Minutes - Council - 05/26/2026 - Laserfiche WebLink

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7.06: Adopt Resolution #26-102 Designating the Historic Minnesota State Flag as the Official Flag of the City of Ramsey to Ensure Local Control and Fiscal Responsibility Mayor Heineman introduced Item 7.6, consideration of Resolution #26-102 to designate the historic Minnesota State flag as the official flag of the City of Ramsey to ensure local control and fiscal responsibility. He then opened the floor to public comment and invited residents wishing to comment on the item to come forward and state their name. Ms. Amy Hodges, 7463 159th Avenue Northwest, Ramsey, explained that she attended the meeting primarily to show opposition to the resolution. She described Ramsey as a welcoming, growing community that she and her family chose for its positive environment, families, and amenities. She expressed concern that the three resolutions under consideration were divisive and inconsistent with the values she believes define the community. She indicated she wanted City resources focused on services and projects that benefit everyone. She respectfully urged the Council to vote against the resolutions so the community could move forward together. Mr. Brian Walker, 17289 Variolite Street Northwest, agreed with concerns about potential state funding consequences tied to communities choosing to continue using the historic Minnesota flag, describing that approach as partisan politics. He noted previous Minnesota flags had never been selected through a statewide public vote and pointed out there had been opportunities for public input during the redesign process. He questioned why the discussion focused on the flag rather than the state seal and argued that there is no state requirement mandating the use of a specific flag. He stated that he believed the proposal was unnecessary and a poor use of City resources, and encouraged the Council to continue current practices without taking formal action. Mr. Todd Embury, 9041 159th Lane Northwest, Ramsey, stated that he had previously addressed the same issue two weeks earlier and indicated that he had not seen significant public demand for the proposed action. He remarked that the state flag redesign process appeared to have followed the proper procedures and included opportunities for public input. He questioned whether the matter warranted additional Council time and resources, noting the limited public attendance compared to other local issues he considered more important to residents. He encouraged the Council to consider how the proposal reflects on the City and whether the time and effort involved are serving the broader community interest. Mr. Michael Swanson, 5368 140th Court Northwest, expressed concern that the historic Minnesota flag contains the former state seal and argued that adopting it as an official City flag would endorse a symbol no longer recognized by the state. He stated that the redesign process had been widely publicized and included opportunities for public participation, noting that he followed it even while living outside Minnesota. He also questioned whether the proposal reflected the views of Ramsey residents as a whole and expressed concern that the action could create division within the community. Mr. Rodney Allen, 5731 142nd Avenue Northwest, Ramsey, stated he believed Councilmembers serve the City with good intentions and encouraged the Council to focus on issues he believed were most important to residents. He expressed embarrassment that the historic Minnesota flag continues to be displayed, explaining he believes the flag represents a negative and divisive City Council /May 26, 2026 Page 8 of 19