The City Council on Monday, July 8, directed Seal Beach staff to work with the Salon Meritage Memorial Committee on raising funds for a memorial for victims of the October 2011 shootings that claimed eight lives. If private donations cannot raise money to build the memorial quickly enough, the council will consider changing the budget.
The Memorial Committee recently recommended a section of Eisenhower Park for a heart-shaped memorial north of Eighth Street. Eisenhower Park is actually divided into three grassy areas, with the smallest of the three areas separated from the park by the driveway to the beach parking lot.
A report by Patrick Gallegos, administrative manager, said one option for funding the construction of the Support in Love Memorial Plaza would be to set up a deposit account and accept donations from the public. “If donations reach the necessary amount to begin construction before the next fiscal year, staff will begin working on the project,” Gallegos wrote.
The alternative would be to amend the budget to begin construction immediately.
City Manager Jill Ingram advised against waiting until the mid-year budget review to decide if the city should fund the project.
Under the contribution-funded version of the proposal, construction might not begin until next year.
Mayor Gary Miller did not want to wait a year to begin work on the project.
Tim Kelsey, recreation manager, said the city could waive event fees for fundraising efforts for the memorial.
Miller said he would like to see significant effort to fund the project as quickly as possible.
District One Councilwoman Ellery Deaton echoed his sentiment.
“I agree with Gary. We need to get going on it,” Deaton said. The shootings occurred in her district.
Funding the project wasn’t the only concern council members had. Councilman Gordon Shanks didn’t like the proposed location in Eisenhower Park.
“I don’t want to be the bad guy in this,” Shanks said.
Deaton said he was always the bad guy, speaking in a friendly, teasing tone of voice.
Shanks said Eisenhower Park was not the right place for a memorial.“It is not a contemplative area,” Shanks said.
He pointed out that there were a lot of community events held in Eisenhower Park, including the Fish Fry and the Memorial Day ceremonies.
However, Miller said there was not a lot of activity in that section of the park.
Deaton said Eisenhower Park was not her first choice, but she wanted to honor the work of the committee.
Based on Ingram’s advice, council voted unanimously to have staff work with the Memorial Committee.
