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Addendumv° ��S GA"tOS DATE: TO: FROM: COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT JANUARY 16, 2015 MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL GREG LARSON, TOWN MANAGER MEETING DATE: 01/20/15 ITEM NO: 6 ADDENDUM SUBJECT: RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION REGARDING A VETERANS MEMORIAL AT THE LOS GATOS CIVIC CENTER REMARKS: During the November 4, 2014 Council meeting regarding this subject, questions were raised regarding the subsequent Planning review process and likely costs dependent on final Council direction. Here is the response from Community Development: The discretionary planning review process will depend on the overall scope of the proposed Veterans Memorial improvements. If the improvements can be approved by the Development Review Committee then the application fee would be approximately $2,300. If the improvements require Planning Commission review, then the application fee would be approximately $5,700. If the improvements also require Town Council review then the fees would be approximately $9,500 (this includes a $500 deposit for transcription of the Planning Commission meeting). The environmental review process will also depend on the overall scope of the proposed Veterans Memorial improvements. The cost for an Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration would require a deposit of $5, 750. This is the base deposit and staff would obtain a scope and cost for the work from our environmental consultant. Staffdoes not believe that the improvements currently being discussed would require a full Environmental Impact Report, but if one was determined to be needed, staff would obtain a scope and cost for the work from our environmental consultant. The attached public comments (Attachment 14) were received after the 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 15 deadline for inclusion in the Council Staff Report distributed on January 15. PREPARED BY: CHRISTINA GILMORE Assistant to the Town Manager Reviewed by: N/A Assistant Town Manager N/A Town Attorney N/A Finance N:\MGR \AdminWorkFiles\2015 Comcil ReportsVao.20 \Veterans Memorial StaffReport.Add ®dum.docx 19T.6) WA MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL SUBJECT: VETERANS MEMORIAL RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION REGARDING THE PLACEMENT OF A VETERANS MEMORIAL AT THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS CIVIC CENTER JANUARY 16, 2015 Attachments 1 -13 (Previously received on January 15, 2015): 1. Elements Recommendations —First Choice Tally 2. Elements Recommendations— Second Choice Tally 3. Elements Recommendations— Combined Tally 4. Verbatim minutes from November 20, 2014 5. Verbatim minutes from December 4, 2014 6. Verbatim minutes from December 11, 2014 7. Verbatim minutes from December 18, 2014 8. Verbatim minutes from January 8, 2015 9. Photograph of Civic Center Site Recommendations 10. Photograph of Redwood Grove in front of old library 11. Photograph of open space between Police headquarters and old library 12. Veterans Memorial & Support Foundation of Los Gatos brochure 13. Public communication received through11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 15, 2015 Attachment 14 (Received with this Addendum): 14. Public communication received from 11:01 a.m. Thursday, January 15, 2015 through 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 16, 2015 Attachments: Kent-Hillhouse Letter.pdf - - - -- Original Message---- - From: Rex Naden [mailto:rexCa)rexna den. com] Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2015 11:41 AM To: Christina Gilmore; Council Cc: Kent Hillhouse; Rex Naden Subject: Letter from General Kent Hillhouse, Veteran's Memorial Foundation Honorable Mayor and Council Members, General Kent Hillhouse has requested that I forward the attached letter which is pertinent to your upcoming January 20, 2015 Town Council meeting. Thank you and sincerely, Rex Naden ATTACHMENT 14 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK VETERANS ** FOUNDATION October 15, 2015 Los Gatos Town Council Honorable Mayor and Council Men and Women, RECEIVED vi(- E,rnc�,1 JAN 15 2C'5 a�j iverecA MAYOR & TOWN COUNCIL The purpose of this letter is to provide the Los Gatos Town Council with the position of the Veteran's Foundation on the inputs from the Arts and Culture Commission, the Los Gatos Town Council and other citizens of the Town of Los Gatos. The Foundation wishes to thank the Arts and Culture Commissioners for their inputs and the time they spent to review our original design proposal. 