Council adopts formal flag policy for city property after contentious debate; adds sister‑city and notification language

Broomfield City Council adopted a formal flag policy governing flags displayed on property owned or controlled by the City and County of Broomfield, including a schedule for flags flown along Midway and rules for non‑routine flags. The resolution passed 9–1.

City and County Attorney Rogers explained the draft policy would apply only to city‑owned or leased poles and would not open city posts to public requests. Rogers said the policy was modeled on a neighboring municipality’s practice and adjusted to reflect Broomfield’s existing schedules and events. The permitted list includes the U.S. flag, the Colorado flag, the city flag, flags required by presidential or gubernatorial proclamation, the POW/MIA flag at the Veterans Museum, fallen‑hero flags when tied to a memorial service, the inclusivity/pride flag (typically flown during June), and flags tied to city proclamations or official events. The policy also includes an authorization to fly other flags at the city manager’s discretion provided they do not conflict with set dates.

Public comment ranged from support for flying inclusive flags and recognizing veterans and first responders to objections to flying the pride flag on government poles. Resident John Ewalt proposed posting a brief “flag description” at poles explaining why a particular flag was flown; Rogers said staff considered physical signage and QR codes but recommended handling context and explanation through proclamations and staff responses because signage poses logistical, maintenance and fraud risks.

Councilmember Cohen successfully moved two amendments clarifying that government speech allows the city to determine which flags fly on city poles and adding a line to recognize sister‑city flags so that visiting delegations could be honored without a separate mayoral proclamation. Councilmember Lim then proposed and the council approved, a notification amendment requiring the city manager to notify council by email (and include a public update on the website) when the manager authorizes a non‑routine flag for the Midway poles; routine U.S., Colorado and city flags would not require notification.

The resolution, as amended, passed 9–1. Councilmember Anderson said she supported the general concept but would vote no because she preferred different separation of Midway schedule vs. building flagpoles; she said she would take a no vote to prompt future refinement. The policy will take effect immediately. Staff said they will continue to respond to public inquiries about specific flags and the reasons they are flown.

Why it matters: The policy formalizes how government decisions about symbolic displays are made on municipal property and sets a consistent process for timing, notification and permissible flags. Supporters framed the policy as a way to codify current practice and protect certain civic observances; some residents and one councilmember expressed concern about singling out particular community flags on government property.

What’s next: Staff will implement the schedule, honor sister‑city requests per the amendment and follow the manager‑notification procedure for unscheduled flags; council may revisit the policy later if community input requires changes.