The Champlin City Council has voted to fly the Minnesota state flag that was adopted by the Legislature in 1957 on city property instead of the flag that has been displayed at state government buildings since May 2024, according to officials.

Decision Amid Debate and Public Input

City councilmembers voted on a resolution to fly the royal blue flag that features the Minnesota state seal during a meeting on Monday after a ‘strong discussion’ that lasted nearly an hour between the five members of the group. They also heard feedback from around 10 residents.

Mayor Ryan Sabas and city councilmembers Tim Huttner and Tim LaCroix voted in favor of the resolution, while councilmembers Tom Moe and Jessica Tesdall opposed it, officials said in a social media post.

The resolution explicitly states that ‘Minnesota Statutes does not require a municipality to fly the state flag and … the decision to fly the state flag is a policy decision of the Champlin City Council.’

Historical Context and Design Controversy

The current Minnesota state flag, adopted in May 2024, was the result of a legislative effort that began in 2023 with the creation of the State Emblems Redesign Commission. The commission was formed after years of discussion about updating the flag that had been in use since 1957.

Some critics argued that the original flag, with its royal blue background and the Minnesota state seal, resembled too many other states’ flags that also have a blue background and a seal. Others expressed discomfort with the imagery on the seal, which depicts a settler plowing the land as a Native American rides off on horseback into the distance.

The new flag, designed by the commission, incorporates elements that reflect Minnesota’s natural resources, such as the Mississippi River, bison, and the northern lights, alongside the state’s motto, ‘L’Étoile du Nord,’ which means ‘Star of the North’ in French.

Local Government’s Role in Symbolic Choices

The Champlin City Council’s decision highlights the role of local governments in choosing which state symbols to display. While the state legislature sets the official flag, the resolution highlights that local municipalities are not bound by law to fly the state flag on their property.

This decision could set a precedent for other cities in Minnesota and across the U.S., where similar debates over state symbols and historical imagery have been ongoing. Some local governments have chosen to fly alternative flags or omit the state flag altogether, citing a desire to focus on local identity or to express political views.

According to the resolution, the Champlin City Council’s decision is based on a policy choice rather than legal obligation. ‘The decision to fly the state flag is a policy decision of the Champlin City Council,’ the resolution states, emphasizing the autonomy of local governments in such matters.

The new flag was introduced as part of a broader initiative to update Minnesota’s state symbols, including the state seal and the state song. The redesign process involved public input and was overseen by the State Emblems Redesign Commission, which was created in 2023 by the Minnesota Legislature.

The Champlin City Council’s resolution will take effect immediately, and the city will begin flying the 1957 flag on its property. The decision has sparked discussions about the role of state symbols in local governance and the balance between historical tradition and contemporary values.

City officials have not indicated any plans to revisit the decision in the near future, but the resolution could influence similar debates in other municipalities across the state.