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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 5.4 Update to the City of Dublin Outdoor Flag Display Policy STAFF REPORT CITY COUNCIL Page 1 of 2 Agenda Item 5.4 DATE: March 3, 2026 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Colleen Tribby, City Manager SUBJECT: Update to the City of Dublin Outdoor Flag Display Policy Prepared by: Jordan Foss, Senior Management Analyst EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The City Council will consider an amendment to the Outdoor Flag Display Policy to include standards for lowering the Flag of the City of Dublin to half-staff to honor the death of current or previous City elected officials. This item was requested by the City Council at the meeting of December 16, 2025. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Adopt the Resolution Amending the City of Dublin Outdoor Flag Display Policy to Include Standards for Lowering the Flag of the City of Dublin to Half-Staff. FINANCIAL IMPACT: None. DESCRIPTION: On December 16, 2025, the City Council received a report on the City’s Flag Policy and directed Staff to bring back an amendment to include standards for lowering the City flag to half-staff to honor the death of current or previous City elected officials. Background On June 4, 2019, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 56-19 (Attachment 4), establishing the City of Dublin Outdoor Flag Display Policy. The Policy governs how flags are displayed at City facilities, including the Flag of the United States, the Flag of the State of California, and the Flag of the City of Dublin. It also provides standards for the occasional display of commemorative flags at the Dublin Civic Center, as approved by the City Council. The Policy does not include standards for lowering the City flag to honor the death of City elected officials. In practice, the City consistently lowers the Flag of the United States or the Flag of the State of 55 Page 2 of 2 California in accordance with official proclamations issued by the President of the United States, the Governor of California, or as outlined in the United States Flag Code. These actions are operational in nature and do not require City Council authorization. While not provided for in the Policy, the City flag has been lowered to honor members of the City Council who passed away, including Don Biddle (2018), Pete Snyder (2025), and Janet Lockhart (2026). Proposed Amendment The proposed amendment is intended to provide clear guidance for lowering the City flag in honor of the death of a current or former City elected official. The proposed amendment adds “Section C. Lowering the Flag of the City of Dublin Only to Half-Staff” to the Policy and includes the following:  The City may lower the City of Dublin flag at City facilities to honor the death of current or a former local elected official unless the City Council determines that extraordinary circumstances warrant maintaining the flag at full staff.  The City flag shall be lowered for five (5) consecutive days following the death of a current or former Mayor, and lowered for three (3) consecutive days following the death of a current or former councilmember.  “Local elected official” shall mean a current or former member of the Dublin City Council. The proposed amendment provides a clear and consistent framework for honoring the service of current and former members of the Dublin City Council through the lowering of the City flag. By establishing defined eligibility and duration standards, the Policy promotes transparency, ensures uniform application, and supports appropriate civic recognition. Lastly, the proposed amendment does not expand or alter the City’s obligations with respect to the Flag of the United States or the Flag of the State of California. STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE: None. NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH: The City Council Agenda was posted. ATTACHMENTS: 1) Resolution Amending the City Of Dublin Outdoor Flag Display Policy to Include Standards for Lowering the Flag of the City of Dublin to Half-Staff 2) Exhibit A to the Resolution – Outdoor Flag Display Policy 3) City of Dublin Outdoor Flag Display Policy (redlined) 4) Resolution 56-19 - Establishing the City of Dublin Outdoor Flag Display Policy 56 Attachment 1 Reso. No. XX-26, Item X.X, Adopted 03/03/2026 Page 1 of 1 RESOLUTION NO. XX – 26 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN AMENDING THE CITY OF DUBLIN OUTDOOR FLAG DISPLAY POLICY TO INCLUDE STANDARDS FOR LOWERING THE FLAG OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN TO HALF-STAFF WHEREAS, the City of Dublin displays the Flag of the United States, the Flag of the State of California, and the Flag of the City of Dublin at City facilities and parks; and WHEREAS, on June 4, 2019, the City Council approved Resolution 56-19 establishing the City of Dublin Outdoor Flag Display Policy (“Policy”); and WHEREAS, on December 16, 2025, the City Council directed Staff to bring an amendment to the Policy for City Council consideration; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to establish an amendment to the Policy that provides guidance for when the Flag of the City of Dublin only shall be lowered in honor of the death of a current or former City elected official. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Dublin hereby adopts the amended Outdoor Flag Display Policy attached hereto as Exhibit A. