This could be the last time the Pride Flag — or any other community-based flag — will fly over the Manteca Civic Center under current council leadership.

A revised municipal flag policy brought up by Councilwoman Regina Lackey with some proposed tweaking by staff was run up the proverbial flag pole at Tuesday’s Manteca City Council.

The basic policy revision Lackey suggested would prohibit  the flying of any flag except that of the United States, the State of California, and a city flag — if and when one is adopted — over the Civic Center or on any other municipal property such as a fire station..

The tweak, that Lackey indicated she would be comfortable with, would allow appropriate flags to fly at facilities the city leases to other organizations.

A prime example is the Moffat Community Center on Moffat Boulevard.

It is being leased by the city to Veterans of Wars Post 6311 for 30 years. Not only does it have a flag pole, but they also place flags  on the grounds representing the branches of military service and the MIA/POW flag.

Councilman Dave Breitenbucher made a motion to proceed with Lackey’s proposal with the staff’s recommendations. Lackey seconded it.

The motion and second was withdrawn after a brief council discussion on addressing potential loose ends.

The proposed policy with possible tweaks will be brought back before the council.

The potential tweaks include:

*whether city department flags such as the one flown last weeks for public works should be allowed.

*other areas where exceptions might be allowed such as the Big League Dreams sports complex that is leased to a private operator.

*whether the golf course operator could opt to fly other flags.

*would it impact the Boys & Girls Club that leases the land at Charlie Giles Park where the clubhouse sits on West Alameda.

When a representative of the San Joaquin Pride Center, who had accepted a resolution at the start of the meeting from the council recognizing Pride Month, expressed concern whether such a policy with flags would apply to future proclamations, it triggered a tangent discussion on whether there should be a proclamation policy mirroring whatever flag policy the city ends up with.

The council ended up agreeing the flag policy and proclamations were two completely different issues.

The question may have been spurred in part by Breitenbucher removing himself from the council chambers during the Pride Month resolution presentation when all council members and the mayor lined up to read sections of the proclamation.

Lackey stressed there was no connection between her flag policy proposal and the fact she wanted to change it the week  when the Pride flag was flying over city hall.

She said the timing was inconsequential.

“We as a city support everybody, everybody,” Lackey said.

As for restricting the flags to just three specifically, Lackey noted “we are Mantecans, we all line in California (and are all Americans.):

She said her motivation was done in a bid to defuse community upheaval. And, by extension, avoiding exposing the city to any potential litigation over what flag is flown or isn’t.

It was noted after the Pride flag was flown, a group asked that a Christian flag be flown for five days at city hall as well.

That prompted some LGBTQ+ advocates to claim the only reason the Christian flag was flown was to protest the Pride flag being flown.
Current policy allows the city manager to make a decision on requests from the community on whether other flags would be flown over the Civic Center.

The existing policy, as well as whether a change is made, will comply with Supreme Court rulings on the subject.

A revised policy, with possible exceptions for leased city property, is expected to be before the council at the June 17 meeting.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com