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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDirection given re: Donation of Peace Pole for Library - con CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH City Council Interoffice Communication CL- To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members o From: City Council Members Dave Sullivan and Gil Coerper, f2-4 City Council Liaisons to the Library Board ry r Date: March 23, 2004 rn 1> ' �- Subject: C-ITEM FOR APRIL 5, 2004, CITY COUNCIL MEETING— PEACE POLE AT CENTRAL LIBRARY `r' STATEMENT OF ISSUE: On May 19, 2003, the City Council directed staff to present to the Library Board the installation of a Peace Pole, donated by the Church of Religious Science, at the Central Library and forward the Library Board's recommendation to the City Council for their "consideration. The Library Board discussed the installation and voted on a recommendation to the City Council. The majority of the Library Board recommended against the pole's installation at the Central Library (3 against, 2 for, 2 abstain). Pursuant to the City Council's May 19, 2003, directive, the issue is being submitted for the City Council's consideration. (Attached to this memo is the decision from the Library Board.) I I RECOMMENDED ACTION: City Council should consider and vote on the following issues: 1. Should the City Council accept or reject the Peace Pole donation by the Church of Religious Science? 2. If accepted, should the pole be installed at the Central Library? 3. If accepted and not installed at the Central Library, should it be installed elsewhere j such as City Hall (adjacent to the Veterans Memorials), Pier, Sports Complex, a privately owned location (i.e., HB Mall / Bella Terra) or other locations? I Attachment Xc: Ray Silver Bill Workman Connie Brockway Ron Hayden I C/7'/ WqI -t CO u2i .9-ice �d d&2) 7 - v • it City ®f Huntington beach • library • administration • To: Mayor Green and City Council Members From: Ray Silver, City Administrator Via: Ron Hayden, Library Services Director Date: 3/18/2004 Subject: LIBRARY BOARD RECOMMENDATION: PEACE POLE AT CENTRAL LIBRARY In April 2003, the Huntington Beach Church of Religious Science offered to donate a "Peace Pole" to the City. This pole is approximately eight feet tall and seven inches in diameter with six sides. On each side, in six different languages, is the phrase "May Peace Prevail on Earth." On May 19, 2003, the City Council directed staff to present to the Library Board the installation of this Peace Pole at the Central Library and forward the Library Board's recommendation to the City Council for their consideration. Concomitantly, the City Council requested a legal opinion from the City Attorney on the policy of accepting such donations and placing them on public property. The Library Board decided to defer the issue pending the City Attorney's opinion. In summary, the City Attorney, based on two legal opinions, declared that the City could accept and install the pole at the Library. (See RLS Attachments dated February 4, 2004 and supplemental memo dated February 12, 2004.) At the March 16, 2004 Library Board meeting, the board considered the issue of installing the "Peace Pole" at the Central Library. In addition to the board, Mayor Green, and Council Member liaisons Sullivan and Coerper attended. Also present were representatives of the Church of Religious Science and the president of the Friends of the Library. LIBRARY BOARD RECOMMENDATION: After much discussion, the board essentially voted to reject the pole's placement at the library. The vote was 3 against placement, 2 in favor, and 2 abstentions: AGAINST INSTALLATION: WROBEL, BUDWIG, PARODI FOR INSTALLATION: KUPERBERG, SIEGRIST ABSTAIN: MACDONELL, MOORE CiroHUNTING7'ON BEACH PUBLIC LIBRARY S Y S T E M (16) May 19, 2003 - Council/Agency Agenda - Page 16 l H. City Council/Redevelopment Agency Items H-1a. Submitted By Mayor Connie Boardman (City Council) Direct Staff to Present to the Library Board an Offer of Donation by the Church of Religious Science of a "Peace Pole" and to Propose a Recommendation for its Permanent Installation at the Central Library ( . ) Communication from Mayor Connie Boardman transmitting the following Statement of Issue: Attached is a letter I received from Reverend Peggy Price regarding an offer to donate a "Peace Pole" to the city by the Huntington Beach Church of Religious Science. This pole is approximately eight feet