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Cloverdale council narrows commemorative-flag policy, approves Pride flag at library in 3-2 vote
Summary
After public comment and debate, the Cloverdale City Council amended its flag policy to authorize the Pride flag at the Cloverdale Regional Library and removed two other commemorative flags from that library location; the motion passed 3-2.
The Cloverdale City Council voted 3-2 on Feb. 25 to amend the city's flag policy so the Pride flag may be flown at the Cloverdale Regional Library on a designated schedule.
The action followed staff reading three written comments and a period of public comment. Brooke Green, whose written comment was read into the record, asked the council to "remove item F6 from the consent calendar and discuss rewording the resolution prior to taking a vote." That request framed the meeting's debate about whether to authorize a single Pride flag at the library or to apply the amendment to all three currently approved commemorative flags.
During the discussion a council member moved "to amend the Cloverdale flag policy to include, solely the Pride flag being flown at the Cloverdale Regional Library from December 1 to December 30 annually," and a second supported the motion. Council members recorded their votes aloud: Council member Andres Marquez, aye; Council member Morgenstern, aye; Council member Lasky, aye; Vice Mayor Lance, no; Mayor Brian Wheeler, no. The motion passed 3-2.
Supporters argued the single-flag approach answered the community's specific request while limiting perception of preferential treatment among commemorative flags. Opponents said the proposed resolution, as written, risked being inconsistent with the existing list of approved commemorative flags and could be perceived as excluding other groups.
Staff said the three commemorative flags currently approved by council are the Children's Memorial flag (scheduled April 1 pril 30 at City Hall), the Pride flag (scheduled June 1 ate varies at City Hall), and the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors flag (scheduled in December), and that organizations requesting flags normally provide the flags and arrange any ceremony.
The council instructed staff to implement the amended resolution as written and to incorporate the change into the flag-policy resolution.
The vote changes where specific commemorative flags may be displayed but leaves in place the council's broader authority to approve commemorative-flag requests at council discretion. The amended policy will take effect as part of the adopted resolution.
