RPVCCA_CC_SS_2013_12_17_SS2A_Wall_Of_HonorCITY OF
MEMORANDUM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
FROM: COUNCILWOMAN SUSAN BROOKS
DATE: DECEMBE.R 17, 2013
SUBJECT: WALL OF HONOR
RECOMMENDATION
1) Identify a location and allocate the necessary funding for establishment of a Wall of
Honor; and, 2) Establish a sub-committee to follow-through with staff and bring a plan
back to Council for consideration.
DISCUSSION
City Council Policy #37 calls for establishment of a "Wall of Honor" to recognize those
who've made significant contributions to RPV history, posthumously. As individuals and
the city age, it is time we take action.
While it was requested at our May budget workshop, funding was not allocated,
accordingly. My request is to identify a location and allocate the necessary funding for
establishment of such a structure. There is a good opportunity to begin the placement
of name plates at a location just outside City Hall until a suitable structure is built.
I am also requesting that Council establish a sub-committee to follow-through with staff
and bring a plan back to Council for consideration.
Attachment:
City Council Policy No. 37: Naming of Public Facilities and Placing of Monuments and Other
Memorials
SS 2A-1
CITY COUNCIL POLICY
NUMBER: 37
DATE ADOPTED/AMENDED: 01/07/03 (Amended 9/15/09 and 12/20/11)
SUBJECT: Naming of Public Facilities and Placing of Monuments and Other
Memorials
POLICY:
It shall be the policy of the City Council to name City facilities in the following
manner:
• General
The policy of the City is to name facilities in a manner that will provide an
easy and recognizable reference to the City's residents and visitors.
• Geographic Location
Whenever possible, City facilities will be named for their geographic
location. The geographic location may be based on the identification of
the facility with a specific place, neighborhood, street, topographic or other
natural feature, such as a drainage course, tree or plant species, or
historical precedent.
• Individual/Organizational Recognition
The naming of City facilities in honor of individuals or community
organizations will be a rare event, and will be considered under the
following conditions:
1. The individual, a family or a community organization has made
exceptional contributions to the City, including one or more of the
following: a) financial gifts, b) public service as an elected official, c)
public service as a community volunteer, or d) long term
sponsorship agreements.
2. There should be a well-defined connection between the
contributions of the individual or community organization and the
City facility.
3. The significance of the contribution from the individual/organization
needs to be evaluated in relation to the impact of the City facility.
Individuals and organizations that have made contributions of
regional or community-wide significance may be considered for
naming of facilities that serve the entire City. Individuals and
organizations that have made significant contributions to a
particular area or neighborhood may be considered for the naming
SS 2A-2
City Council Policy No. 37 for Naming Public Facilities
Last Amendment: December 20, 2011
Page 2 of 4
of facilities that serve these areas or neighborhoods within the City,
including recreational and other amenities within City parks.
4. When considering naming a City facility after an individual, a period
of at least three (3) years shall have passed following the death of
such person to allow perspective and an appropriate period of
reflection.
5. Only a current Mayor or City Councilmember may nominate an
individual to have a City facility named in his or her honor, and the
determination will be made by the City Council.
City policy does not preclude additional opportunities for recognition that
may be created in the future. For instance, the Point Vicente Interpretive
Center is planned to include exhibits that may be funded by individual or
corporate donations. Recognition of such donations may include a donor
wall within the Interpretive Center, or recognition of a contributor's
sponsorship of a specific exhibit.
It shall be the policy of the City Council to allow the placing of monuments and
other memorials on City properties under the following guidelines:
• Monuments
Monuments in honor or in memory of persons may be permitted, in
rare cases, on City property with permission of the City Council under
the following conditions:
1. The person memorialized is closely associated with the area where
the monument will be located. The person memorialized is known
to, and revered, by a significant number of City residents.
2. The monument design is discreet and unobtrusive and designed to
blend into the surrounding area. A small plaque on a large rock (4
cubic feet) would be appropriate. The location of the monument
will be determined by City staff with approval of the City Council.
