The premier news source for Snohomish County

LYNNWOOD— Lynnwood officials are revisiting how and where flags can be displayed across the city, as ongoing debate over Pride flag requests at Wilcox Park exposes gaps in policy and authority. During a Monday Work Session, on May 4, city leaders discussed formalizing rules around commemorative flags—highlighting tensions between maintaining government speech, ensuring consistency, and responding to calls for broader recognition of community events like Pride Month.

At Monday’s meeting Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Director Joel Faber, accompanied by City Attorney Lisa Marshall, walked council through a presentation on the use and display of flags within the city.

Over the last three years (in 2024, 2025, and 2026) there was a request to raise a Pride flag at Wilcox Park but two, of three, of these requests were denied (with this year currently still ongoing debate).

“What we learned in 2025 is we didn’t have any formal process in place as far as written policy,” said Faber. “The staff had been, in a way, doing a policy or procedure but there was nothing that was written down.”

In September 2025, the Executive Office did create an administrative policy (which the Mayor has the authority to create).

A brief background on Wilcox Park

In 1976 the bicentennial committee installed 27 flags at Wilcox Park to represent the 27 variations of the American Flag (beginning with the 13 colonies throughout present day). These flags are installed in May and are on display until September (Memorial Day through Labor Day, though this year, for the country’s 250^th anniversary they were displayed a little earlier).

Approximately 26 of these 27 flags do not have a mechanism to raise, or lower, them. The center pole, however, does have attachment points for two flags (currently the American Flag and the POW flag) and required a ladder to access.

An interesting sidenote to Wilcox Park, Faber included, is while the city was conducting Scriber Creek Trail construction it was noted that Wilcox Park could qualify for the national historic register, which would create limitations on what the city could do with the avenue of flags.

Faber also noted that something else that should be considers is, typically when a new flag is introduced at Wilcox Park there is a public event but Wilcox Park is too small a park to host a large public event (with limited parking and limited restrooms).

The request for a formal flag policy

Faber noted on Monday, citing a Supreme Court decision (Shurtleff v. Bosston) that the “government needs to take control of the message” which, he said, is the biggest difference between government speech and free speech. The best to do this, he continued, is for the city to create a formal flag policy.

“That way it gives staff a written policy to follow. It also adds consistency across the city. I’m not aware of any other flag poles at any other municipal buildings that I might not be responsible for, but if there was it also adds a policy for all the different flagpoles in different areas,” said Faber.

Faber added that the policy would not change existing practice, it just formalizes the procedure. It also provides consistency for responding to all commemorative flag display requests (currently the city has only received one).

Lynnwood’s flag policy – which was created in September 2025 by the executive office – does follow all Federal Flag Policies, the Washington State Flag Policies, and is modeled after other Washington Cities.

Through a Mayor Proclamation, the City of Lynnwood can display other commemorative flags or banners at City Hall (located at 19100 44^th Avenue West). The Mayor may order the display of the official flag of the City of Lynnwood to create civic pride, denote a sense of place, and reflect the vibrancy of residents and the community.

Commemorative flags and banners may be displayed only as authorized by the Mayor as an expression of government speech (not free speech).

Due to city policy, commemorative flags or banners must be the same size or smaller than the U.S. flag or Washington State flag being flown. They cannot be displayed higher than the U.S. flag at City Hall and if any other flag is being flown at half-staff, the commemorative flag or banner will also be flown at half-staff.

The policy does not allow commemorative flags or banners to be flown in the City of Lynnwood Parks unless explicitly noted in the policy.

City Actions taken to date

The City of Lynnwood has been doing an employee-only pride flag raising since 2024, and in 2025 participated in a public pride flag raising during the week. However, the city was met with some public pushbacks for the ceremony being inaccessible for some people (taking place on a Monday at noon).

In response, this year, the city will be hosting City Pride on Saturday, June 6, from 1 – 4 p.m. on Civic Campus. This will include 12 vendors and 12 non-profits, variety of food options, 4 performers and a DJ, with Councilmember Isabel Mata as MC.

“The city has been listening and has been taking action over the last two years to do a better job of recognizing everyone, and especially our LGBTQ residents and neighbors,” said Faber. “Our whole goal here is to draw attention and to celebrate everyone and to show that we truly open and welcoming community.”

The event is scheduled at 1 p.m., taking into consideration Cops n’ Kids earlier that day.

“We want to make sure we are inclusive and that this is relevant to our community,” said Faber.

