'Just move on': Milwaukee's Common Council can't agree on new flag

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Politics can be divisive. To the Milwaukee Common Council, it seems as though there is nothing more divisive than discussing a new flag. 

Common Council members were set to vote on Milwaukee's new official flag at Tuesday's meeting, but no one could decide on what to do. 

“I think it's important to get this right," said District 11 Ald. Peter Burgelis. “There is consensus on the council that the Sunrise over the Lake is a good representation of our community.”

Burgelis introduced the motion to make the "People's Flag" the new official flag of Milwaukee. The flag depicts a sunrise over Lake Michigan and has been widely adapted by residents and businesses as a symbol of Milwaukee.

“The community has organically adopted this design to be the official, to be the unofficial representation of Milwaukee, and I’ll hold that the city needs to check that box and move on to more important things," said Burgelis. 

Ald. Robert Bauman also introduced his own flag, depicting the Sunrise over the Lake with City Hall in the middle of the flag. It was voted down in the beginning of the meeting.

District 2 Ald. Mark Chambers brought up several criticisms of the People's Flag, stating it didn't represent his district because there are several kids in his community that have never seen a sunrise.

“I don’t think this represents Black Milwaukee. I don’t," said Chambers. 

He raised concerns about the lack of inclusivity, stating not enough judges of colors that represented the entire city of Milwaukee were involved in the selection process of the People's Flag back in 2016. 

“What part of everything is not flawed?" said Chambers. “A committee of people from all walks of life -- whether that's Black, brown, white, Hispanic, Jewish, whoever – come together, and to pick different types of the flag, and if it comes back to "Sunset [Sunrise] Over the Lake," I’m okay with it because it was done the correct way.”

Chambers told CBS 58 he didn't even like the name. During the meeting, he also asked Burgelis what the color of the sun is. 

“I don’t even like the term People’s Flag, to be quite honest with you," said Chambers.

District 13 Ald. Scott Spiker told council members it was time to cast a vote and move on. 

“I think we’re making ourselves look foolish here, talking about it this much," said Spiker. "Just move on, folks. Talk about something important.”

Council members discussed adopting the People's Flag as an unofficial symbol of Milwaukee, but leaving the current flag in place, which council members objected to. 

“It lifts up the old 1955 city flag, which frankly, is offensive, and needs to be replaced," said District 8 Ald. JoCasta Zamarripa.

“We, as a body, don’t make things unofficial things. We make things official things," said Spiker. 

Ald. Milele Coggs raised the question of the financial impact of the new flag. 

“If we don’t know the real financial impact of it, what are we doing here today?" said Coggs.

In an 8-7 vote, the flag was approved, but Bauman asked to hold it in council because of the financial impact of the flag. Holding an item in council is a procedural move reserved for special situations and would allow council members more time to discuss the flag. 

“If we’re going to actually adopt the flag by one vote, that’s out of order, guys. Come on," said Bauman. 

The flag will be discussed once more on Oct. 15.