On April 7, the Richmond City Council unanimously approved the General Management Plan for Rosie the Riveter WW II Home Front National Historical Park with Alternate B..

The City’s approval was anticipated in the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park Establishment Act of 2000, which includes the following direction:

(g) General management plan

(1) In general
Not later than 3 complete fiscal years after the date funds are made available, the Secretary shall prepare, in consultation with the City of Richmond, California, and transmit to the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a general management plan for the park in accordance with the provisions of section 1a-7(b) of this title and other applicable law.

(2) Preservation of setting

The general management plan shall include a plan to preserve the historic setting of the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park, which shall be jointly developed and approved by the City of Richmond.

The City’s action was also a part of the public comment, which has a deadline of April 29 to comment on the draft general plan for the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park.

The plan outlines three options for the park's future:

·         Under alternative A, conditions would essentially stay the same as they are now. Visitors would use self-guiding tools or join National Park Service tours to learn about the park's history. The cost estimate is $200,000 in facility upgrades and $700,000 a year in ongoing operating costs.

·         Under alternative B, known as the "preferred option," a World War II Home Front Visitor/Education Center at the Ford Assembly Building on Harbour Way South would provide information about the home front effort and familiarize visitors with historic sites nearby. Visitors would be able to go see the outside of historic buildings and some building interiors where artifacts, exhibits and programs would be available. The estimate is $9 million in facility upgrades, plus $2.6 million in annual operating costs.

·         Under alternative C, activities would be centralized at the visitor/education center, where people would view exhibits, learn about the history and get information about self-guided tours of historic buildings nearby. This plan would cost $10.6 million in facility upgrades, and $2.4 million a year for operations.

The general plan can be downloaded off the Internet at parkplanning.nps.gov/rori.

To pick up a copy, stop by 1401 Marina Way South in Richmond or to get a copy of the plan by mail, call 510-232-5050.

The text of the City’s resolution follows:

RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND APPROVING THE ROSIE THE RIVETER/WORLD WAR II HOME FRONT NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN/ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

WHEREAS, The Richmond City Council adopted Resolution 129-99 expressing support for the proposed Rosie the Riveter WW II Home Front National Historical Park and committing the City of Richmond and the National Park Service to a partnership, and,

WHEREAS, in October of 2000, President Bill Clinton signed into law the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park Establishment Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-352, Sec. 1, Oct. 24, 2000, 114 Stat. 1370), establishing Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, CA, and

WHEREAS, the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park Establishment Act of 2000 includes the following direction:

(g) General management plan

(1) In general
Not later than 3 complete fiscal years after the date funds are made available, the Secretary shall prepare, in consultation with the City of Richmond, California, and transmit to the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a general management plan for the park in accordance with the provisions of section 1a-7(b) of this title and other applicable law.

(2) Preservation of setting

The general management plan shall include a plan to preserve the historic setting of the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park, which shall be jointly developed and approved by the City of Richmond.

and,

WHEREAS, the final draft of the General Management Plan (Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park General Management Plan/Environmental Assessment) has been completed, following numerous public meetings and outreach processes that began in 2002, further described in Chapter 6 of the Plan, and have continued through March 18, 2009, and,

WHEREAS, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements have been fulfilled and are further described in Chapter 5 of the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park General Management Plan/Environmental Assessment, and

WHEREAS, in consultation with the cooperating partners, including the City of Richmond, Contra Costa County, the Richmond Museum Association, Rosie the Riveter Trust, Levin Shipping, the Council of Industries and Eddie Orton (owner of the Ford Building, the National Park Service has selected Alternative B as its preferred alternative, which is also the environmentally preferred alternative.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Richmond, in accordance with g(2) of  Pub. L. 106-352, Sec. 1, Oct. 24, 2000, 114 Stat. 1370, does hereby approve of the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park General Management Plan/Environmental Assessment, including Alternative B, and,

THEREFORE IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Richmond directs the city manager to provide a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the Interior.