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Veteran’s memorial mock-up has been at three locations; Recommendation expected in April

There are only a few days remaining for the public to offer comment about three proposed locations for a veteran’s memorial.

The task force charged with making a recommendation to the City Council about the best location for a memorial has placed an actual size replica of the proposed structures 

at the Sea Wall, near the Clear Lake Yacht Club and currently at the corner of 8th Street and Main Avenue and is inviting public comment.

The task force has established an email address to accept public comment about the placement options through the month of March.  Comments will be accepted at [email protected].  Those without Internet access, could also submit written comments, addressed to the Task Force, at City Hall.

After receiving input from the community with reaction to the replicas, the task force expects to make a location recommendation to the City Council in April.  

In June 2014, V.F.W. Post Commander Mike Nelson, Past Commander Dave Parks and veteran Gene Madson presented the City Council with a conceptual drawing and discussed their vision for the project. They proposed the current V.F.W. Memorial located on Main Avenue, near the Clear Lake Yacht Club building, be moved to the Sea Wall site.  The memorial would also include two additional flag pole piers for the American and state flags, as well as two five-foot walls which will have the names of veterans from Clear Lake and Ventura inscribed on them.   Two additional walls could be added, if needed.  

The Council sent the issue to its Parks and Recreation Board for a recommendation.  That board voted 5-1 to recommend to the City Council that the proposed veterans memorial not be placed in front of the Sea Wall.  The Council, on a 3-2 vote, agreed with that recommendation. All five Council members voted in favor of establishing a task force  charged with considering locations and design for a veterans memorial.

Members of that task force are: Amy Hogg, a member of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board; Dave Parks and Eldon Vine, members of the Clear Lake VFW; retired pastor Dean Hess; realtor Diana Symonds; businessman and community member at-large Dean Hess; City Councilman Dana Brant; and Nicole Olson, an attorney and community member at large.