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BACKGROUND <br /> At the regular meeting of the City Council on February 4, 2014, the Council requested <br /> that staff prepare a report for the Parks and Recreation Commission to consider a <br /> request to rename the Pleasanton Sports and Recreation Community Park after the <br /> late, Mayor Ken Mercer. <br /> Resolution 04-019, "Establishing Policies for Naming Parks, Recreation Facilities, and <br /> Other City-Owned Public Facilities" (Attachment 2), was adopted by City Council on <br /> April 20, '2004, and is the most recent policy for naming park facilities. Section 3; <br /> "Criteria for Establishing Permanent Names for Parks, Recreation Facilities, or City- <br /> owned Public Facilities" does allow for Community Parks to be named "for persons, <br /> events, or entities associated with major historical value or that have exerted positive <br /> influence in the development of Pleasanton." There are several examples of how this <br /> criteria has been applied in the past, including Augustin Bernal Community Park, <br /> Kottinger Community Park, Delucchi Park, Amaral Park, Hansen Park, Moller Park, <br /> Nielsen Park, Orloff Park, and Lions Wayside Park. However, the Policy also stipulates <br /> that any "requests to name any park, recreation facility, or City-owned public facility <br /> after a specific individual will be considered no earlier than five (5) years after their <br /> death." Please note that this policy is not codified in the City's Municipal Code, but <br /> rather is reflected in a City Council Resolution, No. 04-019. <br /> On May 8, 2014, the Parks and Recreation Commission conducted a public meeting to <br /> consider the request to rename the Pleasanton Sports and Recreation Community Park <br /> after the late, Mayor Ken Mercer. After receiving public feedback, the Commission <br /> discussed several different names for the Park. The Parks and Recreation Commission <br /> ultimately approved the request by a 4-1 vote (Hottle), recommending that the City <br /> Council rename the Park to "Ken Mercer Sports Park". <br /> DISCUSSION <br /> Ken Mercer was elected to three terms on the City Council between 1976 and 1986. In <br /> 1986, Ken became the City of Pleasanton's first directly elected mayor and served in <br /> that position until 1992. During Ken's tenure, the City of Pleasanton attracted the <br /> Stoneridge Mall, the Hacienda Business Park and several residential developments. <br /> These projects along with the development of numerous paths and recreation facilities, <br /> helped shape the local landscape. <br /> The costs associated with the potential name change would be for the most part, park <br /> related signa9e. The current park signage includes; one (1) large concrete sign at the <br /> entrance; the "Memorial Rock'; and four(4)fiberglass "field location/identification" signs. <br /> The estimated cost of replacing the signs utilizing outside vendors would be in the <br /> $11,000 - $15,000 range. In addition, publications and other marketing collateral <br /> pieces (Activities Guide, brochures, etc.) would need to be amended should this change <br /> ultimately be approved by the City Council as a matter of routine and on-going updates. <br /> Replacement of park signs would be funded from the Park Renovation Fund. <br /> Page 2 of 3 <br />