HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3b - Accept Donation from Rotary Club for Veterans Memorial
DATE: August 1, 2017
TO:Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM:Dominic Lazzaretto, City Manager
By: Michael Bruckner, Assistant to the City Manager
SUBJECT:DONATION FROM THE ROTARY CLUB OF ARCADIA FOR VETERANS
MEMORIAL; APPROVAL OF THE LOCATION FOR THE MEMORIAL;
ANDAN AGREEMENT WITH THE ROTARY CLUB OF ARCADIA
OUTLINING THE RESPONSIBILITES OF EACH PARTY CONCERNING
THIS PROJECT
Recommendation: Accept Donation and Approve Location
SUMMARY
The Rotary Club of Arcadia(“Rotary”)has contacted the City regarding the installation
of a Veterans Memorial (“Memorial”) near the main entrance to the Arcadia Community
Center. The Rotary Club has raised over $35,000 for this effort. The Memorial will be
general in its recognition to honor all branches ofthe United States Military. Although
there are monuments and memorials honoring specific wars and Arcadianswho have
served, no memorial exists in the City to pay tribute to all who have served in our
nation’s military. Therefore, it is recommended that the City Councilprovide the
following direction:
1.Accept a donation from the Arcadia Rotary Club for the design and installation
of a Veterans Memorial.
2.Approve the location of the Veterans Memorial at the Arcadia Community
Center.
3.Authorize the City Manager to execute an Agreement with the Arcadia Rotary
Club outlining the responsibilities of each party concerning this project.
BACKGROUND
TheRotary Club of Arcadiawas founded October 27, 1927,and incorporated in 1942.
Rotary is the fourth largest clubin Rotary District 5300,which covers portions of
Southern California and Southern Nevada. Theirmembership represents a broad
Donation from Rotary Club of Arcadia for
Veterans Memorial
August 1, 2017
Page 2of 4
spectrum of the business and professional community in the Arcadia area.Their
stated purpose is “Service AboveSelf” and their mission is to provide humanitarian
service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and
peace in the world.
Rotary has been an active community partner in the City of Arcadia. Among other
activities, they previously donated the community clock that sits in the center median on
Huntington Dr. near the main entrance to Santa Anita Park and last year provided funds
to rehabilitate the Peacock Fountain at Arcadia County Park.
As part of their continuing efforts to honorthose who have served in our nation’s Armed
Forces, Rotary has sponsored the Field of Honortribute at Arcadia Park during
Memorial Dayfor the past two years.Proceeds from the Field of Honor are intended to
go toward furnishingandinstallingaVeteransMemorialto be placed on City property.
DISCUSSION
Rotary has raised approximately $10,000 in donations for the proposedMemorial and
was recently contacted by an anonymous benefactor that pledged an additional $20,000
once a site has been selected and an agreement has been executed with the City. In
addition, Santa Anita Park has also pledged $5,000 towards the new monument. With
the $35,000 in real and pledged funds, Rotary believes that they are prepared to move
forward with the design of the Memorialupon City Council approval. Rotary has
contacted a monument design firm and preliminary estimates are approximately
$30,000 for the creation of the Memorial.
Thelawn area near the main entrance to the Arcadia Community Center is Rotary’s
preferred location for the Memorial given the high volume of foot traffic and visitorsto
the Center on a daily basis. In addition, because the Community Center functions as the
City’s Senior Center before noon each day, it is an ideal location to honor veterans. The
requested location of the Memorial is on the grassy area to the south of the main
entrance(Attachment 1).Alternative locations for the installation of the Memorial include
the sidewalk area adjacent to the City Hall parking lot entrance where the Operation
Hometown Hero platform stands or near the current World War II monument closer to
the City Hall building and Council Chambers. Staff has reviewedRotary’s preferredsite
and believes there is sufficient space for the Memorial; however, there may be impacts
to recurring events like the Snow Festival, along withsome infrastructure improvements
that will need to be made in order for the installation to occur. These include:
Relocation of surface drainage
Irrigation and landscape adjustments
Electrical improvements
Donation from Rotary Club of Arcadia for
Veterans Memorial
August 1, 2017
Page 3of 4
Removal of a Canary Island Pine Tree
Potential ADA improvements to access the site (depends on design)
With the exception of the ADA requirements, the required facility improvements are
estimated at approximately $2,000for materials and supplies,and the work can be
performed either in-house with existing staff or through the City’s existing contractual
agreements. For example, West Coast Arborist wouldbe the preferred vendor to
remove the Canary Island Pine. There is a slight grade at the site location for the
Memorial and,depending on its design, some ADA improvements may be necessary in
order for disabledpatrons to access the monument. Staff will work closely with Rotary to
ensure that the Memorial will be accessible to all who wish to view it, in addition to
ensuring that the design will not require significant ongoing maintenance.
With the approval of the site selection, Rotary will contract with a firm to begin their
design work. Once the details of the project are in place, this item willbe brought back
to the City Council for design review along with a more detailed estimate of costs to be
incurredby the City, if any.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Rotary Club of Arcadia will project manage the design and installation of the
Memorial, and alreadyhas commitments totaling at least $35,000 for this project.
Preliminary cost estimates for the monument are $30,000. The required facility
improvements and other direct costs to the City for the site are estimated at
approximately $2,000, which include any ADA improvements that may be necessary.
More detailed cost estimates will be provided to the City Council as design work
progresses.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council:
1.Accept a donation from the Arcadia Rotary Club for the design and installation
of a Veterans Memorial.
2.Approve the location of the Veterans Memorial at the Arcadia Community
Center.
3.Authorize the City Manager to execute an Agreement with the Arcadia Rotary
Club outlining the responsibilities of each party concerning this project.
Donation from Rotary Club of Arcadia for
Veterans Memorial
August 1, 2017
Page 4of 4
AttachmentNo. 1: Site Location
Attachment No. 2:Rotary Club of Arcadia Request Letter