Minutes 05-15-2018 - Laserfiche WebLink

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15 Latarndra Sky read a quote from the Mayor of New Orleans: “They are not innocent remembrance of benign history. These monuments celebrate a fictional, sanitized confederacy ignoring the deaths, ignoring the enslavement, ignoring the terror that it actually stands for”. She said she was proud of the courageous act of the Mayor, because it was action taken in the absence of crisis. She said she has had to talk with children who question if they are hated, or do not belong here. She said when someone who has never experienced those feelings makes light of them, she is sickened. She said she is in support of this proposed amendment, and to continue the community conversations. She said the intention of the Confederate flag is to incite fear, and one should never be afraid in one’s own community. Hannah Skjellum said she is in support of this ordinance. Adam Beeman, Planning Board, referred to Commissioner Prices’ question about only 3 flags being permitted per flagpole. He said for him it is a question of safety, and the ratio of the flags to the pole is specific, so that the pole does not come down in the wind. He said his concern is the non-certified flagpole, which can fall down and cause significant damage to anyone in the area. He said those with smaller lots could have their flagpole reduced to a size that is proportionate to the lot size, and flagpoles should be placed back far enough so that if one does fall, it does not fall onto someone else’s property. A motion was made by Commissioner Price, seconded by Commissioner Burroughs for the Board to close the public hearing. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Commissioner Burroughs said the current regulations are unclear, and the County has the authority to adopt clear standards to ensure safety, and protect local skylines. She said other local governments have acted similarly, and she supports this content neutral amendment. She supports reducing the setback to 20 feet, and she would be amenable to two heights for residential and business flagpoles. Commissioner McKee said he does not have any particular concerns, and he would approve the tweaking of the setbacks and the heights. He said this is a legislative item, and legislative public hearings allow for comments at a later date, and if a decision is made tonight, no further comments can be made. He suggested delaying action until June 19th, which would allow for additional comments. Commissioner Marcoplos said Confederate flags are abhorrent racist statements, and he does not take the free speech and content neutral aspect of this lightly. He said the Board owes it to the community to figure this out, as it unacceptable to have members of the community feel threatened by the aggressive statements these flags are making. He said this came to the Board because of the size of Confederate flag, but any flag of that size would likely have attracted the attention of the Board. He said this proposed amendment is a simple courtesy, such as a noise ordinance, and it does not take away anyone’s freedom of expression. He said a noise ordinance does not prohibit music, but regulates the volume with which is can be played, while remaining a considerate neighbor. He said this issue is no different, and it is a question of volume and imposition, not restriction of free speech. He said this is a good ordinance that addresses a range of issues Commissioner Marcoplos said this issue points to a great failure of the educational system to teach the real history of racism, and its ongoing impact on society. Commissioner Jacobs said he was initially skeptical about changing the ordinance, and he is more comfortable with the idea that the Board is attempting to do something that is value neutral. He said Mr. Carrington’s remarks were good ones to follow up on, and he took offense to the recent HRC community meeting being called a “progressive activists rally”. He said more