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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.1 Presentation of the Outdoor Flag Display Policy STAFF REPORT CITY COUNCIL Page 1 of 3 Agenda Item 8.1 DATE: December 16, 2025 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Colleen Tribby, City Manager SUBJECT: Presentation of the Outdoor Flag Display Policy Prepared by: Jordan Foss, Senior Management Analyst EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The City Council will receive a presentation on the City of Dublin’s Outdoor Flag Display Policy, established by City Council Resolution No. 56 -19 on June 4, 2019. The policy provides standards and procedures for the display of the United States Flag, the California State Flag, the City of Dublin Flag, and any commemorative flags authorized by the City Council. This presentation also summarizes the City’s operating practices for lowering flags to half-staff. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Receive the presentation. FINANCIAL IMPACT: No financial impact with receiving the presentation. DESCRIPTION: During Item 9 of the September 16, 2025 meeting, the City Council requested an informational item be brought back to the City Council on the City’s Outdoor Flag Display Policy, and practices for lowering the flags to half-staff. Background On June 4, 2019, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 56-19, establishing the City’s Outdoor Flag Display Policy. The policy governs how flags are displayed at City facilities, including the United States Flag, the California State Flag, and the City of Dublin Flag. It also provides standards for the occasional display of commemorative flags at the Dublin Civic Center, as approved by the City Council. The City of Dublin displays outdoor flags at the following City facilities and parks:  Civic Center 450 Page 2 of 3  Corporation Yard  Don Biddle Community Park  Dublin Sports Grounds  Fallon Sports Park  Fire Stations 16, 17, and 18  Heritage Park and Museums (only used on occasion)  Public Safety Complex (Fire Administration and Police Services have separate poles)  Senior Center  Shannon Community Center  The Wave Waterpark and Aquatic Center Policy Overview The Outdoor Flag Display Policy (Attachment 1) outlines the following key provisions: Display Standards  Flags shall be displayed in accordance with federal and state statutes, including Title 4, Chapter 1 of the U.S. Code and California Government Code Sections 430–439.  The United States Flag shall always be flown in the position of highest honor, either alone or alongside the California and City of Dublin flags.  Flags may be flown 24 hours a day if properly illuminated during darkness and may be displayed in all weather conditions if constructed of all-weather material. Commemorative Flags  Commemorative flags may only be displayed if authorized by the City Council at a duly noticed meeting.  Requests to display commemorative flags must be made by a member of the City Council.  Such flags may be flown for a reasonable period, not to exceed 31 days, and only at the Dublin Civic Center. Operating Practices For Lowering Flags To Half-Staff In addition to the adopted policy, City staff follow established operating practices for lowering flags to half-staff in observance of federal or state orders of mourning. The City follows the United States Flag Code (Title 4, U.S. Code, Chapter 1), which provides guidelines for displaying and caring for the American flag, including when it should be flown at half -staff. Additionally, the City honors established annual federal days of reco gnition, including:  National Firefighters Memorial Day – May 4  Peace Officers Memorial Day – May 15  Memorial Day – last Monday in May  Patriot Day – September 11  Korean War Veterans Armistice Day – July 27  Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day – December 7 Furthermore, the City also honors the death of national or state leaders as outlined in the US 451 Page 3 of 3 Flag Code, such as:  The President or former President – 30 days from the date of death.  Upon the death of the Vice President, Chief Justice, or Speaker of the House – 10 days from the date of death.  Upon the death of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Cabinet member, a U.S. Senator, Representative, or Territorial Delegate, or a Governor – from the day of death until interment.  Upon Presidential proclamation or gubernatorial order for other tragic events or the death of public servants or military personnel. These observances serve as a symbol of mourning and respect, and the City follows official notifications and/or the US Flag Code to ensure the flag is displayed in accordance with protocol. The City’s practice for lowering the flag to half-staff is as follows:  The City’s Communications Manager receives notifications through a flag status alert service that tracks proclamations issued by the President of the United States, the Governor of California, and other designated authorities.  Upon receiving such notification, the Communications Manager notifies the appropriate maintenance staff, as well as the City Manager, of the order to lower flags.  The Communications Manager publishes a News Flash on the City website about the flag lowering. The News Flash stays public until the flag is raised.  City maintenance staff promptly lower the flags at the Dublin Civic Center and other City facilities and parks to half-staff in accordance with the guidance provided in the alert. o Flags are lowered to half-staff by Alameda County Fire Department at the three City Fire Stations and the Fire Administration building at the Public Safety Complex.  