Lynnwood City Council engagement

Following Faber’s presentation, council had the opportunity to engage in questions and comments, beginning with Lynnwood Mayor George Hurst who shared, despite being on council in September of 2025, that he wasn’t even aware of the flag policy until he took office in January of this year.

“The process was not very good, as far putting this policy together, but after reading it, and doing research, and having discussions with the City Attorney I’m confident this policy is fair, and it is something that is beneficial to the city and to our administration,” said Mayor Hurst.

Councilwoman Mata agreed with Mayor Hurst that the flag policy is “fair” but “limiting” – provided it only allows flags to be displayed under the discretion of the mayor and only at City Hall.

“I think that does a disservice to our community when we have a wonderful ‘flag park’ that we could be doing something at,” said Mata.

Mata referenced other cities (specifically Bellingham and Bothell) which, like Lynnwood, prioritize displaying the U.S., Washington State, and POW flag. Where they differ, she noted, is the have a “clear, structured, pathway for recognizing community observances through these commemorative flags.”

In Bellingham the decision to fly commemorative flags lies with the council. Bothell, on the other hand, takes a more formalized approach by defining a criteria and process while still maintaining clear limits and control. It should be noted that Bothell does not utilize a strong Mayor system like the cities of Lynnwood and Bellingham.

“In Bellingham the authority to bring display of a commemorative flag sits directly with the council allowing them to improve temporary flag displays by specific months,” said Mata. “Our current policy is only at the discretion of the Mayor and at City Hall, as a result, even if there is council support for recognizing something like Pride Month, we don’t have a clear and consistent mechanism to do so.”

Mata’s recommendation is not to overhaul the policy, she continued, but to make a targeted amendment – one that allows the council to authorize displaying temporary commemorative flags at designated locations (such as Wilcox Park) for specific observances. This amendment – which adds a line to Section 8 of the city’s existing flag policy, would allow council members to make a motion that would allow display of a commemorative flag (such as Juneteenth and Pride).

“This would give us the ability, and flexibility, to recognize our community in meaningful ways while still maintaining structure, consistency, and control,” said Mata.

Mata’s amendment would also add language to the prohibition of displaying commemorative flags at city parks unless authorized by specific council action.

Faber replied that removing the POW flag is possible under federal law, if replaced back under certain dates – however City Attorney Lisa Marshall added that council could not amend an executive policy by its very definition. The mayor could, she added, make changes based on council input. Another option is to reduce it to an ordinance or resolution.

Council Vice President Derica Escamilla thought it was also worth noting to explain the official definition of a “commemorative flag” – which is defined as: a “specially designed flag used to honor a specific person, event, cause, nation, or group, often flown temporarily to mark a historic occasion or recognize service. These flags are distinct from official national or state flags and often include unique symbol, dates, or messages to the commemoration.”

This definition is important, Escamilla continued, because what would prevent someone from creating a specific flag or see that Pride Flag flown and want to then fly a Proud Boys Flag. City Attorney Marshall agreed that Escamilla’s point is a valid one, and that as soon as the public sees all they have to do is approach council for approval to fly a flag, that it can “look more like private speech” over time and less like government speech.

Council President Nick Coelho also noted fiscal and staffing challenges that need to be considered, a point corroborated by Faber who said, “it’s not snapping a finger and five minutes it’s up, five minutes it’s down – we simply don’t have the staffing that we did before.”

Faber also noted that by displaying a Pride Flag at Wilcox it will also make a political statement. So, he asked council if they wanted parks to be the platform for political statements or would they rather take place at City Hall.

Mata said the City of Lynnwood, allegedly being the most diverse city in Snohomish County, has already made a political statement on where it stands by making its motto “All Our Welcome” in rainbow colors, adding that she would feel more comfortable flying a Pride Flag at her house than an American Flag, which represents parts of American history that “frankly aren’t great.”

Mata also asked why the City of Lynnwood could not have a large banner advertising Pride over, say, Cops n Kids, which she said she would personally prioritize Pride over Cops n’ Kids herself.

Council member Owings suggested the city could work with Sound Transit on displaying a banner on the Lynnwood light rail, and Council member David Parshall suggested the 44^th Avenue underpass.

Council also discussed adding a temporary, or permanent, flagpole to the grass area of City Hall which Faber said shouldn’t take too much, as far as staff resources and funds (about $250, according to Council member Bryce Owings).

Though no resolution was made on Monday, and adding an additional flagpole (or to parks) will likely take a while (most likely determined in the next biennium), Mayor Hurst pledged to explore a short term resolution for now, so that the residents of Lynnwood feel heard and seen – especially leading into Pride month in June.