February 24, 2004
SUBJECT: Consideration of Naming Stadium Court at the Sunnyvale Municipal Tennis Center “Jan Young Court”
REPORT IN BRIEF
Jan Young has operated the City’s Sunnyvale Municipal Tennis Center as licensee for the past twenty-eight years. He is widely respected by the tennis community for his contributions and success. In honor of his pending retirement, the Parks and Recreation Commission has recommended that Mr. Young receive a Council resolution in recognition of his service to the City. On the evening of January 28, 2003, Geoff Ainscow (Board Member and past-President of the Sunnyvale Tennis Club) requested that the Parks and Recreation Commission support the Club’s desire to officially name a specific court at the tennis center in honor of Mr. Young. This report reviews the merits of that request in the context of established City policy.
BACKGROUND
Mr. Jan Young has served the City of Sunnyvale as manager of the Sunnyvale Municipal Tennis Center under a license agreement since the Sunnyvale Municipal Tennis Center was first developed in 1976.
Recently, Mr. Young advised the City of his desire to transfer that license to another manager in accordance with the terms of his license agreement. On November 11, 2003, City Council authorized that license transfer, and on November 12, the Parks and Recreation Commission voted to recommend that City Council present the highest Council honor, a formal Resolution of Appreciation, to retiring Sunnyvale Municipal Tennis Center professional, Jan Young. During the meeting, the Commissioners discussed the various levels of recognition from Certificates of Appreciation to formal Council Resolutions and unanimously agreed they would recommend that City Council issue a formal Resolution of Appreciation based on the Commission’s belief that Mr. Young has made a lasting and significant contribution to the community.
On the evening of January 28, 2004, Geoff Ainscow (Board Member and past-President of the Sunnyvale Tennis Club) requested that the Parks and Recreation Commission support the Club’s desire to officially name a specific court at the Sunnyvale Municipal Tennis Center in honor of Mr. Young. The court in question is commonly referred to by Sunnyvale tennis players as “stadium court,” but is officially known only as court number 16.
EXISTING POLICY
Council Policy 7.3.10: Naming/Renaming Parks and Recreation Facilities (Attachment A)
Council Policy 7.3.11: Recognition and Plaque Policy (Attachment B).
DISCUSSION
Mr. Young’s Service and Reputation
Mr. Young has performed admirably as the Sunnyvale Municipal Tennis Center licensee and has developed a wealth of experience and knowledge with regard to related operations.
The Sunnyvale Municipal Tennis Center has flourished under Mr. Young’s oversight. From pro shop services to coaching philosophies, the Sunnyvale Municipal Tennis Center reflects the strong influence of Mr. Young. Several physical improvements have been made during his watch, including a significant expansion in the number of courts. During his tenure, the Sunnyvale Municipal Tennis Center was awarded the distinction of “Outstanding Tennis Facility” by the United States Tennis Association. Similarly, Mr. Young has influenced the growth and character of players, ranging from those who play for fun to those who have gone on to become nationally ranked professionals.
Mr. Young has cultivated a growing and devoted following of tennis players at the Sunnyvale Municipal Tennis Center--from lessons to league play, from tournaments to drop-in play, Mr. Young has provided a broad range of tennis opportunities for those of all skill levels.
Mr. Young is also well known for his engaging, respectful demeanor. Always smiling, never demanding, Mr. Young has led by example, shown creativity and initiative, and worked through difficult issues calmly and objectively. He has been responsive to both the public and to staff and has provided the highest caliber of customer service.
As a result of all of the above, it comes as no surprise to staff that Sunnyvale’s tennis community would want to do something special to recognize the contributions Jan Young has made to their lives.
Specific Request
The Sunnyvale Tennis Club has requested that a metal plaque approximately 4” x 6” (four inches by six inches) in size be installed at eye level on the chain link gate which is the entrance to tennis court number 16. Please see Attachment C for location of court number 16, and Attachment D for wording of the desired plaque.
