President. If I could just have some indulgence for a brief period here for a comment. About 17 years ago, I took my kids over to Ireland and we had the honor of visiting in County Galway, the little town where my Flynn ancestors from which they left during the potato famine, to come to America to find a better life. And while we were on the way from La Croix to Galway itself, we passed through the the town of Gort, where William Butler Yeats Castle Tours Abahlali is situated. And while we were in there in the gift shop, my kids bought me a a. A framed photo or a framed print of one of Yeats's most celebrated poems. It's very short. Madam President, I would like to read it, especially in this time when world peace is being threatened. We need to hear these words from the great Irish poet William Butler Yeats. The Lake Isle of Innisfree. I will rise now and go and go to Innisfree. And a small cabin build there of clay and wattles made nine bean rows, while I have there a hive for the honeybee. And live alone in the be loud glade. And I shall have some peace there. For peace comes dropping, slow dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings. There Midnight's All, a glimmer and noon, a purple glow. And the evening full of the linnet swings. I will rise and go now for always, night and day. I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore. While I stand on the roadway or on the pavements. Gray I hear it in the deep hardcore. Thank you, Madam President.
Speaker 1: Thank you very much, Councilmember Flynn. Those are amazing words and we can always be reminded of that. So thank you so much for doing that and I am very happy to support this tonight and look forward to finally having a parade and celebrating a little bit in our city. Madam Secretary, roll call.
Speaker 3: Please see tobacco. I. Flynn.
Speaker 5: I.
Speaker 0: Herndon, i.
Speaker 3: I. Cashman.
Speaker 0: I.
Speaker 3: Can Eat i. Ortega, I. Sandoval.
Speaker 4: I.
Speaker 3: Sawyer, I. Torres, I. Madam President.
Speaker 1: I. Madam Secretary, please close the voting and announce results.
Speaker 3: 11 Eyes.
Speaker 1: 11 Eyes. Proclamation 20 2-0276 has been adopted. Councilmember CdeBaca We'll start the five minute timer, if you'd like to invite up. Who's going to accept the proclamation?
Speaker 4: Thank you. I'd like to later invite committee president Mr. O'Neill and whoever else I would like to accept with him.
Speaker 5: Thank you so much for that. Ladies and gentlemen, I just want to start a little bit here. We're one of the few groups that that comes before you each year with a little bit of a serenade from the pipes and a song called Danny Boy before I make my remarks. Distinguished members of the Denver City Council. My name is Michael O'Neill and the president of the Denver St Patrick's Day Parade Committee. And I want to start my remarks with my profuse thanks and gratitude to the city itself for allowing us to put the Irish back on the streets this year in the city of Denver. I want to also make sure to thank the Office of Special Events, the Denver Fire Department, the Denver Police Department, the City Excise and Licensing Department. And I could go at public works. I could go on and on and on about everyone that is helping us put this parade back on the streets of Denver. And as part of that, I'd like to introduce a couple of distinguished members here with me. First, Dr. David Powell, who has been a party committee member for over 25 years, and as our grand marshal for 2022, Mollie Casey, our 2022 Queen, Carlene and Wyatt, our little Mr. Saint Patrick. Mr. Shamrock, that's going to be here. But I. I just want to let you know, I had a profound thought here in the last couple of days that it's amazing that we've lived through the last two years of COVID, and we've separated ourselves and we've not had that sense of community that we've had before the advent of the pandemic. And it's amazing that it's the Irish community that is now hosting the largest gathering of citizens across our country, starting with the Mile High City. And with that, we're going to have millions of people that are out enjoying themselves and having a wonderful time for the celebration of Saint Patrick's Day. And with that, I leave you with our theme. The Irish are back. Thank you very much.
Speaker 1: Will, thank you so much. And we welcome the celebration. And it's time it's time for us to come back. And thank you so much for the beautiful music and being here in chambers together. And our hopes are for a bright, sunny, bluebird, sky, Colorado day for the celebration. And so thank you again and congratulations. All right. We're going to go ahead and move on here. Madam Secretary, would you please read the bills for introduction?
A proclamation congratulating the Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee on the Occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the Annual Parade on March 12, 2022.