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Item No. 1.
| MEETING DATE: 10/04/2021 |
|
| TO: | HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS |
| FROM: | JIM SADRO, CITY MANAGER By: Rob Ferrier, Assistant to the City Manager |
| SUBJECT: | CONSIDER A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF A VETERANS CEMETERY IN ORANGE COUNTY
|
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council:
APPROVE AND ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. ____ ENTITLED: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA HABRA, CALIFORNIA, IN SUPPORT OF A VETERANS CEMETERY IN ORANGE COUNTY.
DISCUSSION:
During the City Council comments portion of the City Council meeting that occurred September 20, 2021, Councilmember Shaw requested that the City Council consider a resolution in support of a Veterans cemetery in Orange County. That request was seconded by Mayor Espinoza.
Background
The proposal to construct a Veterans cemetery in Orange County has long been championed by military veterans and veteran's advocacy groups. For years those groups proposed building the cemetery on the site of the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station in Irvine; however, that proposal encountered opposition and has made little headway. Most recently, an alternate site in Anaheim has been suggested for consideration. The site consists of 200 acres owned by the County of Orange (County) near the intersection of the 91 Freeway and 241 Toll Road in Anaheim Hills. On July 27, 2021, the Orange County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution to move forward with planning and developing a cemetery for veterans at the site, as well as the allocation of $20 million toward the project. Several Orange County cities have indicated support for a cemetery in Anaheim, including the Cities of Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, La Palma, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Orange, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Tustin, Villa Park, and Yorba Linda.
Staff requests that the City Council consider a resolution in support of a Veterans cemetery in Anaheim (Attachment 1) and provide direction.
Background
The proposal to construct a Veterans cemetery in Orange County has long been championed by military veterans and veteran's advocacy groups. For years those groups proposed building the cemetery on the site of the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station in Irvine; however, that proposal encountered opposition and has made little headway. Most recently, an alternate site in Anaheim has been suggested for consideration. The site consists of 200 acres owned by the County of Orange (County) near the intersection of the 91 Freeway and 241 Toll Road in Anaheim Hills. On July 27, 2021, the Orange County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution to move forward with planning and developing a cemetery for veterans at the site, as well as the allocation of $20 million toward the project. Several Orange County cities have indicated support for a cemetery in Anaheim, including the Cities of Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, La Palma, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Orange, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Tustin, Villa Park, and Yorba Linda.
Staff requests that the City Council consider a resolution in support of a Veterans cemetery in Anaheim (Attachment 1) and provide direction.
FISCAL IMPACT/SOURCE OF FUNDING:
None
GENERAL PLAN RELEVANCE:
Support or opposition to the proposed resolution has no direct impact on the day-to-day operations of the City, nor does it impact the City's General Plan. However, the proposed Veterans' cemetery is supported by both the County and the City of Anaheim, as well as approximately two-thirds of the cities in Orange County, and support for the matter appears to be consistent with the General Policy Statement contained in the City of La Habra's Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Legislative Platform, particularly as it relates to local control.