Commission approves Riviera Village Park plaque and olive tree after debate over donor ties

The Redondo Beach Public Amenities Commission voted to approve a special-donation request to install a commemorative plaque and olive tree at Riviera Village Park, a proposal the Villarino family first brought forward in 2023.

Kelly, a community services staff member, summarized the proposal and the background for the commission, saying the request had previously been considered in November and that the family sought to honor financial contributors and founders of the Hollywood Riviera business district. Kelly said a portion of the park parcel is owned by the City of Torrance and that Torrance had provided formal approval for the installation.

Commissioner Lang worked with the Villarino family to refine plaque language and asked that the commission re-review the text after staff raised new details: the family members tied to the plaque had not been residents of Redondo Beach, although the family had operated a local business in the Riviera for decades and had other ties to the community. Kelly told the commission the family remained committed to the project and was willing to pay for the plaque and tree.

Discussion at the meeting focused on two issues: whether the commission should defer final sign-off so Commissioner Lang could present her refinements in person, and whether a nonresident donor with longstanding business ties to the city warranted recognition. One commissioner moved to table the item to the next meeting so Lang could attend and the minutes from the earlier discussion could be reviewed; another commissioner made a substitute motion to approve the language and move the project forward.

The substitute motion to approve carried; the meeting record shows at least one commissioner voting against the approval and the item then was recorded as approved. Staff noted that the commission had previously supported the project with conditions and that staff would complete final grammatical edits to the plaque text and proceed with administrative approval under the city’s commemorative donation program.

The commission also voted to receive and file the staff report on the project. Staff said the Villarino family had been informed the item was on the agenda and remained committed to proceeding and covering the cost of the plaque and tree. Commissioners asked staff to include the prior meeting minutes as an attachment when the item is returned or processed so the record of earlier deliberations is available to the commission and public.