Milwaukee Takes Bold Step Toward New City Flag with Launch of Official Task Force

Today (Tuesday, June 17), Alderman Peter Burgelis and a broad coalition of Common Council members filed a substitute resolution to officially launch the long-anticipated effort to design a new official City of Milwaukee flag. The proposed resolution creates a 9-member Milwaukee City Flag Task Force charged with managing a community-driven campaign to solicit, evaluate, and recommend new flag designs. The resolution will be voted on at the next meeting of the Common Council on Tuesday, June 24.

“Milwaukee is a great City and deserves a great flag, and a process where everyone has the opportunity to participate. Though I suspect there will be many duplicate submissions, I hope that all of the design finalists will reflect our city today along with our culture, our future, and our shared Milwaukee pride,” said Alderman Burgelis. “This task force is the first step in building a flag that resonates with all Milwaukeeans ahead of the City’s 180th anniversary in 2026.”

Task Force Composition
The Milwaukee City Flag Task Force will include:

• 3 members appointed by the Mayor
• 3 members appointed by the Common Council President
• 3 members appointed by the Chair of the Milwaukee Arts Board

A Community-Led Effort
The resolution directs the Milwaukee City Flag Task Force to collaborate with city departments including the Department of Administration – Information Technology Management Division and the Milwaukee Public Library to ensure both online and in-person design submissions are accessible to all residents. The task force will evaluate and rank up to 10 finalist flag designs using modern vexillological standards and strong local symbolism.

Background
Previous efforts to replace Milwaukee’s outdated flag date back to 2001 and include the 2016 People’s Flag initiative and a 2019 Request for Proposals, which garnered no formal responses. The renewed initiative aligns with growing momentum from residents and civic leaders, and is aimed to culminate in time for the City’s 180th anniversary on January 31, 2026.

“This is more than a design campaign,” said Alderman Burgelis. “It’s a chance to unify Milwaukeeans around a symbol we can all stand behind – and fly proudly.”

“The City of Milwaukee deserves a flag that is unique, unifying and aesthetically appealing. I am eager to see the recommendations that emerge from the Milwaukee City Flag Task Force,” Mayor Cavalier Johnson said. “I appreciate the efforts of Alderman Burgelis and the other sponsors of this resolution, and I am optimistic Milwaukee will have a fitting flag approved soon.”

The Common Council is expected to vote on the final recommendation from the Milwaukee City Flag Task Force by December 31, 2025.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.