City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: JUNE 6, 2023 FROM: GENERAL SERVICES WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING DISPLAY OF SPECIFIC COMMEMORATIVE FLAGS AT CITY FACILITIES AND PROVIDE DIRECTION FOR SUGGESTED GROUPS OF PEOPLE OR CAUSES FOR WHICH THERE IS CURRENTLY NO ESTABLISHED OR COMMONLY RECOGNIZED COMMEMORATIVE FLAG ISSUES:
Adopt a resolution authorizing display of commemorative flags at City Hall and potentially other City facilities; provide direction for suggested groups of people or causes for which there is currently no established or commonly recognized commemorative flag.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Adopt a resolution authorizing display of specific commemorative flags at City Hall and potentially other City facilities; and Provide direction for suggested groups of people or causes for which there is currently no established or commonly recognized commemorative flag.
BACKGROUND:
On January 17, 2023, the City Council adopted a resolution establishing the City of Riverside Flag Policy (attached), which provides a set of guidelines to ensure the uniform handling and display of flags at City facilities. In addition, the newly adopted Flag Policy sets forth guidelines for the display of commemorative flags. A commemorative flag under this policy means a flag that identifies with a specific date, historical event, cause, or group of people, whereby the City honors or commemorates the date, event, cause or people by flying the flag. At this same meeting, the City Council requested that staff solicit input from the Human Relations Commission regarding developing a schedule for display of commemorative flags at City facilities.
On February 23, 2023, staff solicited input from the Human Relations Commission (HRC) on a commemorative flag display schedule for City facilities.
On May 2, 2023, by a majority vote the City Council approved the display of established or commonly recognized commemorative flags incorporating input from the HRC, but did not give direction for suggested groups of people or causes for which there is currently no established or commonly recognized commemorative flag.
DISCUSSION:
Historically, the City of Riverside has displayed flags in conformance with Federal and State statutes which outline standards for the display of the flag of the United States, the State of California flag, and the City of Riverside flag.
Numerous public entities across the state and nation have passed resolutions within the last several years authorizing the display of commemorative flags, such as the Rainbow Pride flag, which is a symbol of lesbian gay, bisexual, transgender and queer pride and social movements, the Progress Pride flag, which builds on the Rainbow Pride flag by adding a chevron of white, pink, light blue, brown and black to symbolize transgender rights, people of color, and those living with or lost to Human Immunodeficiency Virus Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV AIDS), and the Juneteenth Flag, a symbolic representation of the end of slavery in the United States.
Commemorative Flags
Per the adopted Flag Policy, commemorative flags may be displayed at City Hall and where possible at other City facilities upon City Council action, consistent with the City’s vision, mission, and strategic plan. Following are the guidelines for the approval and display of commemorative flags.
Commemorative flags shall be displayed only at City Hall and select City facilities that have multiple flagpoles and/or a flagpole tall enough to accommodate multiple flags.
No more than one commemorative flag shall be displayed on a flagpole concurrently.
Commemorative flags may be displayed only as authorized by resolution of the City Council and as an expression of the City’s official sentiments.
The City will not display a commemorative flag based on a request of a third party or to sponsor the expression from a third party.
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 with the exception of Parks facilities and the Veteran’s Memorial that continuously display the Prisoner of War flag.
In January of each year, the City Council will consider the display of commemorative flags for the upcoming year. After an initial agendized discussion, staff will return to a subsequent City Council meeting with a resolution supporting the City's display of the flag(s) chosen. A majority of the City Council must vote affirmatively for said resolution.
In addition to the annual consideration, a Council Member may, at any time during the year, suggest the display of additional flags meeting the criteria of the Flag Policy. Consideration would be by a two-step process where on an agenda the Council considers the request, and if supported by a motion approved by a majority of the Councilmembers, staff would return with a formal resolution authorizing display of a commemorative flag. A majority of the City Council must vote affirmatively for said resolution.
Commemorative Flag Resolution
As set forth in the Flag Policy, consideration of commemorative flags is a two-step process. The first step occurred on May 2, 2023, with City Council approval of the specific commemorative flags and display schedule as supported by the HRC. The second step requires that at a subsequent meeting, a majority of the City Council adopt a resolution supporting the display of those commemorative flags. At this time, the City Council is asked to consider adopting a resolution allowing the display of commemorative flags at City Hall and where possible at other City facilities, as follows:
Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 27)
Black History Month (February)
Women’s Suffrage Victory Flag (March)
LGBTQ Pride Month (June)
Juneteenth (June 19)
Further Council direction is needed for the causes and groups of people supported by the HRC, for which no established or commonly recognized commemorative flag is currently available:
Dr. Martin Luther King Day (third Monday in January)
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (May) Latino/a Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15)
Indigenous Peoples or Native American Heritage Month (November) On February 23, 2023, the HRC suggested that it might be more meaningful to those communities who share that identify to participate in a community art project to design that flag.
When properly displayed, flags are powerful symbols of our shared history, pride, principles and commitment to our nation, state, and community.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
Commemorative flags support Strategic Priority No. 5 High Performing Government, and Goal No. 5.5 to foster a culture of safety, well-being, resilience, sustainability, diversity and inclusion across the City organization.
This item aligns with EACH of the five Cross-Cutting Threads in the 2024 Envision Riverside Strategic Plan, as follows:
Community Trust – In accordance with the City of Riverside Flag Policy, which was reviewed publicly at three meetings of the Inclusiveness, Community Engagement & Governmental Processes Committee prior to being adopted by the City Council, the discussion on commemorative flags was agendized for Council discussion on May 2, 2023, ensuring public transparency.
Equity – Commemorative flags promote equity and representation for diverse groups of people and historical events, consistent with the City’s adopted vision, mission and strategic priorities.
Fiscal Responsibility – Any commemorative flags purchased as a result of Council action will be procured in accordance with City purchasing policy.
Innovation – Commemorative flags provide an innovative way to promote diversity and inclusion by recognizing specific groups or causes consistent with the City’s adopted vision, mission and strategic priorities.
Sustainability & Resiliency – Commemorative flags promote social sustainability, as an integral component of sustainability is the ability to embrace diverse communities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact is minimal as the costs for any commemorative flags at City Hall, estimated at under $100 per flag, and potentially other City facilities will be absorbed in existing budgets.
Prepared by: Carl Carey, General Services Director
Certified as to
availability of funds: Edward Enriquez, Interim Assistant City Manager/Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer Approved by: Edward Enriquez, Interim Assistant City Manager/Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachments:
Presentation
Resolution
Flag Policy
Commemorative Flags ● Page 2