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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-02-23 - AGENDA REPORTS - SC HONOR COURT (2)Agenda Item: 12 CITY OF SANTA CLARITA Q) AGENDA REPORT NEW BUSINESS i, CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: fAl DATE: February 23, 2016 SUBJECT: CITY OF SANTA CLARITA HONOR COURT DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office PRESENTER: Marsha McLean RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council discuss and provide direction regarding guidelines for and appropriate ways to honor individuals in the City. BACKGROUND At the May 12, 2015, City Council meeting, the City Council considered naming the Golden Valley Road/State Route 14 Bridge. During the discussion of this item, then Mayor Marsha McLean commented on the lack of a formal City policy for naming facilities, and proposed the concept of a City Hall Honor Court to honor and memorialize individuals who have made significant contributions to the City of Santa Clarity This concept was again mentioned at the December 8, 2015, City Council meeting, following the passing of Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commissioner Duane Harte. There have been instances where members of the public have approached the City Council, seeking to name a City facility after an individual. Historically, the City has recognized individuals in one of three ways, through the creation of plazas, the placement of memorials, or by naming a City facility or amenity. Plazas In 2000, the Santa Clarita City Council initiated an effort to raise funds for the design and construction of Veterans Historical Plaza (Plaza), a place to honor the military service of individuals who reside in or who have ties to the Santa Clarita community. The Commemorative Brick program at the Plaza was created to allow the public a way to honor veterans or other individuals through the purchase of bricks which are installed at the Plaza. The founding members of the Plaza felt strongly that the brick program was a way to preserve the beauty and serenity of the Plaza by avoiding multiple monuments on the site that were not included in the original concept. Page 1 PacketPg. 81 On February 22, 2011, the City Council adopted the Veterans Historical Plaza Special Use Policy. The intent of the Special Use Policy is to outline the appropriate uses for the Plaza, provide a written set of procedures to allow for the consideration of modifications or improvements to the Plaza, and allow the City to handle the ordering and installation of Commemorative Bricks in the Plaza for the long-term. The SCV Veterans Memorial, Inc. supported both the draft policy and the City's facilitation of the administrative tasks associated with the Commemorative Brick program. Currently, there is a proposal to install additional monuments at the Plaza, in accordance with the Special Use Policy. Currently, the only memorial plaque at the Plaza that honors an individual is for Senator William J. "Pete" Knight, who was instrumental in the creation of the Plaza. The plaque honoring Senator Knight was anticipated in the original design of the Plaza and approved by the City Council on August 23, 2011, in accordance with the Special Use Policy. At the January 22, 2013, City Council meeting, Bill Reynolds made a request of the City Council to install a monument at the Plaza to recognize 14 residents of the Santa Clarita Valley who sacrificed their lives for our country in the Vietnam War. During the planning process of Veterans Historical Plaza, the founding members reached consensus regarding the rows of the brick walkway for the placement of engraved bricks for all veterans, with the innermost row reserved for the recognition of those killed or wounded in action. Bricks in this row have a star engraved in the lower right corner. In response to Mr. Reynolds' request, then Councilmember Kellar suggested and the City placed a brick at the Plaza for each of the individuals Mr. Reynolds identified as a way to honor their service and sacrifice. Each brick has a star, the name of the honoree, and year they were killed. Thirteen of the bricks reference Vietnam, and the 14th brick is for a veteran who was killed in action in Cambodia. These bricks were paid for by the City and were placed in the inner ring of bricks. Memorials There are several memorials located around the City. The Rotary Garden at the George A. Caravalho Santa Clarita Sports Complex includes the names of all Santa Clarita residents who died at war. There is a plaque located at Eternal Valley that recognizes Santa Clarita veterans. A Community Memorial Wall, located at the Habitat for Heroes site, commemorates all six branches of the military. Naming of Facilities There have been several instances when the City Council approved the naming of a City facility or amenity after an individual. In December 1998, the City Council named the City's third Metrolink Station "The Jan Heidt Newhall Metrolink Station," after the then outgoing Mayor. In 2001, the City Council named the new library facility in Canyon Country the "Canyon Country Jo Anne Darcy Library, Santa Clarita, California" after Councilmember Jo Anne Darcy, who served as a Councilmember at that time. In June 2002, the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission recommended that the Santa Clarita Sports Complex be named after former City Manager, George Caravalho, and in July 2002, the City Council named that facility the "George A. Caravalho Santa Clarita Sports Page 2 Packet Pg. 82 Complex." Following the sudden passing of Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commissioner Todd Longshore, and later the sudden passing of Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commissioner Ed Redd, the Commission took steps in 2006 and in 2010 to honor both men. In 2006, the Commission recommended that the City Council name the new City park on Whites Canyon Road "Todd Longshore Park," in part due to the close proximity of the park to the Longshore home. hi 2010, the Commission recommended that the Council name the Teen Room at the Newhall Community Center the "Ed Redd Teen Room" to honor Commissioner Redd's deep concern for teen issues and his regular interactions with the teens at the Newhall Community Center. In both cases, the City Council approved the recommendations of the Commission. In January 2011, the City Council named the Cross Valley Connector/Golden Valley Bridge the "Fallen Warrior Memorial Bridge," and in May 2015, the City Council voted to name the Golden Valley Road/State Route 14 Bridge in honor of the late long-time Santa Clarita resident and community leader Connie Worden-Roberts. Finally, in January 2016, the City Council approved the designation of the Cross Valley Connector as the "Santa Clarita Veterans Parkway" in honor of the more than 10,000 service men and women that reside in Santa Clarita. Each of these attempts to name an amenity or facility in honor of an individual or group has been made independently without the assistance of a naming policy or guidelines. Other cities have utilized a range of options to recognize individuals. Some cities have adopted formal naming policies or guidelines that include specific processes to recognize individuals, along with options for what facilities or amenities can be named. Other cities have been less restrictive in how they recognize members of the community. In the absence of a formal naming policy, the Santa Clarita Honor Court concept was suggested, and staff was directed to come up with general guidelines for the City Council to consider. The Honor Court would be a way to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the City of Santa Clarita, by giving them special recognition on some type of monument placed either inside or in front of City Hall. A series of proposed criteria have been drafted for the City Council's consideration. As appropriate, the City Council would then determine which individuals would be included in the Santa Clarita Honor Court. The proposed criteria are: • The individual lived in the Santa Clarita Valley for at least 10 years; and • The individual made significant contributions to the development and growth of the City of Santa Clarita and/or its institutions; and • The individual has been a person of exemplary character and citizenship. In order to be considered for inclusion in the Honor Court, no formal nomination process would be required; rather any member of the City Council or the community could suggest that the City Council include an individual in the Honor Court. At a regular meeting of the City Council, City Council approval would be required to include individuals in the Honor Court, and to direct staff to take the necessary actions to memorialize those individuals. Page 3 Packet Pg. 83 Should the City Council decide to implement an Honor Court, staff would seek the services of a consultant to assist in creating a suitable and aesthetically pleasing concept and to help locate the Honor Court in an appropriate location. ALTERNATIVE ACTION Other action as determined by City Council. FISCAL IMPACT None by this action. Page 4 Packet Pg. 84