Under the current Policy, organizations are prohibited from being the featured subject of a military banner; organization participation is limited to the financial sponsorship of eligible honorees. Non- profit agency sponsor s’ titles and/or logos may be permitted on the banner, subject to formal review and approval by City staff.
From Policy section 3, Purpose and Intent:
In establishing this program, the City does not intend in any manner to create a public forum or other means by which noncommercial social, religious, or political messages may be conveyed, or by which public discourse, exchange of opinions, or discussion on issues of any nature may occur. The sole and limited purpose of the Military Banner Program is to recognize and honor the contribution of currently serving or active duty and veterans of the United States Armed Forces by permitting the display of banners containing the serviceperson’s name, professional grade photo (if available), and service division. Consistent with the intent of the City, as expressed above, the City permits the sponsorship and display of the Armed Forces banners solely in accordance with the following policy. (Policy section 3, pg. 2)
Expansion of the Program to allow military and veteran organizations to promote themselves through the purchase of military banners would require the following considerations:
• Redefinition of the Purpose and Intent of the Military Banner Program ( Policy section 3, pg. 2)
• Determination of eligibility criteria, cost, display term, banner warranties/guarantees • Description of acceptable organizational banner content and specifications • Establishment of application process and requirements • Organizational Banner artwork/design
Since inception, the City’s Military Banner Program has been highly successful . City staff strive to provide Program excellence, honoring the service and sacrifice of the men and women featured on our banners. City staff welcome Committee input and direction on potential Policy updates for City Council consideration based on the information provided.
FISCAL IMPACT
Any additional Program and/or Policy change recommendations would require further cost analysis prior to presentation to the City Council for consideration.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Military Banner Program Policy CC-30
Item Title: 12.2
Veterans and Military Families Advisory Committee's Review of the Military Banner Program
Item Page Number: 11
Menifee Mayor and City Council
August 19, 2026
Page
1358 of 1366
CITY OF MENIFEE
SUBJECT: Military Banner Program Locations
MEETING DATE: July 20, 2026
TO: Veterans and Military Families Advisory Committee
PREPARED BY: Jennifer Jackson, Senior Management Analyst REVIEWED BY: Rebekah Kramer, Assistant City Manager
APPROVED BY: Mariana Mitchell, Community Services Director -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Receive and file a report on Military Banner Program locations.
DISCUSSION
In response to a future agenda item request from the Veterans and Military Families Advisory Committee (VMFAC) at the June 15, 2026 meeting, a report on the Military Banner Program Locations has been prepared.
Background
When the Military Banner Program (Program) was established in 2012, banners were authorized for display on light poles throughout the City. At the November 15, 2023 Council meeting, the City Council reviewed the existing program’s structure and approved an update to Military Banner Policy CC-30 (Policy) (Attachment 1). This update redefined Program location parameters and introduced other improvements, including a new banner design and addition of a mini commemorative banner.
Redefined Program Locations
Following its 2012 launch, the Program’s 45-square-mile footprint became difficult to manage effectively, and sparse banner spacing weakened its visual impact. The 2023 Policy update successfully consolidated the program area to improve management and increase display density.
The locations in newly defined Program area were selected for their high visibility and to ensure that all four City Council districts were represented (Attachment 1, pg. 8):
District 1 = Cherry Hills Blvd, McCall Blvd, Sun City Blvd.
District 2 = Newport Rd.
Item Title: 12.2
Veterans and Military Families Advisory Committee's Review of the Military Banner Program
Item Page Number: 12
Menifee Mayor and City Council
August 19, 2026
Page
1359 of 1366
City of Menifee Staff Report
Military Banner Program Locations
July 20, 2026
3 4
4 4
District 3 = Newport Rd., Menifee Rd.
District 4 = Menifee Rd.
Exclusion of Murrieta Road
Although Murrieta Road was part of the original 2012 citywide Program area, the November 2023 Policy update excluded it for a few key factors:
Physical obstacles: Trees and other barriers restrict banner installations to only one side of the street in several areas.
Sufficient capacity: The active locations accommodate up to 300 banners across all four City Council districts. The current inventory sits at 61% (184 banners), meaning additional capacity is unnecessary at this point.
Visual impact: Adding more streets outside the consolidated zone would recreate a sparse display pattern, reducing the Program’s visual impact.
Should the Program face capacity limits in the future, Murrieta Road along with other arterial routes may be reconsidered for addition to the program.
