For City Council Meeting April 14, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Tanya Williams, City Manager
AUTHOR: Tim Sullivan, Assistant City Manager
Title
Request City Council to: (1) Approve a Veterans Monument to be Located at the Rialto Civic Center Campus; (2) Adopt Resolution No. 8494 Amending the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Budget to Appropriate $229,000 for a Veterans Monument; (3) Approve a Contract With Cold Spring Granite Company, dba Coldspring, in the Amount of $134,890 for the Production of Granite Monoliths and Associated Metal Artwork; and (4) Authorize the City Manager or Designee to Execute all Related Documents.
PRESENTATION
(ACTION)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1) Approve a Veterans Monument to be located at the Rialto Civic Center Campus;
2) Adopt a Resolution amending the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Budget to appropriate $229,000 for a Veterans Monument;
3) Approve a contract with Cold Spring Granite Company in the amount of $134,890 for the production of granite monoliths and associated metal artwork; and
4) Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all related documents.
BACKGROUND
The City of Rialto has a long-standing commitment to its veteran community, as evidenced by its annual Memorial Day celebration and various events, as well as by its construction of monuments, plaques, and memorials throughout the City.
On September 9, 2025, the City Council requested that the City Clerk schedule a meeting of the Rialto Veterans Committee, comprised of Mayor Baca, Councilmember Montoya, and City Treasurer Carrillo, to discuss the possibility of creating a new monument within the City. Working with the City Clerk’s office and the Assistant City Manager, the Committee met in late 2025 and early 2026 to discuss and finalize the monument's features and location, and ultimately produced the conceptual images included in the attached presentation.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
The Veterans Monument Project represents Rialto's commitment to honoring the service and sacrifice of military veterans from all branches and eras - past, present, and future. This prominent memorial will serve as a gathering place for community ceremonies, educational programs, and personal reflection, strengthening civic pride and healing.
The monument is proposed to be located at Rialto's Civic Center, adjacent to the Rialto Fire Department Headquarters, the Rialto Library, and the Police Station. The monument will be a focal point, creating a dignified space for Veterans Day ceremonies, Memorial Day observances, military retirements, and community remembrance events. By providing an accessible and inclusive space, Rialto will join other American cities in recognizing veterans' contributions with a prominent, permanent symbol of community respect and appreciation.
Monument Description:
The Veterans Monument Project will create a distinctive memorial featuring three primary granite monoliths arranged in a semi-triangle pattern. The monument will be situated on a circular concrete base with decorative stone paver borders, creating a platform that distinguishes the memorial space. Large semicircular benches will be integrated into the design, positioned along the monument's perimeter to provide seating for visitors, families, and ceremony participants. Concrete walkways will extend from existing sidewalks in a sunburst pattern, symbolizing hope and renewal while providing accessible paths to the monument.
The central monolith, which displays an American flag and military branch insignia representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force, will contain the dedication engraving, which reads as follows: “In solemn honor of the men and women, past, present and future, who answered the call with unwavering valor and selflessness.”
The two flanking monoliths will feature metal silhouette reliefs of service members, with strategic uplighting that casts shadows onto each monolith. The bases of the three primary monoliths will feature metal reliefs representing Prisoner of War (POW), Missing in Action (MIA), and Killed in Action (KIA) designations, ensuring comprehensive recognition of all forms of sacrifice. Each monolith will be professionally engraved with carefully selected words embodying military values, including duty, honor, country, bravery, sacrifice, and integrity.
A fourth, less prominent monolith will contain the history of Rialto veterans and their contributions to this Country, while incorporating the historic Rialto Bridge to connect local identity with military service.
Construction:
Staff is proposing the use of in-house resources, community volunteers, existing contracts, and the artistic talents of Cold Spring Granite Company (“Coldspring”) to complete the monument.
The Rialto community has expressed a desire to be included in this project, whether through monetary donations or labor. Staff proposes an initial “kick-off” of construction activities with volunteers to assist with minor excavation and trench work in preparation for the concrete, irrigation relocation and low-voltage electrical system.
The concrete walkways, pad and footings will be constructed by Hardy and Harper, Inc. through their current agreement for on-call services with the City. Hardy and Harper's contract will be amended by $80,000, within the City Manager’s approval limits, to include the cost of this activity; funding is included in the proposed budget resolution. The Resolution also includes an additional allocation of $14,100 for miscellaneous costs, including a dedication plaque, electrical and irrigation components, and stone pavers.
Preceding the above-mentioned work, Coldspring will begin crafting the monoliths and benches. City in-house labor will be used to add the finishing touches to the construction area, including the installation of lighting, irrigation, and pavers. Once the artwork is completed, installation of the monoliths will be carried out by a combination of in-house staff and contracted labor.
Staff coordinated with City Procurement and identified Coldspring as a sole-source vendor pursuant to Rialto Municipal Code § 2.48.280 due to the uniqueness of the monument and artistic elements. The sole-source documentation and proposed agreement are included as Attachment 3 and Attachment 4. The Certificate of Insurance (Attachment 5) and Conflict of Interest (Attachment 6) are also included. Coldspring possesses specialized expertise in customized design and fabrication of large-scale granite monument art systems, including precision engraving and custom metal silhouette relief artwork. The firm has direct experience with the specific design elements developed for this project and has collaborated with City staff throughout the conceptual design process, resulting in a monument design uniquely tailored to Rialto's vision.
Because of the detailed work and natural elements used in this project, Coldspring anticipates a delivery of the monument pieces in late August 2026. Based on the completion date provided by Coldspring, staff anticipates completion of the Veterans Monument by September 11, 2026.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The project is categorically exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15311, Class 11 - Accessory Structures. Section 15311 exempts the construction or placement of minor structures accessory to existing commercial, industrial, or institutional facilities. The proposed Veterans Monument constitutes a minor accessory structure appurtenant to the existing Rialto Civic Center campus, which includes institutional facilities such as City Hall, the Rialto Public Library, and Rialto Fire Department Headquarters. The monument involves no habitable space, no significant grading, and no expansion of existing land uses.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
This action is consistent with Guiding Principle 3A in the General Plan:
Our City government will lead by example, and will operate in an open, transparent, and responsive manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business.
Approval of this action also complies with the following City of Rialto General Plan Goals and Policies:
Goal 3-15: Promote a social environment in Rialto that enhances the dignity of the individual and improves the quality of life.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney's Office has reviewed the resolution and contract and approved them as to form.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS
Operating Budget Impact
There is no impact on the Operating Budget.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
Staff recommends adopting the proposed resolution to appropriate $229,000 from the Capital Improvement Projects Fund balance to Account No. 33007302-53001 for the Veterans Monument Project No. 26024.
Upon adoption of the requested budget resolution, the purchase order in the amount of $134,890 will be funded from Account No. 33007302-53001; further, an amendment to the City's current contract with Hardy and Harper, Inc. will be amended in the amount of $80,000 to fund concrete and related flatwork.
Various Rialto clubs, groups, and individuals have expressed interest in donating toward the Veterans Project. Should the City receive public donations for this project, they will be deposited into the Special Deposits Fund, Account No. 28300000-20931, to offset the City's expense for the project.
Licensing
This action does not require a business license.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Presentation
2. Budget Resolution
3. Sole-Source Coldspring Granite Company
4. Agreement - Coldspring Granite Company
5. COI
6. Conflict of Interest