1 think you'll find that the Veteran's Foundation has been very flexible in adjusting our design: Inclusion of female representation in the Reduce the height of the statuary. The arbor should be made from materials consistent with those that currently exist in the The design has been altered to include female The Foundation's artist has resized the statutory to reflect a height similar to that of the circular The Foundation agrees and modified the design as attached. nummate the mist fountain Agreed and removed_ Reduce the footprint to accommodate multiple community uses of the plaza. Remove the four plaques of recognition that are proposed to adhere to the walls of adjacent Remove additional walkways to the Civic Center Memorial bricks can be added to the existing Presuming this can be accomplished without creating engineering problems, the Foundation proposes that the Town of Los Gatos and the Foundation collectively combine resources (financial and talent) to remove or modify the existing fountain structure so that the community benefits from a significant increase in usable area versus what exists todnv Agreed and removed. Agreed and removed. Agreed. Now we look to the Town Council to meet us half way. It is vitally important that the Los Gatos Veteran's Memorial deliver a message of reverence, respect and gratitude to our veterans, military service members and first responders who have defended America's freedom. Arbors alone do not do that. We all deserve a world -class Memorial that captures the hearts and minds of viewers, and by virtue of its prominent location, Honoring Our Veterans VETERANS MEMORIAL & SUPPORT FOUNDATION OF LOS GATOS 110 EAST MAIN STREET • Los GATOS, CA 95030 • www.HonorAVet or • 408- 354 -6853 sends a clear message that Los Gatos values the contributions of these deserving men and women. The Foundation requests the attached revamped figurative statuary be approved for the memorial focal point. The alternate locations are unacceptable to the Foundation, as will be described in a separate letter. I'd also like to add a few words about the statuary. There have been suggestions that it be more abstract in nature. The Viet Nam Memorial Wall is an example of an abstract design. For the living men and women who have served our country, such abstract memorials appear as tombs -- reminders of the horrors of war. And, while it's true that the U.S. Military is called upon to defend the Country, it is equally important for our audience to recognize that the U.S. Military is crucial in supporting victims of natural disasters around the globe, e.g. the earthquake in Haiti, and the nuclear plant meltdown in Japan. Perhaps closer to home is the recent effort to contain the Fbola outbreak and prevent its spreading to the US. We believe figurative statues are more suitable than abstract statues in portraying the courage, solidarity, unselfish determination and commitment demonstrated by our service people, both past and present, to protect the citizens of this Los Gatos. A figurative statue becomes a celebration of the freedoms we so cherish. The Foundation trusts that its demonstrated flexibility will support the Los Gatos Town Council in making the decision to authorize use of the Civic Center plaza (existing fountain area) as the location for the Foundation's Memorial and to approve, in concept, the statuary that you see in the design attached. We request that the alternative locations for the statuary be rejected. With your approval, we can begin work immediately towards transforming the Civic Center plaza to an inviting space that is welcoming, respectful, and becomes a destination for visitors to Los Gatos. Sincerely, Major General Kent Hillhouse U.S. Army (ret) Vice President Los Gatos Veterans Memorial Foundation Honoring Our Veterans VETERANS MEMORIAL & SUPPORT FOUNDATION OF LOS GATOS 110 EAST MAIN STREET • Los GATOS, CA 95030 • www HonorAVet.org •408- 354 -6853 From: almen2000(cbaol com fmaiILo:almen2000Ca1aoI com] Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2015 12:55 PM To: Council Subject: Veteran's Memorial My name is Al Eagle. I have been a citizen of Los Gatos for 45 years. I am a Veteran and a member of the Los Gatos Lions.. I support the Los Gatos Veterans' Memorial as requested by the Foundation. It will be paid for by the Foundation and others, not the town. It is worthy. My understanding is that the Arts and Culture Commission is against any statuary. Without statuary the memorial is meaningless. It would be unnoticeable and its message not understood. I understand that some may be against military, war, etc, but to ignore those who made the ultimate sacrifice for us is clearly wrong and shameful. Please pass this worthy project. Al Eagle THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Attachments: locations_letter_v2.pdf - - - -- Original Message---- - From: Rex Naden [mailto:rexCalrexnaden coml Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2015 3:17 PM To: Christina Gilmore; Council; Greg Larson Cc: Kent Hillhouse; Barbara Naden Subject: Letter from Rex Naden Veteran's Memorial Foundation- corrected Subject of email Honorable Mayor and Council Members, Please review the attached letter which is pertinent to your upcoming January 20, 2015 Town Council meeting. Thank you and sincerely yours, Rex Naden THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK RECEIVED 'V' i a. I ar� JAN 15 2015`ve� Se I MAYOR & iO4o iv COUNCIL VETERANS * * ** FOULNDATION 15 January 2015 Honorable Mayor and Council Men and Women of Los Gatos 110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 Re: Potential Locations for Veteran's Memorial at the Los Gatos Civic Center Dear Mayor and Council Men and Women, I am a 25 year resident and taxpayer of Los Gatos, and a member of the Veteran's Foundation of Los Gatos. This letter represents my views and those of the Veteran's Foundation. Thank you for your decision to place a Veteran's Memorial at the Los Gatos Civic Center, and for the list of Potential locations suggested by the Town. It is entirely fitting to consider all Civic Center possibilites for location ofthe Memorial. The Veteran's Foundation has reviewed these potential locations in detail, with multiple walk - throughs, measurements, photography sessions, 3D modeling with video animations, and discussions. The following matrix summarizes our results, with A indicating the best result and F indicating the worst result: * Railings, AC Unit ** Immediately adjacent to Potential Museum Sculpture Collection * ** Excavation, Grade Leveling, New Sidewalk and Concrete Pad needed Honoring Our Veterans VETERANS MEMORIAL & SUPPORT FOUNDATION OF LOS GATOS 110 EAST MAIN STREET . LOS GATOS, CA 95030 . www.HonorAVet.org . 