Des Plaines flag controversy closer to resolution
For the first time, all Des Plaines aldermen may be closer to agreeing on which flags can be flown over city-owned properties.
The city council voted unanimously Monday to direct the city attorney to prepare a resolution that would etch in stone a finite list of flags that can be hoisted on flagpoles.
On July 5, the council approved an initial list: the flags of the United States, the state of Illinois and the city of Des Plaines, plus the POW-MIA flag.
On Aug. 1, aldermen voted to add the police and firefighter memorial flags to honor the loss of life of a retired or active service member. They also approved a request of Des Plaines VFW Post 2992 to fly the military service branch flags on the city hall flagpole one after another on four consecutive weeks every November.
All of the flags the council has already approved would go into the new flag policy aldermen will vote on at their next meeting Sept. 6.
Now, groups seeking to fly any other flags individually on city property must receive the council's approval, but under the proposed new rules, that process would stop, according to City Manager Mike Bartholomew.
He added, however, the council could always add to its list of permitted flags in the policy.
The flag that started the controversy in Des Plaines — the rainbow flag — isn't on the list.
That flag flew outside the Des Plaines Public Library following the June 12 mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, after Mayor Matt Bogusz gave library board President Greg Sarlo permission.
The decision led to Alderman Jim Brookman proposing rules that aldermen — not the mayor — should get to decide which flags are flown over city property. Brookman added that he probably would have voted to fly the rainbow flag, if asked.
On Monday, Brookman said the city council's proposed new policy has come about through a “good, democratic process” over the past few months.
“This has been a contentious issue, but I think we're reaching a good conclusion,” Brookman said. “I think this is a good policy. It's a finite list. It's a limited list. We will not take any other requests, which could cause a lot of problems.
“I think it's an excellent list of flags to be flown over the city.”