HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/26/2001 BAKERSFIELD
-(f~"-' ~-~ '-~--~---'- Jacquie Sullivan, Chair
Alan Tandy, City Manager Sue Benham
John W. Stinson, Assistant City Manager Irma Carson
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE
Wednesday, September 26, 2001, 1:30 p.m.
City Manager's Conference Room
1. ROLL CALL
Call to Order at 1:43 p.m.
Present: Councilmembers Sue Benham and Irma Carson
Councilmember Jacquie Sullivan, Chair, arrived for Item 4. Presentations
2, ADOPT JULY 11, 2001 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
Adopted as submitted. Councilmember Sullivan absent.
3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
4. PRESENTATIONS
5. NEW BUSINESS
A. Discussion regarding a request from the Kern County Veterans Services for City
assistance in locating and developing a Kern County Veterans Memorial Park
Dale Wilson, Chairman of the Kern County Veterans Memorial Park Committee, spoke
regarding their desire to find a site for a veterans memorial park. He stated about a year ago
he started working with the Korean War Veterans Association to plan and develop a memorial
for veterans who died in Korea. At that time, they were just looking for a place to build a
monument. In their efforts to locate other memorials, they visited the City of Porterville's new
Veterans Memorial Park. The park is very impressive and has a striking focal point, a Medi-Vac
helicopter mounted 20 feet in the air. At this point, the idea was born that the veterans of Kern
County should expand their efforts to plan and locate an appropriate park site where all Kern
County veterans, including fallen comrades from all wars could be honored.
There are approximately 52 veterans organizations in Kern County. Letters of support have
been signed by the Commanders of 42 of the organizations. There are six inactive, so they
have a few more to go, which will encompass about 10,000 members. Universally, all the
organizations were interested in having some kind of memorial. There is a desire to celebrate
the lives of veterans, including those still living as well as a memorial to those who have fallen.
ADOPTED AS SUB)qITTED ON DECEI. iBER 5, 2001
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE
Wednesday, September 26, 2001
Page -2-
On a separate project, in the future they would like to have a museum of military history. They
will be meeting with the Superintendent of Schools, as they have shown an interest in a
museum.
Mr. Wilson spoke about Dr. Carlson, their primary fund-raiser, he is a retired Dean of Instruction
from Bakersfield College. One of his specialties is grant writing and applications. He is also a
veteran. Even if it takes longer to raise the funds, the plan is to have a quality project. It is
easier to raise grant money for a museum as it comes from educational funding, than for
monuments/parks where grant money is from veterans funding. The need to set up a
foundation to provide for continued maintenance is in the discussion stages. A fund-raiser is
being planned for Veterans Day.
Their main focus right now is to work with the City and the County to find a location where they
can develop a park. They have been working with an architectural firm who is preparing
schematic drawings and artist renderings of buildings, monuments and layouts. The drawings
should be done by the first part of November and they would like to come back to the City with
exactly what they have in mind, such as square footage and estimated costs. They are also
exploring the idea of an amphitheater where ceremonial functions could be held. The Veterans
Committee has approached the County about the Metro Center for a possible site and would
also like to explore if the City may have a site for a veterans memorial park.
Committee Chair Sullivan and member Benham suggested Central Park might be expanded as
a possible site. An idea that came out of the Charrette was to expand Central Park and one of
the ideas included an amphitheater. Committee member Carson suggested Yokuts Park as a
possible site.
Committee Chair Sullivan invited the members of the Kern County Veterans Memorial Park
Committee to return when the architect has finished the renderings. The Committee directed
Stan Ford, Recreation and Parks Director, to be the contact person.
6. COMMrl-rEE COMMENTS
7. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 2:35 p.m.
Staff attending: Assistant City Manager John W. Stinson; City Attorney Bart Thiltgen; and Recreation and
Parks Director Stan Ford.
Others attending: Dale Wilson, Chairman; Michael Sabol, Vice Chairman; and Donna Lorenz,
Recording Secretary of the Kern County Veterans Memorial Park Committee.
cc: Honorable Mayor and City Council
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