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Parks committee reviews draft bench naming and donation policy, recommends referral to Government Operations
Summary
The Parks, Recreation and Harbor Advisory Committee reviewed a draft bench naming and donation policy that establishes application procedures, fees, a 10-year recognition term and an appeal process; the committee recommended forwarding the draft to the city’s Government Operations committee for further consideration.
Kim Boucher, chair of the Parks, Recreation and Harbor Advisory Committee, opened discussion on a draft bench naming and donation policy at the committee’s May 8 meeting.
The draft would create a standardized application and approval process for memorial recognitions — including benches, trees and tables — and would move management of those requests from ad-hoc handling to the Parks and Recreation Department. Committee members said the policy mirrors other city policy formats with sections for purpose, definitions, process, fees and an appeal path.
Assistant Director Debbie Jean Nero and staff said the draft includes a time-limited recognition — typically a 10-year term after which a donor may renew — and a decommissioning process. The draft also would establish a fee schedule and an online application form modeled on other city permit forms.
Committee members asked staff to check several technical items in the draft, including a missing measurement that staff said was likely a 3-inch specification. The committee discussed making the policy flexible enough to allow several types of recognition objects while ensuring citywide consistency through a limited set of styles.
The committee indicated unanimous support to move the draft forward: members agreed the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee had reviewed and recommended the draft be presented to the Government Operations committee as the next step. Staff said they will prepare a formal application form and presentation for that committee.
Next steps: staff will refine the draft, prepare an application form and present the policy and recommendation to the Government Operations committee for review and potential action.
