Title
a. Accept a Final Report on the Memorial Bench for Warren Church at Royal Oaks. (Continued from 10/4/18 Parks Commission Meeting).
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Parks Commission:
a. Accept a Final Report on the Memorial Bench for Warren Church at Royal Oaks Park.
SUMMARY:
In March of 2018, your Commission approved the donation of a memorial bench at Royal Oaks Park in recognition of Warren Church, former 1st District Monterey County Supervisor 1965-77, and directed staff to work with the family on the type of bench, recognition plaque and placement. The proposed memorial bench project followed the draft guidelines for reviewing proposals for gifts of funds or improvements for park facilities by individuals. These guidelines have been approved by your Commission and are pending review and consideration by the Board of Supervisors. The proposed project also followed the original Parks Department policy for “Proposals for Gifts of Funds or Improvements for Park Facilities by Individuals”, and if the gift is over $500, the name of the individual being recognized shall be displayed. Staff worked with the family to determine the most appropriate location with the intent of minimizing any potential issues and to ensure the best siting and use of land in harmony with the park.
To locate the memorial bench, the area was cleared, new edging was placed, decomposed granite surfacing was installed and two (2) large, specimen boulders were set adjacent to the bench with a brass plaque affixed and set into one of the boulders. The plaque recognizes Mr. Warren Church’s many achievements, as he’s credited with establishing the Monterey County Parks Department and in 1965, with support from his fellow Board Members, he established the Parks Department, hired the first Parks Director, appointed the first Parks Commission and budgeted $100,000 for park acquisition. The first park acquired and developed in the system was Royal Oaks Park in 1966, which he helped plan, design, develop and choose the name, which later served as the inspiration for the community of the same name. The plaque reads:
In Memory of Warren Church, 1929-2017
“Father of the Monterey County Parks”
Supervisor Church helped found and establish the Monterey County Parks Department and Royal Oaks Park in 1966, the first in the Monterey County Parks system. Looking back on his tenure on the Board of Supervisors from 1965-1977, Supervisor Church said he tried to protect “the people’s land, the people’s water...for the people’s descendants who haven’t even been born.”
Parks Make Life Better!
DISCUSSION:
The cost of the memorial bench including shipping was $1,048. The edging and decomposed granite surface material was $525, the cost for the boulders was $520 and brass plaque totaled $538. Park Staff did the installation, with support from individuals fulfilling their required community service obligations. The total donation is $2,631; the original estimate was $2,500.
The family had agreed to cover all costs necessary to complete the project. It was also understood that the memorial bench would come to the County with no obligations or stipulations and there is no contractual agreement. The county would maintain and inspect the bench as a part of the regular maintenance practices and the impact or addition to staff time or workload is considered to be minor and have no intensification to regular duties. As stated in the March 2018 staff report, the County would not be able to guarantee anything beyond regular, standard observation and maintenance, which is simply inspection for loose boards, fasteners or broken items. There could be a potential for removal of the bench due to any unforeseen issues, vandalism and future maintenance.
Now that installation is complete, the bench is property of the County.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
No other agency involvement is necessary.
FINANCING:
The family has covered all costs necessary to complete the project.
Prepared by: John Akeman, Parks Planning Manager
Approved by: Carl P. Holm, AICP, RMA Director/Interim Parks Director
Attachments:
A. Park Policy for Selecting Names and Identifying Park Area
B. Proposed Bench
C. Former 1st District Supervisor Warren Church (1965-77) and the founding of Monterey County Parks Dept.