Richmond city staff is suggesting some tweaks to the city’s flag policy.
Last year, city council received criticism from the public for not displaying a pride flag or an orange flag on the Day of Truth and Reconciliation, Sept. 30.
In response, city council asked its staff to look at updating the policy, and these suggestions will be discussed at Monday’s committee meeting.
According to the current flag policy, city council can authorize any flags or organizational banners to be flown at city hall but they won’t be flown without council consent.
Keeping the policy largely intact would be consistent with the flag policy of other municipalities, city staff note in a report going to council.
Alternatively, city staff say the policy could be changed to identify flags of specific causes that would be flown every year, for example, the pride flag and the flag on the Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
A third option would be to create a “community flag program” whereby community members or groups could apply to have a flag displayed.
City staff estimate this community flag program would cost $22,500 a year to administer.
Currently, the Ukrainian flag is being flown at city hall – at the corner of No. 3 Road and Granville Avenue – in solidarity with Ukraine that is under attack from Russia. The flag was raised early in the war with Russia and has been flying in front of city hall for about a year.
This was something city council voted to do.
City staff note there are very few requests for displaying flags.
