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REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION <br />DATE: April 28, 2014 <br />ITEM NO: <br />Department Approval: Administrator Reviewed: Agenda Section: <br />Name Jesse Struve Public Works Director/ <br />Title Public Works Director/City Engineer City Engineer's Report <br />Item Description: Proposed Memorial in Navarre Park <br />Exhibits: <br />A. Proposed Memorial Landscaping Project in Navane Park <br />B. Location Map <br />C. Resolution of Acceptance of Donation <br />Last fall, staff was contacted by Jeanne Englund about placing a memorial for her late husband <br />in Navarre Park. There were different ideas discussed including a bench, flag pole, and a row of <br />lilacs with a memorial rock. Ultimately Ms. Englund decided she wanted to pursue installing <br />some lilacs with a memorial stone (see Exhibit A). <br />The majority of the northern limits of Navarre Park have privacy fences on the neighboring <br />properties, but there is a gap in the fence just north of the playground. The project will consist of <br />filling in this gap with lilac bushes and mulch. The proposed project will provide a buffer <br />between the park and a residential property and will provide a visual barrier where vehicles are <br />parked at the residence. <br />While the bushes may be beneficial to the park, the council should consider some of the <br />consequences of allowing a personal memorial on City property. Staff is not aware of another <br />instance where a private resident was allowed to install a personal memorial on City Property. <br />There are also no ordinances which govern this sort of request. <br />The main concerns the Council should consider with the request are: <br />1. What are the long term consequences of allowing this sort of project to move forward? <br />a. What happens if the bushes die? Is the City required to replace them at the City's <br />expense? <br />b. What happens if a future council decides to change the characteristics of the park? <br />Can the City remove the bushes in the future? Do the bushes have to stay <br />indefinitely? <br />c. Does the City want to have an ordinance in place that governs what is allowed on <br />City Property similar to Tonka Bay or others Cities? <br />2. Does the City want to allow a memorial stone on City Property? <br />a. Tonka Bay does allow for gifts similar to this but they do not allow memorial <br />- -- ----- -- stones.--T-he-message-is-encouraged-to-be-about the -site -or -an -uplifting message. - <br />b. What happens if the stone is stolen? Is the City required to replace? <br />3. What process should be followed for future requests? <br />