01-19-2021 Veterans Advisory CommitteeVeterans Advisory Committee Proposal
to Honor Veterans and Families
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Federal Way City Council
January 19, 2021
Veterans Advisory Committee Proposal
to Honor Veterans and Families
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Policy Question:
Should the City of Federal Way approve the
Veterans Advisory Committee’s proposal to
place a flag pole, service medallions, plaque,
and lighting to be located at the top of the Town
Center Steps adjacent to the Performing Arts
and Event Center?
Veterans Advisory Committee Proposal
to Honor Veterans and Families
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Background:
This proposal would be funded by two King
County Veterans Program grants ($10,000 and
$9,999) totaling $19,999, and would honor
veterans and families. The grants were
facilitated by King County Councilmember Pete
von Reichbauer (District 7).
Veterans Advisory Committee Proposal
to Honor Veterans and Families
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The Veterans Advisory Group was formed by
Mayor Ferrell in the summer of 2018 to
recommend the appropriate way to honor our
veterans and families.
Veterans Advisory Committee Proposal
to Honor Veterans and Families
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Currently, members of this committee include
the following veterans and community
members: Susan Honda, Council President, Dan
Altmayer, Frank Bannister, Bob Celski, Roger
Flygare, Jack Garfield (Eagle Scout), Gene Hunt,
Bob Kellogg, Diana Noble-Gulliford, Keith
Selthofer Lori Steinhorst and Dick Whipple.
Veterans Advisory Committee Proposal
to Honor Veterans and Families
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The group has been extensively studying tributes and
memorials for veterans in our area as well as regionally,
nationally and internationally.
Veterans Advisory Committee Proposal
to Honor Veterans and Families
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After coming to a
consensus about features
and elements from the
other locations that were
compelling, they attended
community events and
informally polled citizens
on what they would like to
see in a tribute to our
veterans and families.
Veterans Advisory Committee Proposal
to Honor Veterans and Families
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Veterans Advisory Committee Proposal
to Honor Veterans and Families
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Veterans Advisory Committee Proposal
to Honor Veterans and Families
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There was also discussion of fundraising
strategies, whether or not to form a non-profit
or work with other community groups. In
February just before the COVID-19 outbreak, the
group held a Saturday retreat in order to build a
consensus on next steps.
Veterans Advisory Committee Proposal
to Honor Veterans and Families
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It was around this time the first $10,000 grant
was facilitated by King County Councilmember
Pete von Reichbauer from the King County
Veterans Program. In the fall, the grant of
$9,999 was also given to the project.
Veterans Advisory Committee Proposal
to Honor Veterans and Families
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In mid-December outside
the PAEC, King County
Councilmember von
Reichbauer brought
together a group of veterans
and the Mayor to announce
the additional grant of $9,999,
bringing the total funding to
$19,999 for the project.
Veterans Advisory Committee Proposal
to Honor Veterans and Families
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He took an impromptu and unofficial poll to gauge
opinion on using the funding to place a flag pole,
service medallions, plaque and lights at the top of the
Town Center steps just adjacent to the PAEC. The group
was in favor of the idea.
The Mayor announced he would immediately convene
a meeting of the official Veterans Advisory Group to get
their input on the idea.
Veterans Advisory Committee Proposal
to Honor Veterans and Families
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In light of the timing
as the two grants of
$19,999 from King
County have a
short window to be
allocated, a few
days later on December 16th the Mayor convened the
official advisory committee including the council
president, to formally discuss the proposal.
Veterans Advisory Committee Proposal
to Honor Veterans and Families
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The group was updated on
a study of a proposal that
had been previously
discussed to site the
tribute for veterans at the
southeast corner of Town
Square Park. However, a study by our Parks Department
concluded that there were significant drainage and
infrastructure issues which would result in exorbitant
costs to use that location.
Veterans Advisory Committee Proposal
to Honor Veterans and Families
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After discussion, the unanimous
decision by the group was to
recommend to the Council to
move forward with a flag pole at the top of the Town
Center Steps utilizing this grant
funding. The project would also
include a medallion or marker
for each of the service branches
at the base of the flag pole,
which would be approximately 30-35’ in height.
Veterans Advisory Committee Proposal
to Honor Veterans and Families
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The advisory group also unanimously felt that this
project is the beginning of a Veterans Memorial and
does not reflect a final project--but it would be a
definitive start. Many citizens and organizations have
worked to fulfill the community’s desire for recognition
of veterans and families since our inception as a city.
Veterans Advisory Committee Proposal
to Honor Veterans and Families
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In light of the group’s recommendation, the Mayor is
recommending that the Parks, Recreation, Human
Services & Public Safety Committee approve a proposal
from our Veterans Advisory Group to use King County
Veterans Program grants funding to honor our veterans
and their families. The project will be coordinated with
the expertise of our Parks, Recreation and Culture
Services Department.
Veterans Advisory Committee Proposal
to Honor Veterans and Families
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Specifically, the advisory group’s proposal is to
place a flag pole, service medallions, plaque and
lighting to be located at the top of the Town
Center Steps adjacent to the Performing Arts
and Event Center. This project would be funded
by King County Veterans Program grants totaling
$19,999 that was secured by King County
Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer.
Veterans Advisory Committee Proposal
to Honor Veterans and Families
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Council options:
(1) Approve.
(2) Approve with changes.
(3) Disapprove.
The Mayor’s Recommendation
is to approve.
Veterans Advisory Committee Proposal
to Honor Veterans and Families
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Questions and Discussion