HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-10-2018 - Com. Develop. Committee MinutesDUBLIN CITY COUNCIL
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Monday, September 10, 2018
Minutes of Meeting
Mr. Reiner called the meeting of the Community Development Committee to order at 4:48 p.m.
in Council Chambers.
Committee members present: Mr. Reiner, Ms. De Rosa, Vice Mayor Amorose Groomes.
Staff members present: Ms. Richison.
• Approval of Minutes of August 15, 2018
Ms. De Rosa moved approval of the minutes of the August 15, 2018 meeting.
Vice Mayor Amorose Groomes seconded the motion.
Vote on the motion: Vice Mayor Amorose Groomes, yes; Mr. Reiner, yes; Ms. De Rosa, yes.
• New Flag Discussion
Mr. Reiner stated that the question and discussion topics before the committee for this meeting
are:
• Should the City adopt a new flag?
• Process for retiring the current flag with honors
• Notification of new design winners; and
• Recommendation to Council.
Ms. Richison provided a PowerPoint presentation illustrating the flag designs that advanced
from the judging process.
Ms. De Rosa requested Mr. Reiner provide background information.
Mr. Reiner stated that on March 21, 1977, the flag was adopted as the result of a contest that
was held to design the City's flag. The current flag design was the winning design submitted by
Colleen, Cindy and Caroline McNemar. Since the City has gone through many changes, it
seemed to make sense to revisit the flag design and determine if it still represents Dublin as it
exists today. The City asked two experts in the field of Vexillology (those who study the
history, symbolism and usage of flags) to review the current flag. The flags that represent
cities are not typically sophisticated in design principles. The members of Council agreed to see
what could be done to improve the flag and make it more representative of the City of Dublin.
A good flag should communicate to the view what city is represented without the name of the
city. He referenced the book, Good Flag, Bad Flag by Ted Kaye, and shared from the book that
there are five basic principles to creating a good flag:
• Keep it simple;
• Use meaningful symbolism that represents the City;
• Use two or three basic colors;
• No lettering or seals; and
• Be distinctive or be related.
Mr. Reiner stated that the City had two experts in Heraldry and Vexillology to become judges
and invited the public to submit a design for a new city flag. There were 28 submissions. The
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September 10, 2018
Page 2 of 4
judges picked four flags that they believed met the requirements of a good design. A graphic
designer then took the four winning designs and proposed his own design, so there are now
five to be considered. {The Committee reviewed the PowerPoint presentation of the five
designs.]
Ms. De Rosa asked for clarification about what made one submission a third place versus a
second place.
Ms. Richison stated the judges rated the flags and looked at what was unique, what was
representative of Dublin, etc. The judges didn't believe that any one flag was representative of
all of Dublin, which is why they suggested having someone combine certain elements for a fifth
submission.
Mr. Reiner stated that the first place flag represents John Shields, so it has a shield, shows the
Scioto River, and has the pedestrian bridge. All of the designs include shamrocks.
Ms. De Rosa stated that this means that the shamrock is the distinctive symbol, given it is
included in all of the submissions.
Mr. Reiner stated the judges commented that Dublin is a farm community, founded by
Germans, and noted they wanted to see a concept design from the graphic designer. The
graphic designer's submission includes the colors red, white and black, which were from the
time period in Europe when this City was settled. The Scioto River, shamrocks and the
pedestrian bridge are all included in the design. Anyone would be able to recognize it is the City
of Dublin without it being written on the flag. He added that not many people have ordered the
current flag for their own use. The current flag is expensive because it is not mass produced.
There are few of the current flags being displayed.
Public Testimonv
Ron Geese, 5584 Brand Road, former Council member stated that the Dublin flags are displayed
in Dublin Schools. He was elected to City Council in 1976. For 41 years, everyone has
recognized the current flag as the City flag. He does not believe it is old and outdated. It is
representative of history. He is a sixth generation resident of Dublin. Including the new
pedestrian bridge on the flag gives up the history. He is also active in the Dublin Historical
Society and it is important to include the history on the flag. Personally, he does not support
having the new pedestrian bridge on the flag. The Irish flag has three colors and the City flag
has corn fields, red leaves representing the people, the life and blood of Dublin. He likes having
the founding year of 1810 on the flag. The people that adopted the current flag and all the
people who have served on the Council have had this flag looking over them. The flag still
means something. He resents the fact that all generations of his relatives are being forgotten
in the history. He believes that the flag is not tired or worn out and it does not need to be
retired.
