6.a) Staff Report-Veterans Memorial
STAFF REPORT
Date of Meeting: July 6, 2015
To: Parks and Recreation Committee
From: Judi Negus, Office Assistant
Kristina Handt, City Administrator
Re: Veterans Memorial
Background:
At the December 2, 2013 Parks and Recreation Committee meeting, City Administrator Handt
reported a committee of community volunteers had been meeting to discuss possible locations
for a Veterans Memorial site. Two main possibilities had been discussed: City of Scandia parks
Hay Lake and Lilleskogen. A poll of people visiting the Village Center on November 26, 2013,
conducted by Mayor Simonson resulted in a majority preferring Lilleskogen. Committee
members agreed the ideal site should be accessible and visible and a Veterans Memorial at
Lilleskogen would be ideal because of its close proximity to the cemetery. The Committee
agreed to provide the following parameters to memorial designers for a memorial at
Lilleskogen:
1) Close proximity to the parking lot for accessibility.
2) Incorporate existing park plans into design (wetland/butterfly garden).
3) Memorial shall be no more than 800 square feet.
4) Near the south side of the park.
5) Visible from Oakhill.
Committee members agreed unanimously to make a recommendation for the Veterans
Memorial site at Lilleskogen (with the five parameters listed). At the December 17, 2013 City
Council meeting, Scandia-Marine Lions Club member Tom Triplett and City of Marine Mayor
Mills and Lions member asked the City Council to delay a site decision until more discussion
could be had with the entire club and the Council agreed to table the discussion.
Since that time, the Lions Foundation has been working on the memorial site, reviewed
numerous possible locations (Marine, Hay Lake, Barton Johnson, private land near Swedish
Monument, old Rasmussen property, etc.) and eliminated other sites from consideration.
Lilleskogen is the preferred location.
Issue:
Should the Lilleskogen plan be amended to allow for a memorial? If so, under what
parameters?
Proposal Details:
Scandia-Marine Lions Foundation President Dave Wilson will be present at the meeting to
discuss his proposal. The proposal is included in the meeting materials.
Fiscal Impact:
Unknown. A maintenance agreement between the City and Lions would be required laying out
the Lions’ responsibility to maintain the memorial improvements.
Options:
1) Recommend the Veterans Memorial be located at Lilleskogen.
2) Do not recommend the Veterans Memorial be located at Lilleskogen.
3) Recommend the Veterans Memorial be located at another site.
4) Recommend no City park sites be used for a Veterans Memorial .
Recommendation:
Option 1, with the previous approved parameters, except to delete condition #4 since the
Committee approved the butterfly garden on the south, and a financial donation of $10,000
from the Lions Foundation, as well as the requirement of a maintenance agreement.