City of Redondo Beach - File #: PA24-1790

• File #: PA24-1790
• Type: Discussion Items
• Status: Agenda Ready
• File created: 11/4/2024
• In control: Public Amenities Commission
• On agenda: 11/13/2024
• Title: DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A "SPECIAL DONATIONS" REQUEST FOR INSTALLATION OF A PLAQUE AT RIVIERA VILLAGE PARK

TO:                                                               PUBLIC AMENITIES COMMISSION

FROM:                                          GARY MARGOLIS, CULTURAL ARTS MANAGER

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DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A “SPECIAL DONATIONS” REQUEST FOR INSTALLATION OF A PLAQUE AT RIVIERA VILLAGE PARK

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

City Council Resolution No. CC-0607-79, adopted September 19, 2006, sets forth guidelines for the city’s “Parks, Facilities, and Open Space Commemorative Donation Program” (Attachment 1).  Donations are generally limited to those included in the predetermined lists of benches and trees and predetermined parks, parkettes and other sites listed in the “Commemorative Donation Program Brochure” (Attachment 2).  The Resolution also provides for “special donations” and sets forth the criteria (shown below) that staff should use to determine whether or not such special requests should be granted, subject to the approval of the Recreation and Community Services Director.

The Community Services Department received a “special request” from Mr. Steve Vilarino to install a second 26” x 36” commemorative bronze plaque and a miniature olive tree in the grassy circular area at Riviera Village Park.  The Community Services Director is requesting that the Public Amenities Commission review the request as set forth in this report, apply the criteria for evaluating special requests as set forth in the Resolution and make a recommendation as to whether or not the special request should be granted.

BACKGROUND

On December 6, 1969, the cities of Redondo Beach and Torrance dedicated Riviera Village Park located between Camino de la Costa to the west, Palos Verdes Blvd. to the east and Parking Lot #1 to the north as shown in Figures 1 and 2.  At that time, a plaque was installed to memorialize the event (Attachment 3).

Figure 1: Map view of Riviera Village Park

Figure 2: Aerial views of Riviera Village Park

Figure 3: Location of the plaque in the park

History of Riviera Village Park

According to information provided by Mr. Vilarino, his father, Joe Vilarino, was president of The Riviera Village Association (RVA) in 1969 and spearheaded the volunteer recruitment of RVA members, local service groups and residents to contribute their time and money to make Riviera Village Park a reality. Attachment 4 is the 1969 Fundraising Brochure for the effort.  A dedication plaque (Attachment 3) was installed containing the names of the four contributors who contributed $1,000 or more (Riviera Village Association, Riviera Village Rotary Club, Hollywood Riviera Sportsman’s Club, Riviera Village Homeowners’ Association).  In addition, twelve circular metal medallions were installed in the sidewalk encircling the circular grassy area pictured above, each inscribed with the name of a donor who contributed $250 or more (Table 1).  Unfortunately, all twelve medallions have gone missing since their installation over 50 years ago (Figure 4).

Figure 4: Former locations of 8 of the missing 12 medallions

Table 1: Contributors - $250 - $999

$250 - $499	$500 - $999
Morgan Moore	Stanley Dunn
Bob Byrne	Kiwanis
Palos Verdes Escrow	Plush Horse Inn - Bob Reis
Fred Hocklinger	Plush Pony Coffee Shop - George Kavalis
Kimberly-Pacific Corp.	Joe Vilarino
Harbor Savings	Howard’s Market

Mr. Vilarino recalls that at the time of the development of the park, his father suggested that the park should also honor Clifford Reid, the Hollywood Riviera residential developer and founder, who endeavored to create a “French Riviera” atmosphere by designing homes with terra cotta roofs and by using olive trees in his landscaping.  To that end, an olive tree was planted as the park’s centerpiece (now gone as well).  Joe Vilarino asked his other son, Jeffery, an art student at Aviation High School, to create and donate an olive tree design to be used as a logo for the park, which subsequently became the Riviera Village Association’s logo for many decades (Attachment 5).