tall and seven inches in diameter with six sides. On each side, in six different languages, is the phrase "May Peace Prevail on Earth." The organization would like to permanently install this monument within the city. Based on my conversations with Reverend Price, we decided that the Central Library and Cultural Center would be an appropriate location to explore. Recommended Action: Motion to: Direct staff to present to the Library Board the idea of the installation of a donated "Peace Pole" to be located at the Central Library and forward the Library Board recommendation to the City Council for their consideration. (1) Approved motion to send to the City Attorney's Office for a legal opinion to establish a policy on gifts. Approved 5-2(Coerper Green No) and (2) Approved recommended action at the same time as amended motion (1) above. Approved 7-0 i CITY OF HUNTINGTON B ACH 'City Council Interoffice Communication To: Honorable,Mayor Pro Tern and City Council Members jTv _ From: Connie Boardman, Mayor 'j Date: May 8, 2003 Subject: "H"ITEM FOR MAY 19, 2003 CITY COUNCIL MEETING— INSTALLATION OF PEACE POLE AT CENTRAL LIBRARY STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Attached is a letter I received from Reverend Peggy Price regarding an offer to donate a "Peace Pole" to the city by the Huntington Beach Church of Religious Science. This pole is approximately eight feet tall and seven inches in diameter with six sides. On each side, in six different Languages, is the phrase "May Peace Prevail on Earth." The organization would like to permanently install this monument within the city. Based on my conversations with Reverend Price, we decided that the Central Library and Cultural Center would be an appropriate location to explore. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Direct staff to present to the Library Board the idea of the installation of a donated "Peace Pole" to be located at the Central Library and forward the Library Board recommendation to the City Council for their consideration. CB:cf Attachment, ,,=/5-03 L°Q � Aaz" xc: Ray Silver 01Aa" Connie Brockway Ron Hayden Reverend Peggy Price HUNTINGTON BEACH CHURCH OF RELIGIOUS SCIENCE 7641 Talbert Avenue Huntington Beach, CA 92648 (714) 596-0900 March 31, 2003 The Honorable Mayor Connie Boardman City of Huntington Beach Civic Center Huntington Beach, CA Dear Mayor Boardman: It is the desire of the Huntington Beach Church of Religious Science to present our city with the gift of a symbol of peace. The enclosed information tells about the Peace Pole. It is a simple monument, eight feet tall, with six sides. On each side in a different language are the words, "May Peace Prevail on Earth.", The Peace Pole stands as a reminder to us of this ideal. The pole we wish to give is complete and is ready to be placed somewhere in the city. The languages on the pole are as follows: English, Spanish, Vietnamese- reflective of the people who live in this area. Japanese - in honor of our sister city in Japan. Chumash - the language of many of our first nations people. American Sign Language- to acknowledge those with physical challenges who live among us We would like to officially "plant"this pole somewhere in the city. Our choices are at the Pier Plaza---or in Central Park near the bandstand--- or near the War Memorial at the Civic Center.— (n q(-0r1"of tetra 1 (_lobar It is my sincere prayer that the city will accept this gift, realizing that it is a universal statement of a quality to which we all aspire, not a religious or political statement. I await your consideration and that of your colleagues in the City Council. Peace and blessings, Rev. 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Page 1 of 1 Ehring, Liz From: Bazant, Denise Sent: Monday, April 05, 2004 9:31 AM To: Ehring, Liz; Jones, Dale Subject: FW: peace pole Late communication Denise -----Original Message----- From: Fikes, Cathy Sent: Monday, April 05, 2004 9:12 AM To: Bazant, Denise Subject: FW: peace pole -----Original Message----- From: rbdb [mailto:rbdb929@surfside.net] Sent: Saturday, April 03, 2004 3:59 PM To: city.council@surfcity-hb.org Subject: peace pole I understand the peace pole vote is to be on the agenda for the April 5 city council meeting. I would urge you to vote against putting the peace pole at the library or city hall. It is generous of the Church of Religious Science to donate the pole, but possibly it can also be used by the church to gain some publicity. We are