CITY OF
Item No. 1_
STAFF REPORT
DATE: April 13, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council /
FROM: Dr. Sean M. Moore, City Manager 1
PREPARED BY: Fermin Preciado, Director of Development Services/City Engineer Scott Washburn, Deputy Director of Public Works Vt.. C. 0 SUBJECT: Yucaipa Civic Center Facility Flagpole Project Discussion RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council:
Consider and discuss a proposed Yucaipa Civic Center Facility Flagpole Project to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States' Independence; and
2. Direct staff as appropriate, including the authorization of a budget adjustment commensurate with the project; or
3. Provide further direction to staff.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
Two members of the City Council requested staff bring an item before the entire City Council to discuss and consider the installation of a 120-foot tall flagpole at Yucaipa City Hall as a proposed Capital Improvement Program (CIP) project (Proposed Project). Staff prepared a preliminary cost estimate for the installation, and for the annual operating/maintenance costs associated with the Proposed Project.
The Proposed Project includes the structural engineering design, the construction of the footing and concrete base, installation of a plaque and decorative display monument, purchase and installation of a 120-foot tall flagpole, electrical service and lighting installation, purchase and installation of an electric winch system and the purchase of a 30-foot by 60-foot U.S. flag. The following table represents a preliminary estimate for the City Council's consideration.
Description
Estimated Cost
Engineering Design, Permitting, Inspection and Administration Costs $12,000
Construction of Decorative base and plaque purchase
$8,000
Equipment and Materials Purchase
$53,000
Electrical Service Installation
$7,000
Construction and Installation
$40,000
Total Estimated Cost
$120,000
Note: Includes administrative and overhead costs to deliver the Proposed Project.
In addition to the one-time capital project cost estimated in the amount of $120,000, various flag manufacturers have indicated that the estimated annual cost to maintain and replace a 30-foot by 60- foot flag and operational costs associated with a 120-foot tall flagpole are estimated to be approximately $11,000 per year.
At the March 9, 2026, City Council Meeting, the City Council considered and discussed the Proposed Project and allocated $240,000, plus the cost of annual maintenance for five (5) years for two (2) flag poles to be installed. One at the Yucaipa Civic Center (City Hall) facility and the second one at Flag Hill Veterans Memorial Park (Flag Hill Park). The direction provided was that no General Fund resources would be used for the Proposed Project and funding would be generated through donations.
At the March 23, 2026, City Council Meeting, the City Council directed staff to agendize the Proposed Project at a future City Council Meeting to further discuss the height and size of the proposed flag pole and flag, and discuss the potential locations for installation at the City Hall facility and Flag Hill Park.
As required by the United States Code, the State's Government Code and the City of Yucaipa's adopted flag display policy, the City of Yucaipa displays several different flags at the City Hall facility and other public facilities. The flags displayed include the United States flag, the State of California flag, the City of Yucaipa flag and in some cases the Prisoners of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) flag.
In accordance with the County of San Bernardino's flag display policy, the Yucaipa Police Station facility also displays the County of San Bernardino flag since the County of San Bernardino provides contract police services to the City of Yucaipa. These flags are displayed at all City facilities on flag poles originally installed with the construction of each public facility.
For the City Council's consideration and to assist with the discussion, one potential location for the new flagpole at City Hall could be in the area directly in front of the City Hall front doors across the parking lot. The proposed flagpole could replace the existing rock fountain in the center of an existing planter as shown in the renderings below:
city Hall
-7
Police Station r
Yucaipa Blvd
n Tooker Park
Transit Center
71 .
•
-M.- MP
IL
7 tip,
Existing Rock Fountain
Proposed Flagpole
The installation of a new flagpole at City Hall and Flag Hill Park will need to comply with the United States Code, the State's Government Code and the City of Yucaipa's adopted flag display policy.
Since the Proposed Project is considered a CIP project resulting in capital public infrastructure, the procurements relating to the Proposed Project would be required to follow the City of Yucaipa Purchasing Policy and Procedures. This would include a request for proposals/qualifications process for the procurement of structural engineering design services and the procurement of the equipment and materials.
The procurement of the construction and installation labor would require a public bid process as required for all public works infrastructure contracts. This would result in administrative costs and overhead costs to the City which would have to be funded by donations from private parties based on the City Council's direction to not use any General Fund resources for this project. This could be accomplished by directing staff to delay incurring any costs until $120,000 in donations has been received.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Recommendation number 2 results in a spending authorization of $120,000 in the General Fund.