Bill > S2295

This bill establishes a special commission tasked with exploring the creation of a tribute to Nelson Mandela in Boston, Massachusetts, specifically considering a designed space or facility on the Esplanade or another city location to honor his 1990 visit and speeches. The commission will consult with relevant state and city agencies, including the department of conservation and recreation, and engage the public to determine the importance and value of such a commemoration. It will examine how to best convey Mandela's universal message through the design, establish a process for selecting a design committee, and explore funding options. The commission will be composed of members appointed by various officials and organizations, including the governor, senate president, speaker of the house, mayor of Boston, the Esplanade Association, The Boston Society of Architects, South Africa Partners, Inc., the Black Ministerial Alliance of Greater Boston, and the Mandela memorial committee, with at least one member being an architect or design professional. After receiving public input and examining comparable projects in other cities, the commission will submit a detailed report with proposals and recommendations to state and city officials within 18 months of the bill's enactment, with the report being made publicly available online. The commission will be dissolved 60 days after submitting its report.