Staff Report Rescinding Resolution No. 2026-01 – Flag Policy Page 1 of 2
STAFF REPORT
TO: M
ayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Dan Barros, City Manager
MEETING DATE: May 13, 2026
SUBJECT: Rescind Resolution 2026-01 Regarding Commemorative Flag Displays
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the following:
RESOLUTION RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. 2026-01 TO ELIMINATE CERTAIN FLAGS FROM BEING FLOWN AND DIRECTING STAFF TO RAISE THE LGBTQ+/PRIDE FLAG
ANNUALLY ON THE FIRST WEDNESDAY IN JUNE UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH PURSUANT TO CEQA GUIDELINES SECTIONS 15301 AND 15378
COUNCIL ADOPTED VALUES
• Inclusivity and Respect: Building trust to foster an inclusive, supportive, and open environment.
• Responsibility: Making decisions by taking long-range consequences into consideration, including potential social impacts of government expression.
BAC
KGROUND
On June 26, 2019, the City Council adopted a flag policy (Administrative Code Subchapter 1.18) establishing that Town Flag Poles are nonpublic forums intended for government expression rather than public free expression. Currently, the policy allows for the display of:
• The Flag of the United States of America
• The Flag of the State of California
• The Flag of the Town of Colma
• Commemorative Flags as authorized by Council resolution.
Per
established practice, the City Council adopts an annual resolution every January to direct staff on when to fly commemorative flags through the calendar year.
AGENDA ITEM #3
Staff Report Rescinding Resolution No. 2026-01 – Flag Policy Page 2 of 2
ANALYSIS
In recent weeks, scheduled events for the Israeli Flag Raising and the Mexican Flag Raising were canceled by the City Manager, in consultation with the Mayor, due to significant public safety concerns. The Town received multiple written protests and notifications from organized groups indicating that hundreds of protestors would attend the Israeli Flag Raising event. To ensure public safety, the city leadership made the decision to cancel the event.
During the April 22, 2026 City Council meeting, Mayor Slaughter requested that the flag policy be agendized for council discussion. Because this policy discussion was pending, City Manager Barros canceled the scheduled Mexican Flag Raising to prevent further civic conflict.
On May 13, 2026, the City Council held a Study Session to review Subchapter 1.18 of the Administrative Code regarding Commemorative Flag Displays. Following discussion , the Council directed staff to amend the prior adopted resolution eliminating all flags associated with foreign governments and only to fly the LGBTQ+/Pride Flag. The LGBTQ+/Pride Flag will be raised annually on the first Wednesday in June and will remain flown throughout the entire month of June.
FISCAL IMPACT
Commemorative flag events cost the Town between $500 and $1,500 annually.
Rescinding Resolution No. 2026-01 and limiting activities to one annual flag raising will lower program expenses. This consolidation also optimizes resource allocation by redirecting staff hours toward core Town services.
ENVIRONMENTAL
This is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines section 15378, as it is an administrative activity that will not result in a physical change to the environment. This action is also not subject to CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guideline 15301 as the operation of existing public facilities including the Town’s flagpoles.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the resolution.
ATTACHMENTS
A. Draft Resolution
B. Resolution No. 2026-01
Res. 2026-XX, Rescinding Resolution No. 2026-01 – Flag Policy Page 1 of 2 RESOLUTION NO. 2026-XX
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF COLMA
RESOLUTION RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. 2026-01 TO ELIMINATE CERTAIN FLAGS FROM BEING FLOWN AND DIRECTING STAFF TO RAISE THE LGBTQ+/PRIDE
FLAG ANNUALLY ON THE FIRST WEDNESDAY IN JUNE UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH PURSUANT TO CEQA GUIDELINES SECTIONS 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 adopted a flag policy (Colma Administrative Code Subchapter 1.18) establishing that the Town's flag poles are a nonpublic forum.
b) Under this policy, the Council may by resolution direct staff to fly commemorative flags as an expression of the Town’s official sentiments and guiding principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. c) On January 14, 2026, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-01, which established a schedule for flying seven commemorative flags throughout the 2026 calendar year.
d) The City Council now desires to rescind Resolution No. 2026-01 to eliminate certain flags from being flown, with the exception of the LGBT/Pride flag. 2 . Order.
a) The City Council hereby eliminates the authorization to fly the following flags previously approved in Resolution 2026-01:
i
. The Irish Flag (March)
ii. The Israeli Flag (April)
iii. The Mexican Flag (April/May)
iv. The Philippine Flag (June)
v. Th e Armenian Flag (September)
vi. The Italian Flag (October)
ATTACHMENT A
Res. 2026-XX, Rescinding Resolution No. 2026-01 – Flag Policy Page 2 of 2 b) The City Council hereby directs staff to fly:
i. The LGBTQ+/Pride flag in lieu of the Town of Colma Flag at the Colma Community Center, effective June 3, 2026, and continuing annually on the first Wednesday of June until the end of the calendar month.
3. Effective Date.
(a) This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
Certification of Adoption
I certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 2026-XX was adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the Town of Colma held on May 27, 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
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-01
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.
Res. 2026-01, Commemorative Flag Schedule 2026 Page 1 of 3
ATTACHMENT B
(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.
U) 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. 2026-01, Commemorative Flag Schedule 2026 Page 2 of 3
3. Effective Date.
(a) This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
Certification of Adoption
I certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 2026-01 was adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the Town of Colma 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 4
Dated '}:z\)~
Helen Fisicaro, Vice Mayor
Attest: ~LilOL ~~
Michelle Estabillo Gourlie, City Clerk
Res. 2026-01, Commemorative Flag Schedule 2026 Page 3 of 3