HomeMy WebLinkAboutM1984-1172 - 10/16/1984MOTIONS - 10/16/84
25. Approving the recommendation of the Park and Recreation Board that a formal
policy for naming parks and park facilities be adopted. This policy would
cover donations of land and facilities, subdivision dedications, and
requests for changing of names of parks and park facilities.
NOTE: The attached memorandum was approved by the City Council to establish
a policy pertaining to the naming of parks and park facilities. Council
Members suggested some changes to the procedure which will be incorporated
in the resolutionto be considered October 23, 1984 to formally adopt the
policy.
Dorothy Zahn
M84 -1172
' City of Corpus
TO Edward A. Martin, City Manager Date October 3, 1984
FROM W. Thomas Utter, Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT Policy for Naming Parks and Park Facilities
The Park and Recreation Board adopted a policy on naming of parks and park re-
creational facilities in 1970. Although the City has operated under this policy,
the City Council has never officially granted recognition to that policy.
Over the past few months, both the Park and Recreation Board and staff have re-
considered the policy and are submitting a formal policy for City Council con-
sideration.
There are basically three areas covered under the policy which are: donations,
subdivision dedications, and changing the name of a park or park facility.
Occasionally, park land, but more often, park facilities are donated by indivi-
duals or groups. The 'proposed policy would state that upon donation of at least
51% of the value of a park or park facility and recommendation of the Park and
Recreation Board, the City Council may name the park or park facility as the
donating party designates.
However, the vast majority of land that the City receives does not come through
donations, but comes through subdivision dedication. The proposed policy for-
malizes the process presently used in that as park land is received through
dedication under the City's platting ordinance, the staff of Park and Recreation
Department makes a recommendation which is then acted upon by the Park and Re-
creation Board. Since this has typically been a routine matter, it is not
requested that these names come before the City Council for any other approval.
Whereas donations and subdivision dedications are not controversial, the third
major area, changing the name of a park or park facility, has been occasionally
controversial in the past. The proposed policy sets out a definitive step by
step process for any name change as follows: Any person, group or organization
would first fill out a request tfor name change. After staff review and consul-
tation with the requesting entity, the name change request would be scheduled
before the Park and Recreation Board. No action would be taken by the Park and
Recreation Board for a minimum of 60 days after being presented to the Board,
during which time legal notice would be published twice of the proposed name change.
During the 60 -day waiting period, written comments would be accepted by the Park
and Recreation Board and interested individuals would be invited to come before
the Park and Recreation Board to address the issue. At the first meeting after
the 60 -day waiting period, the Park and Recreation Board would be required to take
one of three actions: (1) approval of the request and referral to the City Council
with recommendation for approval, (2) rejection of the request by the Board (however,
the requesting entity may appeal the rejection to the City Council), (3) table the
request for future action or information.
Edward A. Martin
Page 2 _ •
October 3, 1984
Should the Council approve the requested name, the Park and Recreation Department
would arrange suitable naming ceremonies and appropriate markers would be in-
stalled.
City staff and Park and Recreation Board also recommend that the following cri-
teria be utilized in considering naming a park: (1) In choosing names after
individuals, either persons living or dead may be considered. However, special
consideration shall be given to the contributions the person has made to the
city, state, or country. A park or facility may not be named after an indivi-
dual currently in public office or serving as an employee of a local govern-
mental jurisdiction. A minimum.of a one -year waiting period after leaving
public office or public service will be considered adequate for consideration of
naming a park or facility for someone whose contribution has been in public
service. (2) Names related to religious or ethnic origin .will generally not be
favorably considered unless the rules of dedication apply. (3) Input from
neighborhood organizations in the immediate vicinity of the park or park facili-
ty will be sought in the case of a name change request.- I recommend that the
Council approve this policy as recommended by the staff and Park and Recreation
Board.
-U qEap vv'
W. Thomas Utter
Assistant City Manager
WTU:rc
cc: Terry Dopson