Attachments 1-2MEETING DATE: 11105/2012
ITEM NO: 9
e COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: OCTOBER 31, 2012
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: GREG LARSON, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: VETERANS MEMORIAL AND SUPPORT FOUNDATION OF LOS GATOS
REQUESTS:
A. INTRODUCE FOUNDATION TO TOWN COUNCIL AND THE
COMMUNITY
B. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION TO PROVIDE A VETERANS MEMORIAL
AT THE CIVIC CENTER
C. REQUEST THE USE OF THE POTENTIAL $20,000 PAGEANT GROUNDS
PUBLIC ART FUNDING TO INCORPORATE PUBLIC ART AS PART OF
THE VETERANS MEMORIAL DESIGN
RECOMMENDATION.
Town staff recommends the following Town Council actions and direction in response to the request of
the Veteran's Memorial and Support Foundation of Los Gatos (Foundation).
1. Authorize the Foundation to develop and submit for Council review and approval two to four
proposals for the location and design of a Veterans Memorial at the Los Gatos Civic Center,
incorporating the Pageant Grounds, Civic Center deck, and/or the front lawn and flag poles.
2. Refer consideration of Pageant Grounds and Civic Center public art funding to the upcoming
Council Study Session on Capital Project Priorities and Funding.
BACKGROUND:
As described in a letter from the Foundation attached, Foundation's purpose is to design, build, and
support a tribute for Los Gatos Veterans of United States military service with the goal to construct the
memorial at the Los Gatos Civic Center. The Foundation was formed on April 15, 2012, incorporated on
October 4, 2012, and has submitted their 501(C) (3) tax exempt status for formal approval by the IRS.
The Foundation board consists of veterans, service club members, community members, with
Community Outreach Coordinator Jackie Rose serving as the Town liaison.
PREPARED BY: Jackie Rose, Community Outreach Coordinator
Reviewed by: Assistant Town Manager
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MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: VETERANS MEMORIAL AND SUPPORT FOUNDATION OF LOS GATOS
November 5, 2012
The Foundation's goal is to construct, and maintain a memorial site at the Civic Center area. The
Foundation will be hosting several community meetings to solicit local artists and architects who are
interested in creating design ideas for the memorial. The vision for the memorial is to enhance and
compliment the Civic Center area with design concepts that honor the six branches of the military. The
final design will be crafted to appeal to individuals of all ages.
The Foundation requests the allocation of $20,000 in potential Pageant Grounds public art funding to
incorporate public art as part of the memorial design for at the Civic Center. Council may choose to
allocate the funds at the meeting of November 5, 2012 or refer consideration of Pageant Grounds and
Civic Center public art funding to the upcoming Council Study Session on Capital Project Priorities and
Funding.
The Tribute to Veterans in Los Gatos will be a resource for the historical understanding and recognition
of all Veterans past, present and-future. Once the memorial is completed, the foundation will continue its
efforts by organizing ways to provide humanitarian support to Veterans and their families in perpetuity.
DISCUSSION:
The Veterans and our community have recognized the need for a tranquil place to pay tribute to our
soldiers within the Town of Los Gatos. Twelve out of fifteen cities within Santa Clara County have
tributes to Veterans.
The Foundation would like the memorial to include some or all of the following: reflection areas, green
landscapes, arbors and sitting areas, flags, a listing of service personnel killed in the line of duty,
memorial bricks, and a pathway to enjoy its tranquil beauty. We would also anticipate the area to be
used for public events and presentations and would prefer a site that requires very little maintenance.
Town staff believes multiple opportunities exist to meet the Foundation's desired outcomes, including
the renovated Pageant Grounds, the upper portion of the Civic Center deck, a potential bridge
connecting the Pageant Grounds to the upper portion of the deck, and several areas on or near the front
lawn, including where the flagpoles are currently located. Staff has identified that any use of the Civic
Center deck should not further the hardness and design challenges of the deck nor diminish the
municipal, police, library and future cultural center uses of the Civic Center
The public art funding requested by the Foundation is still tentative at this point in time and has also
been requested by the Arts and Culture Commission for potential public art in front of the new library.
Staff will present to Council at its upcoming study session on Capital Project Priorities and Funding the
potential source and use of funds for public art.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
Is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachments:
1. Foundation Letter of Request to Council
Veterans Memorial & Support Foundation of Los Gatos
110 East Main Street
Los Gatos, CA 95030
October 22, 2012
Mayor Steve Rice and Town Council Members
110 East Main Street
Los Gatos, CA 95030
Dear Mayor Rice and Town Council Members:
The Veterans Memorial and Support Foundation (VMSF) formed on April 15, 2012 with the
goal of promoting a better understanding of the contributions of Veterans. The Foundation Board
consists of Veterans, service club members, community members, and Town staff. The
Foundation structure includes: board members, advisory board members, and committees. On
October 4, 2012, the foundation applied for their 501(c) (3) tax exempt status to be formalized by
the IRS.
