City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MAY 7, 2014
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: RASHAD M. YOUNG, CITY MANAGER/s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Receipt of the Donation of the Alexandria Police Memorial from the Alexandria Police Foundation and Consideration of Approval of Locating the Memorial in the Plaza at Alexandria Police Department Headquarters at 3600 Wheeler Avenue.
BODY
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ISSUE: Receipt of the donation of the Alexandria Police Memorial from the Alexandria Police Foundation and consideration of approval of locating the Memorial in the plaza at Alexandria Police Department Headquarters at 3600 Wheeler Avenue.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council: 1) receive the donation of the Alexandria Police Memorial from the Alexandria Police Foundation and thank the Foundation for their fund raising efforts; and 2) approve locating the Memorial in the plaza at Alexandria Police Department Headquarters at 3600 Wheeler Avenue subject to obtaining the necessary reviews and approvals by City departments.
BACKGROUND: The Alexandria Police Foundation began its effort to raise funds for the Alexandria Police Memorial during the planning for the construction of the new Police Department headquarters, which was completed in 2011. The plan was to make a Police Memorial an integral part of the new headquarters building to honor the Alexandria Police officers who have died in the line of duty. Completing a design and raising the funds needed for constructing the memorial took longer than anticipated. In 2013, the City and the Alexandria Police Foundation agreed that the Foundation would assist with the design of the Memorial and would raise funds for design, construction and installation. Once the necessary City approvals were obtained, the City's General Services staff would oversee the construction and installation of the Memorial.
DISCUSSION: The proposed Memorial would be constructed in front of the Wheeler Avenue Police Department building adjacent to the existing entrance plaza. HDR, the architects who designed the Police Headquarters, designed the memorial. The design of the Memorial accomplishes four objectives.
1. Honor Alexandria Police officers who died in the line of duty
2. Provide an appropriate setting for ceremonial activities
3. Commemorate the history of the Alexandria Police Department
4. Recognize the contributions of public and private donors
Attachments 1 and 2 provide staff's comments and schematic drawings of the proposed Memorial. Staff review of the project would be accomplished as part of the administrative site plan review process, which would be initiated once Council acts on this proposal. (A detailed description of the design is included as Attachment 3).
We expect that construction of the Alexandria Police Memorial would begin in late spring or early summer with completion by early fall.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Alexandria Police Foundation established a maximum budget of $300,000 for the design and construction of the Alexandria Police Memorial. To date they have raised about $290,000, and they expect to meet their fund raising goal by Council's May 13 legislative meeting. In addition to receiving many cash contributions, they have negotiated with contractors and suppliers, many of whom are providing their goods and services at cost as their contribution to the Alexandria Police Memorial project.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: April 22, 2014 Memorandum from Rashad M. Young City Manager;
Attachment 2: Alexandria Police Department Memorial Sketches
Attachment 3: Design Description
STAFF:
Earl L. Cook, Police Chief
Michele R. Evans, Deputy City Manager
Alfred Coleman, Deputy Director, General Services