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Council directs staff to clarify rules on political flags after public complaints
Summary
Following multiple public comments and a cited property, the council asked staff and the town attorney to return with clearer, easier-to-find guidance distinguishing temporary campaign signs from other political flags and to propose code language or presentation improvements.
The Miami Lakes Town Council unanimously directed staff to review and return with clearer, more accessible language and guidance on the town’s sign code that governs political flags and temporary campaign signs.
Public comment during the meeting featured several residents who said they had received notices related to political flags; speakers on both sides urged the council to protect freedom of expression while also keeping public rights-of-way and neighborhoods free of long-term campaign signage. Several residents urged changes to how the town regulates flags attached to private property.
Mayor Josh Dieguez said the town’s ordinance has been in place for many years and that enforcement so far has been limited to notices and warnings; he and other council members said the immediate goal is clarity, not a change in policy. Council asked the town attorney and staff to present options that include reorganizing the code for clarity, better public-facing guidance (for instance a standalone webpage or resident mailer) and possible targeted language that follows state law distinctions between regulated temporary campaign signs and other noncommercial or political flags.
Councilmember Herzberg warned staff to avoid content‑based regulation that would run afoul of First Amendment protections; other councilmembers asked the attorney to prepare a workshop and recommended options for flag size, placement and timing, if legally permissible.
Votes at a glance - Motion to direct staff to return with clarifying signage guidance and code reorganization: Passed (voice vote).
