South El Monte Municipal Code Ch. 1.08 City Seal

There is adopted and provided for the city a city seal of which the city clerk shall be the custodian, and which is described as follows:

A golden circle shall be created whose diameter is thirty-nine times the width of the curved line from which it is formed.

Within the said golden circle shall be a curved black line whose width is half of the said curved golden line. The said curved black line forms a concentric circle whose diameter is fifty-three times the width of the curved line from which it is formed.

The said circles define a white space where the words "South El Monte" and "City of Achievement" shall appear. The said words are to be separated by two golden periods.

The words "South El Monte" shall be thrice the width of the said curved golden line in height and shall be squared, bold, and serif in character. These said words shall be centered between the said curved lines and equally positioned within the upper two-thirds of the defined white space of the said circles.

The words "City of Achievement" shall be half the width of the words "South El Monte" in height and shall be squared, bold, and sans serif in character. The said words shall be positioned so that the space toward the said golden circle is twice that of the space toward said black circle. The said words shall be equally positioned within the lower one-third of the defined space between the said circles.

The said golden periods' diameter is equal to the width of the said curved golden line and shall be centered between the said circles and the said words.

The said inner circle is to be divided into three parts by black lines whose width is the same as the said black circle. The said lines divide the circle into a one-third proportion on the right and a two-thirds proportion on the left.

Within the right one-third portion appears an image of the Trigg Trophy, which consists of a golden, two-handled mounted cup that is topped by the bust of a mailed and helmeted warrior who carries a circular shield and a raised sword. The image is proportional to the actual trophy and dominates the one-third portion of the inner circle. The background of the said one-third portion is white.

The two-thirds proportion shall be equally divided by a horizontal line of the same thickness as the said black curved line.

In the upper half shall appear a red, white, and blue image of the All-American City Banner. The background of the said upper portion is white.

In the lower half shall appear, from top to bottom, the silhouettes of a typical industrial building, a typical landscaped residential building, and the word "incorporated" and the year "1958." The lettering is squared, light, and sans serif in character. The background of this portion is gold.

(Prior code §1-16-1)

A. As used in this chapter, the term "city seal" shall mean and include the official seal of the city of South El Monte, as first approved upon the incorporation of the city in 1958, the seal of the city as adopted by Ordinance 175 on September 14, 1965, the seal of the city as adopted by Ordinance 381 on October 25, 1973, and any copy or reasonable facsimile of the foregoing. Except as stated below in subsection B of this section, no person other than a city officer or employee shall use the city seal as defined in this chapter.

B. Persons other than a city officer or employee may seek to use the city seal as defined in this chapter by submitting a written request or application to the city clerk with the following information:

1. Person or organization requesting use of the city seal;

2. Purpose for which city seal will be used;

3. Proposed text and/or design;

4. Specific event, if any, for which city seal will be displayed; and

5. Dates for display of city seal.

C. A complete request will thereafter be scheduled for public hearing before the city council. If the use of the city seal is approved by the city council, a permit will be issued by the city clerk's office which shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance. The person or organization must reapply for any subsequent renewal. The requirements for this permit include payment by the applicant of a permit fee, the amount of which shall be determined by the city council by resolution, a diagram of the text or design displaying the city seal, and written acknowledgment from the applicant that such permit shall not entitle applicant to any power or authority to legally bind city, to incur any debt, obligation or liability on behalf of the city, or to make any representation on behalf of the city.

(Prior code §1-16-2; Ord. 1017 §1, 1999)

No person may utilize city stationery containing the printed names of the mayor, the mayor pro tempore, or members of the city council without the prior consent of a majority of the members of the city council. Such consent shall not be necessary for any city officer or employee to utilize city stationery not containing the printed names of the mayor, the mayor pro tempore or members of the city council.

(Prior code §1-16-3)

Notwithstanding any provision in this chapter to the contrary, the mayor, the vice mayor and each member of the city council may utilize stationery bearing the city seal and containing his or her printed name and office, provided that any such stationery be used only for the city's official business. Use of said stationery in political campaigns or elections, or for any personal, political, business or other purpose unrelated to the city's official business, shall be prohibited.

(Ord. 1035 §1, 2002)

Any person who violates this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Ord. 1267 §2, 2023)

The city council shall have the authority to amend this chapter, on the use of the city seal and any exceptions, by resolution.

(Ord. 1267 §3, 2023)