When Iowa City is affected by tragedy, the Iowa City City Council want to be sure it can fly the U.S. flag at half-staff.

So city officials are looking to update the language of a resolution that was approved in 1971 and has caused confusion in the past.

But according to the federal law, the flag can only be flown at half-staff when President Obama or Gov. Chet Culver gives permission, though there are no penalties for violating the law.

Revisions to Iowa City’s resolution include the death of a former or current mayor or city councilor, current city employees, or active Iowa City resident in the U.S. armed forces.

The changes were briefly discussed at the council’s work session on Monday night, and the council has decided to move forward with the issue.

City officials hope the changes will clarify which situations in the community warrant lowering the flag to half-staff.

When some workers died during construction on Hancher Auditorium, some local residents wondered what to do with the U.S. flag, said Mayor Regenia Bailey.

“When things like that happen, there are impulses in the community,” she said.

The UI has struggled with similar issues involving the flag above the Old Capitol.

In September 2008, the U.S. flag was flown at half-staff over the Old Capitol to honor of UI political-science Professor Arthur Miller, who committed suicide after being charged with offering higher grades for sexual favors. The move caused some controversy on campus.

Then-UI spokesman Steve Parrott told the DI that university officials lower the flag as a tribute to any deceased UI community member in order to recognize their contributions. Parrott also said he felt it was the right thing to do, considering the circumstances.

But the Iowa Board of Regents then ordered the UI to be consistent with the law.

The UI’s flag policy now is that the flag can only be flown half-staff when ordered by the president or governor, said UI spokesman Tom Moore.

“We comply with the federal law,” Moore said.

The council also discussed the pending curfew ordinance at the work session. Councilors said they are interested in seeing more information about how effective a curfew has been in other communities.

Tonight will be the council’s second consideration of the curfew. If passed, the ordinance will be put on the Oct. 6 agenda and would go into effect immediately. Councilors discussed working with the Iowa City School Board to notify kids about the new ordinance if it is approved.

Public works officials also asked the council to consider raising the fine for parking on the wrong side of a street from $15 to $50, a move they hope would enforce a more effective consequence.

City workers have found it difficult to plow sometimes because many parked cars aren’t moved soon enough. If the change is passed, councilors discussed sending a mass e-mail to UI students, informing them of the change.