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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.A.1. Park Naming Request for Providence Pointe-Westchester Park-tabled 2/19 I~.A, CITY OF SHAKOPEE Memorandum TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Mark McNeill, City Administrator SUBJECT: Park Naming Action DATE: February 28,2008 Comment: Introduction: Council is asked by the Park and Recreation and Advisory Board (PRAB) to take action regarding a specific recommendation for a proposed naming for a Providence- Westchester neighborhood park. Background: There are currently several unnamed parks in the community due to the number of parks projects that have been completed over the past couple of years. While the City has sought names, suggestions have not been forthcoming in significant numbers. Attached is a memo from Andrea Weber ofthe Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Department, which details a recommendation to name the Providence-Westchester Park in honor of Richard J. Stoks. At the February 19th City Council meeting, the City Council had tabled action to act on this naming proposal, and sent the request back to the PRAB with direction to relook at the park naming policy. The PRAB considered this at their Feb. 25th meeting, and will look at the policy at a future meeting. However, it asked that the City Council act on this particular recommendation, as the application had been received under the current guidelines and the PRAB feels that the proposal meets those guidelines. Discussion: The current park naming policy has provisions for naming parks in honor of individuals who have made significant contributions to the Community. The language reads: L C. Names to commemorate persons who have made significant contributions to Shakopee Parks system, (with the permission of the honoree, or immediate family or designated representative, if any). Names to commemorate other local(ly) born or raised persons of historic, statewide, or national importance maybe considered without a park association. There have been actions honoring other community contributors in the past, and those recognitions were granted in ways other than the naming of whole parks. Examples are the George Meunchow Softball fields (in Stan's Park), and Pat Thielen Sledding Hill (in Huber Park). The question is what contributions need to be in order to merit that a Shakopee park be named for a person? With all due respect to the individual being considered (who certainly did serve for many years on the Park Board and has been a contributor in other ways to the community), one can think of many other individuals who have made similar contributions, but which no nominations have been made. Is a precedent being set under the current park naming policy that future equally qualified individuals should also have a park named for them? There will only be a finite number of parks. My concern is that the policy needs to be is something with which the City Council is certain that it is comfortable-the naming of a park is permanent, and so should be reserved for names that are of community-wide significance. Recommendation: As the PRAB has asked that the Council act on this application now under the current criteria, it would be best to reject this specific recommendation. The Council should also direct that the PRAB re-examine the policy, and bring it back to the Council for discussion. It should be noted that Mayor Schmitt has suggested some naming criteria, and the Council is encouraged to suggest their ideas as well. If, after the policy is re-examined and the criteria are affirmed or changed, the applicant's family wishes to re-submit their proposal, they would be welcome to do so. Relationship to Visioning: This supports Goal D "Vibrant, Resilient, and Stable" Action Required: If the Council concurs, the Council should reject the PRAB's recommendation for the naming of Providence-Westchester neighborhood park, and direct that the PRAB re- examine the naming criteria. (lLl& k[uJu Mark McNeill City Administrator MM:cn CITY OF SHAKOPEE Memorandum To: City Council, Mayor, City Administrator From: Andrea Weber, Park and Recreation Landscape Design Subject: Park Naming Recommendation for Providence-Westchester Park Date: March 05, 2008 INTRODUCTION The City Council is asked to accept a recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) on a proposed park name for Providence-Westchester Neighborhood Park and complete an action on this park naming application. BACKGROUND At their January meeting, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board heard a request to name Providence-Westchester Park for a local resident. The PRAB was unanimous in their support of the application. Prior to hearing the naming recommendation, the Mayor and City Administrator asked staff to bring the naming policy back to the PRAB to review the guidelines for naming in honor of persons. The City Council tabled the naming request at their February 29th meeting pending further review by the PRAB. At their February 25th meeting, the PRAB affirmed their support of this application as it fits the criteria of the park naming guidelines, and made a recommendation to City Council to approve the park name: Richard J. Stoks Neighborhood Park. The PRAB will review the guidelines for naming in honor of persons at a work session scheduled for March 1ih. The PRAB however felt that the application that is recommended was submitted to the City under the current adopted guidelines and after extensive discussion unanimously agreed to recommend the application to the City Council for approval. RELATIONSHIP TO VISION C. Great Place for Kids to Grow Up REQUESTED ACTION Discuss the park naming in honor of Richard J. Stoks, and take one of the following actions: 1. Adopt the park name Richard J. Stoks Neighborhood Park as the new name for Providence Pointe-Westchester Estates Park and direct staff to prepare a resolution for this action, or 2. Deny the park naming application in honor of Richard J. Stoks.