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY the City Council of the City of Dublin, on this 3rd day of March, 2026 by the following vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ______________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _________________________________ City Clerk 57 City of Dublin City Council Policy POLICY NAME: Outdoor Flag Display Policy ADOPTED YEAR: 2019 DEPARTMENT: CMO REVISION YEAR: 2026 DEPARTMENT NUMBER: 1100 RESOLUTION #: 56-19 POLICY NUMBER: 102 Page 1 of 3 BACKGROUND: The Dublin City Council desires to establish a policy regarding: (1) the outdoor display of the Flag of the United States, the Flag of the State of California, and the Flag of the City of Dublin 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 Flag of the United States and no other flag shall be larger than the Flag of the United States. Other flags may be flown at the same height and in the same size, in accordance with this policy. Where both the Flag of the United States and the State of California are flown, they shall be of the same size. 2. Flags should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously. The Flag of the United States 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. Attachment 2 Exhibit A to the Resolution 58 1100-102: Outdoor Flag Display Policy Page 2 of 3 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 Flag of the United States, the Flag of the State of California, and if displayed, the Flag of the City of Dublin. 6. When the flags are flown from adjacent flag poles, the Flag of the United States 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 Flag of the State of California shall be placed in the second position of honor. The Flag of the City of Dublin, if displayed, shall be placed in the third position of honor. 7. The Flag of the United States, the Flag of the State of California and the Flag of the City of Dublin 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 Flag of the City of Dublin, unless otherwise directed by the City Council and to the extent such display does not conflict with federal law, state law, or this policy. 59 1100-102: Outdoor Flag Display Policy Page 3 of 3 C. Lowering the Flag of the City of Dublin Only to Half-Staff 1. In addition to half-staff observances ordered by the President of the United States or the Governor of California, the City shall lower the Flag of the City of Dublin at City facilities to honor the death of a current or former local elected official unless the City Council determines that extraordinary circumstances warrant maintaining the flag at full staff. 2. The City flag shall be lowered for five (5) consecutive days following the death of a current or former Mayor, and lowered for three (3) consecutive days following the death of a current or former councilmember. 3. For purposes of this section, a “local elected official” shall mean a current or former member of the Dublin City Council. APPROVED BY: City Council Resolution No. XX-26 ATTACHMENTS: None. SUMMARY OF REVISIONS: June 2019 – Adopted by Resolution No. 56-19 60 City of Dublin City Council Policy POLICY NAME: Outdoor Flag Display Policy ADOPTED YEAR: 2019 DEPARTMENT: CMO REVISION YEAR: 2026 DEPARTMENT NUMBER: 1100 RESOLUTION #: 56-19 POLICY NUMBER: 102 Page 1 of 3 BACKGROUND: The Dublin City Council desires to establish a policy regarding: (1) the outdoor display of the Flag of the United States, the Flag of the State of California, and the Flag of the City of Dublin 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 Flag of the United States and no other flag shall be larger than the Flag of the United States. Other flags may be flown at the same height and in the same size, in accordance with this policy. Where both the Flag of the United States and the State of California are flown, they shall be of the same size. 2. Flags should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously. The Flag of the United States 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. Attachment 3 61 1100-102: Outdoor Flag Display Policy Page 2 of 3 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 Flag of the United States, the Flag of the State of California, and if displayed, the Flag of the City of Dublin. 6. When the flags are flown from adjacent flag poles, the Flag of the United States 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 Flag of the State of California shall be placed in the second position of honor. The Flag of the City of Dublin, if displayed, shall be placed in the third position of honor. 7. The Flag of the United States, the Flag of the State of California and the Flag of the City of Dublin 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 Flag of the City of Dublin, unless otherwise directed by the City Council and to the extent such display does not conflict with federal law, state law, or this policy. 62 1100-102: Outdoor Flag Display Policy Page 3 of 3 C. Lowering the Flag of the City of Dublin Only to Half-Staff 1. In addition to half-staff observances ordered by the President of the United States or the Governor of California, the City shall lower the Flag of the City of Dublin at City facilities to honor the death of a current or former local elected official unless the City Council determines that extraordinary circumstances warrant maintaining the flag at full staff. 2. The City flag shall be lowered for five (5) consecutive days following the death of a current or former Mayor, and lowered for three (3) consecutive days following the death of a current or former councilmember. 3. For purposes of this section, a “local elected official” shall mean a current or former member of the Dublin City Council. APPROVED BY: City Council Resolution No. XX-26 ATTACHMENTS: None. SUMMARY OF REVISIONS: June 2019 – Adopted by Resolution No. 56-19 63 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 4 64 Background: CITY OF DUBLIN OUTDOOR FLAG DISPLAY POLICY 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. 65 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 3229102.3 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. 66