Westminster City Council
SUBJECT
Title
Consideration of an Agreement with the VHV Foundation for Use of the Miriam Warne Building for a Little Saigon Community Cultural Center Located at 14491 Beach Boulevard, Westminster, California.
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From: Christine Cordon, City Manager
Requested by: Administration
Prepared by: Shaunna Hunter, Senior Management Analyst
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommendation
A. Consider an agreement with VHV Foundation to lease the Miriam Warne Community Building located at 14491 Beach Boulevard, Westminster; and
B. Authorize the City Manager and City Attorney to make changes to the draft agreement based on City Council direction and execute the agreement with VHV Foundation.
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BACKGROUND
On May 13, 2026, the City Council considered the request from VHV Foundation (VHV) to manage the Miriam Warne Community Building (MWCB) as a Little Saigon Cultural Center (Attachment 1). Council directed staff to engage the organization and usage of the building.
VHV Foundation
The VHV Foundation - Thý Viện Việt Nam (Vietnamese Cultural Center) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization currently located in a commercial space at 10872 Westminster Avenue, Suites 214 and 215, Garden Grove, California. The foundation has served the Little Saigon community by providing a museum which contains a library of books, relics, artifacts, and artwork.
VHV’s Community Benefit: At their current location, they offer after-school tutoring, language classes (English and Vietnamese), social support opportunities for seniors, and a venue for local non-profit groups to hold meetings and events at low or no cost. Their current location in Garden Grove is on the second floor of a crowded plaza with limited parking; accessibility can be a challenge for some of the older members of the community that attend weekly activities at the center. Comfortable, accessible space is vital for the attendees to preserve their cultural traditions.
Board: The Foundation is made up of an all-volunteer board. The board of directors has deep ties to the community and have established relationships with many local non-profit organizations and are eagerly working to expand that reach with the younger generations of students in Westminster and the region.
Mission: To preserve, promote, and share the cultural heritage of the Vietnamese American community while providing educational, cultural, and community services that benefit all residents of Westminster and Orange County.
Vision Statement: To establish the Little Saigon Cultural Center as a recognized regional center for cultural preservation, educational excellence, community engagement, and multicultural cooperation.
Timeline
Staff received direction from the City Council at the May 13, 2026 meeting to engage with VHV regarding their request to occupy the MWCB. In preparation, staff also evaluated the current usage of the MWCB and trends for the last five years. In June 2026, the VHV provided a management proposal (Attachment 2) to the City to clarify their request, including proposed usage and organizational background.
In July 2026, staff toured the current location of VHV, which operates as a Vietnamese Library and Cultural Center to review their programming, facility usage, library, and artifact displays for compatibility with the MWCB. Subsequently, staff met with VHV board members at the MWCB to discuss community usage, tenant improvement plans and procedures, community programming, community benefits, and overall facility maintenance costs.
In September 2026, staff reviewed the proposal and met with VHV to discuss terms of a potential agreement, usage parameters, usage reporting, and fiscal reporting requirements to occupy the MWCB as a Little Saigon Cultural Center facility for community benefit.
Miriam Warne Community Building History
The Orange County Assessor’s Office enumerates this parcel as APN 096-363-18 measuring approximately 360.50’ by 72.85’ located at the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Hazard Avenue in Westminster. The 0.7-acre parcel known as Heritage Park was formerly divided with the eastern portion classified by the City as Public Facilities, while the western portion was classified as Park/Open Space.
In 2002, the City at the recommendation of the Planning Commission reclassified 10 city-owned sites to be consistent with the General Plan; the entire parcel was rezoned in accordance with this decision as Park/Open Space, including the easterly portion.
The Westminster Chamber of Commerce had an office location at Heritage Park along with a small parking lot, the remaining acreage was considered a passive park servicing the adjacent neighborhoods. As a passive park, the park had no amenities, public restrooms, or playground equipment. The only other structure on the parcel was a historical building identified as Westminster’s first drug store known as the McCoy-Hare House. This structure was moved from its original location on Westminster Boulevard to Heritage Park in 1976 and remained there until it was relocated by the Westminster Historical Society in 1993 to its current home at Blakey Park.
The City invested Redevelopment Funds to build the current building which was completed and opened in 2010 at the former Heritage Park site. The 4,765 square-foot building is comprised of two suites and common areas. Suite A consists of a meeting room with an attached kitchenette and Suite B is a 1,686 square-foot office area; common areas include a shared restroom facility accessible by a hallway, and an exterior portico that abuts the entry to both suites. The building was named in honor of Westminster resident and philanthropist Miriam Warne in 2010.