Proposed Riviera Village Park Rededication

Mr. Vilarino, in an effort to re-recognize those individuals and businesses whose medallions had disappeared from their installed locations, would like to install a new 26” x 36” bronze plaque that would include their names, replace the olive tree, remember his brother’s artwork and celebrate the 55^th anniversary of the park’s dedication.  Mr Vilarino presented this proposal to the Riviera Village Association (RVA).  Attachment 6 is his letter to the RVA requesting its support for this effort.  Mr. Vilarino offered his family’s financial support for all costs except the installation of the second plaque and the planting and care of the olive tree. On October 17, 2023, the RVA voted to provide “ceremonial support” for the rededication of the park.  The Vilarino family have received a time-sensitive quote (approximately $3,650) to fabricate the new plaque.

The text for the new plaque (Attachment 7) provides some background regarding how the park came to be, the story of Jeff Vilarino creating a logo and the names of the 12 donors whose names were inscribed in the 12 missing medallions.  It also includes Jeffery Vilarino’s original logo design. Mr. Vilarino is asking the City to approve the plaque in concept and to provide for its installation in cement - the same as the 1969 plaque but on the opposite side of the tree (Figure 6).  In addition, the Vilarino family has already purchased a miniature olive tree and is requesting that the city plant the olive tree in the same location as the olive tree that was installed in 1969.  They are not requesting to reinstall the twelve sidewalk medallions.  As already mentioned, the 12 names on those plaques will be included on the new plaque to be installed opposite the 1969 plaque.  The circular area in question is about 19 feet in diameter.  Steve Vilarino has indicated that measurements have been taken, and the new plaque and miniature olive tree will fit nicely in the space.

Figure 6: Conceptual image of park after installation of plaque and planting of tree

Considerations

The City currently has a “Commemorative Donation Program,” which provides opportunities for members of the public to “honor a loved one, commemorate an event or anniversary, or acknowledge an outstanding organization.”  Under the existing program’s guidelines (Attachment 2), donations are typically limited to benches, which include a 4” x 10” bronze plaque, and five tree options: Brisbane, Chinese Elm, Peppermint Willow, Strawberry Tree and Monterey Cypress. Tree dedications include a 6” x 8” bronze plaque installed at the base of the tree.  Locations for the installation of commemorative benches and trees are limited to select city parks, parkettes and other spaces also identified in the guidelines.

Finally, the Commemorative Donation Program also provides for “special donations,” for example, play equipment, picnic tables, flag poles, park planters, fountains, directional signage, Path of History markers, entry gates, bike racks, and maintenance and safety equipment. “Special requests,” according to the guidelines, are to be evaluated according to the following criteria:

a.                     Compatibility with City infrastructure, plans and safety requirements

b.                     Compatibility with site design and furnishings

c.                     Maintenance needs/ costs

d.                     Number and type of other donated items in the vicinity of the site

e.                     The commemorated individual’s impact on the community

f.                     The appropriateness of the content or message presented by the special donation item

Other Historical Markers in the Vicinity

The city currently has a “Path of History” marker commemorating the Hollywood Riviera Beach Club in Miramar Park about 500 feet away (Figure 7).

Figure 7: Nearby Path of History Marker

Special Request Determination

Under the current Commemorative Donation Program guidelines, miniature olive trees are not an approved tree, and Riviera Village Park is not an approved location.  Staff, therefore, is requesting the Public Amenities Commission to apply the approved criteria set forth above to this “Special Donation Request” and make a determination as to whether or not it meets the criteria, thereby granting or denying the request.

Coordination with Other Departments

The Public Works Department has indicated that bronze plaques are very prone to theft, but if approved by this commission, it will install the plaque in concrete, and the department will also plant and irrigate the tree.  Finally, the department will also confirm with the City of Torrance, the co-owner of the park, that it has no objections to these plans.

Fiscal Impact

The cost for the City to implement this special request includes staff costs to install the two items and ongoing maintenance costs for the tree. The area already has irrigation infrastructure.

ATTACHMENTS

1.                     City Council Resolution No. CC-0607-79, adopted September 19, 2006 and amended October 1, 2019.

2.                     Commemorative Donation Program Brochure

3.                     1969 Fundraising Brochure to Create Riviera Village Park

4.                     Original (1969) Plaque

5.                     1969 Artwork (logo) by Jeff Vilarino

6.                     Letter from Steve Vilarino to the Riviera Village Association (RVA)

7.                     Text and artwork for new plaque