Memorandum
Date: September 24, 2024
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Bruno Sabatier, Chair (District 2 Supervisor)
Eddie Crandell, Vice Chair (District 3 Supervisor)
Subject: EXTRA ITEM: (a) Consideration of an “extra” Agenda Item; and (b) Consideration of Lowering Flags at County Offices to Half-Staff to Observe the Passing and Recognize Contributions of Brad Onorato, Deputy Chief of Staff to United States Congressman Mike Thompson, on Tuesday, September 23, and Wednesday, September 24, 2024
Executive Summary:
(a) After the posting of the Agenda on Friday, September 20, 2024, County staff received a request from Congressman Mike Thompson to lower flags on County office buildings to half-staff in observation of the passing of Paul Bradford “Brad” Onorato. Your Board will be aware the Cities of Lakeport and Clearlake have local Ordinances granting authority to lower their flags. There is no such section in the County Code. To provide for an appropriate and timely observation of Brad Onorato’s passing, and to honor his many contributions to Lake County within the same week similar observances are taking place in Lake County’s Cities, an Extra Item is needed.
(b) As you will all be aware, no legislative staff person has done more in recent memory to ensure Lake County’s federal priorities were well understood, and advocate for resource allocations needed to carry them out, than Brad Onorato, Deputy Chief of Staff to Congressman Mike Thompson. Brad’s work and support of the Congressman’s informational needs have been crucial to Lake County securing Community Project Funding, for example, that will facilitate meaningful progress in the coming years on the Armory Repurposing, Kelseyville Sidewalk, and Middle Creek Restoration Projects. Brad has likewise been a constant presence at key moments in our County’s history, such as honoring key retirements of long-time Supervisors and staff, and groundbreaking ceremonies for major projects.
Perhaps more importantly than these more formal examples, Brad cared deeply about Lake County, and about the challenges county residents face in their day-to-day lives. He was very diligent in following up on constituent concerns, and ensuring responsive information could be obtained, and an appropriate resolution could be reached. Where those matters touched on federal concerns, he was highly proactive in seeing that federal government responsibilities were upheld. If an item was under local jurisdiction, Brad made sure the message got to the right people, followed up with consistency, and was also appropriately supportive of local authorities.
For your background, the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005 <https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title4/chapter1&edition=prelim> notes the following:
“The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day… By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law.”
Vice Chair Crandell and I are in agreement honoring Brad’s passing by lowering flags on County offices to half-staff is appropriate, given he was an “other official” of great local significance in Lake County, and flags already having flown at half-staff at City facilities in our County for this purpose reinforces this as a locally customary practice, and “not inconsistent” with the law. Since the County of Lake did not have an existing Ordinance permitting lowering of flags to half-staff, the Vice Chair and I believe this Board of Supervisors action is reasonable and necessary to authorize the Public Services Director and facilities staff to lower flags to half-staff to honor the passing and contributions of Brad Onorato.
We strongly recommend our Board approve the Extra Item, and make the findings necessary to support lowering of the United States and other flags at County offices and facilities today (Tuesday, September 23, 2024) and tomorrow (Wednesday, September 24) to half-staff, to honor Brad Onorato, and direct staff to lower said flags, as appropriate.
If not budgeted, fill in the blanks below only:
Estimated Cost: ________ Amount Budgeted: ________ Additional Requested: ________ Future Annual Cost: ________
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☐ Other (Please describe in Executive Summary)
Consistency with Vision 2028 <http://www.lakecountyca.gov/Government/Directory/Administration/Visioning/Vision2028.htm> (check all that apply): ☒ Not applicable
☐ Well-being of Residents ☐ Public Safety ☐ Disaster Prevention, Preparedness, Recovery
☐ Economic Development ☐ Infrastructure ☐ County Workforce
☐ Community Collaboration ☐ Business Process Efficiency ☐ Clear Lake
Recommended Action: (a) Approve the Extra Item.
(b) Make appropriate findings, and direct staff to lower the United States and other flags at County offices and facilities today (Tuesday, September 23, 2024) and tomorrow (Wednesday, September 24) to half-staff, to honor Brad Onorato, and direct staff to lower said flags, as appropriate.