Place of Remembrance
Planning moved from preliminary construction-budget direction to public engagement, concept selection and refinement of the Rose Garden design. Posted minutes record support for a council-ring-only water feature; a staff report describes a fall/winter 2027 completion target. Consultant fees, preliminary construction estimates and a final construction contract must remain distinct. At the October 26 planning discussion, staff gave a conditional late-September/early-October 2027 substantial-completion estimate, and members discussed informal remembrance during the construction period.
Design and budget refinementConstruction budget direction and proposed design agreement
Budget directionThe minutes record majority support for a $2 million construction budget, use of reserve funds and a non-aggressive fundraising approach. The SWA agreement was still scheduled for January 12 review and approval. The packet’s proposed consultant fees were separate from construction costs, not a final construction price.
Woven Together favored as public feedback continued
Concept direction; engagement continuedThe Committee reviewed initial concepts for both sites, and the minutes record majority consensus for Woven Together at the Rose Garden. Staff planned further feedback from victims, next of kin and the public before a June 8 recommendation. The packet reports 179 participants across the Phase 1 survey, listening sessions and workshop; this was engagement, not a public referendum or final construction approval.
Rose Garden design and separate Port Clinton sculpture budget
Planning budgetThe September 14 staff report records June 8 support for a $2.3-$2.8 million Rose Garden budget and a $200,000 Port Clinton sculpture budget, with setting and installation additional. These were planning budgets; the report describes the underlying opinion of probable cost as an uncertain high-level projection rather than active quotes.
Completion target extended for cost review
Schedule and cost reviewStaff’s subsequent report says Council supported moving the original July 4, 2027 completion target to fall/winter 2027 to allow further value engineering. The August minutes record cost and timing concerns, a request for community and working-group feedback, and discussion of a possible July 4 anniversary event. The schedule remained a target, not a guaranteed completion date.
Council-ring water feature favored; estimates still provisional
Design direction; budget refinementThe packet listed a $3.257 million initial Rose Garden construction estimate with both water features and a $611,000 budget impact for removing the remembrance pool. The minutes record majority consensus to retain water only in the council-ring area, with maintenance concerns. Members also sought review of keeping the sundial bench in place and agreed it could be temporarily stored off site when appropriate. These were design directions and preliminary estimates, not a final construction contract.
Fifth-year remembrance and a conditional fall 2027 completion estimate
Remembrance planning; schedule still conditionalWhile planning Independence Day 2027, staff expected the Rose Garden temporary memorial to be unavailable during construction and estimated substantial completion of the permanent Place of Remembrance in late September or early October 2027, subject to construction uncertainties. Members discussed an informal flowers-and-reflection opportunity on both July 3 and 4 and a larger observance at the eventual dedication. Outreach and location details remained open; this was planning discussion, not a guaranteed opening date or final holiday schedule.
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