PLACERVILLE . INFO

Ordinance clarifying rules for veterans memorial is up for board's final OK.

By Cathy Locke - Bee Staff Writer -- Officials and veterans groups have endorsed a proposed ordinance governing use of the El Dorado County Veterans Memorial Monument.

The county Board of Supervisors gave preliminary approval to the ordinance last week and reviewed proposed criteria for military and civilian recognition in the monument, which was completed in November on county-owned property off Ray Lawyer Drive in Placerville, overlooking Highway 50.

The ordinance, scheduled for board adoption Tuesday, states that the monument is to honor the nation's veterans and "to provide a place for individuals to engage in quiet contemplation, reflection, meditation and consideration of the veterans and their service."

To that end, organized activities at the monument will be limited to two commemorative ceremonies sponsored by the Friends of the Veterans Monument on Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

Laura Gill, county chief administrative officer, said the ordinance restricts the use of the monument to preserve it as a non-public forum.

The site is to be used for honor and remembrance, and not as a forum for political speech.

Financed with a combination of county funds and private donations, the monument features a 114-foot-long wall, a plaza and a walk and circle of honor lined with commemorative bricks.

The ordinance and criteria for recognition are intended to resolve a dispute that erupted in January when the Board of Supervisors took exception to a proposal by the Friends of The Veterans Monument to manage and oversee activities at the site. Because it is on county land and was paid for in part with county funds, supervisors argued that the monument comes under their authority. They specifically cited liability concerns.

"What's important is we took on a duty when we were sworn into office to administer the county and its land," Supervisor Jack Sweeney said last week. "We can't abdicate that for anybody. I think these two documents, for the most part, meet everybody's requirements."

Allen Amaro, commander of the local chapter of Disabled American Veterans, thanked Gill and county staff members for their work in resolving issues regarding the monument's use and management.

"These criteria set a good tone for what should happen at the memorial to honor those who have served, and do it in a very quiet and discreet way," he said.

Amaro said he would like to see the documents widely circulated so people could scrutinize them before they come to the board for adoption Sept. 11.

But, he said, "I think we're on the same page, really."

Supervisor Ron Briggs sought to clarify the proposed ordinance's prohibition of "political" speech. The ordinance states that speeches and presentations to be included in the organized events must be reviewed by the county chief administrative officer or designee, who "shall not discriminate on the basis of the speaker's viewpoint."

County Counsel Louis Green said the county may control the type of speech, but "we cannot discriminate as long as it does not get into being political."

Briggs said, "The speech would be of remembrance and recognition of those who are fallen and those who are serving."

County officials and veterans' representatives also agreed to designate two separate areas for different types of recognition. Recognition of veterans through military honoraria will be located in the monument plaza, while civilian expressions of support or recognition of veterans will be placed in areas adjacent to the plaza.

The monument will be maintained by the county General Services Department, and any proposed modification to the site will be reviewed by a committee representing veterans' groups in the county.

Any disputes regarding the site and its use would be resolved by the Board of Supervisors.

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Published 12:00 am PDT Thursday, September 6, 2007
Story appeared in El DORADO FOLSOM RANCHO CORDO section, Page G1

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