The Public Administration Committee moved July 20 to forward a draft memorials and public art policy to the full City Council after staff reported the Parks Advisory Board recommended several wording changes.

Public Works Director Jennifer Ward said the parks board asked that its role be clarified as advisory — the board should recommend approval or denial to council rather than hold authority to deny applications directly. The board also requested that decommissioning and removal language give the city more flexibility to relocate or remove memorials in certain circumstances, and that a site plan or map be required with applications.

Ward reviewed content in the draft policy addressing prohibited content for public memorials and art, including profanity, gang or hate-group material, images promoting violence, and religious iconography. A councillor asked why the draft also included a bullet to "consider the diversity of the city's population when reviewing proposals." Ward said that language was intended to give council discretion to weigh whether a memorial is consistent with the community's demographic and cultural context; committee members discussed whether that phrase should be removed or reworded to avoid appearing exclusionary.

Committee members also recommended some wording edits (for instance, removing references to a position title that no longer exists and clarifying which items are required in an application and which are part of the board's later review). A motion to forward the policy to council with a "due pass" recommendation, incorporating committee revisions, was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

Staff will send a revised draft reflecting the committee's direction to the council for action; the committee did not adopt a final policy at this meeting.