HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/17/2004, C3 - RESOLUTION ADOPTING A FLAG DISPLAY POLICY FOR CITY FACILITIES � l
council M imD�
j ac cn as aEpont
CITY OF SAN LU I S O B I S P O
FROM: Wendy George, ACAO O�
Prepared By: Betsy Kiser, Principal Administrative Analyst
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION ADOPTING A FLAG DISPLAY POLICY FOR CITY
FACILITIES
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution establishing a Flag Display Policy for City Facilities.
DISCUSSION
Background
With the recent deaths of former City Council members and President Reagan, proper flag
display etiquette came into question, particularly with respect to flying flags at half-staff.
Finding no formal policy, staff was directed by the City Administrative Officer (CAO) to
research best practices and develop a policy to address 1) who in the City is responsible for
declaring that City flags be flown at half-staff; 2) when flags will be flown at half-staff; 3) how
long flags will fly at half-staff once a declaration has occurred; and 4) who is responsible for
implementing half-staff declarations.
Process
To arrive at the proposed policy, staff requested information on flag display policies from all
cities on the League of CA Cities list serve. From the information obtained, a draft policy was
developed and circulated to Department Heads and appropriate staff to seek their review and
comments. The proposed policy was then edited, reviewed by the CAO for final
recommendations and prepared for Council approval.
Policy Highlights
The proposed policy (Exhibit A to the Resolution) is fairly straightforward with the exception of
Policy #4. The policy states, "Flags should never be lowered to express policy or political
positions." The need for this policy stems from feedback from other cities where requests were
made to "make a policy statement" via displaying the flag at half-staff. This is not an appropriate
use of national, state and local flags and is an abuse of proper flag etiquette, therefore staff
recommends a specific policy statement to prevent such use of the flag should such a request be
made in San Luis Obispo at some time in the future.
C3 -�
Council Agenda Report-Flag Display Policy Page 2
CONCURRENCES
All department heads and appropriate staff reviewed the proposed policy and concur with its
content.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact with the implementation of the Flag Display Policy.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Do not approve the policy, in which case the City will remain at risk of displaying flags on an
inconsistent basis.
2. Provide direction to alter the policy to better meet the desires of Council.
ATTACHMENT
Resolution and policy
C3 -(D'
G:\Staff\Mser\BestPractices\CAR-Flag Display Policy 81704.DOC
RESOLUTION NO. (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 seconded by
and on the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
The foregoing resolution was adopted this day of 2004.
David F. Romero, Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Jo . Lowell
R C3 - 3
�Xhlblt
FLAGDISPLAY POLICY OR 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 q
respective department. e3 _