YORBA LINDA : New City Flag, Seal to Center on Nixon

The city will hold a contest to design a new flag and a new city seal--both picturing the birthplace and library of former President Richard M. Nixon.

The City Council voted 4 to 1 Tuesday, despite some protest, to reject a proposed design and have a contest instead.

The winning design will become the new city seal and will be used on a new flag. But the city will keep its current flag as well.

Councilman Roland E. Bigonger said: “We have now attained real presidential caliber.”

But Bigonger added that he also wanted to retain the existing flag because “it’s got a lot of mom and apple pie in it.”

Several residents objected to the plan. One of them submitted a petition, containing about 50 signatures, opposing any change in the city flag.

Another, Chris Norris, said he could think of no city “that has changed their flag unless the government is overthrown and taken by force.”

Resident Jackie Harrison told the council: “To my knowledge, it is not our custom to update flags like automobiles. . . . The inclusion of Richard Nixon in our flag was not important when we adopted the flag in 1981, so why is it grounds for replacing our flag now? Do you honestly know of anyone who moved to Yorba Linda because Richard Nixon was born here?”

Harrison added: “A few months ago, when you took it upon yourselves to declare Nixon’s birthday an official city holiday, no one came forward to publicly protest. But if you think that’s an indication of support for your actions, you’re very much mistaken.”

In September, the council voted to make Jan. 9, Nixon’s birthday, a city holiday to honor Yorba Linda’s favorite son.

Mayor Henry W. Wedaa suggested changing the flag at a council meeting in October, but a decision was delayed until the city staff could prepare a report.

Councilman Irwin M. Fried cast the only vote against the contest, the details of which are to be discussed at the next council meeting.

The city seal already pictures Nixon’s birthplace, but not the library. The existing flag is a solid orange banner with a small panorama set inside a circle at the flag’s center. The panorama shows a man, horse and a bird with sun rays coming over hills in the background. Above the circle in white letters is the city’s name; curved below is the city’s motto, “Land of Gracious Living.”