Miriam Warne Community Building Facility Cost and Historic Usage
The annual facility maintenance and utility cost is $12,620 averaged over the last five fiscal years 2021-2026. The annual utility cost is $11,311, which includes trash, power, gas, water, and alarm monitoring. The average maintenance cost not including park landscape maintenance is $1,309 which includes carpet cleaning, HVAC, and other incidental maintenance. Table 1 below shows the utility and maintenance costs of operating MWCB over the last five fiscal years.
Table 1: Five-Year Facility Cost
The MWCB is currently utilized on average 53 days per year. This usage includes a full-day voting center, recreation classes, private club meetings, and private celebration rentals. The City also uses the facility for internal business meetings, small business development programs, and community workshops. Table 2 below shows the facility usage over the last five years from 2021-2026.
Table 2: Miriam Warne Building Usage by Type
Draft Agreement Terms
The following terms are being proposed:
Lease Payment: $1 annually
Reporting: Quarterly VHV will produce and provide usage and legal compliance data. Annually VHV will produce financial and IRS reporting data.
Community Benefit: In general, the Museum is required to be open daily at no charge at minimum from Monday through Friday between the hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., although the Museum may be open for more hours. Additionally, the facility may be used seven days a week for classes, activities, and events for the community. VHV must provide events no less than 85 hours per month, starting after six months or no later than May 1, 2027. VHV intends to offer more activities than the minimum 85 hours per month. The premises may not be used before 8 a.m. or after 10 p.m.
Booking Priority: VHV will provide the City with priority access to the MWCB for internal or external no-cost uses.
Agreement Length: Commencing on November 1, 2026, the initial term of five years, with three five-year mutual optional extensions for a total of 20 years.
Termination: The City may immediately terminate the agreement if the terms of the agreement are violated.
Relocation: If the City determines it needs control of MWCB, the City may require VHV to relocate.
Utility Payments: VHV is responsible for all utilities as identified in the agreement, including but not limited to, phone lines, trash and sewer, power, gas, water, and alarm monitoring.
Facility Improvements: All tenant improvements will be coordinated with the City’s Public Works Department, except current City-planned improvements such as internet connectivity and thermostat replacements.
Facility Maintenance: City is responsible for maintenance and repair of all major systems such as HVAC, roof, plumbing, and electrical.
Park Maintenance: City is responsible for maintenance of all trees, shrubs, irrigation, and landscape.
Parking Lot: The parking lot located at 14491 Beach Boulevard is a public parking lot, and as such, there are no parking spaces designated for the Miriam Warne building, but the parking lot may still be used to support activities at the Miriam Warne Community Building. The City will remove designated parking lot signage from previous Chamber of Commerce. Up to four times per year the tenant may request to use the parking lot for a special event.
Signage: The City will install new facility signage on existing monument and building per design standards to keep with current aesthetics. VHV will reimburse the City for the fully burdened cost to install facility and building signage.
The City will retain the name as the Miriam Warne Community Building. The City will add the Little Saigon Cultural Center to existing signage.
Custodial: VHV is responsible for custodial services for the entire facility.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City is currently operating the Miriam Warne Community Building at a direct average cost of $12,628.60 annually. VHV is proposing to pay for the utility cost and to pay the City $1 annually as a lease payment.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed as to form.
CONCLUSION
The VHV Foundation has demonstrated an established history of providing cultural, educational, and community services to the Little Saigon community and submitted a proposal to use the MWCB as a Little Saigon Community Cultural Center.
Staff reviewed the VHV Foundation’s proposal, the MWCB’s current and historical usage, and the potential community benefits associated with the proposed use. Based on this review, staff is presenting the VHV Foundation’s proposal to City Council for consideration and direction.
City Council may consider the draft agreement and provide direction regarding whether to proceed with the VHV Foundation for the use of the MWCB. The draft agreement attached outlines the management terms of the Foundation’s use and management of the facility, including provisions addressing community access, programming, operations, and other responsibilities of the parties.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Draft Agreement with VHV for the Management of Miriam Warne Building
2. May 13, 2026 Staff Report
3. VHV Management and Operations of the Little Saigon Cultural Center at Miriam Warne Community Building
REVIEWED BY
Erin Backs, Finance Director
City Attorney’s Office
Christine Cordon, City Manager