MARYSVILLE – “Oh say does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave?” Maybe not because it won’t be above the roof line.

The city was looking at changing code so flagpoles could rise 5 feet above a roof line so the Grand Old Flag could blow in the wind.

But the City Council Monday asked staff to take another look at the issue.

The code would have allowed flagpoles to be up to 40-feet high on homes and 60-feet high on multi-family housing.

Council Member Stephen Muller was concerned that taller poles would lead to bigger flags.

“Too big,” he said. Maybe we “should scale this back. The size of the flag could be a potential nuisance. It might not look too good.”

During the public comment period at the start of the meeting, residents Patricia and Evan Kaiser spoke against the code change.

“It would degrade residential areas,” Patricia Kaiser said.

Evan Kaiser said he provided council members with 11 pages of information, along with a petition signed by 101 people. Most of the concern had to do with the safety of such tall flagpoles because no structural review was included in the code.

Angela Gemmer, a senior planner, said while it’s not in the code itself, elsewhere in the law it says a building permit is needed along with a structural analysis. If someone says they didn’t know about it after the fact they would need to fix the foundation until it does meet code.

Kaiser asked who was pushing for passage of the higher flagpole limit. He was told people in the Sunnyside and Getchell Hill areas, because of the topography, sometimes don’t have enough wind for their flags to fly.

The code would not deal with what types of flags, such as for sports teams, POW or MIA, could be placed on the poles. Council president Kamille Norton asked why the planning commission OK’d the code revision.

Gemmer said because historically there have been no problems with the issue. Chief Administrator Gloria Hirashima said staff can bring back some different ideas, so the measure was tabled until a future work session.

Early on Kaiser complained there wasn’t an open public debate on the issue.

“It would take forever to get things done” if that was the process for every issue, Mayor Jon Nehring said.

Kaiser responded that at a previous meeting staff had made some false statements on the issue. He wanted the opportunity to correct them.

“I know it’s wrong and can prove it,” he said.

Nehring pointed out that even though Kaiser may disagree with some of the information, that does not mean it’s incorrect. “You are not the judge,” the mayor said.

Also during public comment, Craig Wells, who owns Marysville Laundry across from City Hall, said while his business is doing well he has had issues with homeless sleeping on his front sidewalk. He has a no trespass order against one woman, but police just move her along instead of arresting her.

Police Cmdr. Jeff Goldman said it’s a judgment call by the officer, but he would work on the issue with Wells.

In another matter, council members talked about their recent trip to Washington, D.C., to talk to federal lawmakers about issues important to the city.

Council Member Jeff Vaughan said he and Norton got to meet for about 15 minutes with a Trump representative.

“That’s the first time” we’ve gotten to meet with a representative of the executive branch, Vaughan said. “This administration has a willingness to hear from cities directly.”

He said while they didn’t get much positive feedback from the state’s legislators on Capitol Hill – on things such as money to help the city build a new jail – he was encouraged by the President Trump spokesman.

“That might grease the skids for us,” Vaughan said.

In other council news:

•Hirashima said the traffic calming devices on 3rd Street are giving it an “urban look downtown.” •Dawn Hackett was named Volunteer of the Month for being a dispatcher who connects cancer patients and volunteer drivers who take them to their treatments.

Beauty grants

The City Council OK’d Beautification Grant funding to seven groups at its meeting Monday.

The total amount awarded was $25,375 of the $50,000 allocated.

•53rd Drive received $5,675 for the cleanup of a stormwater pond.

•Rolling Green Estates received $5,000 for removal of trees, addition of seating and upgrades to community park equipment.

•Kellogg Village Homeowners Association received $5,000 for replacement of the fence around the park.

•102nd Place NE received $5,000 for cleanup of stormwater ponds at the entrance to the neighborhood.

•Tuscany Homeowners Association received $1,600 for beautification of landscaping.

•Aune Homeowners Association received $1,600 for planting trees along detention pond fencing.

•Sunnyside Estates received $1,500 for replanting of damaged trees, placement of benches and plants in HOA areas.