Prescott Valley — The Town Council unanimously adopted a resolution April 20 amending Town Policy 1-07 to provide guidance on the display of flags on town property, clarifying the town’s control over which flags may be flown and where.

Town staff, presenting the draft policy, said recent case law and guidance prompted municipalities statewide to adopt clear rules so that city- or town-owned flagpoles are treated as government speech rather than an open public forum. The staff presentation said the absence of an explicit policy in some cities led courts to find that momentary openings of flagpoles could constitute a public forum; the town’s updated policy is intended to avoid that legal exposure by setting consistent rules for inside and outside displays.

Town staff said the policy differentiates flags from banner programs and describes locations where flags may be flown on town property, including poles around the Civic Center, park poles, and temporary flags associated with events. Staff told the council that the policy will allow flags representing the U.S. military services to be displayed when appropriate and that staff had worked with departments and the League of Arizona Cities and Towns on model language.

A vice mayor thanked staff for addressing earlier concerns and council members asked clarifying questions about where flags would be placed and what temporary uses would be allowed. The motion to authorize Mayor Kell Palguta to sign Resolution No. 2025-2414 amending Town Policy 1-07 passed unanimously by electronic vote.

Ending: The policy amendment formalizes town control of flag displays to reduce legal risk and to provide clearer guidance to staff and event organizers; staff said departments will follow the new procedure once the resolution is signed.