The Military Banner Program remains a popular way to honor the veterans in our community. Staff continue to efficiently manage the volume of applications received and the Program maintains ample display capacity for new participants.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended action.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Military Banner Program Policy CC-30
Item Title: 12.2
Veterans and Military Families Advisory Committee's Review of the Military Banner Program
Item Page Number: 13
Menifee Mayor and City Council
August 19, 2026
Page
1360 of 1366
CITY OF MENIFEE
City Council Policy
Policy Number: CC-30
Approving Authority:
City Council
Subject
MILITARY BANNER PROGRAM POLICY
Effective Date:
February 19, 2020
Last Modified:
November 15, 2023
1. SUMMARY
The Military Banner Program was created to recognize and celebrate Menifee residents or their immediate family members (legal guardian , spouse , mother , father, daughter , son, brother, sister , grandson, granddaughter) who have served or are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces . The display of the military banners will contribute to the community 's quality of life which lends a special character to the City of Menifee.
The Menifee City Council has established the Military Banner Program to be administered by the City in accordance with the terms and provisions set forth in this program .
2. DEFINITIONS
For the purpose of this policy, the following phrases shall have the following definitions :
A. "Active duty" means full-time duty in the United States Armed Forces (as stated in United States Code Title 38 – Veterans’ Benefits, Section 101 (21) (A)) B. "Reserve" means a member of a reserve component of one of the Armed Forces (as stated in United States Code Title 38 – Veterans’ Benefits, Section 101 (26)) C. "United States Armed Forces " means the United States Army , Marine Corps, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines, Space Force, National Guard-Active Reserve, including the reserve components thereof (as stated in United States Code Title 38 – Veterans’ Benefits, Section 101 (10))
D. "Veteran" means a person who has served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable (as stated in United States Code Title 38 – Veterans’ Benefits, Section 101 (2))
E. “Line of Duty” is An injury or disease incurred during active military, naval, or air service will be deemed to have been incurred in line of duty and not the result of the veteran's own misconduct when the person on whose account benefits are claimed was, at the time the injury was suffered or disease contracted, in active military, naval, or air service, whether on active duty or on authorized leave, unless such injury or disease was a result of the person's own willful misconduct or abuse of alcohol or drugs. Venereal disease shall not be presumed to be due to willful misconduct if the person in service complies with the regulations of the appropriate service department requiring the person to report and receive treatment for such disease (as stated in United States Code Title 38 – Veterans’ Benefits, Section 105 (a)).
Item Title: 12.2
Veterans and Military Families Advisory Committee's Review of the Military Banner Program
Item Page Number: 14
Menifee Mayor and City Council
August 19, 2026
Page
1361 of 1366
City of Menifee Policy CC-30
MILITARY BANNER PROGRAM POLICY
4 3
7 2
2 3. PURPOSE AND INTENT
In establishing this program , the City does not intend in any manner to create a public forum or other means by which noncommercial social , religious , or political messages may be conveyed , or by which public discourse , exchange of opinions, or discussion on issues of any nature may occur. The sole and limited purpose of the Military Banner Program is to recognize and honor the contribution of currently serving or active duty and veterans of the United States Armed Forces by permitting the display of banners containing the serviceperson's name, professional grade photo (if available), and service division . Consistent with the intent of the City , as expressed above, the City permits the sponsorship and display of the Armed Forces banners solely in accordance with the following policy:
4. BANNER CONTENT AND SPECIFICATIONS
A. The text of a banner must list the name of the person and United States Armed Forces division . Refer to Exhibit 1 for banner designs . Design 2 is for servicemembers that died in the line of duty (as defined in paragraph 2. E.) This will be verified by DA form 2173 (Statement of Medical Examination and Duty Status).
B. No advertisement or other commercial speech shall be permitted on Military Banner Program banners with the sole exception of non-p rofit agency sponsorship titles or non-profit agency sponsorship logos with City staff approval.
5. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
A. Any person or organization can apply for a banner for a currently serving reserve or active-duty serviceperson in the United States Armed Forces , or a veteran (an "honoree").
To be considered, the application must include a verification of the honoree 's military status. This can be verified through the recognized Military Documents or Military Discharge Documents, such as orders, DD form 214, or military identification for currently serving reserve or active-duty servicepersons (collectively , "verification documents ").
B. The honoree must be a resident of the C ity of Men ifee or an immediate family member (legal guardian, spouse, mother, father, daughter, son, brother, sister, grandson, granddaughter) of a current City of Menifee res ident. Residency must be verified with a recent utility bill , driver's license , or other form of identification listing a current Menifee address as deemed appropriate by City of Menifee staff.