all for peace and do not need a wooden pole to remind us of this. The pole is not very attractive and does not belong at the library. The volunteer groups who support the library's endeavors are opposed to the pole being placed at the library. Accepting this pole could also create future problems as other groups could feel they would and should be able to get similar attention. Thank you for your consideration of my opinion. Dorothy Boesch La� G,31 nrv\J-JV l C C 4/5/2004 Peace Pole Page 1 of 2 Brockway, Connie From: Green, Cathy �/� Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2003 10:26 PM ` To: Brockway, Connie Subject: FW: Peace Pole -----Original Message----- From: Sullivan, Dave Sent: Friday, December 05, 2003 5:09 AM To: cgreen@surfcity-hb.org Subject: FW: Peace Pole Cathy You don't have to read all this. It's communications between Ron Hayden and Peggy Price letting her know that it will be on the Library Board's Jan agenda (no Dec meeting). Dave -----Original Message----- From: Hayden, Ron Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2003 4:46 PM To: 'PEGGY PRICE' Cc: John Parodi (E-mail); Sid Kuperberg (E-mail); Ruth Siegrist (E-mail); 'Olga Wrobel'; Linda MacDonell (E-mail); Richard Moore(E-mail); Lloyd Budwig (E-mail); Boucher, Linda; Silver, Ray; Workman, William P.; Coerper, Gil; Sullivan, Dave; Boucher, Linda; Daugherty, Sherrie; Hiles, Roger; Williams, Nancy Subject: RE: Peace Pole Thanks, Peggy. It's a pleasure to communicate with you again. I'm glad you'll be involved. I will include the project on the Library Board's January 20th, 2004 agenda. Via email, I'll keep you informed. Please keep in mind that the Library Board will make a recommendationto the City Council. I do not know what their recommendation will be. However, the City Council will make the final decision. Subsequent to the Library Board's review, I will transmit their decision to the City Administrator and City Council. If the City Council wants to install the pole, they must adopt a resolution prepared by the City Attorney titled "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH ACCEPTING THE "PEACE POLE". If necessary, I will take responsibility for placing the issue/resolution on the City Counci I's February, 2004 agenda. Thanks again for providing me the status of the Peace Pole. A belated congratulations on your retirement. -----Original Message----- From: PEGGY PRICE [mailto:r.revpeggyp@verizon.net] Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2003 11:41 AM To: rhayden@surfcity-hb.org Cc: Bob Traver Subject: Re: Peace Pole bear Ron, 12/8/2003 Peace Pole • Page 2 of 2 Thank you for your inquiry regarding the Peace Pole. Although I have retired from the church, I am still involved in this project. Bob Traver is the church liaison as well. Yes, the Peace Pole is standing in the sanctuary awaiting its installation on the grounds of the library. I'm happy to know that it will become a reality soon. My home phone number is 714-596-4747 should you need to contact me. Many blessings, Rev. Peggy Price -----Original Message ----- From: Donna Baranyay_ To: r.revpeggyp@vLerizon.net Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2003 10:05 AM Subject: FW: Peace Pole Hi Rev. Peggy, Do you want me to pass this on to the Revs. Deaton as well? Love you, Donna -----Original Message----- From: Hayden, Ron [mailto:rhayden@surfcity-hb.org] Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2003 2:17 PM To: 'office@hbcrschurch.ora' Cc: Boucher, Linda Subject: Peace Pole Hi, I am Ron Hayden, Library Director for the City of HB. A few months ago the city was offered a Peace Pole by your organization as a donation to be installed on City Property. Subsequently, the Central Library was selected as a possible place for installation. The City Council asked the City Attorney to develop a policy regarding such donations. Additionally, the Library Board was asked to review. It appears that the City Attorney has rendered a decision that clears the way for the Library Board to review. I plan on placing the item on the January agenda of the Library Board. However, since some time has passed since your church's offer, I am inquiring as to the status of the Peace Pole. Is it still available for the City to take position if the Library Board and City Council approve? If so, is the pole's location within the large meeting room and would we be able to obtain it in mid January? Thank you for your consideration. Ron Hayden. 12/8/2003