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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 7.2 Name Mini Orchard & Rose Garden Parksor 19 82 /ii � 111 DATE: TO: FROM: SUBJECT STAFF REPORT CITY COUNCIL May 21, 2013 Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers Joni Pattillo City Manager""' CITY CLERK File #295 - 20/215 -20 Naming of the Historic Park Mini - Orchard and Emerald Glen Park Rose Garden Prepared by Paul McCreary, Parks and Community Services Director EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The City Council will receive an update on naming the new mini - orchard at the Heritage Park after the Burton family, and the rose garden at Emerald Glen Park after the McCormick family. FINANCIAL IMPACT: For the mini - orchard, the cost to create and install an interim sign engraved with "Burton Orchard" at the Heritage Park would be covered by using volunteer help and existing resources within the park operations budget. For the rose garden, the City would contribute up to $2,500 toward artwork naming it "McCormick Garden ", matching the $2,500 donation offered by the Dublin San Ramon Services District. The cost of expanding the rose garden and benches would be covered by private donations. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the City Council approve the proposed plans for naming the two park amenities. Submitted B Reviewed By Director of Parkland Assistant City Manager Community Services DESCRIPTION: Naming of Burton Orchard at the Heritage Park and Museums On May 17, 2011, the City Council considered a request by former Mayor Lockhart to place a plaque at the Dublin Heritage Park and Museums to recognize the generosity of Dave and Bea Burton for their contributions to the community. They were key players in the City's incorporation efforts, and Mr. Burton served many years on the City Council. Mr. Burton was also instrumental in the restoration of the bell tower at the Old Murray Schoolhouse. The City Council directed Staff to defer placing a plaque until the City constructs the Orchard Phase of Page 1 of 3 ITEM NO. 7.2 the Heritage Park Master Plan. At this time that phase is an unfunded project and beyond the timeframe of the current five -year Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The estimated cost of the Orchard Phase is $4.1 million. During the recent Dublin Pride Week activities, and in celebration of Arbor Day, volunteers planted several fruit trees to create a mini - orchard between the Church and Schoolhouse as shown on the map in Attachment 1. The trees in the mini - orchard include oranges, a lime, a Meyer lemon and a plum. Staff plans to utilize the fruit from the mini - orchard to conduct demonstrations and activities that will educate the public in an interactive way about the importance that preserving and canning played in early ranch life. Based on the previous City Council's direction to name the future Orchard Phase after the David and Bea Burton, Staff is proposing an alternative for City Council consideration to name the recently planted mini - orchard after the Burtons in the interim until the final Orchard Phase of the park has been completed. If the City Council concurs, Staff would work with volunteers and existing resources to create a wooden sign that would complement the white - washed lattice fence adjacent to the mini - orchard and Church. The sign would feature a plaque engraved with the words "Burton Orchard ". Staff would anticipate completing the project this summer. Naming of McCormick Rose Garden at Emerald Glen Park At the April 16, 2013 City Council meeting, by consensus, the City Council directed Staff to investigate options regarding renaming the Emerald Glen Rose Garden to the McCormick Rose Garden, including a possible partnership with the Dublin San Ramon Services District ( DSRSD), and investigate how other communities name sites. Staff will be bringing back a separate report at a future meeting regarding naming policies in other communities. As directed by City Council, Staff contacted Ms. McCormick to determine the family's preference for recognizing the McCormick's at the Rose Garden or alternatively at the Heritage Park. Ms. McCormick was honored and overjoyed by the City Council's recognition, and indicated the family's preference is to rename the Rose Garden. She would like to have artwork commissioned to be the marker identifying it as McCormick Garden, and wants to be part of the planning because she wishes to help offset some of the cost of the artwork. The City Manager also met with General Manager of DSRSD, who indicated conceptual approval of funding up to $2,500 toward the naming of the Rose Garden in recognition of Mr. McCormick's service on the DSRSD Board. Based on the discussions with Ms. McCormick and DSRSD Staff prepared a conceptual plan for the Rose Garden (Attachment 2), and recommends the City match the contribution from DSRSD to provide up to $2,500 toward artwork for the garden for a total of $5,000. Although this would not be subject to the Public Art Ordinance, Staff would treat it as a donation to the Public Art Program as outlined in the Public Art Master Plan, and coordinate closely with Ms. McCormick on her preferred art selection, with final acceptance by the City Council. Staff also recommends expanding the Rose Garden as part of the 2014 Dublin Pride Week Activities to create a larger garden that could better integrate the proposed artwork. Since one of the goals of the Public Art Program is to integrate artwork into the City's built environment, expansion of the Rose Garden will allow the artwork to be sited to invite the visitor to experience the garden and create a sense of discovery. Page 2 of 3 Similar to how the Rose Garden was first established in 2003, and then expanded in 2004; the community would be invited to purchase rose bushes for approximately $30 each to be planted in a new garden area (see Attachment 2). Donors would receive a special certificate indicating their "ownership" and ID number. Additionally the existing donor plaque would be relocated and updated to include everyone's number and name. Staff anticipates the artwork and expansion of the Rose Garden could be completed by the end of Fiscal Year 2013 -2014. To further enhance the Rose Garden, Staff recommends identifying locations for the future installation of up to six commemorative park benches adjacent to the Rose Garden. The benches would match the existing park benches and have a place to mount a small engraved plaque in honor of the donor or their designee. The benches would provide places for park users to stop and enjoy the beauty of the roses, as well as provide future opportunities to recognize community members. Finally, Staff will seek volunteers or an Eagle Scout to construct a storage box and bench at the far end of the Rose Garden to store maintenance and pruning supplies for the Mt. Diablo Rose Society which maintains the Rose Garden in exchange for complimentary meeting space at City facilities. NOTICING REQUIREMENTS /PUBLIC OUTREACH: A copy of the Staff Report was sent to the Burton Family, McCormick Family, former Mayor Janet Lockhart, and the Parks and Community Services Commission. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Heritage Park Site Plan Showing Mini - Orchard Location 2. Conceptual Site Plan for McCormick Rose Garden Page 3 of 3 ppp,qr C p L ChuT9 lk4 Mini Orchard 16 FELIM M T ANIL "11*1 e, 4w ONO e. 0 JO 40 *- x:;oioO' 'r 44!