The Westminster City Council on Dec. 10 approved a professional services agreement with MIG to design and develop a Little Saigon Welcome Archway, authorizing the city manager to execute the agreement in an amount not to exceed $55,268.

Supporters from the Vietnamese-American community testified before the vote, arguing the proposed archway would recognize five decades of Vietnamese presence in Little Saigon, boost economic development and become a cultural landmark. Opponents questioned the project’s priority and suggested community fundraising rather than using city funds for the design phase.

Councilwoman Fan West announced an abstention on the item, citing a closed-session conflict; the remaining members voted 3–0 to approve the agreement. The motion authorized the city manager to finalize the contract and proceed to design and development.

What’s next: Staff will execute the MIG agreement and proceed with design. Future steps will include any required budget allocations for construction and further community input on the archway design and placement.