The city Monday night agreed to study a pilot program that aims to honor local military servicemembers by installing banners on light poles at the Community Center and City Center Plaza. The banners would simply read: Rohnert Park honors, name of soldier, followed by the branch of service.

D section resident Andy Durkee, who is introducing the project, said he felt inspired by armed forces banners honoring active duty soldiers in the southern California town of Rancho Cucamonga.

"To me, this is nonpolitical, it's just a way to honor our troops," Durkee said at a Parks and Recreation meeting Monday night. "We were visiting our son in Rancho Cucamonga recently and I was impressed with their armed forces banner program honoring soldiers who are serving our country."

Durkee petitioned City Manager Gabe Gonzalez about a year ago to start the banner program, but questions about funding and upkeep stalled the project.

"There are a few issues about how to proceed," said John McArthur, the city's director of public works and community services.

McArthur said a citywide banner program would have to go before City Council, but recommended a smaller program starting out at the city's recreation centers, to monitor its success.

"I would support this from a public works standpoint," McArthur said. "There's not a lot of cost associated with it."

Banners, much like the ones posted around town teasing the Friday Night Farmers Market, would be paid for through business and individual sponsorships, and would be installed by city staff. 

Guy Miller, the recreation services manager, said the city will look into starting with about 30 banners at the Community Center and City Center Plaza.

The pricetag for each banner is estimated at about $120. Durkee is asking for $150-$200 sponsorships, or whatever donors can spare, and will himself make a few donations to get the program off the ground. Durkee said he's asking the Rohnert Park Chamber of Commerce to get involved, and possibly handle the finances.

If adopted, it could be named "Star-Spangled Banners," and would be the first of its kind in the North Bay, Durkee said.

"I've done a lot of research, and no one else is doing this in northern California," Durkee said to the commission. "I found other communities that have similar programs in Simi Valley, Santa Paula, Downey, Anaheim and Glendale — but they're all in Southern California."

Bonnie Black, a parks and recreation commissioner, welcomed the idea.

"Thank you for your tenaciousness," Black said. "I know it's a challenge sometimes to get these great ideas off the ground."

"This is a great idea, it's great for community spirit," said Michael Bird, a commissioner.

The Parks and Rec Commission asked, however, how if the banners would conflict with 50th Anniversary posters, planned to be posted around town leading up to Rohnert Park's celebration in September 2012.

Staff said the same hardware could be used for both types of banners, and could be swiched out depending on the location.

Editor's note: The city is still determining who would be eligible to get a banner — whether it's currrent active duty soldiers, disabled or deceased veterans and whether or not they would have to live in Rohnert Park. In some cases, if the soldier's family lived here, that may fit the crtieria. Durkee said he has identified between 50 and 80 soldiers who are currently on active duty who reside here.

Check out the video to the right of a similar project undertaken elsewhere, and a photo of the size of what Rohnert Park's banner would likely be.