This Tribute to Veterans in Los Gatos will be a resource for the historical understanding and
recognition of all Veterans past, present and future. We are all blessed to have the freedoms we
have and feel strongly that it is time Los Gatos gave recognition to Veterans who have made this
possible for all of us.
The foundation's purpose is to design, build, and support a tribute to Veterans of United States
military. We are formally requesting that the memorial be located in the Civic Center Area. We
plan to educate the community of Los Gatos and the surrounding communities on the history of
our Veterans and their contribution to the American people and our way of life.
Through our foundation, we plan to provide humanitarian support to Veterans and their families
in perpetuity.
Our vision for this Tribute is to enhance and compliment the Civic Center area by utilizing local
artists and architects for design concepts that honor the six branches of the military. The final
design will be crafted to appeal to individuals of all ages. When they visit they will have a quiet
moment of reflection and enjoy its tranquil beauty.
We also anticipate the area to be used for public events and presentations and will require very
little maintenance.
We respectfully request that the Town of Los Gatos grant the foundation authorization to design,
build and support this memorial in the Civic Center area.
We also would like to request that Council earmark the $20,000 art grant to be used to
incorporate art in the Civic Center area that supports our Veterans Memorial design.
Sincerely,
Mike Frw
President
Board Members:
Bob Whittaker, Vice President
B.J. Tucker, CPA/Treasurer
Jackie Rose, Community Outreach Coordinator /Secretary
Duino Giordano, CMSgt, USAF /ANG/Ret
Dr. Clyde Horn
Dr. Francis Harvey /19th Secretary of the Army
Ellen Manzo
George Hall
Rick Lore
Darrell Monda
John Bond, D.M.D./Navy Captain USNR
EXCERPT OF MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 5, 2012 TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
OTHER BUSINESS
9. Veterans Memorial and Support Foundation of Los Gatos requests:
a. Introduce Foundation to Town Council and the Community
b. Request authorization to provide a Veterans Memorial at the Civic Center
C. Request the use of the potential $20,000 Pageant Grounds Public Art Funding to
incorporate public art as part of the Veterans Memorial Design
Mr. Larson presented the staff report.
Ms. Ellen Manzo presented the Veterans Memorial and Support Foundation's
( "Foundation ") proposal.
Council Questions
- Questioned what it means to "reserve" the lawn and Civic Center deck.
- Commented that the artist recruitment should be broad and artists who submitted
proposals to the Library may be interested in this project.
- Commented that the 120 -day schedule is very aggressive and should be adjusted.
- Questioned the amount of communication with the Arts and Culture Commission
( "ACC ") and the Museums.
Ms. Manzo
- Commented that "reserve" means not to allow other groups to plan permanent
structures on the lawn and the Civic Center walkway that leads to the memorial on
plaza until Council considers the Foundation's proposal.
- Commented that most communication was with the ACC but not with Museums.
- Commented that the Foundation would welcome assistance with artist recruitment.
Mr. Larson
- Commented that staff worked with the Veterans Foundation extensively.
- Commented that staff informed the ACC of the Foundation's work and that the ACC
expressed interest in using the surplus Pageant Grounds money to purchase public
art
- Commented that the proposed pedestrian bridge is an unfunded concept
- Commented that Los Gatos Music and Arts has plans for erecting a permanent
stage in the same place as the temporary one, but no other permanent changes
have been suggested for the front lawn.
Opened the public hearing
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Item #9 — Continued
Mr. Agg
- Commented that the Museums supports the Veterans Memorial and has offered
support for researching veterans.
Mr. Shepardson
- Expressed concern about the location of the veterans memorial and not having too
many public events on or near it because the memorial should be "hallowed
ground."
Council Discussion
Commented that the memorial should be accessible and open but also capture a
sense of honor and regard, without it being overly somber and silent.
Commented that the lawn area is a challenging area for the memorial because there
are many recurring events on the lawn.
Closed the public hearing
Mr. Larson
Commented that staff will provide a list of annually recurring events that happen on
front lawn.
Suggestions from Council to the Foundation:
Commented that the ACC requested use of the $20,000 from the Pageant Grounds
fund, but the Veterans could look for alternative funding sources if that one does not
materialize.
Commented that there should be cooperation between various organizations
regarding funding and space use.
Commented that the deck is hot and stark but presents an opportunity for artists to
create something inviting in the space.
MOTION: Motion by Mayor Steve Rice to authorize the Foundation to
develop and submit for Council revew and approval two to four
proposals for the location and design of a Veterans' Memorial at the
Los Gatos Civic Center, incorporating Pageant Grounds and /or the
Civic Center deck, and /or the front lawn and flag poles.
Seconded by Vice Mayor Barbara Spector
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
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