City of Santa Clara
Council Policy Manual
DISPLAY OF FLAGS POLICY
Adopted 8/28/2018 P&P 048 Page 1 of 2 Resolution No. 18-8597
PURPOSE To establish clear guidelines for: 1) the exhibition of the United States of America flag, the California State flag, the City of Santa Clara flag at City facilities and at City Hall, and 2) the display of ceremonial flags.
POLICY It is the policy of the City of Santa Clara that flags should be displayed in conformance with Federal and State laws and policies, as stated in the Federal “The Flag” publication of the Congress, Title 4, Chapter, 1 of the United States Code, and the State of California Government Code Sections 430 and 437.
The City’s flagpoles are not intended to serve as a forum for free expression by the public. The City will not display a ceremonial flag based on a request from a third party, nor will the City use its flagpoles to sponsor the expression of a third party.
PROCEDURE Federal, State, and City Flags
1. Outdoor flags will be flown at City facilities in the following order of precedence: first, the United States of America flag; second, the California State flag; third, the City of Santa Clara flag;
2. The City of Santa Clara flag will be flown wherever there are sufficient poles to do so. The City flag may be displayed on the same pole with, and underneath the State flag, whenever the pole is of sufficient height. The Federal, State, and City flags shall not be flown on a single pole of any height.
3. Indoor City flags shall be displayed at a minimum in the City Hall Council Chambers and in the Mayor’s Office.
Ceremonial Flags
1. Flags of governments recognized by the United States m ay be displayed upon the request of the Mayor, a member of the City Council, or the City Manager. If flags of two or more nations are flown, the foreign flag(s) must be of equal size and displayed on staffs of equal height as the United States flag.
2. The f lags of official Sister Cities of the City of Santa Clara may be displayed in conjunction with an event involving the Sister City or Cities, and shall follow the City flag in the order of precedence of Federal, State, and City flags.
City of Santa Clara
Council Policy Manual
DISPLAY OF FLAGS POLICY
Adopted 8/28/2018 P&P 048 Page 2 of 2 Resolution No. 18-8597
3. Ceremonial flags of si gnificance to the City’s history may be displayed as designated by City Council by adoption of a resolution in conjunction with official actions or proclamations of the City Council.
4. Ceremonial flags that commemorate special observances must be approved b y City Council by adoption of a resolution prior to the observance and 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.
5. All ceremonial flags shall be no larger than three feet by five feet and no smaller than two feet by four feet.