Staff Report re: Commemorative Flag Schedule CY 2026 Page 1 of 3
STAFF REPORT
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O: Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Michelle Estabillo, City Clerk
VIA: Daniel Barros, City Manager
MEETING DATE: January 14, 2026
SUBJECT: Commemorative Flag Schedule CY 2026
R
ECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the following:
RESOLUTION DIRECTING TOWN STAFF TO FLY VARIOUS COMMEMORATIVE FLAGS IN
LIEU OF THE TOWN OF COLMA FLAG AT THE COLMA COMMUNITY CENTER PURSUANT TO CEQA GUIDELINE 15301 AND 15378
C
OUNCIL ADOPTED VALUES
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he adoption of a flag -raising schedule reflects the Town of Colma's commitment to fostering respect by recognizing diverse causes, communities, and significant events that matter to our residents.
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CKGROUND
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n June 26, 2019, the City Council of the Town of Colma adopted a new flag policy, codified as Subchapter 1.18 of the Colma Administrative Code, which states that Council may by resolution direct Town staff to fly commemorative flags in lieu of the Town of Colma flag on the flagpole located at Town Hall or at the Colma Community Center, as an expression of the Town's official sentiments, consistent with the Town's vision, mission, and guiding principles, incorporating themes of diversity, equity, social justice, and inclusion. Commemorative flags shall be displayed for a period of time that is reasonable or customary for the subject that is to be commemorated, but no longer than 30 continuous days.
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n January 8, 2025, the City Council approved the inclusion of the Irish Flag as part of the Town’s commemorative flag program. Consistent with Council direction, the Irish Flag is flown in recognition of Irish Heritage and Culture Month in March, at or around St. Patrick’s Day, which is celebrated on March 17.
ATTACHMENT 4
Staff Report re: Commemorative Flag Schedule CY 2026 Page 2 of 3 On February 26, 2025, the City Council approved including the Mexican Flag as part of the Town’s commemorative flag program. Consistent with Council direction, the Mexican Flag is flown in recognition of Cinco de Mayo in May, at or around May 5 when Cinco de Mayor is celebrated.
ANALYSIS
When the policy was adopted, staff indicated that for expediency, rather than approving each commemorative flag individually each year, the schedule of various commemorative flags could be adopted annually in January.
Council has previously discussed and approved the flying of all commemorative flags included in the proposed 2026. Specifically:
On June 26, 2019, Council approved a resolution to fly the LGBT/Pride Flag in recognition of June being Pride Month.
On September 25, 2019, Council approved a resolution to fly the Italian Flag in recognition of October being Italian Heritage and Culture Month.
On June 24, 2020, Council approved a resolution to fly the Philippine Flag in recognition of Philippine Independence Day on June 12.
On January 12, 2022, Council approved a resolution to fly the Israeli Flag in recognition of Israeli Independence Day, which varies based on the Hebrew calendar.
On September 14, 2022, Council approved a resolution to fly the Armenian Flag in recognition of Armenian Independence Day on September 21.
On January 8, 2025, Council approved the inclusion of the Irish Flag in recognition of Irish Heritage and Culture Month.
On February 25, 2025, Council approved the inclusion of the Mexican Flag in recognition of Cinco de Mayo.
The attached resolution directs staff to fly the following flags on the following dates:
Flag Occasion Duration
Irish Flag Irish Heritage and Culture Month March 11, 2026 to March 18, 2026 Mexican Flag Cinco de Mayo April 29, 2026 to May 6, 2026 Israeli Flag Israeli Independence Day April 22, 2026 until sundown Philippine Flag Philippine Independence Day June 10, 2026 to June 17, 2026 LGBT/Pride Flag Pride Month June 24, 2026 to July 1, 2026 Staff Report re: Commemorative Flag Schedule CY 2026 Page 3 of 3 Armenian Flag Armenian Independence Day September 16, 2026 to September 23, 2026
Italian Flag Italian Heritage and Culture Month October 7, 2026 to October 14, 2026
This resolution does not prohibit Council from flying additional commemorative flags throughout the year. Requests for additional commemorative flags will be referred to the Cultural and Arts Subcommittee for review. The Subcommittee will consider such requests and, if appropriate, make a recommendation to the City Council. The City Council would then consider the Subcommittee’s recommendation at a duly noticed Council meeting and determine whether to authorize the flying of the commemorative flag. If additional commemorative flags are approved, it would be incorporated into the commemorative flag schedule for consideration and adoption in the following year.
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed resolution would have no anticipated fiscal impact; the authorized flags have already been purchased.
ENVIRONMENTAL
The City Council’s action in adopting the resolution to fly commemorative flags is exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guideline 15301 as the operation of an existing public facility, namely, the Colma Community Center. It is also exempt pursuant to CEQA Guideline 15378 as an organizational or administrative activity of the government that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
ALTERNATIVES
The City Council could choose not to approve a commemorative flag schedule and instead approve each flag individually throughout the year. Staff does not recommend this, however, as a single schedule approval is a more efficient use of Council and staff time.
CONCLUSION
The City Council should adopt the proposed resolution authorizing the flying of commemorative flags in Calendar Year 2026.
