10B
Date: April 22, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: John La Rock, Community Services Director
Shant Megerdichian, General Services Director
By: Krystle Covarrubias, Senior Business Manager | [email protected] Subject: Community Services and General Services – Approve Schematic Design for World War II Camp Wall Monument Project at Columbia Park, Approve Project Inclusion in 2025 State Legislative Advocacy Priority Projects, Provide Direction on Grant Extension and Funding Request, and Authorize Staff to Proceed with Construction Documents. Expenditure: None.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation of the Community Services Director and General Services Director that City Council:
1) Approve schematic design prepared by Chee Salette for the World War II Camp Wall Monument project at Columbia Park; and
2) Approve the project to be included in the 2025 State Legislative Advocacy Priority Projects; and
3) Provide direction on request for extension of Grant Agreement #GF2126-0 with the California Natural Resources Agency through December 31, 2026; and 4) Provide direction on the project’s funding shortfall; and 5) Authorize staff to proceed with the preparation of construction plans and specifications.
FUNDING
None required.
DISCUSSION
On July 16, 2021, Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi secured a $5,000,000 grant allocation through State of California (State) Senate Bill No. 170 for the development of a World War II Japanese American incarceration memorial project (WWII Monument Project) in the City of Torrance (City).
Funded by the California Natural Resources Agency, the purpose of the WWII Monument Project is to educate the public on the history and impact of the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans without due process during World War II. At the meeting on April 25, 2023, City Council directed staff to accept the $5,000,000 grant from the State of California and approved Columbia Park as the designated site for the WWII Monument Project.
Subsequently, on January 23, 2024, City Council approved Grant Agreement #GF2126-0 with the California Natural Resources Agency. The grant stipulates that at least $4,000,000 of the grant 1 ATTACHMENT 1
City Council
April 22, 2025
funds are to be restricted to costs related to the design, planning, development, construction, and materials for the WWII Monument Project; $1,000,000 can be used for supporting infrastructure, including but not limited to lighting, walkways, parking lot upgrades, and restroom facilities. The grant also stipulates that the City consult with a five-member advisory committee. The members of the advisory committee members have since been appointed by the Speaker of the State Assembly, the President pro Tempore of the State Senate, and the Torrance City Council, and have met on a weekly basis.
On December 17, 2024, City Council awarded a consulting services agreement to Chee Salette of Glendale, CA, to provide design and construction administration services for the WWII Monument Project. City staff have consulted with the advisory committee to collaboratively develop a schematic design with Chee Salette that appropriately reflects the historical significance of this period while creating an impactful space for reflection and education. The grant agreement also requires that the City provide a revised detailed project budget, project scope, and detailed site plan for the State’s review and approval. As such, approval of schematic design is a critical milestone in advancing the WWII Monument Project towards construction.
The advisory committee, Chee Salette, and staff have partnered with The Irei: National Monument for the WWII Japanese American Incarceration Project (Irei Project) for procurement of the names to be included in the WWII Monument Project. The Irei Project is a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to memorializing the names of over 125,000 persons of Japanese ancestry who were forcibly incarcerated in wartime camps across the United States during World War II. Staff continue to coordinate efforts between the advisory committee and Irei Project to finalize the dataset of names which will confirm the details of the project design.
Given the specialized nature of the WWII Monument Project, and sensitivity surrounding the accuracy of the names to be procured by the Irei Project, additional funding and time will be necessary to ensure the WWII Monument Project’s success. Based on the revised project scope, and after accounting for necessary contingency factors, the cost estimate to fully realize the vision of the WWII Monument Project has been revised to $9.99 million, leaving a funding shortfall of $4.99 million. In light of this new information, staff is seeking approval from Your Honorable Body to include the WWII Monument Project in the 2025 State Legislative Advocacy Priority Projects to facilitate a formal funding request to the State for an additional $4.99 million.
Currently, the performance period for construction of the WWII Monument Project is through March 1, 2026. To support the full implementation of the WWII Monument Project, staff also seeks direction from Your Honorable Body to request a grant term extension through December 31, 2026, to allow adequate time for the Irei Project to provide the dataset of names. This term extension will also provide adequate time for Chee Salette to complete the design development phase and preparation of plans and specifications for construction of the WWII Monument Project.
