Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, December 03, 2019
Discussion
SUBJECT:
Title
RECOMMENDATION OF POSSIBLY RENAMING PARK AMENITY AFTER A LONG-TERM VOLUNTEER COACH (CITY COUNCIL)
Body
I. SUMMARY
At the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting held on Thursday, June 27, 2019 it was discussed to consider naming Veterans Park Diamond # 1 after long-term coach Don Martinez. The commission considered this proposal and ultimately moved to have the City Council consider and determine the best direction to take regarding this matter.
Currently Recreation and Human Services recognizes it long term volunteers by:
• Nate Riddick Volunteer Banquet - every 3rd year 20+ year volunteers receive special recognition, plaque, and biography in program
• Council presentation to recognize 20+ year Volunteer - Last scheduled on May 7, 2019
Other ways to recognize long-term volunteers:
• Engraved Brick in Xeriscape Garden at Community Center
• Perpetual Volunteer plaque at the New Corporate Yard lobby
• Perpetual Volunteer plaque at each park facility
• Website and Social Media recognition
• Planting a tree in honor of 20+ year Volunteer.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
CONSIDER and PROVIDE direction to staff.
Body
III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE an action the Council deems appropriate.
IV. BACKGROUND
At its May 30, 2019, meeting, the Parks and Recreation Commission received a request during Oral Communications from the family of Don Martinez to name Diamond #1 at Veterans Park the Don Martinez Baseball Field. A signed petition was provided to the commission to show the public’s support for this proposal (Exhibit No. 1). The item was later added to the Commission’s June 27, 2019, meeting wherein the members recommended to have the City Council determine if the field should be renamed.
While the City does not have a policy related to the naming of a specific park amenity like a baseball diamond for an individual, Policy and Procedure 1.8a (Exhibit No. 2) provides guidelines for the Renaming of Parks and Recreation facilities. Those guidelines are summarized here:
• The proposed park to be renamed had to have been in existence for a minimum of 50 years.
• Park and Recreation facilities, including entire park site, a building or a room within, may be renamed.
• The surrounding community needs to be in favor of the change.
• The individual for which the park is being named after must be identified historically with the origin of Carson.
• The Parks and Recreation Commission is to review park renaming recommendations subsequent to the City Council.
The City Council would also need to make a motion and achieve a 2/3 vote in favor of the name change. Then staff would come back to the Council with a cost estimate to change park signage and any other related expenses. Council would then have an opportunity to vote on the expenditure. These guidelines served as the process for the recent renaming of Scott Park to Foisia Park.
However, as the circumstances of this proposal do not necessarily comply with what is delineated in Policy and Procedure 1.8a, the City Council must determine if this policy applies to the naming of baseball diamond. If it is determined that it does apply, the City Council would then need to decide if it wishes to move forward with this proposal.
It should be noted that the City recognizes volunteers at its annual Volunteer Banquet. This event is for those individuals who devote a minimum of 75 hours the previous year to the City’s many programs. In 2015 the Recreation Division paid special recognition to those volunteers who have volunteered 20 or more years to the City. Each recipient received a plaque for their years of service and his/her biography was included in the banquet book. This award is now given out every three years.
The Recreation Division has discussed various opportunities for a more permanent recognition for the City’s long-time volunteers, such as installing plaques at the specific site - parks, Community Center and Human Services Office - that they volunteered at. The Division has also discussed adding a perpetual plaque at the new Corporate Yard where names can be added to for the coming years.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
None at this time.
VI. EXHIBITS
1. Don Martinez Field Naming Petition (pg. 4-25)
2. Policy and Procedures 1.8a. (pg. 26-27)
Prepared by: Bobby Grove, Recreation Program Manager