408- 354 -6853 JCa' 0 251 Fy 1bC 0 Q9 QN'0 a¢� Q0 Ve 6�J P�y �,*� yQ �o oQ a oae ��* a �� ;gyaQQ�� 3�, \ ,\v a3o vo�w oR� vo pence /Prestige /Sq.Footage A C C* F as Event Venue and walking C achine Noise A Not A C B B D * ** - with Museum Use C Considered F B C iitytoDumpsters A C B E ** ace with Existing Statuary A _ - F _ - R * Railings, AC Unit ** Immediately adjacent to Potential Museum Sculpture Collection * ** Excavation, Grade Leveling, New Sidewalk and Concrete Pad needed Honoring Our Veterans VETERANS MEMORIAL & SUPPORT FOUNDATION OF LOS GATOS 110 EAST MAIN STREET . LOS GATOS, CA 95030 . www.HonorAVet.org . 408- 354 -6853 Please note that we have included a criterion which includes "Serve as Event Venue" to indicate that the Foundation plans to hold modest events at the site of the Memorial, for example for patriotic holidays as well as educational events including students and teachers. It is natural to expect the Museum, the Friends of the Library, the Library, and other Town citizens to take advantage of a revamped and re- freshed Plaza as an inviting event venue. In Summary: Pageant Grounds and Bridge were previously ruled out and thus were not not considered. Raised platform upper deck- Not acceptable due to 1) high noise level from AC and other mechanical equipment, and 2) limited square footage. This area was also not recommended by the Arts and Culture Commission. Upper Corner Deck near Rose Garden- Not acceptable due to 1) lack of prominence /prestige of the lo- cation, 2) low visibility due to adjacent fencing and a large existing AC condenser unit, 3) proximity of the location to the Museum, and 4)noise from the AC unit. This area too was not recommended by the Arts and Culture Commission. Lower space between Police and Museums- Not acceptable due to 1) complete lack of visibility from outside the Civic Center, 2) entirely unsuitable as a venue for events and 3) disrespectful proximity to trash dumpsters (the dumpsters are located in an area of hardscape modifed to house them, e.g. they are not easily moved). Civic Center Lawn (clarified by Staff as the ivy- covered space between two Redwoods and adjacent to the Museums lower entrance)- Not acceptable due to the following: 1) It is our understanding that the Museums may desire to install a collection of Sculptures near their northwest entrance. If this is the case, these sculptures will be immediately adjacent to the Veteran's Me- morial. Such close proximity may create dissonance between the artistic styles, scale, and materials of the various pieces of statuary and the Veteran's Memorial. Such dissonance would detract from the emotional impact and the visual separation desired for a Veterans Memorial. The converse is also true; co- location of a Veteran's Memorial may be less than ideal for the Museum's entrance and potential Sculpture display. In addition to the potential artistic dissonance, it is expected that attendees at events held by the Veterans Foundation at this location could potentially reduce the easy Flow of foot and ADA traffic to this Libary entrance. 2) This area is on a slope of over 10 degrees; in order to create a space for statuary and /or an event ven- ue, considerable construction is needed to excavate, drain, and stabliize soil in the area. Then concrete or appropriate hardscape must be installed, and finally the statuary installed. The delay time for planning this extensive project, as well as the cost, are not acceptable to the Foundation. 3) There are two existing sculptures in this area. The Barati commemorative scuplture in the ivy area is not obtrusive and would not create a conflict. However, the large abstract metal sculpture near Pageant Way on the West side of the lawn and near the car showroom would be close enough to the Veteran's Memorial to create additional dissonance, and would reduce visibility of the Veteran's Memorial from the Honoring Our Veterans VETERANS MEMORIAL & SUPPORT FOUNDATION OF LOS GATOS 110 EAST MAIN STREET • LOS GATOS, CA 95030 • www.HonorAVet.org • 408 - 354 -6853 northwest direction The only location meeting the Town's objective of presenting a world -class Veteran's Memorial is the Cen- ter of the Upper Deck of the Civic Center. This location is the most prestigious location in the Town and it meets the requirements of honor, respect, prominence, and it will be an excellent venue for Town events. The Foundation is Flexible as to utilization of the exiting non - operating fountain. It is the recommenda- tion of the Arts and Culture Commission that the fountain be removed. While such removal would