In accordance with the California Government Code Title 1, Chapter 3, Sections 430-439, the United States National flag and the State of California flag shall be displayed at each public building owned by a municipality. The flag of the United States shall be displayed highest, with the State of California flag immediately below. In addition to the flag of the United States and the flag of the State of California, the City of Imperial Beach may display additional flags on City owned flagpoles as authorized by the City Council, provided the display does not show religious preference.
(Ord. 2021-1203 § 1)
Only the United States flag and the State of California flag shall be raised or flown on a flagpole owned by the City of Imperial Beach with the following exceptions:
A. 
A prisoner of war/missing in action (MIA/POW) flag may be flown on the flagpole at Veterans Park as a symbol of the City's commemoration and recognition of the sacrifices of those members of the United States Armed Forces who remain prisoners of war or are missing in action.
B. 
Flags representing various states in the United States of America may be flown on the flagpoles located in Portwood Pier Plaza.
C. 
Navy signal flags may be flown in the median near the intersection of 13th Street and Iris Avenue near the Naval Outlying Landing Field (NOLF).
D. 
A commemorative flag may be flown at City Hall upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the City Council.
(Ord. 2021-1203 § 1)
Each flag that is authorized or required to be displayed on a City owned flagpole shall be flown in accordance with flag law. Flags in addition to the national and state flags shall be flown below the national and state flags. No flag shall be larger than the national flag.
A. 
Flags flown on City owned flagpoles will be supplied by the City to ensure compliance with the provisions of this chapter. Staff will provide all cost estimates to the City Council in advance of the determination of whether to authorize the display of a commemorative flag.
B. 
If the United States flag is flown at half-staff and would cause any other flag to be on or near the ground, the additional flag shall be removed until the national flag is raised to full-staff.
(Ord. 2021-1203 § 1)
The City of Imperial Beach flagpoles shall not serve as a forum for free expression by the public. Rather, the City's flagpoles are restricted to the flag of the United States, the flag of the State of California, the MIA/POW flag, flags representing various states in the United States of America and to display commemorative flags as a form of government expression. For the purposes of this chapter, government expression is limited to a decision reached by a majority of the Imperial Beach City Council.
A. 
The dates for display of a commemorative flag shall be determined by a majority vote of the City Council. The City Council may, at any time, direct staff to remove a commemorative flag.
(Ord. 2021-1203 § 1)
No person shall, and it is unlawful to, display or place a flag upon any flagpole owned by the City of Imperial Beach without the expressed written consent of the Imperial Beach City Council. No more than one commemorative flag will be displayed in addition to the national and state flags.
(Ord. 2021-1203 § 1)