Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout- - Name a City Park After a Prominent Citiz - 9/20/2011CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: SEPTEMBER 20, 2011 SUBJECT: NAMING A CITY PARK AFTER A PROMINENT CITIZEN DATE: SEPTEMBER 8, 2011 ITEM NUMBER: FROM: PUBLIC SERVICES DEPARTMENT/ENGINEERING DIVISION PRESENTATION PETER NAGHAVI, DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICES BY: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ERNESTO MUNOZ, CITY ENGINEER, (714) 754-5335 RECOMMENDATION: 1. Consider naming a City park after Mr. Jack Hammett, a prominent citizen, past City Mayor, City Council Member, and decorated World War II veteran. 2. If a park is chosen, select and approve the new name. BACKGROUND: Mr. Jack Hammett has served on the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce, Planning Commission, and City Council. He served as Mayor from 1972 to 1974 and has continued to dedicate his life to many other civic affairs. He has received a number of awards and recognitions along the way for his many years of service to our Country and the community. The attached biography highlights his many contributions (Attachment 1). At the August 21, 2007, City Council meeting Mayor Monsoor awarded the Lifetime Service Award to Former Mayor and Council Member Jack Hammett recognizing his continuing lifetime of service to the City of Costa Mesa. Four years later, at the City Council meeting of August 2, 2011, Mayor Monahan awarded the Mayor's Award to Mr. Hammett (Attachment 2). He is also the 2011 Veteran of the Year for the 68th Assembly District. At the August 10, 2011, Parks and Recreation Commission Special meeting, the Commission recommended renaming Civic Center Park after Mr. Jack Hammett due to the park's proximity to City Hall and as the designated site of the future Central Library. ANALYSIS: The procedure for naming a City park after a prominent citizen is outlined in Procedure Number 2.b of Council Policy 800-1 (Attachment 3). At the August 10, 2011, Parks and Recreation Commission Special Meeting, the Commission was presented with the following list of City parks for consideration to be named after Mr. Jack Hammett. These parks were selected based on the following criteria: Not named after an individual and proximity to Mr. Hammett's residence. Farm Sports Complex: Located at 2750 Fairview Road, this 14.5 -acre park boast six meticulously manicured and lit utility fields, restroom building, picnic benches, and on-site parking. 2. Brentwood Park: Brentwood Park is located at 265 Monte Vista Avenue. This park was recently expanded to 2.5 acres and includes a playground, picnic shelter and benches. The adopted master plan includes the construction of new coastal -themed playground, exercise loop, and landscaped open space. 3. Del Mesa Park: This four -acre park is located at 3120 Manistee Drive in the Del Mesa housing tract. It includes a restroom, picnic shelter, sports courts, and landscaped open space. 4. Civic Center Park: This is a 2.5 -acre park located at 111 Fair Drive and Vanguard Way. The site features landscaped open space and has been dedicated for the future site of the Central Library. Notices were sent to the residents adjacent (within a 500' radius) to each one of the parks listed above. Should City Council select a park, the new park name may be "Jack Hammett Park" or "Hammett Park". If the selected park to be renamed is an athletic field, the new park name may follow the same designation. For example, the Farm Sports Complex may be renamed Jack Hammett Farm Sports Complex. ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED: The Council may consider the following alternatives: 1. Approve renaming Civic Center Park after Mr. Jack Hammett, as recommended by the Parks and Recreation Commission at the Special Meeting of August 10, 2011. 2. Approve another City park to be named after Mr. Jack Hammett. 3. Receive and file. FISCAL REVIEW: The only foreseeable fiscal impact for the renaming of a City park after an individual is the installation of a new park sign. This is proposed to be accomplished first with a pole -mounted park sign to be followed in future fiscal years by a permanent monument sign. The estimated costs to replace the existing park signs for the four parks listed above are tabulated below. Farm Sports Complex: The replacement of the existing concrete monument sign (Attachment 4), including design, landscape, irrigation and electrical modifications, is estimated to cost $34,000. The estimated cost reflects a recent quotation from a local landscape contractor licensed to perform this type of work. Alternatives to replacing the existing sign with a new sign include: 1. Retrofit the existing sign with a new name and address overlay for approximately $4,000 plus installation. Staff does not recommend this approach as its longevity cannot be guaranteed by the contractor because the overlay panel would be attached to an existing sign surface. 2. Remove the existing sign panel and ship it to a concrete monument sign manufacturer for re- finishing. This is not recommended as there is a high probability of damaging the sign or existing foundation during disassembly for which the contractor would not be responsible. E 3. Retrofit an aluminum sign panel onto the existing sign. Insert to be manufactured and installed by City staff. It is anticipated that the material cost will be under $1,000. This alternative will not give a permanent look to the sign and should only be used with the intent to replace the sign in the near future. Brentwood Park: The replacement of the existing wood monument sign (Attachment 4) is a part of Phase II of the Brentwood Park Master Plan for which staff recently obtained a grant. Final design is scheduled to take place this fiscal year and construction will begin in Fiscal Year 2012-2013. Changing the name of the park will not add additional costs to the project. Del Mesa Park: The replacement of the existing pole mounted aluminum sign (Attachment 4) is estimated to cost less than $200 and would be manufactured and installed by City staff. Civic Center Park: The replacement of the existing pole mounted aluminum sign (Attachment 4) is estimated to cost less than $200 and would be manufactured and installed by City staff. A permanent park sign would need to be coordinated with the design and construction of the Central Library. LEGAL REVIEW: A legal review is not required for the recommended action. CONCLUSION: City Council may select and approve a City park to be renamed after former Mayor and Council Member Jack Hammett. If a park is selected, City Council may also approve the new park name. ERNESTO MUNOZ City Engineer PETER NAGHAVI, Director Department of Public Services ATTACHMENTS: 1. Jack Hammett's Biography 2. Mayor's Award Press Release 3. Council Policy 800-1 — City Park Names 4. Current Park Signs DISTRIBUTION: Chief Executive Officer City Attorney City Clerk Interim Development Services Director Maintenance Services Manager Staff File 3