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Council discusses veterans flags and resource desk; staff to follow up with veterans group and ODOT options
Summary
Councilors supported veterans’ requests for pole banners and a local resource desk; staff was asked to coordinate with veterans groups, identify non‑ODOT pole locations and explore a visiting veterans resource officer arrangement.
City Councilors discussed requests from local veterans for downtown pole banners and for a regular local point of contact for a visiting veterans resource officer.
Councilor McBride and others described veterans’ interest in flag or banner displays similar to programs in other cities. Staff and councilors noted that many downtown poles are in ODOT right‑of‑way and that the city’s existing ODOT permit covers up to 40 flags; adding more poles on ODOT right‑of‑way could void the current permit and would require a new, more stringent ODOT permitting process. Staff said some banners were previously installed on private utility poles with property‑owner permission and that PGE approval is required for hardware on PGE poles.
Council directed staff to follow up: identify a veterans contact, confirm whether existing banner slots or private poles can be used, explore alternative non‑ODOT locations (for example parks or other city‑owned poles), and coordinate to provide a dedicated desk/space at City Hall for a visiting veterans resource officer from McMinnville. Staff also offered to reach out to Regional Solutions to discuss options with ODOT if council wishes to pursue additional right‑of‑way banners.
No formal vote was taken; councilors agreed to pursue the follow up steps and asked staff to return with options and cost estimates if required.
