NewsNortheast Valley NewsScottsdale News

Actions

Scottsdale council votes to return to old flag, two weeks after picking new one

KNXV Scottsdale City Flag Saguaro Blossom.jpeg
Posted at 8:34 PM, Mar 05, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-06 00:45:48-05

SCOTTSDALE, AZ — The Scottsdale City Council has voted to reverse a decision it made two weeks ago.

At its February 19 meeting, the council voted to adopt a new flag, which was one of more than 200 submitted as part of a contest to redesign the flag that started in 2017.

The city said the eventual selection, called "Saguaro Blossom," was picked for its meaning and distinctiveness.

"The new city flag honors Scottsdale’s western heritage, natural beauty and city founder Winfield Scott," the city wrote on a page dedicated to the new symbol.

PHOTOS: See the 10 finalists for the next Scottsdale flag

However, the decision was quickly met with backlash. Council members described being bombarded with complaints about the switch away from the city's old design, which featured a rider on horseback that is also part of the city's seal.

In a note to the council, city employees said much of the negative reaction to the new flag was based on that it would replace the city's seal, which was the source of the horse and rider on the flag.

At Tuesday's council meeting, members voted 5-2 to return to the old design, citing the overwhelming opposition as reason to change their vote. Vice Mayor Linda Milhaven and Councilmember Virginia Korte were the only ones who voted to keep the new design.

It was unclear whether the city and council would revisit the issue of a new flag in the immediate future.