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Citrus Heights Messenger

Funding for Vietnam Veteran Memorial Replica Announced

Nov 16, 2022 12:00AM ● By Story by Shaunna Boyd

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - At the November 10 Citrus Heights City Council meeting, there were public comments for Item 13 of the Consent Calendar–the second reading of the proposed Sunrise MarketPlace Overlay District, which will prohibit certain types of new vehicle-centric businesses within the overlay area.

Phil Jarrett, owner of the site of the former China Buffet restaurant, spoke to oppose the passage of the overlay, since its adoption will derail his plan to renovate the property into a new car wash location for Waterfly Car Wash: “If the overlay passes, it will affect my family’s lives. Preventing us from building a car wash will cause my family financial hardship because we do not know when we’ll be able to lease the property.”

“I’m not even sure if this is legal,” Jarrett said. “How can the City take away rights of one property owner and not all the property owners? Does this violate uniformity requirements under the fifth amendment when it talks about property? ‘Taking’ can also occur when the government restricts the economic use of a property. This is a civil rights violation.”

Jarrett suggested that a car wash would be a good fit for the location since most car washes in Citrus Heights are built mid-block and near residential, retail, or restaurants as this would be. Jarrett said, “We’re not a gas station. I don’t believe we fit into what the overlay is trying to accomplish.” He asked Council to make “the fair choice” and either oppose the overlay, grant his business an exemption, or remove car washes from the overlay’s list of prohibited businesses.

Local resident Rick Hodgkins also commented on this item, stating that he would like to see the location remain a restaurant: “We need more restaurants.”

Councilmember Bret Daniels said, “It’s still heavy in my heart. … I hope that our City can do everything possible to make this property whole. … Whatever we can do needs to be done, because we are preventing somebody from doing something with their property that is legal to do but does not fit within what we want as our view of how we want this area to be.” He strongly suggested the City find ways to financially support this property owner.

Councilmember Jeannie Bruins agreed, stating that she believes the City has “actions in progress” regarding that assistance.

The Consent Calendar passed unanimously, including the Overlay District.

The Council also considered a History and Arts Grant Program application for ‘The Wall That Heals,’ which honors veterans who lost their lives in service to our country in the Vietnam War.

The History and Arts Grant Program was established by Council in 2017 to provide funding opportunities for historical preservation and arts promotion. Applications are accepted throughout the fiscal year, and eligible applicants include Citrus Heights residents, business owners, schools, and nonprofits. There is an annual allocation of $20,000, and funds do not roll over year to year.  Requests under $5,000 are approved by the city manager, and any larger requests come before Council. There is a maximum allocation of $10,000 per project.

The ‘Wall That Heals’ is a replica of the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington D.C. and an accompanying education center, which has been displayed in nearly 700 communities across the country. Paul Reyes of American Legion Post 637 applied for $10,000 to bring the traveling memorial to Citrus Heights. It would be set up in Rusch Park in March 2023 for one week and would be free for community members to view. The total cost to bring this to Citrus Heights is $18,600, and the remaining funds will be gathered from donations from the public, local military associations, and the Citrus Heights Rotary.

Ray Riehle spoke of the importance of bringing the traveling memorial to Citrus Heights, stating that it has been 40 years since the memorial in Washington DC was dedicated to those soldiers who lost their lives in the Vietnam War. He said that the military has always been a big part of the community in Citrus Heights, with military planes frequently flying overhead from the nearby McClellan Air Force Base.

“Bringing ‘The Wall That Heals’ to Citrus Heights this spring will show our support for our veterans,” said Riehle, especially as the wall has the names of eight soldiers who were Citrus Heights residents: Jerry Bobbitt, Daniel Fowler, Stephen Fry, Donald Glass, Larrie Gotcher, Charles James, and Richard Willett.

Riehle said, “I think it will bring healing and offer something very special to members of our community.”

Kermit Schayltz gave his perspective on what the wall means to Vietnam vets: He visited ‘The Wall That Heals’ when it was set up in Mather, and he said that experience gave him the courage to finally visit the real one in Washington DC decades after his service in Vietnam. He said that “war is hell” is the “perfect description. … I know what these men have gone through. … The real heroes are the ones on the wall.” He said those who survived carry that guilt, and the wall helped relieve that guilt and “bury a lot of ghosts.” So, it would mean a lot to him and other veterans in the community to have this memorial come here.

Although Vice Mayor Tim Schaefer was absent from the meeting, he submitted a comment in support of this project, stating that without those veterans who served “in defense of our great nation, it would not be the great nation that it is today.”

Councilmember Daniels supported the project and said it would be “a privilege” to have this memorial come to Citrus Heights.

Councilmember Steve Miller said when you see that wall, “it just hits you like a ton of bricks.”

Councilmember Bruins said that her brother served in Vietnam, and she was so thankful that he came home, but she knows his name could have ended up on the wall. She said that seeing the wall is a very emotional experience, and she expressed her gratitude to all who have served.

The Council voted unanimously to approve the grant of $10,000 to bring ‘The Wall That Heals’ to Citrus Heights next year.