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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 7.3 FairfieldParkDedicate CITY CLERK File # 920-60 AGENDA STATEMENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: October 16, 2001 SUBJECT: Ted Fairfield Park Dedication Report Prepared by Paul McCreary, Recreation Supervisor ATTACHMENTS: None RECOMMENDATION: Receive report and provide direction on preferred event date and ]~'~, ~ components. FINANCIAL STATEMENT: Sufficient funds are available in the Fiscal Year 2001-2002 Budget DESCRIPTION: On September 4, 2001, the City Council directed Staff to conduct a dedication event for Ted Fairfield Park upon completion of the park construction. The Council approved an initial event plan with a western barbecue theme. The approved plan included the following activities: 1. Dedication ceremony and unveiling of the park sign 2. Performance by Country Western band 3. Western barbecue lunch 4. Neighborhood Chili Cook-off 5. Roller hockey demonstrations and lessons 6. Soccer skills challenge 7. Children's craft with western theme 8. Display of Art in the Park models for park 9. Distribution of commemorative insulated nylon cooler At the time the plans for the park dedication were approved, it was estimated that construction of the park would be completed in late October. The completion date has since changed to late November. PG&E was scheduled to install equipment to the DSRSD Pump Station in early September and PG&E was delayed in installing the equipment. The equipment has now been installed but because of PG&E's delay, the park contractor could not complete the adjacent plaza area according to the schedule that was presented to the Council in September. Staff is concerned if the event is delayed until December then the activities originally planned might not be appropriate due to colder temperatures and the increased chance for inclement weather. The following options are available to the City. Option 1 - Hold event in December and proceed with planned activities The City could delay the event until early December and attempt to conduct the same activities. However, if it is cold participants may not wish to spend an extended amount of time at the park for a western barbecue and other activities. Depending on the severity of the rainy season the turf areas may not be suitable for use. COPIES TO: G:\COUNCIL\10-16-01 Ted Fairfield Park Dedication.doc ITEM NO. Option 2 - Hold event in December and change activities Another option would be to delay the event until December but plan activities that would be more suitable for colder weather. The event could still begin with a dedication ceremony and unveiling of the park sign. Rather than serving a western barbecue lunch, the event could be held earlier in the morning and warm coffee, tea and hot chocolate could be served with breakfast pastries such as doughnuts and muffins. Instead of having a band, Staff would recommend hiring roaming entertainment such as a clown or arranging for pictures with a costumed mascot from a professional sports team or amusement park. A simple children's craft project could still be planned, however Staff would recommend not conducting the soccer and roller hockey activities. Option 3 - Delay event until spring and proceed with planned activities The event could be delayed until spring when the weather would be more suitable for a park dedication. Based on the City's current event schedule, April would be the preferred month for conducting the event. However, postponing the event until spring could be anticlimactic since the park will have already been open to the public for several months. ART IN THE PARKS DISPLAY Originally the artwork proposals from the five finalists for the Art in the Parks project for Ted Fairfield Park were to be displayed at the event. The selection of the art will be complete by December; therefore it would be too late to display the proposals atthe dedication. However, the selected artwork proposal could be displayed at the event. EVENT DATE If the Council prefers condUcting the dedication in December, Mr. Fairfield would be available on either December 1 or 8. ~If the Council decides to delay the event until April, Staff would report back to the Council on potential dates at a future meeting. RECOMMENDATION Receive the report and provide direction on the preferred ,event date and components.