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Council narrows official flag policy; approves limits for city‑controlled flagpoles with exception for veterans memorial
Summary
After extended debate, the council approved a resolution limiting flags on city‑controlled poles to the U.S., Washington state, city and POW/MIA flags and added an exception allowing service flags at the Veterans Memorial. The vote was 6‑1.
The Federal Way City Council approved a resolution on Oct. 21 that narrows which flags may be flown on city‑controlled flagpoles.
City Attorney Ryan Cole presented the staff‑draft resolution and the council debated whether city flagpoles should be used as a forum for third‑party flags. The adopted resolution directs that city hall flagpoles fly only the U.S. flag, the Washington state flag and the City of Federal Way flag; the POW/MIA flag will be flown on specified days consistent with state law. The council added an amendment to preserve the service flags currently displayed at the Veterans Memorial.
Councilmember McDaniel — who introduced the request — argued for limiting displays to the American flag to avoid government selection among community groups. Other councilmembers said flying community or cultural flags was inclusive and affirmed the city’s history of hosting commemorative flags. The debate was lengthy and at times personal; the council voted 6‑1 in favor of the resolution, with one councilmember opposed.
Why it matters: the decision formalizes the city’s approach to mayoral proclamations and reserved‑speech uses of city flagpoles, clarifies that the poles are a form of government speech rather than an open public forum, and preserves service flags at the Veterans Memorial by amendment.
Implementation: the adopted resolution instructs the mayor’s office to follow a process for flag requests, require mayoral proclamations to accompany displayed flags (to make them government speech), and continues the practice of flying the U.S., state and city flags at City Hall. The Veterans Memorial service flags are expressly preserved in the policy amendment the council added.
Ending: City Attorney Ryan Cole said the resolution clarifies practice and will be implemented immediately. Councilmembers said they hoped the resolution would reduce future disputes over which flags the city displays.
