To: Board of Supervisors
From: Warren Lai, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Report Title: Approval of Plaques and Memorials Policy
☐Recommendation of the County Administrator ☒ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE Plaques and Memorials Policy as recommended by the Internal Operations Committee.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact for policy approval. Applicants approved for a plaque, or memorials will pay fees associated with the purchase and installation of the amenity.
BACKGROUND:
During the February 2024 Internal Operations Committee (IOC) planning meeting, IOC Vice Chair Andersen asked staff to research policies on establishing memorials on County property other than County buildings and rooms in buildings which are already governed by existing policy for possible future referral to the IOC.
Staff researched other agencies’ policies and brought policy questions to the April IOC meeting for the IOC to provide direction towards the drafting of a policy on establishing memorials and dedications on County property. Direction from the IOC included the following:
• The first policy should focus on park benches and tables. With time and experience, other amenities may be added to the policy.
• The County’s existing inventory should be included for possible memorials. New benches and picnic tables can be considered by the Public Works Department according to the policy criteria.
• The donation period will be 10 years or the useful life of the amenity. Donors are responsible for maintaining current contact information with the Public Works Department if they want to renew an expiring memorial.
• The policy gives discretion to the Public Works Director to calculate the fees which will include the actual cost of the plaque and memorial, all staff costs to install the plaque and memorial, and depending on the location may include the cost of a required concrete pad. Staff will include the following price range on the Public Works’ website with an application upon approval of the policy. Benches that are 6 feet long with a middle arm rest and made of wood or metal, depending on the approved location. Picnic tables that are rectangular or square and allow for a wheelchair access point.
• The following price range will be updated as costs increase.
|
Plaque (purchase and install) |
Bench (purchase and install) |
Picnic Table (purchase and install) |
|
$500 - $750 |
$3,000 - $3,500 with existing concrete pad |
$3,400 - $3,900 with existing concrete pad |
|
|
$5,000 - $5,500 new concrete pad needed |
$5,500 - $6,000 new concrete pad needed |
• IOC determined that donors should not pay for vandalism that results in additional maintenance and/or replacement of the amenity. The Public Works Department does not have a funding source for vandalism and replacement of memorials. IOC supports staff recommendations to address vandalism including replacement for approved memorials that need to be replaced due to vandalism with the following potential funding sources:
o Measure X Parks Funds
o General Fund
o Park Dedication Funding, if there is available funding in the specific area where the funding was generated.
o County Services Areas, Community Facilities Districts, and Lighting and Landscaping Districts if there is available funding and the amenity is located within one of the established areas or districts.
o Include an additional 5% in the cost price range develop adequate funds over time to replace vandalized memorials.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Without approval of the new policy, the County will not have a process to consider requests for plaques and memorials.