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CC SR 20210601 10 - Ken Dyda Park Naming CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 06/01/2021 AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business AGENDA TITLE: Consideration and possible action to consider a potential City facility to be named in honor of Councilmember Ken Dyda. RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION: (1) Provide Staff direction on a potential City facility to be re-named in honor of Councilmember Ken Dyda. FISCAL IMPACT: None Amount Budgeted: NA Additional Appropriation: NA Account Number(s): NA ORIGINATED BY: Matt Waters, Senior Administrative Analyst REVIEWED BY: Cory Linder, Recreation and Parks Director APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: A. City Council Policy No. 37 BACKGROUND: On April 6, 2021, during the City Council’s review of City Council Policies, Mayor Pro Tem Bradley expressed a desire to honor current Councilmember and former Mayor Ken Dyda by re-naming a City facility in his honor as a means of thanking him for his tremendous legacy of service. While the Point Vicente Interpretive Center was mentioned as a potential candidate, a commitment was not made that evening as the Council directed Staff to return at a future date with more information to consider. Tonight’s report is intended to provide a list of potential City facilities that could be renamed for the City Council’s consideration. 1 DISCUSSION: The City has previously named a number of facilities after individuals, including former Mayors Robert E. Ryan, Marilyn Ryan, and John McTaggart, City Founder Fred Hesse Jr., and Randall Simmons, an LAPD officer slain in the line of duty. Per Council Policy Number 37 (Attachment A), concerning 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. Ind ividuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to a particular area or neighborhood may be considered for the naming 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. Councilmember Dyda does not meet the above conditions, but there is a desire to recognize him now for his many civic accomplishments and contributions to the City, including: • Co-Founder of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes. • Served 13 years on the City Council with multiple terms as Mayor & Mayor Pro- tem. Mayor: 1978-79 and 2015-16. Mayor Pro Tem: 1973-75 and 1977-78. • Incorporation of Municipalities in California. Authored the state legislation that modified the voting process for incorporation. (Caused the change of similar legislation in 28 other states.) • Rancho de los Palos Verdes Historical Society. (1975) Co-founder & Past 2 President. • Peninsula Symphony Association - Past President and Member of the Board of Directors. • Geologic Hazard Abatement Districts. Authored the state legislation creating the districts. • Abalone Cove Landslide Abatement District. Past member. • Klondike Canyon Landslide Abatement District. Past member. • Don Wallace Radio Ranch Museum. Co-founder and Past Chairman. • Southern California Association of Governments. Pa st City representative. • South Bay Sanitation District. Past Member of the board of directors. • City representative to the Contract Cities Association, introduced Performance. Based Contracting for Sheriff Services. • The 5th Sanitation District. Past Member of the Board of Directors. • RPV VOICE. Founder and Past Chairman of the Board. • Rancho Palos Verdes Financial Advisory Committee. Past Chairman & Member. • San Pedro Peninsula YMCA Indian Guides. Past district chairman. • Boy Scout Troop 276. Committee Chairman. • Grandview Country Club Estates Homeowners. President. • Rancho Palos Verdes Council of Homeowners Associations. Member. • Rancho Palos Verdes View Restoration Commission. Past member. • Rancho Palos Verdes 2002 Goals Report, General Chairman. • Rancho Palos Verdes Neighborhood Compatibility Committee. • Palos Verdes Bridge Club. Chairman. • Member of the Save Our Coastline (S.O.C.) Executive/Policy Committee. • Chairman of the Fourth City Petition Campaign Committee. • Chairman of the S.O.C. Steering Committee. • Chairman of the S.O.C. Election Committee. • Chairman and Researcher of the Fourth City Financial Feasibility Report. The number of City projects and initiatives Councilmember Dyda has led or played a significant role in is too lengthy to include here. His dedication to solving the Portuguese Bend Landslide issue has been a particular passion. In addition to his civic accomplishments, Councilmember Dyda worked 35 years for North American Aviation (now Boeing) and five (5) years for Northrop. He received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, did graduate-level study in Math, Physics, and Astrodynamics at UCLA, and is an instrument rated private pilot. He has consulted with NATO, the United States Naval Training Devices Center, the United States Air Force, and Flight Safety Inc. Among numerous professional affiliations and accomplishments, he has lectured at Cambridge University and recognized on the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum Walk of Fame. A 60-year resident of the Rancho Palos Verdes area, Councilmember Dyda is married to Lorraine and has two children and two grandchildren. 3 Potential City Facilities to Rename: • Point Vicente Interpretive Center: This premier whale watching site opened in 1984 and was expanded in 2006. The site provides spectacular opportunities to view the annual migration of the Pacific gray whale from December through April. The site is a very popular destination with visitors from throughout the world, and its current name is well-branded, so a name change may cause some temporary confusion. • Sunset Room at the Point Vicente Interpretive Center: This multi-purpose room features tremendous ocean and Catalina Island views. This would be similar to the honor bestowed upon former Mayor and 20 -year Councilmember John McTaggart who had the Hesse Park Multi-purpose Room named in his honor as the John McTaggart Memorial Hall and Council Chambers in 2013. The City Council recommended that if the Council Chambers were ever re-located, it would still be named for Mayor McTaggart. • Grandview Park: This 18-acre, open space park offers beautiful views and informal walking trails. It is located near Councilmember Dyda’s long-time home. • City Hall and/or Upper Point Vicente/Civic Center: Currently in the midst of a Civic Center Master Plan process, this 17-acre site offers spectacular ocean views from multiple locations and includes the current City Hall complex. The park grounds, City Hall, or the entire complex could be named for Councilmember Dyda. While all the options would be fitting tributes to Councilmember Dyda’s legacy, the selection of all or a portion of the Civic Center property would be particularly appropriate given his contribution to the founding of Rancho Palos Verdes and his decades-long involvement in City Government. If considering whether an exception is acceptable, the City Attorney has opined that the City Council can consider an exception via resolution. Staff can return with detailed cost estimates and associated logistics following Council direction. ALTERNATIVES: In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative actions are available for the City Council’s consideration: 1. Take no action, thereby not proceeding with naming a facility after Councilman Dyda. 2. Recommend additional City facilities. 3. Take other action as deemed appropriate. 4 CITY COUNCIL POLICY NUMBER: 37 DATE ADOPTED/AMENDED: 01/07/03 (Amended 9/15/09, 12/20/11, and 4/20/21) SUBJECT: Naming of Public Facilities and Placing of Monuments and Other Memorials ________________________________________________________________ POLICY: I. City Facilities It shall be the policy of the City Council to name City facilities in the following manner: ƒ 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. ƒ 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. ƒ 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 A-1 City Council Policy No. 37 for Naming Public Facilities Last Amendment: December 20, 2011 Page 2 of 4 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 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 Council Member 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. II. Monuments and Other Memorials 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: ƒ 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 requestor 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. A-2 City Council Policy No. 37 for Naming Public Facilities Last Amendment: December 20, 2011 Page 3 of 4 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. ƒ 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 requestor 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. III. Wall of Honor It shall be the policy of the City Council to establish a “Wall of Honor” under the following guidelines: ƒ 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. A-3 City Council Policy No. 37 for Naming Public Facilities Last Amendment: December 20, 2011 Page 4 of 4 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 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 open 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. A-4