HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-9599 Establishing a Flag Display Policy for City FacilitiesRESOLUTION NO.9599 (2004 Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
ESTABLISHING A FLAG DISPLAY POLICY
FOR CITY FACILITIES
WHEREAS, flags are currently displayed at half-staff when a day of mourning has been
declared on the national, state or local level; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo has no formal policy addressing flag display for
City facilities, and therefore past practices have been inconsistent, at best; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo desires to standardize practices relative to
displaying flags within the City.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo
that future practices regarding the display of flags at City facilities shall be governed by the Flag
Display Policy for City Facilities, herein attached as Exhibit A.
Upon motion of Council Member Settle, seconded by Council Member Ewan, and on the
following roll call vote:
AYES: Council Members Ewan, Mulholland, Settle, Vice Mayor Schwartz, and
Mayor Romero
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
The foregoing resolution was adopted this 17`s day of August, 2004.
22:2u��i�:�'
David F. Romero, Mayor
ATTEST:
Diane Reynolds
Acing City
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
R9599
�d
;J
FLAG DISPLAY POLICY FOR CITY FACILITIES;
Policy:
1. The City of San Luis Obispo will use the Federal Flag Code for general flag.etiquette.
2. The City will lower flags to half-staff for the following reasons:
2.1. When a national day of mourning has been declared by the President of the United
States.
2.2. When a day of mourning has been declared by the Governor for the State of California.
2.3. On Memorial Day and Peace Officers Memorial Day.
2.4. When the Mayor, in consultation with the City Administrative Officer (CAO), directs
that the flags be lowered to half-staff because of the death of a prominent citizen or
current or former Mayor or City Councilmember.
2.5. When an employee has died in the line of duty.
2.6. Consistent with public safety agency custom, the Police Chief and Fire Chief may
declare that flags be flown at half-staff at their respective department facilities to
recognize the death of any law enforcement agent or firefighter regardless of
community. See 3.2 below for length of time a flag is flown at half-staff.
3. With regard to the length of time a flag is flow at half-staff, the following will apply:
3.1 For a national or state day of mourning, length of time shall be consistent with federal or
state protocol;
3.2 For a City day of mourning, length of time shall be determined by the Mayor, but shall
be no longer than from the date of death or the first working day after the date of death
through the date of the memorial service.
4. Flags should never be lowered to express policy or political positions.
Process:
1. The Mayor, in consultation with the CAO, is authorized to declare that City flags fly at half-
staff.
2. The CAO will notify via email all City employees when and why flags are being flown at
half-staff, so that employees, if necessary, can explain to citizens who ask why the flag is
flying at half-staff.
3. Following a declaration, flags will be flown at half-staff at all City facilities with flag
displays for the duration specified. (Note exception 2.6)
4. Each Department Head (or designee) is responsible for implementing the declaration in their
respective department.