Staff Reportpow xx
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DATE:
TO:
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
AUGUST 10, 2015
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
F
FROM: LES WHITE, INTERIM TOWN MANAGE `
MEETING DATE: 08/18/15
ITEM NO: 9
SUBJECT: VETERAN'S FOUNDATION UPDATE REGARDING A PROPOSED VETERANS
MEMORIAL AT THE LOS GATOS CIVIC CENTER
RECOMMENDATION:
Accept the update from the Veterans Memorial and Support Foundation of Los Gatos regarding the
placement of a Veterans Memorial at the Town of Los Gatos Civic Center.
BACKGROUND:
The Veterans Memorial and Support Foundation of Los Gatos (VFLG) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3)
foundation dedicated to honoring and supporting both U.S. military veterans, the men and women of
the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard, and their families.
In November 2014, the Town Council held a public hearing to consider a request from the VFLG for
approval to build a Veterans Memorial to be located on the upper deck of the Civic Center. As part
of the Council deliberation, the Council identified a number of locations within the Civic Center,
including the upper deck, where the Memorial could potentially be located. The Council also
directed the Arts and Culture Commission (ACC) to review the Memorial, consider the proposed
design elements and features, evaluate other possible locations utilizing the Public Art Selection
Policy, and report back to the Council in January 2015 with recommendations on the design and
placement of the Veterans Memorial.
On January 20, 2015, the Town Council accepted a recommendation from the Arts and Culture
Commission regarding the placement of a Veterans Memorial at the Civic Center that included the
removal of the fountain on the deck with the installation of trellises /arbors without statuary that were
architecturally consistent with the rest of the Civic Center, did not impede pedestrian and group use
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PREPARED BY: CHRISTINA GILMORE u
Assistant to the Town Manager
Reviewed by:
Town Manager
own Attorney
N: AM(iRAAdmmworkFilesA2015 Couoeil ReponsAAugust 18 \8 -18 Vex FoundatioiiUpdateReMemorial.docx
PAGE
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: VETERAN'S FOUNDATION UPDATE REGARDING A PROPOSED VETERANS
MEMORIAL AT THE LOS GATOS CIVIC CENTER
AUGUST 10, 2015
BACKGROUND (cont'd):
of the deck, and integrated memorial and /or fundraising bricks into the existing deck surface area
related to the trellises, along with whatever lighting may be appropriate.
The Commission also recommended Council consideration of two alternative locations that included
the ivy /redwood grove just off the front lawn adjacent to Pageant Street and the parking lot/New
Museum Los Gatos (NUMU) or the area between the Police Headquarters and the New Museum Los
Gatos. Recommendations for these alternative locations included design elements that could include
statuary (representational or non - representational monument features subject to subsequent design
review), taking into consideration the landscape, immediate surroundings, and architectural style of
existing buildings.
After hearing presentations from staff, the VFLG, the Arts and Culture Commission and public
testimony, the Council deliberated on the matter and provided the following direction:
Direct the Veterans group to move fbi -ward, if they so choose, to come back to Council with a
finalized design for a trellis on the Civic Center Plaza with a focal point, should they decide they
want one, and also a design for the redwood grove and statuary there, all at the discretion of the
Veterans group, should they decide to move forward on either of these locations and within either of
those parameters. (Approved Council Minutes, January 20, 2015).
DISCUSSION:
Since the January 20, 2015 Town Council meeting, the VFLG has held numerous meetings regarding
the Council direction to consider the Civic Center Plaza with design elements of a trellis and focal
point, and the ivy /redwood grove as the alternative location for its proposed Memorial. During this
time, the VFLG has worked closely with staff from the Town Manager's Office and Parks and Public
Works, and have met with the Interim Town Manager and the Town Attorney to discuss their ideas
for the Memorial on three occasions.
The VFLG have made great progress in exploring alternatives to their original Memorial proposal,
and would like the Council to review and consider a Veterans Memorial to be located in the
ivy /redwood grove as shown in Attachment 1.
The VFLG would like approval of this site so that they can begin more specific Memorial designs.
Council approval of this Memorial location would also require approval to allow approximately 500
to 600 square feet of lawn area to be removed, and the ivy covered areas of this location to be
considered for some acceptable alternative hardscape.
Having approval of this general location within the ivy /redwood grove area would allow planning to
progress. The VFLG understands that any Council approval would only be approval of the proposed
location wrtbm the ivy /redwood grove and potentially the removal of some lawn and landscape areas
only.
PAGE
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: VETERAN'S FOUNDATION UPDATE REGARDING A PROPOSED VETERANS
MEMORIAL AT THE LOS GATOS CIVIC CENTER
AUGUST 10, 2015
DISCUSSION (cont'd):
The VFLG also understands that any Council approval of this location does not constitute the
approval of Memorial walls, benches, statues, or other design element features of the Memorial, and
that these design elements would be subject to being designed by an architect and reviewed through a
stakeholder review process that would include representatives from the VFLG, Town Boards and
Commissions, Los Gatos Music and Arts, the New Museum Los Gatos, and several other community
stakeholders. Attachment 2 provides an outline of the proposed stakeholder process.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that the Town Council accept the update from the Veterans Memorial and Support
Foundation of Los Gatos regarding the placement of a Veterans Memorial within the ivy /redwood
grove at the Town of Los Gatos Civic Center. Any Council action taken constitutes the approval of a
location for the Memorial, with general modifications to current landscaped areas.
Council approval is not an approval of any conceptual or preliminary designs or pre - approval of any
final Memorial designs. Council approval would allow Memorial planning to continue and general
fund - raising activities by the Veterans Memorial and Support Foundation of Los Gatos to occur.
ALTERNATIVES:
Instead of the recommendation provided above, the Council may:
1. Not accept the update from the Veterans Memorial and Support Foundation of Los Gatos
regarding the placement of a Veterans Memorial at the Town of Los Gatos Civic Center; or
2. Provide other direction.
COORDINATION:
This report has been prepared in coordination with the Offices of the Town Manager, the Town
Attorney, Parks and Public Works, and the Veterans Memorial and Support Foundation of Los Gatos.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is minimal fiscal impact anticipated with the approval of the recommendation as described
above. The Veterans Memorial and Support Foundation of Los Gatos is proposing to initiate
fundraising activities for the Memorial once the project and conceptual design has been approved by
the Town Council. Total costs for the proposed project have not been finalized. To date, the
assumption has been that all costs for the construction and maintenance of any Veterans Memorial
would be covered by private contributions rather than taxpayer funds through the Town.
PAGE 4
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: VETERAN'S FOUNDATION UPDATE REGARDING A PROPOSED VETERANS
MEMORIAL AT THE LOS GATOS CIVIC CENTER
AUGUST 10, 2015
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
The Council is expected to provide direction for the Memorial, which is not a project defined under
CEQA. Once direction is provided, environmental review of the Memorial will be prepared prior to
final approval.
Attachments:
1. Proposed Veterans Memorial Site Plan
2. Proposed Veterans Memorial Stakeholder Process