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Committee agrees to develop a bench-naming program and draft policy for council review
Summary
City staff told the advisory committee the city will draft a formal bench/memorial program with options, fees and time-limited placements; the committee supported a menu of options and an application process that would go to government operations and city council for approval.
The Parks, Recreation and Harbor Advisory Committee on April 10 directed staff to draft a formal program for memorial benches and other small commemorative donations (trees, bike racks, picnic tables), including an application process and fees tied to specific options, and to bring the draft for government operations and council approval.
Marie Tulep, parks and recreation director, told the committee that to date requests to place benches or memorial items have been handled informally, with donors sourcing and paying for items and staff assisting with location and installation. Tulep said the proposed program would offer a menu of vetted bench types and other options, establish a dedicated fund for memorial donations, and set time limits commonly used in other municipalities (examples cited included 5- and 10-year terms).
"We would manage it much like our event permit policy," Tulep said. Committee members asked about eligibility and criteria for who may be memorialized; Tulep said the municipal examples she reviewed did not impose strict limits on who could be memorialized and that approvals would be at department and municipal discretion.
Committee members supported allowing alternatives to benches — such as tree plantings, bike racks or picnic tables — and suggested offering location constraints (for instance, larger picnic tables only in selected areas). Members also raised maintenance and longevity concerns and suggested a time-limited placement or renewal option and clear language about responsibility for replacing damaged plaques or items. Tulep cited an example policy that places replacement responsibility for stolen or vandalized plaques with the donor rather than the municipality.
Tulep said staff will draft a policy and options list, include vendor choices, and prepare the required approvals through government operations and city council. She said the intent of the program is to offset the cost of the donated amenity rather than serve as an ongoing fundraising mechanism.
