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Public commenters urge renaming for Jesse Owens and pressing for Rogers Ranch Park funding
Summary
During call to the public, Jerry Vanas requested renaming at Caesar Chavez Park to honor Jesse Owens; Michael Norton urged the board to allocate impact‑fee funds he said have existed since 2012 to build Rogers Ranch Park, a claim staff did not answer on the record.
During the meeting’s public‑comment period, Jerry Vanas asked the Parks Board to consider a formal request to rename a facility at Caesar Chavez Park in honor of track legend Jesse Owens and provided the board with a written request.
Michael Norton, representing Rogers Ranch 2 HOA, told the board he had reviewed the city’s impact‑fee reports dating back to 2012 and contended there have consistently been sufficient impact fees allocated for parks in the Laveen/Southwest area to build Rogers Ranch Park. Norton urged the board and staff to allocate the existing funds for the project rather than delay construction. He said he and his neighbors had given the land to the city expecting a park to be built and that impact‑fee balances should cover the cost now.
“Each year from the time that that land was given to the city, there have been enough impact fees for parks in the Laveen Southwest area segment of Phoenix to have built Rogers Ranch Park,” Norton told the board.
Staff did not provide a fiscal rebuttal or confirm impact‑fee balances during the public‑comment exchange. The board reminded callers that items brought up during public comment cannot be discussed in depth unless they are listed on a future agenda; action from the board is limited to requesting staff study the matter or rescheduling it for a future meeting.
Dana Kennedy, identified in comments as president of the Rogers Ranch 2 HOA, was noted as trying to log in but did not speak during the time allotted.
The board did not take immediate action on either public comment, but members may request future agenda placement or staff follow‑up per the board’s public‑comment rules.