City Policy
Council Policy 7.3.10 deals specifically with the naming and/or renaming of Parks and Recreation Facilities (Please see Attachment A).
Council’s policy does allow for the naming of not only entire parks, but of facilities within parks (such as a tennis court). General guidance provided by Council’s policy dictates that in such a case “consideration be given to a name with historical significance to the City of Sunnyvale or is in some other way associated with a Sunnyvale event, historical feature, or other community-related action.”
Specific policy guidance relative to naming park facilities after individuals is as follows:
Naming a park (or a facility within a park) for a specific individual will only be considered if that individual has made a significant contribution to the City of Sunnyvale. It is recommended that a park not be named for a living person. If named for a deceased, that individual must be deceased for at least five years.
Staff find no City policy which would prohibit the naming of court number 16 as “Jan Young Court”. While the existing policy states a preference for not naming park facilities after living persons, it clearly does not prohibit such an action.
It is also worth noting that Council Policy 7.3.11 (Attachment B, Recognition and Plaque Policy) allows the City Manager the discretion to allow small plaques to be installed without Council action in honor of small donations such as park benches. The size of the plaque or marker is to be no larger than 3 x 5 inches, and would simply include the name, occasion and date.
FISCAL IMPACT
There would be no fiscal impact to the City. The cost of such a sign is very modest, and the Sunnyvale Tennis Club has indicated its intention to pay for the cost of development and installation if its request is approved by City Council.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made through posting of the Parks and Recreation Commission and 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, Parks and Recreation Administration, Community Center, Senior Center and the Sunnyvale Municipal Tennis Center.
The Parks and Recreation Commission conducted a public hearing on this issue during its regularly scheduled meeting on February 11, 2004.
Copies of this report were provided to Mr. Jan Young, Mr. Brian Garrow, Mr. Geoff Ainscow, Jean Hassoun and the Sunnyvale Tennis Club.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve the naming of court number 16 at the Sunnyvale Municipal Tennis Center as “Jan Young Court” and allow the court to be signed in accordance with Attachment D at the expense of the Sunnyvale Tennis Club.
2. Do not approve the naming of court number 16 at the Sunnyvale Municipal Tennis Center as “Jan Young Court.”
3. Other action as determined by Council.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Alternative 1 above. Council’s policies are purposely somewhat flexible when it comes to recognition, plaques and naming of park facilities. No one policy could possibly address all the possible scenarios under which proposals and/or decisions might be made.
Certain aspects of Council’s policy (i.e., a preference for naming park facilities after deceased persons) would support a recommendation against allowing the requested tennis court plaque.
However, the fact that Council’s policies would allow a 3” x 5” plaque to be installed in recognition of the donation of a park bench (without even seeking Council approval), leads staff to believe that the installation of a 4” x 6” plaque in recognition of Jan Young’s outstanding 28-year service to the City is appropriate. Staff’s recommendation also acknowledges the fact that the requested sign would not be viewed by, or visible to, many people outside the tennis-playing community.
The Parks and Recreation Commission reviewed this matter on the evening of February 11, 2004. The Commission voiced strong support for recognizing Mr. Young’s contributions to the Tennis Center. While they queried the representative of the Sunnyvale Tennis Club regarding the plaque’s size and specific wording, the Commission ultimately recommended to support the Club’s wishes in this regard (4-0, DeWolf absent).
Prepared by:
Robert A. Walker
Director, Parks and Recreation
Approved by:
Amy Chan
Acting City Manager
Attachments
A. Council Policy 7.3.10: Naming/Renaming Parks and Recreation Facilities (pdf format)
B. Council Policy 7.3.11: Recognition and Plaque Policy (pdf format)
C. Location of Site Proposed by Sunnyvale Tennis Club to Install Plaque Honoring Jan Young (pdf format)
D. Wording Proposed by Sunnyvale Tennis Club for Plaque Honoring Jan Young (pdf format)