Should Your Honorable Body provide direction to proceed, staff will coordinate with the California Natural Resources Agency to submit the necessary documentation for both the funding and extension requests and will return to City Council with updates. If the State does not approve the City’s request for additional grant funding, staff will explore alternative funding strategies to address the anticipated shortfall. Potential options include pursuing additional grant opportunities through federal, state, and regional sources, public-private partnerships, or allocating General Fund resources in the upcoming fiscal year 2025-26 budget cycle. Any proposed funding solutions or budget adjustments will be brought back to City Council for further consideration and approval. 2 ATTACHMENT 1
City Council
April 22, 2025
Lastly, staff requests that Your Honorable Body provide authorization to proceed with the preparation of construction plans and specifications, as approval of these documents is a condition precedent to the State’s obligation to make any construction funding available pursuant to the existing grant agreement.
In conclusion, it is the recommendation of the Community Services Director and General Services Director that City Council:
1) Approve schematic design prepared by Chee Salette for the World War II Camp Wall Monument project at Columbia Park; and
2) Approve the project to be included in the 2025 State Legislative Advocacy Priority Projects; and
3) Provide direction on request for extension of Grant Agreement #GF2126-0 with the California Natural Resources Agency through December 31, 2026; and 4) Provide direction on the project’s funding shortfall; and 5) Authorize staff to proceed with the preparation of construction plans and specifications.
ATTACHMENT
1. Schematic Design for WWII Camp Wall Monument prepared by Chee Salette (MATERIALS AVAILABLE)
3 ATTACHMENT 1
WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT
Design Progress
04.22.2025
CHEE SALETTE
ATTACHMENT 1
WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE
HISTORICAL IMAGERY
WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE
MANZANAR
JEROME
TULE LAKE
GILA RIVER
MINIDOKA
POSTON
HEART MOUNTAIN
ROHWER
TOPAZ
GRANADA
10 CAMPS
WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE Font Size: 3/8”
Letters Painted
Black granite
Not pure black
REFERENCE PROJECTS
THE KOREA WAR MEMORIAL, DC
WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE Wall height varies,
4’ Cobble Stone Paving, 4’ Pathway
Height of Wall Towards Vertex : 10’
Black granite
Not pure black
THE VIETNAM MEMORIAL, DC
Font Size: 7/16”
WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE THE 911 MEMORIAL, NY
WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE KAHNOP • TO TELL A STORY, UCSD
ARTWORK BY ANN HAMILTON
WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE
SITE CONCEPT
10 LINES, 10 CAMPS
TIMELINE
HISTORY
HISTORY
HISTORY
HISTORY
HISTORY
HILLTOP
FOREST
FOREST
WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE
SITE AERIAL
PRARIE AVENUE
W. 190TH STREET
WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE
SITE PLAN
PRARIE AVENUE
W. 190TH STREET
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WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE
MONUMENT PLAN
PRARIE AVENUE
OVERLOOK
FOREST
FOREST
FOREST
SEATING
BOULDERS
DISPLAY
PANELS
MONUMENT ENTRY
PLAZA
SLOPED LAWN
CHEE SALETTE
WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE
AERIAL VIEW
PRARIE AVENUE
CHEE SALETTE
WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE
WALL DETAILS
WALL HEIGHT AND PROPORTIONS
WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE
WALL DETAILS
TYPOGRAPHY
Font : ZEN MARU GOTHIC
Vertical Format
Font Size: 1/2”
Wall Panel : 4’x9’
WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE
WALL MATERIALS
POLISHED BLACK
GRANITE
MATTE BLACK
GRANITE
WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE VIEW FROM PRARIE AVENUE & 190TH ST
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WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE
VIEW FROM PRARIE AVENUE
CHEE SALETTE
WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE
VIEW FROM PRARIE AVENUE
CHEE SALETTE
WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE
VIEW FROM THE PARKING
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WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE
VIEW FROM THE PARK
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WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE
MONUMENT ENTRY
CHEE SALETTE
WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE
VIEW IN THE MONUMENT
CHEE SALETTE
WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE
VIEW IN THE MONUMENT
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WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE
WALL LAYERING
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WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE
VIEW IN THE MONUMENT
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WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE
AERIAL VIEW FROM THE OVERLOOK
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WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE
NIGHT VIEW FROM THE PLAZA
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WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE
NIGHT VIEW IN THE MONUMENT
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WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE
NIGHT VIEW FROM THE PARK
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WWII INCARCERATION CAMP MONUMENT - 04.22.2025 CHEE SALETTE
NIGHT VIEW AT THE ENTRY
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