San Leandro Municipal Code Art. 1 Policy on Lowering Flags

The purpose of this administrative policy is to establish a uniform policy to govern the lowering of the United States, State and City flags to half-mast on City-owned property to pay homage to the deceased.

As a general rule, City flags shall be placed at half-mast during periods of mourning declared by the Governor of California or the President of the United States. Flags shall also be lowered upon the death of a current or former City elected official and of a current City employee as set forth below. All other situations are to be referred to the City Manager.

The Public Works Services staff will be responsible for the lowering of the United States, State and City flags to half-mast at City Hall. For City Hall only, the Mayor will make the determination to lower the United States, State and City flags to half-mast.

For all other City facilities (community centers, libraries, corporation yard, sanitation plant, parks, etc.), the respective department head will designate specific staff to do the same under the following circumstances*:

(a) {Reserved};

(b) When prescribed by the President of the United States for days of national mourning, or by the Governor of California;

(c) Thirty days after the death of a President or former President;

(d) Ten days after the death of the U.S. Vice President, the Chief Justice, or a retired Chief Justice, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(e) From the day of death until the burial of an Associate Justice, a Secretary from an executive or military department, or the governor of a state;

(f) From the day of death until the burial of a California Senator, the Congressional Representative for San Leandro, the State Senator or Assemblymember representing San Leandro, and/or the County Supervisor representing San Leandro;

(g) When prescribed by the Office of the Mayor in accordance with the following guidelines:

(1) From the day of death until burial of any:

(i) City Councilmember of the City of San Leandro, past or present;

(ii) City employee whose death occurred during the discharge of duty;

(iii) City employee or retiree having served the City for 25 or more years.

(2) Upon authority issuing from the Office of the Mayor, similar recognition may be given in the case of a prominent citizen not holding or having held public office, whose accomplishments and contributions to the community clearly demonstrated a commitment over and beyond that which would be normally associated with the performance of work.

(3) Flags will be lowered to half-mast as soon as practicable following notification of death of the above, and will ordinarily be continued until after the conclusion of burial services. In the event current notice is not given or the date of funeral is unknown, as is frequently the case, flags will be lowered for 48 hours from the day of notification.

(4) Any person having definite knowledge of a death requiring City acknowledgment should immediately advise the Office of the Mayor as the central point for notification of those responsible for handling our flags. Should contact with this office be impracticable, the information should be given, in order, to the Director of Public Works Services or to the Police Chief, who will then become responsible for taking action in conformity with the policy herein outlined.[1]

[1]

Reference: U.S. Flag Code, adopted by the United States Congress, as amended by Congress and the President of the United /States.

The City Council, upon notification of the death of the above stated, may elect to adjourn a City Council meeting in respect of the deceased.