Attachment 3
COUNCIL POLICY MANUAL
TITLE: Flag Policy
POLICY NUMBER: 5-02
EFFECTIVE DATE: 10/19/16
PAGES: 32
ENABLING ACTIONS:
REVISED DATES: 98/47/18
APPROVED:
PURPOSE
This Policy provides direction for when to lower flags to half -staff and to raise flags flown on
Town properties.This Policy provides guidelines for the official appearance and colors of the
Town flag and Town seal as well as guidelines for gifting or trading the Town flag. This Policy
also provides direction for when to lower flags to half -staff and to raise flags f lown on Town
properties.
SCOPE
The Policy applies to all Town flags and Town seals as well as Town staff, volunteers, and
residents managing flags flown on Town properties.
POLICY
TOWN SEAL
The official Town seal shall be in a circular format with a golden outer ring. At the top of the
outer ring, bold-face, upper-case, black letters shall read ‘TOWN OF’ while similarly written
letters at the bottom read ‘LOS GATOS’. At the bottom and inside the outer ring, smaller,
upper-case, regular-face, black letters read ‘INCORPORATED 1887’ against a white background.
The central image features a golden sun radiating narrow golden rays against a white sky
peaking out from behind dark and light green mountains. The foreground displays nine rows of
dark and light green grape vines on light brown earth. Flanking each side of the central image
are two large white cats outlined in black. The cats are modeled after those which guard the
Small Town Service Community Stewardship Future Focus
ATTACHMENT 3
TITLE: Flag Policy
PAGE:
2 of 3
POLICY NUMBER:
5-02
S:\COUNCILREPORTS\2018\9-4-18\FLAGPOLICYUPDATE
entrance to “The Cats” estate just south of Town, sculpted from cement by Robert Trent Paine
in 1922.
There is also a black and white version of the color Town seal, which is acceptable for use.
TOWN FLAG
The official appearance of the Town flag shall feature the color Town seal, centered, on a white
background. Directly below the seal shall read, in bold-faced, upper-case, dark green letters
‘THE GEM OF THE FOOTHILLS’.
LOWERING AND RAISING THE FLAG
The Town of Los Gatos will adhere to the United State s Flag Code, along with the California
Governor’s and the Town of Los Gatos Mayor’s discretion on flag status for all flags on Town
property.
For background, Title 4, Section 7 of the United States Code describes the United States Flag
Code and the President’s authority. This Code specifies that only the President can order
federal flags to half-staff. The Code also indicates that state governors have the authority to
issue flag status proclamations. The Town will follow this Code and the Mayor’s di scretion
when managing the Town’s flag procedures.
PROCEDURES
The Town flag may be gifted or traded upon approval from the Town Manager.
The procedures for lowering and raising flags on Town property are as follows.
TITLE: Flag Policy
PAGE:
3 of 3
POLICY NUMBER:
5-02
S:\COUNCILREPORTS\2018\9-4-18\FLAGPOLICYUPDATE
1. The Town Council will establish the Flag Policy. The Town Manager and his or her
designee will provide direction for flag status, and act as the final authority for the
application of the policy according to federal and state declarations.
2. The Town Manager’s Office is responsible for the day-to-day operation of administering
direction for flag status.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Robert Schultz, Town Attorney