Flags remain at half-staff for the duration specified in the official proclamation, after which maintenance staff return them to full staff.  This process ensures the City’s compliance with federal and state protocols and maintains uniform observance across City facilities. STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE: None. NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH: The City Council Agenda was posted. ATTACHMENTS: 1) Resolution No. 56-19 – Establishing the City of Dublin Outdoor Flag Display Policy 2) US Flag Code (4. U.S. Code §7) 452 RESOLUTION NO. 56 — 19 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN ESTABLISHING THE CITY OF DUBLIN OUTDOOR FLAG DISPLAY POLICY WHEREAS, the City of Dublin displays the United States Flag, the California State Flag, and the City of Dublin Flag at the Dublin Civic Center; and WHEREAS, the City of Dublin does not have a policy regarding the display of such flags or the display of any commemorative flags; and WHEREAS, at its May 21, 2019 meeting, the City Council directed Staff to bring a flag display policy for City Council consideration; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to establish a policy that provides guidance and standards for the outdoor display of flags at City facilities, including commemorative flags other than the United States, California, and City flags. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Dublin hereby adopts the Outdoor Flag Display Policy attached hereto as Exhibit A. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 4th day of June 2019, by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Goel, Hernandez, Josey, Kumagai, and Mayor Haubert NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ayor ATTEST: auf,e City Clerk Reso 55-19, Adopted 6/ 4/2019, Item 7.1 Page 1 of 1 Attachment 1 453 EXHIBIT A CITY OF DUBLIN OUTDOOR FLAG DISPLAY POLICY Background: The Dublin City Council desires to establish a policy regarding: (1) the outdoor display of the United States Flag, the California State Flag, and the City of Dublin Flag at City facilities; and 2) the outdoor display of commemorative flags at the Dublin Civic Center. In adopting this policy, the City Council declares that the City of Dublin’s flagpoles are not intended to serve as a forum for free expression of the public, but rather for the display of Federal, State, and City Flags, and any commemorative flag as may be authorized by the City Council as an expression of the City Council’s official sentiments. Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to provide procedural guidance for the outdoor display of flags at City facilities. Nothing in this policy is intended to control the City’s indoor display of flags, including commemorative flags, within City facilities. Policy: I. Standards Flags shall be displayed in accordance with Federal and State statutes, including, but not limited to, Title 4, Chapter 1 of the United States Code and Sections 430 through 439 of the California Government Code, and this policy. II. Procedure A. United States Flag, California State Flag, and City of Dublin Flag 1. No other flag shall be placed above the United States Flag and no other flag shall be larger than the United States Flag. Other flags may be flown at the same height and in the same size, in accordance with this policy. Where both the United State Flag and the California State Flags are flown, they shall be of the same size. 2. Flags should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously. The United States Flag should be hoisted first and lowered last. 3. Flags shall be displayed during operating hours on all days on which the City is open for business, and on national and state holidays. Flags may be displayed twenty-four (24) hours a day as long as they are illuminated during darkness. 454 EXHIBIT A 4. Flags shall not be displayed during inclement weather. However, all- weather flags may be displayed twenty-four (24) hours a day as long as they are illuminated during darkness. 5. When flags are displayed on a single pole, the order from top to bottom shall be: the United States Flag, the California State Flag, and if displayed, the City of Dublin Flag. 6. When the flags are flown from adjacent flag poles, the United States Flag shall be flown at the highest point of honor, which is the furthest point to the left from the standpoint of the observer (“the flag’s right”). The California State Flag shall be placed in the second position of honor. The City of Dublin Flag, if displayed, shall be placed in the third position of honor. 7. The United States Flag, the State of California Flag and the City of Dublin Flag shall be flown at the Dublin Civic Center. B. Commemorative Flags 1. The City’s flagpoles are not intended to serve as a forum for free expression by the public. The City shall display commemorative flags only if authorized by the City Council as an expression of the City’s official sentiments. Any such authorization shall be given at a duly noticed meeting of the City Council. a) The City Council shall only consider a request to display a commemorative flag if the request is made by a member of the Dublin City Council. 2. 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 thirty-one (31) continuous days. 3. Commemorative flags shall be displayed exclusively at the Dublin Civic Center. Such flags may be displayed on the Civic Center flag poles or on one or more buildings at the Civic Center. 4. Commemorative flags displayed on the Dublin Civic Center flagpoles shall be displayed in the last position of honor beneath the City of Dublin Flag, unless otherwise directed by the City Council and to the extent such display does not conflict with federal law, state law, or this policy. 