VACAVILLE, Calif. — Vacaville officials voted to establish a new flag policy allowing government and commemorative flags to fly on city flag poles if approved by city council during a special meeting Wednesday.
The decision comes after a controversy in June created debate on whether the pride flag could and should be flown, leading city council to consider a more official flag policy.
The vote was approved 5-2 with Mayor John Carli and councilmember Roy Stockton rejecting the notion, wanting to only fly government flags like the USA, state and city flags. Read the entire proposal HERE.
Carli was worried the language of the policy could lead them to legal trouble in the future as the Supreme Court ruled on something similar. The new policy requires a commemorative flag be brought up by and approved by city council, instead of sent in by a resident to the mayor, reviewed by city staff and eventually approved within a 30-day period.
Nearly 100 public speakers gave their opinions before the council voted. The meeting ended just before midnight, the room staying packed for the majority of it.
Though groups had different views, main interests were either allowing only government flags or expanding what commemorative flags can fly on flag poles.
Flags will be flown at the School Street Bridge flag monument and city properties. County properties are not involved in this flag policy.
Commemorative flags are defined as anything but government, religious movement or creed, political party or advocating a certain outcome in an election.
The item will be brought up next year to decide which flags could be flown, when and for how long.
