STAFF REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
DATE: Regular Meeting of May 12, 2026
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Patrick Tang, Interim City Manager
SUBMITTED BY: Christopher Roke, Parks and Recreation Director Christie Crowl, City Attorney
SUBJECT: Allocation of $1,000 for Juneteenth Event 2026; Amendment to Flag Policy; Approval of Juneteenth and Pride Flag Raising for 2026 and Annually RECOMMENDED ACTION:
The City Council should receive a presentation on the proposed Juneteenth event at the library and direct staff to allocate $1,000 for the event by minute order.
The City Council should further consider taking the following actions by minute order: (1) approval of a minor amendment to the City’s flag policy, (2) authorize the raising of the Juneteenth and Pride flags this year, and (3) authorize the raising of those flags annually as described herein.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
As directed by City Council, staff is planning a Juneteenth event this year. The event is proposed to be similar to the 2025 event as the City plans to partner with the Hercules Library. There will be flag raising ceremony with a dance element, speakers, light refreshments, and a visual exhibit with quilts that tell the African American story at the Hercules Library. Staff is proposing a minor amendment to the City Council’s adopted flag policy to clarify that staff can bring commemorative flag requests for approval. Consistent with that understanding of the existing policy, staff is requesting that the City Council approve the annual raising of the Juneteenth and Pride flags.
BACKGROUND:
Juneteenth became the eleventh federal holiday in the United States on June 17, 2021 when the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act was signed into law. The day was officially designated Juneteenth National Independence Day, also known as Jubilee Day and Black Independence Day. Juneteenth has been celebrated on June 19th in various parts of the United States since 1865. In celebration of this historically significant event, the City Council approved raising the Juneteenth Flag at the Hercules Civic Center, and has done so for the past 4 years. The City has previously provided a short ceremony that has included opening remarks, guest speakers, poetry, a vocalist singing the Black National Anthem and the raising of the Pan-African flag.
Pride Month is celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall uprising in Manhattan. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally and internationally. The City has previously flown the Pride flag in June in recognition of Pride Month.
ANALYSIS:
Staff plans to work with the Hercules Library staff to help tell the African American story through readings and tapestries. There will also be refreshments at the flag ceremony and at the library. The event will take place on Saturday, June 13, 2026, and staff is requesting allocation of $1,000 to facilitate the event which will included costs associated with bringing a quilt exhibit to the library and with event refreshments. Staff notes that the Council may be asked to consider future Juneteenth celebrations in Refugio Valley Park, but at this time there are public works construction projects that preclude use of the park for this type of event or any expanded version.
The City adopted its flag policy in January 2020 to establish guidelines for: (1) the exhibition of the flag of the United States of America, the California State flag, and the Hercules City flag from City buildings; and (2) the display of ceremonial flags. The City Council has previously authorized staff to display the Juneteenth flag in accordance with the policy. Staff has noted that the policy expressly states that Council members can request approval of a commemorative flag display, and staff would like to clarify that the policy allows staff to bring the request to the Council as well. The proposed amendment is included in Attachment 1.
Adoption of the proposed amendment would allow the City Council to (1) authorize staff to raise the Juneteenth flag on the date of the proposed event (Saturday, June 13, 2026) and to continue flying the flag through Friday, June 19, 2026, and (2) authorize staff to raise the Pride flag during the rest of the month of June. In addition, staff is also requesting that the City Council approve the annual raising of the Juneteenth flag for June 13-19, as well as to raise the Pride flag beginning June 1 and authorize its flying for the rest of the month of June with the exception of the period when the Juneteenth flag is flying.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Staff recommends that the City Council allocate $1,000 from the General Fund to help pay for the cost to bring the quilts to the library as well as to pay for refreshments for the event. The General Fund has adequate resources to support this expense.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 – Flag Policy with proposed amendments