Montgomery Council adopts new city flag despite concerns on costs

Montgomery now has a new city flag that was approved by the city council, though concerns were raised by one member about what it will cost. 

A public hearing was held during which no one spoke for or against it.

Councilor Glen Pruitt mentioned that the council previously made a decision to investigate the costs of adopting a new flag but that has not yielded results. 

“We don’t have anything,” he said. "And I’m curious why we don’t have anything on the cost of how much this is going to take the city of Montgomery because, look, we’ve all got pressing needs in this city.”

He went on to say that the fee of garbage collection was increased by $5 and decried that there were apparently no answers on the costs.

Councilor Oronde Mitchell replied that every city department was invited to committee meetings for the past two years about redesigning the flag but few showed up and no input was given about the costs. 

Council President Cornelius Calhoun asked Chief Financial Officer Betty Beville if there was a cost estimate, to which she said there was not and that it would be a “difficult cost to work up” by department, given that uniforms bearing the current flag would be replaced. 

“This is what I’m talking about,” said Pruitt. “I mean, we upped your garbage fees, we’re having a hard time paving streets. [Andrew] Szymanski talked about answering 911 calls and we’re going to go change a flag and we can’t even tell y’all how much this thing’s going to cost us?”

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He said that he was not opposed to the flag design itself but stated that he would vote against it due to there being no cost estimate. Mitchell reiterated that a new flag has been planned for two years and urged that action be taken that day. 

City Clerk Brenda Blalock then suggested that the new flag take effect on Oct. 1 in order to put it into each department’s budget. 

Councilor Julie Beard said that implementing the design by departments can be done in phases. With no further discussion the council voted to approve the flag to be effective on the date of Blalock’s suggestion by 6-1, with Pruitt being the only “no” vote. 

Spearheading the redesign was the council’s Governmental Affairs & Administration Standing Committee, which received 27 submissions that were narrowed down to five semifinalists. Of those five, Joshua Gordon’s submission was chosen. 

A statement released by the city government outlined the different symbols on the new flag. Red diagonal bands represent “momentum, movement, and the city’s evolving story,” with a blue ceremonial ribbon symbolizing renewal and unity. 

Nine gold stars represent the nine districts. The central star symbolizes “Montgomery’s role as Alabama’s capital city and serving as a beacon of unity and leadership.” And finally, olive branches represent “peace, resilience, growth, and goodwill.”  

The Montgomery City Council meets at 5 p.m. every first and third Tuesday of the month at City Hall on 103 North Perry Street. Recordings of meetings can be found on YouTube and Facebook.