CC SR 20221004 07 - Firefighter Flagler Memorial
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 10/04/2022
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to consider potential options for a memorial in honor
of fallen Firefighter Jonathan Flagler.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Provide direction to Staff on potential options for a memorial in honor of fallen
Firefighter Jonathan Flagler.
FISCAL IMPACT: Based on the City Council’s direction, Staff will return with associated
costs.
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: McKenzie Bright, Administrative Analyst
REVIEWED BY: Karina Bañales, Deputy City Manager
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. City Council Policy No. 37
B. March 18, 2008, staff report
BACKGROUND:
On January 6, 2022, Firefighter Jonathan Flagler sustained fatal injuries while engaged
in firefighting operations at a single-family residence in Rancho Palos Verdes. Firefighter
Flagler was stationed at Fire Station 83, in Miraleste Plaza and was a 21-year veteran of
the fire service, having served 19 years with the Vernon Fire Department before
transitioning into the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) in October 2020.
Firefighter Flagler grew up in the Eastview area of the City and began his firefighting
career through an Explorer Academy held at Fire Station 83.
Firefighter Flagler was a highly respected and esteemed LACoFD firefighter who
embodied the department’s core values of courage, caring, commitment, community,
integrity, and teamwork.
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RANCHO PALOS VERDES
Firefighter Flagler is honored on LACoFD’s Memorial Wall, located on the grounds of
LACoFD’s Fire Command and Control Facility. The Memorial Wall honors individuals who
lost their lives in the line of duty or succumbed to job -related injuries after retirement.
Each year, an Annual Memorial Service is held in early May to recognize new names
added to the Memorial Wall and remember those who were added in the past. Firefighter
Flagler is also honored on the California Firefighters Memorial Wall in Sacramento’s
Historic Capitol Park.
The City has a variety of memorials that have been dedicated to prominent deceased
individuals. Prior to the adoption of City Council Policy No. 37 (Attachment A) in 2003, the
establishment of these memorials was handled on a case-by-case basis. Examples of the
range of existing memorials include the following:
Initiated by the City:
• Fred Hesse Jr. Community Park is named for a City founder, although he was not
a resident of the City.
• Robert E. Ryan Park is named for a former Mayor/Councilmember.
• Marilyn Ryan Sunset Point Park is named for a former Mayor/Councilmember.
• Officer Randal Simmons Memorial Bridge is named for LAPD SWAT Officer
Simmons, a Rancho Palos Verdes Resident, slain in the line of duty.
• Frank A. Vanderlip Park is named for an original Peninsula landowner.
• A GPS monument at Portuguese Point is named in honor of geologist Dr. Perry
Ehlig for his work studying the Portuguese Bend Landslide.
• A trail below Ocean Terrace Drive (Sea Crest Tract) known as the McBride Trail is
named in honor of the man who constructed it .
This past year, the City Council adopted a resolution agreeing to rename the Civic Center
as Ken Dyda Civic Center and the driveway as Ken Dyda Way for current Councilmember
Dyda, a City founder, former Mayor, and current Councilmember.
Initiated by the Public:
• Three small memorials – one at Ladera Linda Community Park, one at the Point
Vicente Interpretive Center, and one near Inspiration Point honor persons who died
prematurely.
• Several benches and trees in the City’s parks, as well as plaques at the Point
Vicente Interpretive Center, are dedicated in memory of loved ones.
At the Council meeting on April 5, Mayor Bradley requested, as a future agenda item, for
Staff to explore options for a memorial to honor fallen Firefighter Flagler, which is
discussed in this report. Upon Council direction, Staff will work to further develop plans
and establish cost estimates.
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DISCUSSION:
City Council Policy No. 37
City Council Policy No. 37 concerns the placement of monuments and other memorials
on City property. Per the Policy (Attachment A), monuments in honor or in memory of
persons may be permitted, in rare cases, on City property with permission of the City
Council under the following conditions:
1. The person memorialized is closely associated with the area where th e monument
will be located. The person memorialized is known to, and revered, by a significant
number of City residents.
2. The monument design is discreet and unobtrusive and designed to blend into the
surrounding area. A small plaque on a large rock would b e appropriate. The
location of the monument will be determined by City Staff with approval of the City
Council.