3229102.3 455 4 USC 7: Position and manner of display Text contains those laws in effect on November 6, 2025 From Title 4-FLAG AND SEAL, SEAT OF GOVERNMENT, AND THE STATES CHAPTER 1-THE FLAG Jump To: Source Credit Miscellaneous Amendments Effective Date Executive Documents §7. Position and manner of display The flag, when carried in a procession with another flag or flags, should be either on the marching right; that is, the flag's own right, or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of that line. (a)The flag should not be displayed on a float in a parade except from a staff, or as provided in subsection (i) of this section. (b)The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back of a vehicle or of a railroad train or a boat. When the flag is displayed on a motorcar, the staff shall be fixed firmly to the chassis or clamped to the right fender. (c) No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the flag of the United States of America, except during church services conducted by naval chaplains at sea, when the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for the personnel of the Navy. No person shall display the flag of the United Nations or any other national or international flag equal, above, or in a position of superior prominence or honor to, or in place of, the flag of the United States at any place within the United States or any Territory or possession thereof: Provided, That nothing in this section shall make unlawful the continuance of the practice heretofore followed of displaying the flag of the United Nations in a position of superior prominence or honor, and other national flags in positions of equal prominence or honor, with that of the flag of the United States at the headquarters of the United Nations. (d)The flag of the United States of America, when it is displayed with another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, should be on the right, the flag's own right, and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag. (e)The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of States or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs. (f) When flags of States, cities, or localities, or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the latter should always be at the peak. When the flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the United States flag's right. (g) When flags of two or more nations are displayed, they are to be flown from separate staffs of the same height. The flags should be of approximately equal size. International usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace. (h) When the flag of the United States is displayed from a staff projecting horizontally or at an angle from the window sill, balcony, or front of a building, the union of the flag should be placed at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half-staff. When the flag is suspended over a sidewalk from a rope extending from a house to a pole at the edge of the sidewalk, the flag should be hoisted out, union first, from the building. (i) When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag's own right, that is, to the observer's left. When displayed in a window, the flag should be displayed in the same way, with the union or blue field to the left of the observer in the street. (j) When the flag is displayed over the middle of the street, it should be suspended vertically with the union to the north in an east and west street or to the east in a north and south street. (k) When used on a speaker's platform, the flag, if displayed flat, should be displayed above and behind the speaker. When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the flag of the United States of America should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the clergyman's or speaker's right as he faces the audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the clergyman or speaker or to the right of the audience. (l)The flag should form a distinctive feature of the ceremony of unveiling a statue or monument, but it should never be used as the covering for the statue or monument. (m)The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half- staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in 11/7/25, 11:57 AM about:blank about:blank 1/4 Attachment 2 456 accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law. In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States, the death of a member of the Armed Forces from any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving on active duty, or the death of a first responder working in any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving in the line of duty, the Governor of that State, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff, and the same authority is provided to the Mayor of the District of Columbia with respect to present or former officials of the District of Columbia, members of the Armed Forces from the District of Columbia, and first responders working in the District of Columbia. When the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, or the Mayor of the District of Columbia, issues a proclamation under the preceding sentence that the National flag be flown at half-staff in that State, territory, or possession or in the District of Columbia because of the death of a member of the Armed Forces, the National flag flown at any Federal installation or facility in the area covered by that proclamation shall be flown at half-staff consistent with that proclamation. The flag shall be flown at half-staff 30 days from the death of the President or a former President; 10 days from the day of death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives; from the day of death until interment