JANUARY 21, 2025 — Temple Terrace’s first attempt at creating an official city flag has sparked significant debate, reports the Tampa Beacon, with the majority of residents expressing dissatisfaction with the proposed design.
The initiative began in March as part of the city’s centennial preparations, inviting residents to participate in a design contest. Over 40 submissions were received, but none met the selection committee’s expectations.
Ultimately, Joel Duarte, the city’s marketing director, synthesized elements from multiple entries to create the final design, which he presented to the City Council in December.
The proposed flag features a green background symbolizing the city’s tree canopy, parks, and greenery. The design includes a circular seal depicting local landmarks such as the Temple orange, golf course, Hillsborough River, and oak trees, along with the city’s light tower and “TT” branding.
“I think the committee had a tough time just picking one winner, so I was tasked with taking these ideas and making a cohesive, collaborative flag,” Duarte explained.
Despite these efforts, feedback from the community has been largely negative. Of the 384 votes cast on the city’s official website, only 31.5% supported the design, while 68.5% opposed it.
Resident Mark Fetterman voiced his disappointment at a recent City Council meeting, criticizing the lack of communication and involvement in the process.
“I saw one post on Instagram and one post on Facebook asking for city residents to submit. I didn’t see any other communication after that,” he stated.
Fetterman suggested a more inclusive approach, advocating for workshops, committees, and broader resident engagement.
City officials are considering further public input before finalizing the flag.
Duarte noted that the design is scheduled for presentation to the council in February but could be addressed sooner.
Image: Tampa Beacon