City of Santa Clarita
POLICY/PROCEDURE
Number II-34.21 SUBJECT: VETERANS HISTORICAL PLAZA
SPECIAL USE POLICY
ORIGINAL ISSUE: EFFECTIVE: 02/22/2011 CATEGORY: ADMINISTRATION CURRENT ISSUE: EFFECTIVE:
10/1311/20202 SUPERSEDES: II-34.1
RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENT: RECREATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICESECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
STANDARD MANAGEMENT PROCEDURE
I. PURPOSE
The City of Santa Clarita (City) encourages and promotes community use of the Veterans Historical Plaza (Plaza) without regard to race, gender, age, national origin, color, creed, disability, sexual orientation, or impairment. This document sets forth the procedure for operation and use of the Veterans Historical Plaza. The Plaza was designed as a respectful and serene place dedicated for the reflection and remembrance by individuals and the community to commemorate the service and sacrifice of United States Veterans.
II. POLICY
A. Use of Area
The Plaza is intended to be used for small events and events of a short duration due to a lack of adequate parking space and a lack of restroom facilities. However, an exception will be considered when the Plaza is used in conjunction with a larger, permitted community event.
All events should keep to the overall intention/design of the Plaza.
The standard or national recognized military memorial holidays, as identified in the National Recognized Military Holidays section of this policy, will have priority over all other pending or submitted events.
Users/Patrons who wish to hold an event should refer to the City’s Special Event Permit Application. The user is responsible for the costs of any required permits. All Special Event Permit Applications are subject to review by the Director of Recreation and Community ServicesEconomic Development (Director) to ensure that the event is keeping with the intent and size constraints of the Plaza.
In order to preserve the ambiance of the Plaza, the use of sound-amplification equipment shall not be permitted/allowed due to size constraints and the location of the Plaza, unless otherwise authorized by the Director. The City reserves the right to include additional conditions to ensure public safety and protection of property.
III. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES
A. Plants and Decorations
Fresh flowers or other tributes may be placed on the Plaza grounds and will be removed either on a weekly basis or as flowers become unsightly. Adornments that are not consistent with the image of the Plaza and/or can cause personal injury shall not be allowed. • No pottery, crockery, tin, glass, or ceramic decorations or containers shall be allowed; • No unauthorized private planting of any kind shall be permitted; • No unauthorized permanent structures such as statues, vigil lights, and/or breakable objects are permitted on the Plaza grounds; and
• No open flames of any kind will be allowed on the Plaza grounds.
Due to maintenance issues, miniature flags are not allowed on the grounds other than on days that recognize national military holidays, which are identified in the National Recognized Military Holidays section of this policy.
Unauthorized decorations and/or commemorative items will be removed and disposed of by City Parks Maintenance staff immediately, as the presence of these tributes interferes with ground maintenance operations. The Director must authorize any exception to this section.
B. Improvements and Modifications
Any request to modify or improve the Plaza shall be submitted for review by the City via an application outlining the requested modifications. Applications shall first be reviewed by SCV Veterans Memorial, Inc. Comments by SCV Veterans Memorial, Inc. will be submitted along with staff recommendations to the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission.
The Commission will then consider the request and make a recommendation to City Council for consideration. The type and location of any physical improvements shall be in accordance with the Veterans Historical Plaza Master Plan.
C. Specific Art Elements
Story Stations:
The intent of the commemorative Story Stations are for educational purposes relating to significant wars, conflicts, or historical events in the United States.
All future and/or current Story Stations are reserved for nationally recognized, United States historic wartime events only, or as authorized by the Director, and must be approved through the same process as outlined in Section III-B of this policy.
Commemorative Bricks:
To order Commemorative Bricks, a Santa Clarita Veterans Historical Plaza Brick Order Form shall be completed and submitted to the City. Guidelines for approving appropriate inscriptions on bricks have been previously approved and implemented via the Veterans Historical Plaza Brick Installation Procedures. Upon approval of the Commemorative Brick order, installation will proceed, as space allows, during the week before both Memorial Day and Veterans Day, or as otherwise determined by the Director.
Donations for Commemorative Bricks shall be made to the City of Santa Clarita. Funds for such bricks will be held in a trust account for future improvements to the Plaza that will be made following the approval process outlined in Section III-B of this policy.
D. Special Donation Procedures
Commemorative Donation Program:
The City will consider Commemorative Donations for the Plaza. Donors shall contact the Recreation and Community Servicese Economic Development Department about available alternatives.
Monetary:
Contributions that are not tied to a physical item or donation are accepted by the City and will be held in a trust account for Veterans Historical Plaza.
Fountains:
The City’s Parks Maintenance staff will occasionally gather coins from the Plaza’s fountains.
Coins and other monetary donations not tied to a physical item will be deposited into an account that is allocated towards the maintenance and preservation of the Plaza.
E. National Recognized Military Holidays
The following commemorative dates may be reserved for specific City and/or community sponsored functions pertaining to United States Veterans affairs or National Recognized Military Holidays. The following dates will have priority over all other pending or submitted events at the City of Santa Clarita.
Holiday Date
Peace Officer Memorial Day May 15
Armed Forces Day Third Saturday in May
Memorial Day Last Monday in May
Victory in Europe Day May 8
Independence Day July 4
Korean War Veterans Day July 27
Labor Day First Monday in September
V-J Day September 2
Patriots Day September 11
Holiday (Cont.) Date
Air Force Day September 17
POW/MIA Recognition Day September 21
Navy Day October 2
Holiday (Cont.) Date
Marine Corps Day November 10
Veterans Day November 11
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day December 7
IV. DENIAL OF USE
Denial of use of the Plaza can be made by the City on the basis of the following reasons:
1. The event is not in keeping with the overall design/intent of the Plaza.
2. The Plaza has been reserved for other use during the day and hour requested in the application.
3. The Plaza is incapable of accommodating the proposed activity for the number of participants involved given the size constraint of the Plaza.
4. Adequate parking facilities are not available to accommodate the proposed activity or event.
5. Adequate sanitary or restroom facilities do not exist and are not available to accommodate the proposed activity or event.
6. The applicant has failed to comply with all the conditions required for the activity, or with the facility usage policies, procedures, and/or regulations.
7. The nature of the activity may endanger the participants, facility, equipment, or staff.
8. The proposed use or activity is prohibited by law, by this policy or City ordinance, or by any regulations of the City.
9. Or, based on any substantive reason(s), as deemed by the City.
V. AMENDMENTS TO THIS POLICY
This policy may be amended by the following procedure. Draft amendments shall be submitted in writing for consideration by the City. SCV Veterans Memorial, Inc. shall first review draft amendments. Any comments by SCV Veterans Memorial, Inc., plus any further staff recommendations, will be taken to the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission. The Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission will then consider the policy amendment and make a recommendation to City Council for consideration.
VI. EXCEPTIONS
There are no exceptions to this Policy without the express authorization of the City Manager.
VII. AUTHORITY
By the authority of the City Council.
Cameron SmythLaurene Weste
Mayor