6. DISPLAY TERM
A. The banner will be displayed for a minimum of twelve (12) months and a maximum of twenty-four (24) months. City of Menifee staff will exercise discretion as to when it is appropriate to display the banners and for what duration depending on demand and number of participants .
B. The banner shall be removed if:
i. the banner becomes damaged due to wind, age, vandalism, or other reasons as solely determined by the City;
ii.i. the honoree no longer meets the eligibility criteria; iii.ii. the Military Banner Program is discontinued for any reason at the discretion of the City Council ;
Item Title: 12.2
Veterans and Military Families Advisory Committee's Review of the Military Banner Program
Item Page Number: 15
Menifee Mayor and City Council
August 19, 2026
Page
1362 of 1366
City of Menifee Policy CC-30
MILITARY BANNER PROGRAM POLICY
4 3
7 2
2 iv. all banner locations are filled, in which case the City shall have the right to replace banners annually, thereby allowing those interested in the program to participate.
7. PROCESS AND REQUIREMENTS
A. Applications will be submitted to the City of Menifee by using the form prov ided by the City, and shall include the name of the proposed honoree , branch of service , professional grade photo (if available), contact information of applicant , and a copy of a form of identification in order to verify City of Menifee residency of either the honoree or the honoree 's immediate family member(s) .
The photograph submitted must be of professional grade and have a minimum of 5"x7" dimensions, be either in color or black and white, be of the proposed honoree in uniform , and have a resolution of 300 dpi or higher if submitted electronically . If a photograph is not available , banners can be prepared without the honoree 's picture (see Exhibit 1).
B. Verification documents for the proposed honoree must also be submitted or verified in person . Not providing the accepted forms of verification documents will result in the rejection of the application .
C. Applications must include payment for the cost of the banner, including installat ion and removal, paid in full at the time of submittal. If an application is wait-listed, the payment will be requested once a location becomes available and the application is ready to be processed . If an application is deemed ineligible , then the cost will be refunded to the applicant following the City of Menifee's Finance Department's normal reimbursement process and timeframe .
The cost per application is currently $135, which covers a portion of the costs of application processing, banner design and fabrication, and the installation and removal of the banner . This cost includes a commemorative banner presented to Program participants at City Hall or the City’s Veterans Day events. If the honoree died in the line of duty the banner may be presented to a family member at the City’s Memorial Day event. The City reserves the right to change the application fee without prior notice, and the City Council delegates authority to the City Manager to make such adjustments without further City Council action so long as the adjustment is less than the current full cost of each banner application. Acceptable forms of payment are limited to the methods of payment allowed by the City of Menifee 's Finance Department.
D. Applications may be submitted and will be processed on an on-going basis; however , banners will be installed twice each fiscal year (July 1 - June 30) , depending on pole availability. Applications must be completed and submitted by February 15 to have a banner placed in time for Memorial Day . Applicants who would like their banner installed by Veteran's Day must submit prior to August 15.
The City has limited space for the placement of banners and space is assigned to approved applications on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to space limitations, it is possible that not all approved applications will be assigned a space . Approved applications that are not ass igned a space at the time of application approval shall be placed on a waiting list to be processed for an assigned space as it becomes available.
Item Title: 12.2
Veterans and Military Families Advisory Committee's Review of the Military Banner Program
Item Page Number: 16
Menifee Mayor and City Council
August 19, 2026
Page
1363 of 1366
City of Menifee Policy CC-30
MILITARY BANNER PROGRAM POLICY
4 3
7 2
2 E. Only one banner per honoree is allowed . The lettering of the name and branch of the serviceperson will be sized to fit the personalization area on the banner . Spelling of the name will be taken directly from the application.
F. Once the application has been processed , the City will create the banner with a manufacturing company selected on the City's staff sole discretion. Once approved, applicants will be notified of approval and banner location .
G. The number of, and specific banner locations shall be determined solely by the City and may be revised without prior notice. An applicant may not pre-select a specific location for the banner . Banner placement is determined by City staff and is currently based on the availability of the poles . If the City in its discretion elects to relocate a banner at the request of an applicant , all costs of relocation will be the sole responsibility of the applicant and shall be paid in full before the relocation occurs.
H. Banners will be placed on poles in accordance with the Military Banner Location Map (Exhibit 2) which will include the Sun City area (McCall Blvd, Sun City Blvd, Cherry Hills Blvd.), Newport Road and Menifee Road. Banners can be placed in any of these locations based upon preference and availability regardless of active duty or veteran status.
