PREPARED BY: ANDREA MENDEZ DATE OF MEETING: 10/15/18
SUBJECT:
TITLE
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO APPROVING A VETERANS DAY FLAG DISPOSAL POLICY
Label
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt Resolution
Body
Compliance statements
FY 2018-21 Council Priority Work plan
Incorporate formal U.S. Flag Disposal Policy as part of Veterans Day Celebration is a City Council Priority item under the adopted FY 2018-21 Council Priority Workplan, effective November 1, 2017.
CEQA Compliance Statement
The flag disposal policy is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as it is not an activity that may cause a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical environment change pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080(a) and 14 California Code of Regulations section 15002(d). If deemed a project, it can be would be exempt as having no possible significant effect on the environment pursuant to 14 California Code of Regulations section 15061.
BACKGROUND
The policy will provide for an appropriate disposal of the U.S. Flag on behalf of residents who provide their flags to the City of San Pablo. This policy would not permit an official flag disposal ceremony or burning activity to be conducted by City staff at City events due to liability and safety concerns. However, the policy would ensure that any U.S. flags received by the City from the public would be conveyed to designated local community service organizations (i.e. Veteran’s groups, Boy Scouts of America, etc.) for proper flag disposal. The City of San Pablo policy is designed to be aligned with the official U.S. Flag Disposal policy.
The procedure includes any City flown flag in which the condition is either worn, faded, or soiled, and have it properly lowered and folded. Community members may also recognize that flags in their possession are in need of being properly disposed of and provide these flags to the City of San Pablo Community Services Department, Recreation Division, to hold until the next Veterans Day Celebration. At the City’s Veterans Day Celebration event, City staff will display all flags received from the public which will subsequently then be given to a local community or non-profit organization at the conclusion of the event for proper flag disposal. To reiterate, no flag burning or disposal would be conducted by city employees at City events due to liability and safety reasons.
Community Services Standing Committee Review
On October 2, 2018, the Community Services Standing Committee (Calloway/Morris) were presented the City of San Pablo: Policy on Official U.S. Flag Disposal. The Standing Committee recommended this item to be forwarded to the City Council for formal consideration.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no expected fiscal impact of the proposed policy as it is not expected that the community groups would charge for proper flag disposal.
Attachment: City of San Pablo: Policy on Official U.S. Flag Disposal DRAFT