3. Costs of design, installation of the monument will be determined by the City and
borne by the requester at the discretion of the City.
4. The monument is only a marker and is not a place of worship, a cemetery, or official
gathering place.
5. The City is not responsible for damage or deterioration of the monument and may
remove it at any time for any reason with permission of the City Council.
Benches or trees in honor or in memory of deceased persons may be placed in City parks,
or other City spaces, at the discretion of the City Manager under specified conditions.
The policy also outlines guidelines for a “Wall of Honor” for persons who have been
dedicated community leaders who have contributed significantly to the quality of life
offered by the City and realization of the vision expressed in the original General Plan, as
well as guidelines for naming City facilities.
The following discusses some potential options that align with this policy.
Flagpole Dedication and/or Memorial Plaque(s) at the Civic Center
The City Council may consider directing Staff and the Civic Center Advisory Committee
to explore a monument to dedicate the flagpole at the future Civic Center to Firefighter
Jonathan Flagler. Alternatively, the Council may direct the exploration of dedicating the
flagpole to veterans and first responders, with the addition of plaques to honor specific
individuals such as Firefighter Flagler in a memorial garden surrounding the flagpole.
In the interim, the City Council may consider directing Staff to dedicate the existing
flagpole at the Ken Dyda Civic Center to Firefighter Flagler, in memory and in honor of
his service and sacrifice.
Alternate flagpoles on City property may also be considered.
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Monument at a City Park
The City Council may consider directing Staff to explore a monument, such as a plaque,
bench, or tree, dedicated to Firefighter Flagler at one of the following City parks, due to
their proximity to Fire Station 83:
• Martingale Trailhead Park
• Eastview Park
• Vista Catalina Park
• Marilyn Ryan Sunset Point Park
• Ladera Linda Community Park
The Marilyn Ryan Sunset Point Park is also home to the Officer Randal Simmons
memorial bridge. LAPD Officer Randal Simmons, a Rancho Palos Verdes resident, was
slain in the line of duty in 2008. The City Council approved the concept of naming the
pedestrian bridge in March 2008, and later approved the installation of appropriate
signage, placement of a memorial plaque, and hosting a dedication ceremony (see
Attachment B).
Conversely, the City Council may direct Staff to work with the Miraleste Recreation and
Parks District to explore placement of a plaque, bench, or tree within one of its parks.
Naming of a Public Facility or Lookout Point
The City Council may also direct Staff to rename a City facility, such as a park, in honor
of Firefighter Flagler; or name one of the rooms or fields at an existing park facility in his
honor, such as at Hesse Park, Ryan Park, or Ladera Linda Community Park.
Additionally, the City Council may direct Staff to install a monument at and/or formally
name one of several lookout points along Palos Verdes Drive East, South, or West, or
the turn-out on Hawthorne Boulevard, near Vallon Drive, in honor of Firefighter Flagler.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
LACoFD Assistant Fire Chief Bennett reviewed this report and expressed that the
Department appreciates and is humbled by the City’s generosity.
Should the City Council wish to explore a monument at Fire Station 83, Staff will work
with LACoFD, as it is located on County property.
CONCLUSION:
Staff is seeking the City Council’s direction on a memorial to honor Firefighter Flagler
based on the following options:
1. Dedication of the Civic Center flagpole.
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a. Alternative: Dedication of the flagpole to veterans and fi rst responders and
creation of small memorial garden in the new Civic Center, which would
include a memorial for Firefighter Flagler.
b. Alternative: Dedication of a park flagpole.
2. Monument at a City Park, such as a plaque, bench, or tree.
a. Alternative: Work with Miraleste Recreation and Parks District for a
memorial in one of its parks.
3. Naming of City facility or lookout point.
Pursuant to Council direction, Staff will develop plans for a memorial along with an
estimated budget for the Council’s consideration at a future meeting.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative action is available for
the City Council’s consideration:
1. Identify other options for Staff to coordinate with LACoFD.
2. Do not proceed, at this time, with establishing a memorial.
3. Take other action, as deemed appropriate.
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