of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President, or the Governor of a State, territory, or possession; and on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress. The flag shall be flown at half- staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day, unless that day is also Armed Forces Day. As used in this subsection- (1) the term "half-staff" means the position of the flag when it is one-half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff; (2) the term "executive or military department" means any agency listed under sections 101 and 102 of title 5; (3) the term "Member of Congress" means a Senator, a Representative, a Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico; and (4) the term "first responder" means a "public safety officer" as defined in section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10284). (n) When the flag is used to cover a casket, it should be so placed that the union is at the head and over the left shoulder. The flag should not be lowered into the grave or allowed to touch the ground. (o) When the flag is suspended across a corridor or lobby in a building with only one main entrance, it should be suspended vertically with the union of the flag to the observer's left upon entering. If the building has more than one main entrance, the flag should be suspended vertically near the center of the corridor or lobby with the union to the north, when entrances are to the east and west or to the east when entrances are to the north and south. If there are entrances in more than two directions, the union should be to the east. (Added Pub. L. 105–225, §2(a), Aug. 12, 1998, 112 Stat. 1495 ; amended Pub. L. 110–41, §3, June 29, 2007, 121 Stat. 233 ; Pub. L. 115–123, div. A, §10102(a), (b), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 64 .) Historical and Revision Notes Revised Section Source (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 7 36:175.June 22, 1942, ch. 435, §3, 56 Stat. 378 ; Dec. 22, 1942, ch. 806, §3, 56 Stat. 1075 ; July 9, 1953, ch. 183, 67 Stat. 142 ; July 7, 1976, Pub. L. 94–344, (6)–(11), 90 Stat. 811 ; Sept. 13, 1994, Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXII, §320922(b), 108 Stat. 2131 . Editorial Notes Amendments 2018-Subsec. (m). Pub. L. 115–123, §10102(a), in sixth sentence of introductory provisions, substituted "possession of the United States," for "possession of the United States or" and "former officials of the District of Columbia," for "former officials of the District of Columbia and" and inserted "or the death of a first responder working in any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving in the line of duty," after "while serving on active duty," and ", and first responders working in the District of Columbia" before the period. Subsec. (m)(2). Pub. L. 115–123, §10102(b)(1), substituted a semicolon for ", United States Code; and". Subsec. (m)(4). Pub. L. 115–123, §10102(b)(2), (3), added par. (4). 2007-Subsec. (m). Pub. L. 110–41, in sixth sentence, inserted "or the death of a member of the Armed Forces from any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving on active duty" after "present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States" and substituted ", and the same authority is provided to the Mayor of the District of Columbia with respect to present or former officials of the District of Columbia and members of the Armed Forces from the District 11/7/25, 11:57 AM about:blank about:blank 2/4457 of Columbia. When the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, or the Mayor of the District of Columbia, issues a proclamation under the preceding sentence that the National flag be flown at half-staff in that State, territory, or possession or in the District of Columbia because of the death of a member of the Armed Forces, the National flag flown at any Federal installation or facility in the area covered by that proclamation shall be flown at half-staff consistent with that proclamation." for period at end. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries Effective Date of 2018 Amendment Pub. L. 115–123, div. A, §10102(c), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 64 , provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply with respect to deaths of first responders occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Feb. 9, 2018]." Finding Pub. L. 110–41, §2, June 29, 2007, 121 Stat. 233 , provided that: "Congress finds that members of the Armed Forces of the United States defend the freedom and security of the United States." Executive Documents Proc. No. 3044. Display of Flag at Half-Staff Upon Death of Certain Officials and Former Officials Proc. No. 3044, Mar. 1, 1954, 19 F.R. 1235, as amended by Proc. No. 3948, Dec. 12, 1969, 34 F.R. 19699, provided: WHEREAS it is appropriate that the flag of the United States of America be flown at half-staff on Federal buildings, grounds, and facilities upon the death of principal officials and former officials of the Government of the United States and the Governors of the States, Territories, and possessions of the United States as a mark of respect to their memory; and WHEREAS it is desirable that rules be prescribed for the uniform observance of this mark of respect by all executive departments and agencies of the Government, and as a guide to the people of the Nation generally on such occasions: NOW, THEREFORE, I, DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, President of the United States of America and Commander in Chief of the armed forces of the United States, do hereby prescribe and proclaim the following rules with respect to the display of the flag of the United States of America at