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ADOPT RESOLUTIONS APPROVING THE ANNUAL DISPLAY OF THE PRIDE FLAG AND THE FLAGS OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY BRANCHES
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt:
1. A resolution to have the Pride Flag displayed annually in commemoration of Pride Month during the first week of June; and
2. A resolution to have the flags of the United States Military branches displayed annually to commemorate their respective dates of establishment; and
Authorize the City Manager to take appropriate and necessary actions to carry out the purpose and intent of the resolutions.
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Summary
The City Council adopted the City of Stockton Flag Display Policy, Chapter 2.07 of the Council Policy Manual, in 2019 to ensure that the City could exercise control over any commemorative flags raised on City flagpoles (Attachment A). The policy ensures that the raising of such commemorative flags is an act of government speech subject to the full discretion of the City Council.
In June of 2024, the Legislation and Environmental Committee voted to forward a recommendation that the City Council adopt a resolution to have the Pride Flag displayed annually in commemoration of Pride Month during the last week of June (Attachment B). In 2025, the Committee reconsidered this recommendation and discussed whether to extend the time limitation for the display of commemorative flags and whether to display the flags of the United States Military Branches. On April 28, 2025, following a staff presentation (Attachment C) and discussion of the Committee Members, the Committee unanimously approved Motion 2025-04-28-0302 recommending that the City Council adopt two resolutions: (1) to have the Pride Flag displayed annually in commemoration of Pride Month during the first week of June; and (2) to have the flags of the United States Military branches displayed annually to commemorate their respective dates of establishment.
DISCUSSION
Background
Prior to the adoption of the Flag Display Policy, the City of Stockton displayed only the United States Flag, the California State Flag, and the City of Stockton Flag on the flagpole located at Stockton City Hall. There are both Federal and State regulations which dictate how the United States Flag and the California Flag must be displayed.
On November 5, 2019, and the City Council voted unanimously to adopt the policy via Resolution 2019-11-05-1103 (Attachment A). On May 14, 2024, pursuant to the Flag Display Policy, the City Council approved Resolution 2024-05-14-1203 to raise the Pride Flag in commemoration of Pride Month. Following its discussion, the City Council requested that the Flag Policy be brought to the Committee for additional information and possible revision to address the annual raising of the Pride Flag. On June 12, 2024, the Committee approved Motion 2024-06-12-0301 to forward a recommendation that the City Council adopt a resolution to have the Pride Flag displayed in commemoration of Pride Month annually during the last week of June (Attachment B).
Present Situation
In 2025, the Legislation and Environmental Committee considered the 2024 Committee recommendation and discussed whether to extend the time limitation for the display of commemorative flags and whether to display the flags of the United States Military Branches. On April 28, 2025, the Committee unanimously approved Motion 2025-04-28-0302 recommending that the City Council adopt two resolutions: (1) to have the Pride Flag displayed in commemoration of Pride Month, annually, during the first week of June; and (2) to have the flags of the United State Military branches displayed annually to commemorate their respective dates of establishment.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
There is no financial impact on the City of Stockton related to this agenda item.
Attachment A - Resolution 2019-11-05-1103
Attachment B - 2024 Resolution for Annual Display of Pride Flag - Last Week
Attachment C - April 28, 2025, Committee Staff Report