ITEM 2 Park Names/MemorialsITEM 2
3601 Thurston Avenue N, Suite 100
Anoka, MN 55303
Phone: 763, 231 .5840
Facsimile: 763.427.0520
TPCTPQ@PlanningCoxom
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Daniel Licht, AICP
DATE: 18 March 2014
RE: Otsego — Park Names / Memorials
TPC FILE: 101.01
BACKGROUND
Informal inquiries have been made to City staff regarding naming of the soccer fields at
Prairie Park as a memorial to an Otsego resident associated with Three Rivers Soccer
Association (TRSA) who died suddenly while coaching a TRSA practice. The City has
established a process for naming of parks as well as a policy regarding park memorials
but the two issues have not been previously connected. City staff thought it advisable
for the City Council to consider park names as a memorial as a policy issue prior to
consideration of a formal request for a park name as a memorial to a specific individual.
Exhibits:
A. Park Memorial Policy
ANALYSIS
Park Names. The City has established a process for naming of City parks to include a
recommendation from the Heritage Preservation Commission to the Parks Commission.
The Parks Commission considers the information from the HPC in making their own
recommendation to the City Council which approves the final name. The intent of this
process is to establish park names that contribute to identification of the park but also
foster a greater sense of community identity. Park names that have been chosen
using this process have recognized long-established families that lived in the area of the
park (Beaudry Meadows, Zimmer Farm Park, Davis Preserve Park, Norin Landing,
Carrick's Waterfront Landing), historical developments (Lilly Pond Park, Kittredge
Crossings Park) or community history (Frankfort Park). To date, City parks have not
been named for any living or deceased single individual of prominence in Otsego's
history or someone who has made significant contributions to the community.
Park Memorials. The City established a policy for park memorials after a request to
install a bench at Prairie Park had been received by the Parks and Recreation
Commission. The policy establishes opportunity for park memorials through donation of
a tree installed at a City park or a monetary donation that will be used in the
development of the City's park system. This approach is taken for two reasons: first
the City assumes long term ownership and maintenance of any memorial. Using a City
approved plant species minimizes maintenance needs and avoids installation of fixtures
not necessarily needed within the parks that will require eventual maintenance and/or
replacement. Second, the memorial is being placed in a public place and the
appropriateness of a more unique or detailed monument must be considered. The park
memorial policy does not currently address a request to name a park for a deceased
person who has made significant contributions to the City.
Petition Process. The City may look to establish an additional section as part of the
park memorial policy addressing requests to name or rename park facilities in honor of
a living or deceased Otsego resident that made significant contributions to the City.
Elements of such a policy may include:
Information requirement to be provided by the individual or organization making
the request to include detailed biography and description of contributions the
person to be honored made to the community. A contribution of the land, a
significant portion of the land or funding for all or a significant portion of the park
acquisition, development and/or renovation may also be factors considered.
■ A recommended minimum number of years or service or other threshold for
evaluating the level of contribution.
■ A minimum waiting period between the end of service and/or death to minimize
the emotional impact of the naming process and evaluation of the request.
Establishment of a review process by which a request to name a park as a
memorial is referred to the Heritage Preservation Commission and Parks and
Recreation Commission for their recommendations as to the significance of the
individual's contributions to the community and whether recognition through
naming of a park facility is appropriate in consideration of the City's goals for
such designations.
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CONCLUSION
The City Council is to discuss the issue of park names and park memorials at a work
session on 24 March 2014. City staff is seeking direction as to the acceptability and
process for considering park names as memorials generally and with regards to the
current inquiry.
C. Lori Johnson, City Administrator
Tami Loff, City Clerk
Ross Demant, Parks and Recreation Manager
Andy MacArthur, City Attorney
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POLICY 05.04
PARK DONATIONS
Section
05.04.01
Purpose
05.04.02
Memorials
05.04.03
Acceptance
05.04.04
Other Donations
05.04.05
Fees
05.04.06
Amendments
SECTION 05.04.01: PURPOSE: It is the purpose of this policy to establish
guidelines for the donation of memorials at parks in the City of Otsego. This policy is
intended to provide an administrative process for donating improvements for parks to the
City while removing emotional considerations and to ensure consistency and equal
opportunity.
SECTION 05.04.02: MEMORIALS:
A. An individual or organization may pay tribute to a deceased Otsego resident
(current or former) by donating a memorial.
B. Donations will be accepted for the following:
1. A living memorial such as a tree, shrub or other planting of a type, size and
location approved by City staff.
2. Monetary donation to the City's park development fund to be used
exclusively for the development of new park facilities or improvement of
existing parks at the discretion of the City.
C. Recognition:
1. A plaque shall be provided by the City recognizing the individual donation of
a living memorial with "Donated in memory of "
2. Monetary or other donations shall be recognized on a plaque displayed at
City Hall.
D. Installation of the living memorial shall be supervised by City staff.
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E. The donor shall provide for the cost of the living memorial and plaque, plus
installation and any future maintenance that may be required.
SECTION 05.04.03: ACCEPTANCE:
A. Proposals for donation of a memorial for a City park shall be submitted in writing to
the City Clerk along with any fees required by this Section.
B. City staff shall review the proposed memorial for consistency with this policy. If the
proposal is consistent with this policy, City staff shall prepare a resolution pursuant
to Minnesota Statutes 465.03 requiring that all gifts and donations of real or
personal property be accepted only by approval of the City Council.
C. Acceptance of the proposed donation shall require adoption of the resolution by a
majority vote of the City Council.
SECTION 05.04.04: OTHER DONATIONS: Proposals for donation of
improvements for a City park other than provided for by this Policy or a monetary donation
shall be reviewed by the Parks and Recreation Commission and subject to acceptance by
the City Council by resolution as provided for in Section 05.04.03 of this Policy.
SECTION 05.04.05: FEES: The City Council shall adopt annually a schedule
of fees related to donation of memorials in Section 2-4-2 of the City Code.
SECTION 05.04.06: AMENDMENTS:
A. The City Council may amend this policy at any time. Modifications of the policy
shall be effective on the date said modifications are approved by City council
resolution.
B. The policy will be reviewed periodically by City staff, the Parks and Recreation
Commission and/or City Council. The City Clerk will keep on file comments and
complaints received regarding this policy. Any review will consider comments and
complaints since the last review and any other factors affecting the policy or its
implementation.
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