CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
                  CITY COUNCIL AGENDA



  Agenda Date:         December 5, 2022

  Action Required:     Approve Resolution

  Presenter:           Lisa Robertson, City Attorney

  Staff Contacts:      Samuel Sanders, Jr., Deputy City Manager

  Title:               Expressing support for a Capital Project to establish Handicapped
                       Access to the Charlottesville Dogwood Vietnam Memorial (1 reading)


Background
The Dogwood Vietnam Memorial was the first civic/ public memorial in the United States to be
dedicated to those who served and sacrificed their lives in service to their country in the war in
Vietnam. The idea for the memorial was presented by members of the City's Dogwood Festival, in
the mid-1960s. A site was selected within McIntire Park (a knoll close to the U.S. 250 Bypass) and
the memorial was constructed on City property, without any funding from the City government. The
purpose of the memorial, which was first formally dedicated on April 20, 1966, was stated as follows:
"The Dogwood Memorial dedicated to the lasting memory of these men and all who served our
country in Vietnam." The 50th year anniversary of the memorial occurred in April 2016, and over 750 people
attended a rededication ceremony.

More recently, when the City decided to construct the John Warner Parkway, the Dogwood Memorial
was resituated as part of that project. (It is not clear, based on public records, why handicapped
accessibility was not addressed during the Parkway Project). The memorial was reoriented by 180
degrees and individual plaques were added for each veteran killed during the Vietnam War.

Discussion
Years ago, the Memorial was able to be constructed without the use of any public funding; all the City
government needed to do was allow the Memorial to be placed on City-owned public park
land. Today, however, it is acknowledged that a project to construct a surface parking lot, as well as
a pedestrian bridge over the John Warner Parkway, is most likely a project having a scope, level of
risk, and cost that would require some amount of involvement by the City government, both fiscal and
otherwise. That being the case: when City Council wishes to "partner" with private entities, including
non-profit entities, to accomplish particular types of public improvement projects, especially
infrastructure, some type of competitive process may be required, either under the Virginia Public
Procurement Act, or the Virginia Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002.

The City Manager's Office recommends that City Council should continue to explore its options as to
how to select and commence a competitive process by which a project to establish a new surface
parking lot, and a handicapped accessible pedestrian walkway from the parking lot to the Memorial,
can be officially scoped out and added to the City's Capital Improvements Program, to be funded by
private as well as state or local funding. At this time the Veterans' Foundation has been discussing
with Senator Deeds the potential for state funding for establishment of handicapped accessibility to
the Memorial. Senator Deeds has expressed the need for City Council to adopt a Resolution
communicating its commitment to the project.

Alignment with City Council's Vision and Strategic Plan
Yes. This Project would serve City Council's vision(s) to be flexible and progressive in anticipating
and responding to the needs of its citizens and to be a united community that treasures diversity.

Community Engagement
Since at least 2019 the issue of handicapped accessibility to the Dogwood Vietnam Memorial has
been discussed at the Council level, including within a working group established by City Council

Budgetary Impact
None at present. It is anticipated that the ballpark cost of the needed improvements is $2.5 million,
at least some of which would be funded by private donations, and some by public (either state or
local) funding.

Recommendation
Approval. Suggested motion:
"I move the RESOLUTION expressing support for a Capital Project to establish Handicapped
Access to the Charlottesville Dogwood Vietnam Memorial."

Alternatives
N/A

Attachments
1.   Resolution 12 5 2022_DVVM