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June 25, 2002
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SUBJECT: |
Consideration of Bianchi Barn Donation and Plaque |
REPORT IN BRIEF
Ms. Clara Bianchi of San Jose, California, has offered to donate to the City’s Orchard Heritage Park a barn constructed in 1918 and used by her family for many decades in the orchard business. (Please see Attachment A, Donation Receipt Form and Attachment B, barn photo.) Ms. Bianchi has offered the City a check in the amount of $350,000 to pay the cost of relocating the barn from San Jose to Sunnyvale (estimated at approximately $280,000, which includes the cost of dismantling the barn, transporting it to the new site, putting it back together, new timber framing where necessary, grading, new foundation, driveway and concrete apron, new roofing and electrical hook-ups). Monies remaining would be used for the purpose of maintaining the barn in the future. City policy requires that City Council approve or reject donations valued in excess of $35,000. It also requires that the Council approve any plaque or recognition for donations valued at more than $20,000. This report provides Council the background necessary to determine whether or not to accept Ms. Bianchi’s offer. Were Council to approve this donation, staff would work with the donor and return to Council at a later date with recommendations related to specific forms of recognition. Staff recommends that Council approve this generous donation. The Parks and Recreation Commission held a public hearing on June 12, 2002, and recommends that Council accepts Ms. Clara Bianchi’s donation of a 1918 redwood barn for Heritage Orchard Park, as well as the donation of $350,000 to be used for the relocation, maintenance and repair of that structure.
BACKGROUND
Ms. Bianchi approached staff during the dedication of the Orchard Heritage Park Interpretive Exhibit on May 12, 2001, and inquired as to the City’s interest in acquiring an old barn for the same site.
Staff was aware of the need for a barn at Orchard Heritage Park in order to continue the working status of the City’s 10-acre apricot orchard (Please see Attachment C, RTC 99-237 Conceptual Plan to Enable Continued Operation of Orchard Heritage Park). Staff was also aware that Council had approved a Capital Project to construct a new barn at Orchard Heritage Park for this purpose. (Please see Attachment D, Capital Project Information Sheet, #822110 Heritage Orchard Maintenance Barn.) As a result, staff indicated a high degree of interest in examining the Bianchi barn and scheduled a site visit with several staff from various departments to explore the condition of the barn and the viability of moving it from San Jose to Sunnyvale.
Following that site visit, staff wrote to Ms. Bianchi indicating, that while the barn was architecturally and aesthetically very pleasing, staff did not believe the expense of relocating it to Sunnyvale could be justified. Given the age of the barn and its condition, staff believed it might cost as much or more than the proposed cost of constructing a new barn at Orchard Heritage Park.
Ms. Bianchi eventually responded by suggesting she might be willing to relocate the barn to Sunnyvale at her own expense, renewing staff’s interest and prompting additional site visits to explore the feasibility and probable costs of such a move.
Following several subsequent communications between Ms. Bianchi and staff, Ms. Bianchi declared that she was interested not only in donating the barn and relocating it at her own expense, but that she was also interested in helping to ensure the future maintenance and repair of the barn.
EXISTING POLICY
Administrative Manual, Chapter I, Article XIII: Donations Policy and Procedures.
Legislative Manual, Chapter 7.3.11: Recognition and Plaque Policy.
Open Space Sub-Element: Action Statement C.4.e.: Consider the designation, development and management of an Orchard Heritage Park at the Community Center site consistent with an overall plan and in cooperation with the Sunnyvale Historical Society.
DISCUSSION
Staff strongly support the proposed donation by Ms. Bianchi for the following reasons:
It supports a current Council-approved need at this location. The City recognizes the need for a barn at the Orchard Heritage Park site in order to ensure the continued operation of the apricot orchard for as long as possible.
The Bianchi Barn was built in 1918 and fits "hand in glove" with the "orchard heritage" theme of this site.
The concept of a working barn was supported by the Community Center neighborhood long ago; more recent public input meetings designed to master plan Orchard Heritage Park with the same neighborhood underscored the popularity of both a working barn and a historical museum, particularly if those buildings were constructed to enhance the heritage theme of the site
The Bianchi Barn has great architectural and aesthetic appeal and could serve as an interpretive exhibit itself, even if the working orchard were not operational.
This donation will likely save the City money, allowing it to eventually reallocate those Proposition 12 funds intended to provide for a barn at this location.
The fact that Ms. Bianchi is willing to contribute financial support to the continued maintenance of the barn helps to alleviate concern regarding its age or the likely need for repairs down the road.
Given the size of Ms. Bianchi’s proposed donation, staff would plan to incorporate a suitable form of recognition at Orchard Heritage Park and to return to Council for approval of that specific recognition prior to the relocation of the facility.
FISCAL IMPACT
This project requires no City funding. Given that the City’s existing Capital Improvement Plan includes an intent to allocate $280,000 of Proposition 12 monies to a project to construct a new barn at Orchard Heritage Park, this donation represents the potential to reallocate those monies to other park projects. Staff plan to return to the Parks and Recreation Commission and subsequently City Council with a recommendation governing the allocation of these Proposition 12 monies.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Copies of this report have been distributed to Clara Bianchi, Charles Olson, and the Sunnyvale Historical Society and Museum Association.
Publication and posting as an item for public hearing on the agenda for the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting held on June 12, 2002.
Public contact was made through posting of the Council agenda on the City’s official notice bulletin board, posting of the agenda and report on the City’s web page, publication of the Council agenda in the San Jose Mercury News, and the availability of the report in the City Clerk’s office, Library, Community Center, and Senior Center.
ALTERNATIVES
Council accepts Ms. Clara Bianchi’s donation of a 1918 redwood barn for Heritage Orchard Park, as well as the donation of $350,000 to be used for the relocation, maintenance and repair of that structure.
Council rejects Ms. Clara Bianchi’s donation of a 1918 redwood barn for Orchard Heritage Park, as well as the donation of $350,000 to be used for the relocation, maintenance and repair of that structure.
Other action as determined by Council.
RECOMMENDATION
The Parks and Recreation Commission recommends Alternative 1 above.
Staff recommends Alternative 1 above.
Prepared by:
Robert A. Walker
Director, Parks and Recreation Department
Reviewed by:
Mary Bradley
Director, Finance Department
Approved by:
Robert S. LaSala
City Manager
| Attachments |
| A. Donation Receipt Form |
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B. Barn Photo |
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C. RTC 99-237 Conceptual Plan to Enable Continued Operation of Orchard Heritage Park |
| C.-A. Excerpt from the May 12, 1999, Unapproved Minutes of the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting |
| C.-B. Excerpt from the May 10, 1999, Unapproved Minutes of the Planning Commission |
| C.-C. Article from, San Jose Mercury News, April 14, 1999, "Withering Profits" |
| C.-D. Proposed Conceptual Plan |
| C.-E. Letter to Neighbors of Orchard Heritage Park, dated April 21, 1999 |
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D. Capital Project Information Sheet, #822110 Heritage Orchard Maintenance Barn (.pdf format) |
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