Westminster City Council
SUBJECT
Title
Consideration of a Request to Conduct Study and Initiate the Design-Build Selection Process for a Little Saigon Archway Across Bolsa Avenue.
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publichearing
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From: Christine Cordon, City Manager
Requested by: Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen
Prepared by: Adolfo Ozaeta, Assistant City Manager; Christine Cordon, City Manager
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommendation
Consider the request for a Little Saigon Archway, and provide direction to staff regarding hiring a consultant and initiating a Design-Build selection process.
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BACKGROUND
Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen has requested an item be placed on the agenda to discuss revisiting the feasibility and construction of a Little Saigon Archway, and authorize staff to hire a consultant and initiate a Design-Build selection process.
On April 30, 2025, the City and other communities worldwide commemorated the 50th year since the Fall of Saigon, marking the end of the Vietnam War. Since then, the Vietnamese diaspora has culturally and regionally influenced different communities, including Westminster. With iconic symbols of Vietnamese culture such as the Asian Garden Mall, annual Tet Parade, flower festivals, and the many Vietnamese-owned small businesses that still capture the essence of their old homeland, Westminster’s Little Saigon area is representative of the heart of the South Vietnamese refugees, and the resilience that has attributed to the success of Little Saigon as a business and cultural district.
While Little Saigon is generally associated with the area of Bolsa Avenue, between Magnolia Street and Brookhurst Avenue, it is not clearly identified as a tourist, cultural, or business district. Little Saigon has also expanded into surrounding cities. The desire to highlight Little Saigon as a cultural, business, and tourist district has always been in the forefront in discussions related to economic development and enhancement. The topic brought up most in these discussions is the lack of an archway or gateway to highlight Little Saigon’s location, similar to archways seen in La Mesa, El Cajon, Gaslamp District, and Little Italy in San Diego; Chinatowns throughout the nation; and historic districts nationwide.
Previous efforts to develop a pathway toward building a Little Saigon gateway were met with obstacles. As recently as 2023, the City Council expressed interest in working with the County of Orange for an archway; this effort was halted and not by the City of Westminster. However, in light of the desire to enhance the façade of Little Saigon to encourage and increase economic development and tourism, Mayor Nguyen would like the City Council to consider revisiting the feasibility of a Little Saigon Archway.
At this time, Mayor Nguyen would like to request that the City Council authorize staff to hire a consultant and initiate a Design-Build selection process and piggyback on existing work conducted by City staff during the 2023 efforts. This would include obtaining a more accurate cost estimate, as well as potential locations along Bolsa Avenue that could support an archway.
Funding sources for the archway would be discussed upon more information becoming available in terms of construction and design costs and other financial responsibilities. Funding could come from a variety of sources that include city funds, non-profit agencies, grants, and private donors.
Recent Archway Efforts
At the regular City Council meeting of May 24, 2023, then-Orange County District 1 Supervisor Andrew Do introduced a proposal for a Little Saigon arch gateway that would span across Bolsa Avenue at Weststate Street. An initial $1 million in funding was committed by then-Supervisors Do’s office.
In accordance with state law, the design-build selection process was initiated and included a Request for Qualification (RFQ) process, followed by a Request for Proposal (RFP) process.
On July 6, 2023, a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was released to invite Design-Build Entities to submit a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) for the Little Saigon Archway Project. Those firms that submitted a SOQ would then be evaluated and short-listed. Only those qualified short-listed firms would be able to respond to the Request for Proposals (RFP). The RFQ was re-released on July 20, 2023, as no responses were released.
The second RFQ closed on August 3, 2023. One SOQ was received from the Walsh/Aztec Design Build Team. The SOQ was evaluated by the selection committee, which included city staff along with Silsby Strategic Advisors, and it was decided that the Walsh/Aztec team would be invited to submit a proposal.
However, the cost of the project was initially underbudgeted and had increased due to inflation and the rising costs of materials and labor. A commitment of an additional $740,000 by the County of Orange was discussed, but ultimately never materialized; the project was stalled at the County’s request.
Per past Council direction, the City of Westminster continues to maintain the $1 million with an intent to construct a Little Saigon Archway.
FISCAL IMPACT
The estimated cost of the consultant is $10,000 and funding is available in Community Promotion - Contractual account number 75000-43090. Funding sources for the construction of the archway will be determined at a later time upon completion of a new cost estimate and study.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed as to form.
CONCLUSION
Mayor Nguyen requests the City Council revisit the idea of constructing a Little Saigon Archway. This arch would serve as a gateway into Little Saigon for visitors travelling eastbound on Bolsa Avenue, highlighting the significance of Little Saigon as a cultural, business, and tourist district.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
REVIEWED BY
Erin Backs, Finance Director
City Attorney’s Office
Christine Cordon, City Manager