Scottsdale City Council decides against changing city flag

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz (FOX 10) - A few weeks ago the Scottsdale City Council approved a new design for the city flag only to change course a day later and throw out the idea, opting to stick to the original design.

The change of heart comes from the people. Some of the council members say they received some push back from the community, wanting to keep the old flag.

One Scottsdale resident says the final decisions for the new Scottsdale flag are beautiful but take away the city's rich cowboy history.

"The newer flag was bright colorful, I can see it in schools, I can see it hanging other places, but the main flag I like the old one," said one resident.

This all started back in 2017 after a high school student wrote a letter to the city. The old flag was adopted back in 1954, featuring the iconic horse and rider.

"I thought it kind of saved the image of the town," said one resident. "We live up north so it's more a cowboy country up there."

But the city council pointed out that the rest of the city has evolved from a western town to a more sophisticated one.

One of the potential new designs features a saguaro blossom instead, a testament to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.

"Maybe something that isn't as flashy or modern but it's true to the original Scottsdale," said one resident.

Now after receiving this type of feedback, the city council is rethinking its decision after working for two years on this new flag.

The council voted 5-2 to keep the original flag.