3. Costs of design, installation and maintenance of the monument will
be determined by the City and borne by the requester at the
discretion of the City. Only City personnel or City contractors may
perform work on City property.
4. The monument is only a marker and is not a place of worship, a
cemetery or official gathering place. Flowers, and other
memorabilia are not permitted and will be removed by
maintenance personnel.
5. The City is not responsible for damage or deterioration of the
monument and may remove it at any time for any reason with
permission of the City Council.
SS 2A-3
City Council Policy No. 37 for Naming Public Facilities
Last Amendment: December 20, 2011
Page 3 of 4
• Benches or Trees
Benches or trees in honor or in memory of deceased persons may be
placed in City parks, or other City spaces, at the discretion of the City
Manager under the following conditions:
1. The bench design, or tree species, will be determined by the City
and the location of the bench or tree will be selected by the City.
2. A relatively small plaque (5" x 8"), with inscription or other written
memorial information may be placed on the bench or near the tree.
3. Costs of design, installation and maintenance of the bench or tree
will be determined by the City and borne by the requester at the
discretion of the City. Only City personnel or City contractors may
perform work on City property.
4. The bench, or tree, is only a marker and is not a place of worship, a
cemetery or official gathering place. Flowers, and other
memorabilia are not permitted and will be removed by maintenance
personnel.
5. The City is not responsible for damage or deterioration of the bench
or tree and may remove it at any time for any reason without
replacement.
It shall be the policy of the City Council to establish a "Wall of Honor" under the
following guidelines:
• Wall of Honor
The Wall of Honor will memorialize the names of distinguished
community leaders who have made substantial contributions to the
City of Rancho Palos Verdes under the following conditions:
1. Persons nominated for the "Wall of Honor" shall have been
dedicated community leaders who have contributed significantly to
the quality of life offered by the City and realization of the vision
expressed in the original General Plan. The honoree must have
had a significant presence in the community throughout a good
portion of their life and should have made notable impacts on
sustaining the quality of life of the residents of Rancho Palos
Verdes.
2. Persons nominated for inclusion on the "Wall of Honor" will be
deceased and will not have been previously honored by other
actions of the City such as facilities named in their honor or other
memorial.
3. When a person is nominated for inclusion on the "Wall of Honor"
staff should consult with the Palos Verdes Peninsula Library
District, local historical society or other appropriate sources to
SS 2A-4
City Council Policy No. 37 for Naming Public Facilities
Last Amendment: December 20, 2011
Page 4 of 4
determine the significance of the individual's contributions to the
community and report these findings to the City Council.
4. Only a current Mayor or City Councilmember may nominate a
citizen to be included on the "Wall of Honor." The determination of
the persons who will be included will be made by the City Council.
5. The location of the "Wall" and the format of names and inscriptions
shall be established by the City Council.
BACKGROUND
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes has lacked a uniform policy to assist the City
Council and to guide staff in the naming of City facilities, including parks and
op~n space areas, buildings, streets and other public amenities. In addition,
there have been no formal policies or guidelines for honoring City leaders, nor for
memorializing persons whose loved ones simply want to provide a remembrance
in the form of a bench or tree.
Although the City has had no formal policy for naming public facilities and sites in
honor of persons, there are precedents. Fred Hesse Park and Community
Center is named for a City founder, Robert Ryan Park is named for a former
Mayor and Councilmember and Vanderlip Park is named for an original
Peninsula landowner. There is a GPS monument at Portuguese Point named in
honor of Dr. Perry Ehlig. There is a trail below Ocean Terrace Drive known as
the McBride Trail in honor of the man who constructed it. There are also three
small memorials, one near Ladera Linda Community Center, one at the Point
Vicente Interpretive Center and the other near Inspiration Point that honor
persons who died prematurely. Finally, there have been numerous requests
from individuals to install park benches or plant trees in memory of deceased
loved ones, many of which have been granted.
The development of a Policy to guide the naming of City facilities, the permitting
of monuments, benches and trees is intended to enable these processes to be
conducted in an equitable, objective and consistent manner. In addition, the
establishment of a "Wall of Honor" will offer a new formal opportunity for honoring
community leaders.
SS 2A-5