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BACKGROUND Many local jurisdictions throughout California have commemorative flag policies. Generally, such flag policies are intended to indicate the City's official sentiment and to clearly state that City flagpoles are not a forum for free expression. Staff recommends establishing a policy to allow the outdoor display of commemorative flags by authorization of the City Council. DISCUSSION The City's flagpoles have traditionally been reserved for flying the United States and California state flags. For the last four years the City Council has approved flying the Pride flag on the flagpole at the City's administration building at 123 Main Street during June to accompany the Council's proclamation of June as Pride Month. The intent of this new policy is to ensure that all City flagpoles are used exclusively by the City for governmental expression and not as a forum for free expression by the public, and to specify procedural guidance for the display of flags at all outdoor City facilities including parks. The policy is outlined as follows: • 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 properly noticed meeting of the City Council. • The City Council shall only consider a request to display a commemorative flag if the request is made by a member of the Pleasanton City Council. • 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. • Commemorative flags shall be displayed exclusively on the Pleasanton Civic Center flagpole(s) in the last position of honor, unless otherwise directed by Council and to the extend such display does not conflict with federal or state law, or this policy. Adopting the proposed policy ensures that the City Council requests and approves commemorative flags to be flown through a two-step process: 1. A member or the City Council must request display of a commemorative flag; and 2. The City Council must authorize display of a commemorative flag by minute order or resolution during a duly noticed meeting of the City Council. The above-described policy and process is similar to that approved by the councils in neighboring cities, including Dublin and Livermore. Page 2 of 3