City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: JUNE 16, 2026 FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WARDS: WARD 1
SUBJECT: ACCEPTANCE OF A PUBLIC ART DONATION VALUED IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $300 AND LOCATED ON MAIN STREET NORTH OF TENTH STREET
ISSUES:
Accept the donation of public art valued in the total amount of $300 and located on Main Street north of Tenth Street.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Authorize the acceptance of a “Peace Pole” from the Riverside East Rotary Club to be installed on Main Street, valued in the amount of $300.
BACKGROUND:
The Riverside East Rotary Club approached the City with a proposal to donate a Peace Pole to be installed along Main Street in Downtown. The Rotary Club is committed to promoting peacebuilding, and a common means for Rotary Club chapters nationwide to engage in this mission is to encourage and facilitate the installation of Peace Poles in their community. A Peace Pole has wording in various languages on each of its faces reading, “May Peace Prevail on Earth.” Installation of a Peace Pole is intended to provoke reflection and inspire harmony.
DISCUSSION:
In consideration of potential locations for a Peace Pole, the garden facing the Riverside Military Wall of Honor and Veterans Plaza was selected as the ideal position. The pole would stand approximately 5’ tall as visualized in Figure 1. The Military Wall of Honor serves as a register for Riversiders – City and County – who lost their lives while on active duty. The site was rededicated in May of 2022. A monolith installed at the site during its renovation reads, “Freedoms and liberties enjoyed today, symbolized by the towering American flag and POW/MIA flag, are owed to the brave men and women who gave all.” The site honors service members from Riverside as far back as World War I.
From the proposed Peace Pole location, Mt. Rubidoux is visible, which is home to the Peace Tower and Friendship Bridge. The Tower celebrates Frank Miller’s commitment to world peace. The Peace Tower bears insignias of the allied nations from World War I and was initially planted with a Japanese garden due to the substantial contribution of the Riverside Japanese Association towards the Tower. Fittingly, the proposed Peace Pole site at the Military Wall of Honor is also near the Japanese Stone Lantern from Riverside’s sister city, Sendai.
The proposed Peace Pole’s message and location are fitting and consistent with nearby installations. Placement near the Military Wall of Honor deepens the opportunity for visitors to consider the cost of our freedoms and carry forward the messages of gratitude and hope inscribed on the various monuments at this site.
Figure 1: Conceptual Rendering of Peace Pole Installed
In Garden Along 10th Street at Main Street
The Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director concurs with this report.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of the donation is approximately $300. The City’s Public Works Downtown custodial team would install and conduct light maintenance of the peace pole with costs expected to be negligible. Any substantial damage or defacement may require replacement by the Rotary Club.
Prepared by: Nathan Mustafa, Public Works Director
Certified as to
Availability of funds: Julie Nemes, Interim Finance Director Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Rebecca McKee-Reimbold, Interim City Attorney Rotary Club Peace Pole Donation ● Page 2