QUANG TRI MONUMENT design (before changes).

A proposal to abandon current efforts to build the controversial Quang Tri Monument goes before the Westminster City Council when it meets on Wednesday.

The council will consider requests by Vice Mayor NamQuan Nguyen (District 4) and Councilmember Amy Phan West (District 1) to disband and dissolve the Quang Tri Monument Committee and possibly end the project altogether.

It’s been the source of contention for years, with controversies emerging over which persons should be recognized on the monument, which military units should be mentioned, where to locate the structure and whether the proposed project was attractive or the right size.

The second Battle of Quang Tri in 1972 involved the success of South Vietnamese forces, along with American troops, in defeating North Vietnamese forces during the Vietnam War.

Disagreement over many details – especially design and location – have been key in raising fears that the monument, rather than being a unifying force, was actually having a divisive effect.

Also on the agenda will be consideration of an ordinance terminating the cultural arts commission, as well as second reading and adoption of ordinances on locating the mayor’s office into city hall and changing the time for the start of council meetings (from 7 to 6 p.m.) as well as the amount of time allowed to speakers during oral communications at council meetings from five minutes to three.

The council will meet in closed session at 5:30 p.m. and open session at 7 p.m. at 8200 Westminster Blvd.