1 STAFF REPORT
DATE: October 17, 2023
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
FROM: Judie Wilke, Assistant City Manager
By: Viviana Garzon, MPA, Senior Administrative Analyst
SUBJECT: Consideration of the Installation of an Armenian Genocide Memorial in the City of Burbank
RECOMMENDATION
The City Council could:
1) N ote and file the report, or
2) D irect staff to return with a second step staff report on a potential Armenian Genocide Memorial in the City of Burbank , with a broader and more comprehensive project outline.
BACKGROUND
At the September 27, 2022, City Council meeting, then Council Member S pringer requested a first step staff report on the installation of the Armenian Genocide Memorial in the City of Burbank. While Council Member Springer is no longer serving on the Council, staff is presenting this request as it was originally proposed by the Burbank Chapter of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and remains a project of ongoing interest for the organization.
DISCUSSION
To further explore this request, staff engaged in discussions with Sarkis Simonian, the Chair of the ANCA. Mr. Simonian emphasized that the objective behind this request is to install a memorial in front of Burbank City Hall, which serves as the annual gathering place for the Armenian community to commemorate Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day on April 24th. He expressed ANCA’s intention for the memorial to be complement the CITY MANAGER’S
OFFICE
2 historical City Hall building and made a firm commitment that ANCA would bear the majority of the expensed associated with the memorial.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This activity has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and as such, is not a “project” subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 14 Cal. Code Regs § 15378.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this first step report.
CONCLUSION
As part of the one- step, two-step process, Council Member S pringer initially requested the opportunity for Council to consider the installation of an Armenian Genocide Memorial.
Should the Council be interested in further exploring this request, staff should be directed to return with a second step report . This report should encompass comprehensive information, including details on the suggested location, estimated cost, materials to be used, artistic features, dimensions, arrangements for perpetual maintenance, as well as the financial commitment from the ANCA.
ATTACHMENT
None.