free up considerable space for events and for walking space, it is our opinion that the engineering aspects of such a plan must be carefully considered. Thus, we are prepared to support removing portions of the fountain perimeter and filling the water basin with a walkable surface, thus significantly increasing open space while avoiding the time delays and cost associated with complete removal of the fountain. Modification of the fountain should be done with the understanding that such modification is generally beneficial to all citizens, as evidenced by the Arts and Culture Commission's recommendation. The Foundation continues to include in its design an extensive arbor system which now compliments the award - winning Civic Center and Libary architectures. The arbor system will dramatically increase the attractiveness of the deck area by providing living plants, shade, and additional seating. The Arts and Culture Commission has recommended construction of such an arbor system and the Foundation is in full agreement. Sincerely yours, 7,� f/ Rex Naden Citizen of Los Gatos Honoring Our Veterans VETERANS MEMORIAL & SUPPORT FOUNDATION OF LOS GATOS 110 EAST MAIN STREET . LOS GATOS, CA 95030 . www.HonorAVet.org . 408- 354 -6853 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK From: Heidi Herz <hhgrK@,anr com> Date: January 16, 2015 at 12:00:43 AM PST To: "CGilmore losgatosca gov" <CGilmorena losgatosca gov> Cc: Heidi Herz <hherzna apr com> Subject: Veteran's Memorial Hi Christina, I wanted to put in my vote of support for the memorial. This is the way to utilize the fountain area and create an art piece of substance and meaning. Los Gatos is the best of all worlds and is Americana at its purist. What better place is thereto honor our veterans? Thanks so much for your consideration! Heidi Herz hherz@Vr.com com Alain Pinel Realtors BRE 01234067 408.205.9625 650.209.0838 Thank you for your referrals! THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Attachments: Vet Mem January 15.docx; ATTOOOOJ.htm From: Mary Ellen Kaschub <mekaschubCa�comcast net> Date: January 16, 2015 at 9:25:08 AM PST To: <c�ilmorena loseatosca sov> Subject: Letter to Town council re: Jan 20 Veterans Memorial Proposal Christina: Attached is my letter to the Town Council which I would appreciate your including in their packet or forwarding to them individually or including it in their packet, I am not sure of the best process to get it to them in advance of the meeting next week.. Thanks for your help. Mary Ellen Kaschub THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK January 15, 20115 RECEIVED To: Members of the Town Council of Los Gatos JAN 16 2015 Re: Proposed Veterans Memorial hearing Jan 20. MAYOR & TOWN COUNCIL I wish to share my concerns and opposition to the proposed veterans memorial that is presented by the Veterans Memorial Support Foundation. I am not against a memorial per se, but I think the Town and its citizens should be more involved with the concept, the design and the location than has been done to date. Personally 1 feel a memorial should be a reflective place, a place that is quiet and peaceful vs. tall and muscular. The current design appears to glorify war rather than honor the sacrifices and loss that war brings to individuals and families. This past fall I was in Laguna Beach, another unique community, and was impressed with a town process that involved the closing of one block downtown, local musicians played, easels with at -scale renderings of a proposed development project were on display. Residents were encouraged to give their feedback on large boards as well as ask questions. This was an open community process and discussion. 1 think the proposed Veterans memorial process has been the opposite of that. My key concerns in short are: 1) Our town civic center is an architectural -award winning building complex. It is horizontal in design; the new library fits into that horizontal profile. Any new components need to be architecturally compatible and well designed. 2) The current proposed statuary is not compatible. 3) We have a beautiful town center. Let's not ruin it because a special- interest group wants to fund and maintain their own memorial design and aspirations. 4) If the Town desires a memorial, then the competition for it's design should be open to local and /or regional artists who would be more in tune with our community, town character and unique locale. 5) The town center will be home to a new museum and bookstore. These operations should be consulted, reflected and integrated into whatever is developed on the plaza. In sum, I encourage the Town Council to "go back to the drawing board" and determine if our citizens want a war memorial and what type, if any, is desired. If so, then initiate a call for a design competition with the parameter that it reflects our community. Select an outside committee of design professionals to determine best site and oversee the memorial design selection process. The current town Arts and Culture Commission can maintain oversight. This is a unique community and I want it to stay that way. Please give careful consideration to all the very valid concerns that surround this proposed memorial. Sincerely, Mary Ellen Kaschub 320 Massol Ave. THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK