REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Travis Hopkins, City Manager
VIA: Ashley Wysocki, Director of Community & Library Services
PREPARED BY: Ashley Wysocki, Director of Community & Library Services
Subject:
title
Approval of Design and Language for the America 250 Plaque at Pier Plaza
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Statement of Issue:
There is a need for City Council to approve the plaque design and language for the America 250 plaque at Pier Plaza as reviewed by the City Council at their September 1, 2026, meeting.
Financial Impact:
Design, production and installation of the plaque is expected not to exceed $15,000.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Approve the proposed design and inscription for the America 250 Celebration plaque at the Pier Plaza Memorial.
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve recommended action and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
At the July 21, 2026, meeting, City Council approved Councilmember Item 26-638, setting aside Resolution No. 2017-25 and directed staff to create an engraving template memorializing the Huntington Beach America Semiquincentennial celebration for one of the black granite panels located at the Pier Plaza monument, with a final draft brought back to City Council for consideration at the August 18, 2026, meeting. Staff were also directed to collect input from the Historic Resources Board and the Community & Library Services Commission.
Working with Mayor McKeon and Councilmembers Burns and Kennedy (Attachment 1), the proposed plaque is 24” x 36” and includes the following:
• Huntington Beach America 250 Logo
• Placeholder for a Commemoration Date
• “Huntington Beach celebrates America’s 250th Birthday as a patriotic city, proudly honoring and thanking all those who served our great nation, who remind us that freedom is not free.”
• City Council and City Manager names
• Two cannons
• City Seal
On Monday, August 10, 2026, the Historic Resources Board (HRB) reviewed and provided suggested edits to the plaque (Attachment 3).
On Wednesday, August 12, 2026, the Community & Library Services Commission (Commission) reviewed and provided suggested edits to the HRB iteration of the plaque (Attachment 4).
All components of the first iteration of the plaque designed by Mayor McKeon and Councilmembers Burns and Kennedy are included in subsequent iterations. Suggested edits included relocating the cannons and City seal, adding decorative elements between City Council names and including more than one font to differentiate between the different sections of text.
At the August 18, 2026, City Council meeting, the City Council suggested edits were to add Medal of Honor recipient names (Attachment 5).
At the September 1, 2026, City Council meeting, the City Council suggested edits were to remove Medal of Honor recipient names and add America’s Veterans past, present and future forever America’s heroes (Attachment 6).
Environmental Status:
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5), administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment do not constitute a project.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Non Applicable - Administrative Item
Attachment(s):
1. City Council Item - July 21, 2026
2. Plaque Rendering (McKeon, Burns Kennedy design)
3. Plaque Rendering (Historic Resources Board edits)
4. Plaque Rendering (Community & Library Services Commission edits)
5. Plaque Rendering (City Council edits)
6. Plaque Rendering (City Council additional edits)
7. Presentation