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Urbana resident asks city to revisit half‑staff flag protocol after presidential proclamation
Summary
A resident told the committee he found city flags flying at half staff after a presidential proclamation honoring a controversial figure and urged the city to refine its approach, citing the U.S. Flag Code and court precedent.
Resident Dennis Sears addressed the Committee of the Whole during public input, asking the city to reexamine procedures for following half‑staff proclamations.
Sears said he observed city flags still at half staff following a presidential proclamation honoring a public figure; he said the president’s proclamation extended the half‑staff period and that he found no clear city notice explaining the reason. Sears cited “section 7, subsection M of the U.S. Flag Code” and the Eleventh Circuit decision Dimmitt v. City of Clearwater (1993) to argue the presidential proclamation extended an honor category beyond those enumerated in the code. He noted the U.S. Flag Code is largely advisory and urged the city to consider a more literal application of the Code as a screening mechanism for what proclamations the city will follow.
Sears asked the city to consider a policy that would reduce what he described as politicized uses of presidential proclamations and to provide clearer public information about why flags are lowered. The mayor acknowledged the comment and said the city will review policies; no formal action followed.