I. The City is responsible for the removal of banners at the end of the 24-month display period. that are due for removal, or are Additionally, the City will repair or replace any banners damaged or destroyed due to age, vandalism, accidents, or any acts of nature, (including high winds) during that 24-month period., and excluding normal warranty repairs. The City is not responsible for maintaining or repairing banners, or for replacing banners that are lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed due to age, vandalism, accidents, or any acts of nature, including high winds, aside from current normal warranty repairs. Applicants shall either pay for the cost of maintenance or replacement and repair for the banner, or the banner (if in disrepair) shall be removed.
A.
J.I. Applicants shall have no right of access to installed banners but may request removal of the installed banner for their specified honoree . Once a banner is removed following such a request , the applicant shall have no further rights pursuant to this policy.
K.J. Photographs submitted with the Military Banner Program application shall become property of the City of Menifee . Photographs with names and military branches may be posted on the City 's website and may be used for other military-related events , unless otherwise requested in writing by the applicant or honoree .
L.K. The right to have a banner displayed pursuant to this policy may not be transferred or assigned .
M.L. Once a banner is removed, applicants may re-apply for a new banner after a waiting period of 12 months to allow for other participants ; however , City staff may use discretion on the waiting period should no other banner(s) be waitlisted . If, after the waiting period , an additional banner for an honoree is approved , the banner will be placed in accordance with paragraph Vll (7) , above; there is no guarantee that the additional banner will be placed at the same location as the original banner .
N.M. The City of Menifee reserves the right to revise this policy, discontinue the Military Item Title: 12.2
Veterans and Military Families Advisory Committee's Review of the Military Banner Program
Item Page Number: 17
Menifee Mayor and City Council
August 19, 2026
Page
1364 of 1366
City of Menifee Policy CC-30
MILITARY BANNER PROGRAM POLICY
4 3
7 2
2 Banner Program and/or revise applicable fees without prior notice . While damaged and/or removed banners will not be retained or returned, participants will receive a commemorative banner.
8. SPONSORSHIP & CRITERIA FOR DONATION USE
A. The City can accept donations , per the City 's donation policy , on an on-going basis to support the Military Banner Program . Any person or organization can be a sponsor of a banner or the program. To make donations in support of the program, checks can be made payable to City of Menifee ; all donations can be mailed to or dropped off at :
City of Menifee
Attn: Military Banner Donations 29844
Haun Road
Menifee , CA 92586
B. Donation funds, if available and on a first come-first use basis, may be utilized upon request to fund a Military Banner if the service member is a current City of Menifee resident, or immediate family member of a current City of Menifee resident, and one or more of the following criteria is met:
i. Fallen Hero (priority given to Gold Star Families) ii. Service member served in combat; or
iii. Financial hardship (at the discretion of the City Manager or designee) If at the time of the donation, a clear name is not submitted for the banner(s) with the donation(s) made, then the City of Menifee holds the authority and reserves the right to direct how, who, where, and when the banner(s) are created, displayed or donated to, based on criteria within the banner donation policy. Other special circumstances will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and will be at the discretion of the City Manager or designee.
9. INDEMNIFICATION AND HOLD HARMLESS
The application form for the placement of banners shall require that each banner applicant indemnify and hold the City of Menifee, and each of its elected officials, officers , employees, agents , and volunteers free and harmless with respect to any and all liabilities, claims, lawsuits and/or damages of any nature whatsoever that allegedly arise from or are connected to the approval of the applicant's banner application , including the display of, and/or damage to or loss of any banner or banners .
Item Title: 12.2
Veterans and Military Families Advisory Committee's Review of the Military Banner Program
Item Page Number: 18
Menifee Mayor and City Council
August 19, 2026
Page
1365 of 1366
City of Menifee Policy CC-30
MILITARY BANNER PROGRAM POLICY
4 3
7 2
2 Revision History
Revision No. Date Approved Approved By: Comments
0 February 19, 2020 City Council Original Policy
1 August 18, 2021 City Council Amended Donations, Section 8 2 November 15, 2023 City Council
Amended Banner Content and
Specifications, Section 4; Process and
Requirements, Section 7
3 August 19, 2026 City Council Amended Display Term, Section 6; Process and Requirements, Section 7
Approved:
_____________________________ ____________________
Bill ZimmermanRicky Estrada, Mayor Date
Item Title: 12.2
Veterans and Military Families Advisory Committee's Review of the Military Banner Program
Item Page Number: 19
Menifee Mayor and City Council
August 19, 2026
Page
1366 of 1366