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RIO COMMUNITIES—Despite the objection of two city councilors, the city of Rio Communities is moving forward with construction of a new Veterans Memorial.
The governing body voted 3-2 last week to approve spending $150,000 in capital outlay funding for the first phase of a Veterans Memorial to be built south of Rio Communities City Hall. Councilors Art Apodaca and Lawrence Gordon voted in favor of starting the project, while Councilors Tom Nelson and Matthew Marquez voted against it.
Rio Communities Mayor Joshua Ramsell broke the tie, voting in favor of moving the project forward.
Several weeks ago, Pland Collaborative, an architectural firm, presented its plan to the council, including various options, such as splitting the project into two phases. Rio Communities City Manager Martin Moore told the council the cost estimate for phase one is $142,718, and recommended the council approve $150,000 to help with possible contingencies for phase one.
Apodaca, who heads up the city’s veterans committee, said he, Marquez and two other local veterans, Bobby Caldwell and Dick Irvine, have all agreed to proceed with phase one.
“I know there has been some concerns ... regarding the location. The reason why we picked this location, and we’ve looked at other locations, and it’s cost prohibitive at this time,” Apodaca said. “We had to look at paving and parking, some kind of shelter.”
Apodaca, who is a veteran, said the location the committee chose, the area just south of city hall, was because there is meeting space and a space where people could go if inclement weather arises. The councilor explained there will be a privacy barrier made of shrubs between the memorial and the building to the south.
“There will be flags placed, shrubbery for privacy, an oval walkway where we can place chairs for veterans celebrations,” Apodaca said. “I feel this is going to be a really positive step for the city moving forward.”
Nelson, who is also a veteran, said he is “totally against where it’s at. This is a blatant waste of money to not put it in a park, where we can put a veterans memorial in.”
Nelson said with the council first began talking about a veterans memorial, they weren’t looking at doing anything extravagant. He questioned if the city should put trees along someone else’s property.
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“For me, I’m totally against it, and it’s wasting taxpayers’ money,” the councilor said. “Once we get a suitable park, we could move it there.”
Marquez, who is also a veteran, said after speaking with the community and veterans questioning the location.
“When I started with this committee to put a park in Rio Communities, I wanted it in a different area rather than next to city hall,” Marquez said. “Why is the city always putting money into city hall rather than into the city?
“I think this decision needs to be postponed until after the first of January when we make the transition of our elected officials,” he said.
Apodaca told Marquez his concern is he “keeps bringing up the residents. The veterans are the residents and they are going to be able to take advantage of the park. This is worth doing.”
Marquez said he has also spoken to veterans in Rio Communities and said they told him they want the memorial in the community.
Apodaca said all the members of the committee are all veterans, and every one of them agreed to put it south of city hall.
“Now your changing your mind?” Apodaca asked Marquez. “You agreed to this location. Then we agreed to bring it in front of council.”
Marquez brought up the point that one member of the committee has been in the hospital. Apodaca said he has been in communication with that member by text message, and said he was too in agreement to recommend the location and project.
“Did I say I was changing my mind? I said I wanted to push it back after the election, after the first of the year,” said Marquez, who is running for mayor. “I want to push at after we make a transition.”
“You agreed to this location. You agreed to this,” Apodaca said. “We all agreed to move forward. You and everyone agreed to bring it to council tonight. Now you’re changing your mind.”
Marquez then asked Apodaca “show me in writing.”
Mayor Joshua Ramsell said he found it interesting that the two councilors never made objections during the presentation from Pland Collaborative in September.
“I find it odd that (an objection) comes at the very last minute ...,” said Ramsell, who is running for a second term. “Now that it’s time to formalize it, you don’t support it, which is kind of weird, but it’s a decision the council should make.”
Councilor Lawrence Gordon made the motion to approve the item, with Apodoca making a second. Nelson and Marquez voted against it, while Gordon and Apodaca voted in favor. Ramsell broke the tie vote by voting with Gordon and Apodaca.
At the end of the meeting, during council comments, Marquez suggested that since Apodaca will be leaving the council at the end of the year, he wanted to take his position as lead of the veterans committee as well as a spot on the Greater Valencia County Chamber of Commerce before the Apodaca’s term runs out.