half-staff upon the death of the officials hereinafter designated: 1. The flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions for the period indicated upon the death of any of the following-designated officials or former officials of the United States: (a) The President or a former President: for thirty days from the day of death. The flag shall also be flown at half-staff for such period at all United States embassies, legations, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations. (b) The Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives: for ten days from the day of death. (c) An Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a member of the Cabinet, a former Vice President, the President pro tempore of the Senate, the Majority Leader of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, or the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives: from the day of death until interment. 2. The flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels of the Federal Government in the metropolitan area of the District of Columbia on the day of death and on the following day upon the death of a United States Senator, Representative, Territorial Delegate, or the Resident Commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and it shall also be flown at half-staff on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels of the Federal Government in the State, Congressional District, Territory, or Commonwealth of such Senator, Representative, Delegate, or Commissioner, respectively, from the day of death until interment. 3. The flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff on all buildings and grounds of the Federal Government in a State, Territory, or possession of the United States upon the death of the Governor of such State, Territory, or possession from the day of death until interment. 11/7/25, 11:57 AM about:blank about:blank 3/4458 4. In the event of the death of other officials, former officials, or foreign dignitaries, the flag of the United States shall be displayed at half-staff in accordance with such orders or instructions as may be issued by or at the direction of the President, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law. 5. The heads of the several departments and agencies of the Government may direct that the flag of the United States be flown at half-staff on buildings, grounds, or naval vessels under their jurisdiction on occasions other than those specified herein which they consider proper, and that suitable military honors be rendered as appropriate. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States of America to be affixed. DONE at the City of Washington this 1st day of March in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and fifty- four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and seventy- eighth. [seal] Dwight D. Eisenhower. 11/7/25, 11:57 AM about:blank about:blank 4/4459 Outdoor Flag Display Policy December 16, 2025 460 Background •June 4, 2019 –City Council adopted Resolution No. 56-19, establishing the Outdoor Flag Display Policy. •Policy governs how flags are displayed, including the: •United States Flag •California State Flag •City of Dublin Flag •Commemorative Flags (occasional display) 461 Background, 2 •The City displays outdoor flags at the following locations: •Civic Center •Corporation Yard •Don Biddle Community Park •Dublin Sports Grounds •Fallon Sports Park •Fire Stations 16, 17, 18 •Heritage Park and Museums (on occasion) •Public Safety Complex •Senior Center •Shannon Community Center •The Wave Waterpark and Aquatic Center 462 Policy Overview •The Outdoor Flag Display Policy outlines key provisions: •Display Standards •Displayed according to federal and state statutes. •US Flag always flown in highest honor. •Flown 24 hours a day if illuminated correctly. •Commemorative Flags •Must be authorized by City Council at a noticed meeting. •Flown for a reasonable period, not to exceed 31 days. •Requests to display must be made by City Council member. 463 Operating Practices for Lowering Flags •The City follows the US Flag Code (Title 4, US Code, Chapter 1), which provides guidelines for: •Displaying properly at half-staff. •Caring for the American flag. •When the flag should be flown at half-staff. •Presidential or Gubernatorial proclamation or announcement. •Tri-Valley cities follow very similar process as Dublin. 464 Operating Practices for Lowering Flags, 2 •Established annual federal days of recognition: •May 4 –National Firefighters Memorial Day •May 15 –Peace Officers Memorial Day •Last Monday in May –Memorial Day •July 27 –Korean War Veterans Armistice Day •September 11 –Patriot Day •December 7 –Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day 465 Operating Practices for Lowering Flags, 3 •Honoring the death of national or state leaders as outlined in the US Flag Code. •President or former President – •Vice President, Chief Justice, Speaker of the House – •Former Vice President, Associate Justice of Supreme Court, Cabinet member, US Senator, Representative, Territorial Delegate, Governor – •Presidential proclamation or gubernatorial order for tragic events or death of public servants or military personnel 466 Operating Practices for Lowering Flags, 4 •City Practice: 1.Receive notification from flag status alert service. 2.Notify Public Works maintenance staff and City Manager of the order. 3.News Flash published about flags being at half-staff. 4.Maintenance staff promptly lower flags at all facilities in accordance with order. 5.Flags remain at half-staff for duration of specified order. 6.Maintenance staff return to full staff in compliance with order. 467 Recommendation •Receive the presentation. •Questions? 468