ATTACHMENTS
A. Resolution Directing Town Staff to Fly Various Commemorative Flags in Calendar Year 2026
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Res. 2026-__, Commemorative Flag Schedule 2026 Page 1 of 3 RESOLUTION NO. 2026-__
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF COLMA
RESOLUTION DIRECTING TOWN STAFF TO FLY VARIOUS COMMEMORATIVE FLAGS
IN LIEU OF THE TOWN OF COLMA FLAG AT THE COLMA COMMUNITY CENTER PURSUANT TO CEQA GUIDELINE 15301 AND 15378
The City Council of the Town of Colma hereby resolves:
1. Recitals and Background.
(a) On June 26, 2019, the City Council of the Town of Colma adopted a new flag policy codified at Subchapter 1.18 of the Colma Administrative Code to memorialize the fact that the Town’s flag poles are a nonpublic forum.
(b) Pursuant to Subchapter 1.18 of the Colma Administrative Code, Council may by resolution direct Town staff to fly commemorative flags in lieu of the Town of Colma flag on the flag pole located at Town Hall or at the Colma Community Center, as an expression of the Town's official sentiments, consistent with the Town's vision, mission, and guiding principles, incorporating themes of diversity, equity, social justice, and inclusion. Commemorative Flags shall be displayed for a period of time that is reasonable or customary for the subject that is to be commemorated, but no longer than 30 continuous days.
(c) The Council has previously approved the flying of five commemorative flags. On June 26, 2019, the City Council approved a resolution to fly the LGBT/Pride Commemorative flag in recognition of Pride Month; on September 25, 2019, the City Council approved a resolution to fly the Italian flag in recognition of Italian Heritage and Culture Month. On June 24, 2020, the City Council approved a resolution to fly the Philippine flag in recognition of Philippine Independence Day. On January 12, 2022, Council approved a resolution to fly the Israeli Flag in recognition of Israeli Independence Day, which changes date based on the Hebrew calendar. On September 14, 2022, Council approved a resolution to fly the Armenian Flag in recognition of Armenian Independence Day on September 21. On January 8, 2025, Council approved a resolution to fly the Irish Flag in recognition of Irish Heritage and Cultural Month. On February 25, 2025, Council approved a resolution to fly the Mexican Flag in recognition of Cinco de Mayo. (d) The flying of these commemorative flags is an expression of one of the Town's guiding principles of celebrating diversity; as such, the Town intends to fly these commemorative flags again in 2026.
(e) In honor of Irish Heritage and Culture Month, the Town intends to fly the Irish flag in lieu of the Town of Colma Flag at the Colma Community Center on March 11, 2026 to March 18, 2026. (f) In honor of Cinco de Mayor, the Town intends to fly the Mexican flag in lieu of the Town of Colma Flag at the Colma Community Center on April 29, 2026 to May 6, 2026.
ATTACHMENT A
Res. 2026-__, Commemorative Flag Schedule 2026 Page 2 of 3 (g) In honor of Israeli Independence Day, which changes date based on the Hebrew calendar, the Town intends to fly the Israeli flag in lieu of the Town of Colma Flag at the Colma Community Center on April 22, 2026 until sunset.
(h) In honor of Philippine Independence Day on June 12, the Town intends to fly the Philippine flag in lieu of the Town of Colma Flag at the Colma Community Center June 10, 2026 to June 17, 2026.
(i) In honor of June as Pride Month, the Town intends to fly the LGBT/pride flag in lieu of the Town of Colma Flag at the Colma Community Center from June 24, 2026 to July 1, 2026. (j) In honor of Armenian Independence Day on September 21, the Town intends to fly the Armenian Flag in lieu of the Town of Colma Flag at the Colma Community Center September 16, 2026 to September 23, 2026.
(k) In honor of October as Italian Heritage and Culture Month, the Town intends to fly the Italian flag in lieu of the Town of Colma Flag at the Colma Community Center from October 7, 2026 to October 14, 2026.
2. Order.
(a) The City Council has considered the full record before and finds the recitals set forth above true and correct and hereby incorporates them by reference. (b) Pursuant to Subchapter 1.18 of the Colma Administrative Code, the City Council hereby directs staff to fly:
(i) the Irish flag in lieu of the Town of Colma Flag at the Colma Community Center on March 11, 2026 to March 18, 2026.
(ii) the Israeli flag in lieu of the Town of Colma Flag at the Colma Community Center on April 22, 2026 until sunset;
iii) the Mexican flag in lieu of the Town of Colma Flag at the Colma Community Center on April 29, 2026 to May 6, 2026;
(iv) the Philippine flag in lieu of the Town of Colma Flag at the Colma Community Center from June 10, 2026 to June 17, 2026;
(v) the LGBT/pride flag in lieu of the Town of Colma Flag at the Colma Community Center from June 24, 2026 to July 1, 2026;
(vi) the Armenian Flag in lieu of the Town of Colma Flag at the Colma Community Center from September 16, 2026 to September 23, 2026; and
(vi) the Italian flag in lieu of the Town of Colma Flag at the Colma Community Center from October 7, 2026 to October 14, 2025.
Res. 2026-__, Commemorative Flag Schedule 2026 Page 3 of 3
3. Effective Date.
(a) This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
Certification of Adoption
I certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 2026-__ was adopted at a regular meeting of said City Council held on January 14, 2026 by the following vote:
Name Voting Present, Not Voting Absent
Aye No Abstain Not Participating
Carrie Slaughter, Mayor
Helen Fisicaro
Joanne F. del Rosario
Thomas Walsh
Ken Gonzalez
Voting Tally
Dated ______________________ ___________________________________ Carrie Slaughter Mayor
Attest: ____________________________
Michelle Estabillo Gourlie, City Clerk
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