Imperial Beach approves patriotic and 250th banners for Seacoast Drive

The City Council on April 1 approved a staff recommendation to install new patriotic street banners on Seacoast Drive and to alternate a limited number of 250th-anniversary commemorative banners during summer months.

Chief Administrative Officer Erica Cortez presented three design options and described a program of 33 banners (30-by-84 inches) sized and fabricated for coastal durability. Staff recommended installing 33 U.S. flag banners and 10 commemorative 250th-anniversary banners for a combined purchase and bracket install cost of approximately $10,900, using funds available in the current budget.

Councilmembers discussed alternate designs, pole ownership (some posts belong to SDG&E or the Port) and opportunities to expand banner placement citywide if interagency agreements are obtained. Councilmember Seaberry suggested donating a banner to the local historical society after the display and potentially signing banners for sale.

Councilmember Leila Gonzalez moved for option 1 for the patriotic banner selection; the council indicated consensus for option 1 and favored option 2 for the 250th banner with minor requested adjustments to logo placement and text. The motion to proceed was seconded and carried unanimously.

Staff will confirm vendor customization feasibility, obtain necessary permission from SDG&E and the Port for additional locations, and return if policy changes are required. The banners are expected to be durable (staff estimated an 8- to 9-year lifespan for the main-street fabric option) and the city may sell retired banners following use.