THE RAINBOW flag (Wikipedia).

By Jim Tortolano/Orange County Tribune

A proposed ordinance that would ban the display of most non-government flags – including the LGBTQ “rainbow” banner – on city property goes before the Huntington Beach City Council when it meets on Tuesday.

At its last meeting, the council voted 4-3 to direct the city attorney to draw up an ordinance limiting the flags to be raised at city hall and other municipal property to the national, state, city, POW/MIA and other government flags such as that of the county.

A large and loud crowd showed up at the Feb. 7 meeting, most of them expressing disapproval of the proposal, arguing it was aimed at the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transexual and “queer” community.

Supporters countered that putting up flags representing varied groups was divisive and that the national flag represented everyone.

The ordinance, if approved on Tuesday, would come back for a second reading and adoption in two weeks.

Also on the agenda for Monday is directing the city attorney to “take any legal action” necessary to challenge SB 9 and SB 10 and the laws that permit accessory dwelling units until courts have “adjudicated the matters.”

Those laws passed by the state legislature require changes in land use for housing. Supporters argue they can improve the state housing shortage; opponents say they are an intrusion into local control.

Additionally, the council will consider a request by Mayor Tony Strickland and Mayor Pro Tem Gracey Van Der Mark to prepare a policy on invocations and maintain a list of religious associates or leaders for the practice of rotating them for offering invocations at council meetings.

The council will meet in its chambers at 2000 Main St. (at Yorktown Avenue) with a study session at 3:30 and the regular business meeting at 6 p.m.