Mr. Reiner responded that the concept was not that the current flag is tired and worn out, and
if it were to be replaced, it would be retired with honors as part of Dublin's history. Less than
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September 10, 2018
Page 3 of 4
600 people lived in Dublin when the current flag was adopted. He shared the conversations he
had with the original designers of the flag (the McNemars) and they were not upset at the idea
of redesigning the flag.
Ms. De Rosa asked Mr. Geese if it would make sense to incorporate other critical historical
elements into the new flag.
Mr. Geese responded that he is uncertain if flags are for history or for the present. This flag
has been flown on Memorial Day, at the football games at the high schools and it should be
proudly displayed. He is proud that this City came from modest means.
Vice Mayor Amorose Groomes stated that she does not disagree with anything that Mr. Geese
has said. The graphics of the current flag were obviously done at a different point in time and
there are advancements in graphic design as far as clarity and balance. She appreciated his
comments regarding the recommended design and how it points to one item at one point of
time in the City's future. She appreciates the elements and the education and thought behind
all of the submissions. Perhaps the current flag could be improved digitally with the graphic
design techniques now available. She is not supportive of a flag that points to only one thing.
She shared that she likes the pride in the current flag, the year of establishment and the
academic references. She is not compelled to support the first place ranking submission.
Mr. Reiner agreed -- the red graphic on the current flag is representative of the leaves.
Mr. Geese stated that they are red leaves representative of the people — the life and blood of
Dublin.
Ms. De Rosa stated that many of the proposed elements are representative of the existing flag.
As time passes, there are opportunities for clarity that weren't possible when the flag was
originally designed.
Mr. Geese stated that there were 12 or 15 submittals at that time.
Ms. De Rosa asked Mr. Geese to remind the committee of the other symbolism on the current
flag.
Mr. Geese shared:
o Gold ring symbolizes the rich corn fields which make up the original landscape of
Dublin
o The shamrock pays homage to Dublin, Ireland — the City's namesake
o Red leaves are to represent the people — the life and blood of Dublin
o Torch represents athleticism
o Faces and harp are representations of the arts
o Book represents academia, and
0 1810 is the year Dublin was established.
Ms. De Rosa stated that the core elements that the judges liked in the new designs are also in
the current flag. She believes that flags are to represent the history and heritage -- perhaps
more than the future. It might be useful to take the opportunity to update the graphic using
today's tools, but it is important not to lose the heritage. The flag could be more distinctive,
trying to incorporate some opportunities that new technologies allow and still be sensitive to the
heritage and history.
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September 10, 2018
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Mr. Reiner stated that the shamrock is nearly lost in the current flag. There are many new
shamrock logos that the City developed over time that could be incorporated.
Ms. De Rosa suggested refreshing and reworking the shamrock, but keeping it as the central
element.
Vice Mayor Amorose Groomes agreed — noting that the current flag could be refreshed, bringing
out some of the elements in a way that they can be seen from a distance.
Ms. De Rosa agreed and stated that it would be worth doing this exercise to see the results.
Mr. Reiner agreed.
Vice Mayor Amorose Groomes stated the flag likely doesn't need to have the words "Dublin" on
it.
Mr. Reiner agreed that there are criteria that are missing in designing a good flag.
Ms. De Rosa stated a refresh would be warranted, but retaining the same elements that make
Dublin what it is.
Mr. Reiner summarized that, based on the discussion, the Committee will advise Council that
the current flag will be modified to come up with improved graphics.
Ms. De Rosa suggested that the Committee review the refreshed flag prior to taking it to
Council.
Vice Mayor Amorose Groomes agreed that it should come back to the Committee so they can
determine if it represents who we are and who we want to be.
Mr. Reiner stated that there is therefore no need to discuss retiring the current flag at this time.
He asked Ms. Richison how notifications to the design winners should be handled.
Ms. Richison stated she could let all of the submitters know the results based on the judging.
Vice Mayor Amorose Groomes suggested making it a status update, noting there is still more
work to do and review planned.
Ms. De Rosa stated that it is important to communicate that so many of the elements were
similar, which was a wonderful affirmation of the pride of the community.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:25 p.m.
Acting Clerk of Council