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Consideration of approval of an agreement between the City and the City of Wauwatosa VFW Post 1465 for the Construction of a Veterans Memorial located on City-owned land at Harwood and Milwaukee Avenues
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Submitted by:
David Simpson, Director of Public Works
Department
Department of Public Works
A. Issue
Representatives from Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Posts 1465, 6498 and 8320 have been working with the City to find a location to construct a Veterans Memorial in Wauwatosa following an extensive fundraising campaign by the group. Approval of an agreement to construct the Memorial on City owned property is needed to move the project forward.
B. Background/Options
Representatives from VFW Posts 1465, 6498 and 8320 formed a Committee to design, fundraise, and construct a Wauwatosa Veterans Memorial, originally intended to be located at Hart Park. Following the historic flooding in August of 2025 the decision was made to look for sites outside of the floodway to prevent future damage to the Memorial as well as reduce costs and time related to regulatory approvals that would be needed to place a memorial in Hart Park.
After exploring many sites the veterans group has decided that the City owned property at the western corner of Harwood Avenue and Milwaukee Avenue would be a good fit for the proposed Memorial. This triangular shaped property is the location of Wauwatosa’s first public library which operated from 1896 until 1957 when it was replaced by the City’s current library. Currently, the site is City owned green space, however, not currenty designated as a City park.
In order for the veterans group to proceed with this project the City’s Common Council would first need to approve an agreement for the construction and dedication of the Memorial. A draft of such an agreement is attached as well as the most recent draft plans that the group has supplied to the Design Review Board. In the plans you will see the proposed site plan, landscape plan, various details, as well as the Memorial itself, which is shown on the upper left corner of Sheet SD1.5. Given that the proposed Memorial site includes pergolas, which are considered a structure, the Memorial was required to obtain Design Review Board approval, which was granted on May 7th. Also, given that the pergolas are located within the street setback, as well as into the right-of-way, approval from the Board of Zoning Appeals is needed.
Approval of the attached agreement will delegate responsibilities to the veterans group to fund and construct the entire project and once completed to the City’s satisfaction, it would be dedicated to the City of Wauwatosa for ownership and maintenance. The only ongoing veterans group responsibility will be to provide flag replacements at least annually that City staff will raise. City maintenance obligations will include all maintenance similar to other City owned facilities such as litter pick up, landscape maintenance and replacement, vandalism removal, and flag lowering for half staff orders. The City will also be required to fund future large-scale projects such as pergola replacement.
C. Strategic Plan (Area of Focus)
Quality of Life
D. Fiscal Impact
Construction costs for the Memorial are being paid for by the veterans groups. The agreement, as drafted, conveys ownership and all maintenance costs onto the City upon completion of construction, other than flags, which will continue to be provided annually by the veterans group through a Friends Group they plan to form.
E. Recommendation
Approval of the attached Agreement between the City of Wauwatosa and City of Wauwatosa VFW Post 1465 for construction and dedication of a Veterans Memorial