February 7, 2006
SUBJECT: Serra Little League Request to Name Serra Park Ball Field in Memory of Robert Owen Bernhardt (06-046)
REPORT IN BRIEF
The Serra Little League would like to honor the memory of long-time volunteer coach, manager and umpire of the League, Mr. Robert Bernhardt, who passed away of cancer in November 2004, by naming the ball field at Serra Park in his honor. The City Council is asked to authorize naming the ball field the “Robert Owen Bernhardt Field” and accept the Serra Little League’s contribution of appropriate signage so naming the field in honor of Mr. Bernhardt’s significant contributions to the Serra Little League and the Sunnyvale Community.
Staff recommends approval of Alternative No. 1: Approve the Serra Little League’s request to name the Serra Little League field the “Robert Owen Bernhardt Field” in memory of the contributions of Mr. Robert Owen Bernhardt and direct staff to install appropriate signage, donated by the league, naming the ball field to honor the contributions of Mr. Bernhardt.
On January 25, 2006, the Parks and Recreation Commission conducted a public hearing on this report and, upon stating the specific contributions of Mr. Bernhardt for the record, recommended that Council approve the Serra Little League’s request to name the Serra Little League ball field No. 1 the “Bob Bernhardt Field” in memory of the significant contributions of their long time coach, manager, umpire and friend, Mr. Robert Owen Bernhardt.
BACKGROUND
In March 2005, representatives from Serra Little League requested and received permission from Sunnyvale City Council to install a plaque on the fence at Serra Park Ball Field No.1 in memory of their long-time friend and Sunnyvale resident Robert Owen Bernhardt. (RTC No. 05-056 Serra Little League Request for a Memorial Recognition Plaque). Mr. Bernhardt served as coach, manager and umpire of the League from 1970 to 2002, when he became ill with cancer and could no longer serve as a volunteer. At that time, the Council policy on Naming/Renaming Parks and Recreation Facilities discouraged the naming of facilities after living persons and required that an individual be deceased for at least five years before naming a facility after them. The League then decided to seek the City Council’s approval, which was granted, to erect a plaque on the backstop fence in memory of Mr. Bernhardt, and communicated their intent, if necessary, to wait the five years and return to City Council with the request to have the ball field renamed in honor of Mr. Bernhardt. At the same time, staff noted that the Council policy No. 7.3.10 Naming/Renaming Parks and Recreation Facilities was expected to come before the City Council later in the year as a study issue.
The policy did return to Council on October 18, 2005, and Council’s action was to eliminate the five-year waiting period and revise a section of the policy to state:
“Naming a park for a specific individual will only be considered if that individual has made a significant contribution to the City of Sunnyvale. Names honoring individuals or families of living persons must be supported by compelling reasons.” [RTC No. 05-284 Consider Revisions to Council Policy Governing the Naming/Renaming of Parks and Recreation Facilities – Study Issue).
Now that the Council Policy has been revised, the Serra Little League desires to have the Serra Park Ball Field No.1 formally renamed the Bob Bernhardt Field in memory of Mr. Bernhardt. Ideally, the League would like to dedicate the renamed field on their opening day on March 1, 2006.
EXISTING POLICY
Council Policy 7.3.10 – Naming/Renaming Parks and Recreation Facilities
DISCUSSION
Representatives from the Serra Little League are following through on their desire to have the No.1 ball field at Serra Park renamed to honor the memory of Mr. Robert Owen Bernhardt. Please refer to Attachment A, site plan for Serra Park showing the ball field proposed to be named after Mr. Bernhardt. The recently revised Council Policy on Naming/Renaming Parks and Recreation Facilities states that a facility could be named after a specific individual who has made a significant contribution to the City, and the League representatives have submitted a description of Mr. Bernhardt’s accomplishments to the Serra Little League and the Sunnyvale Community that they believe are significant for Council’s consideration. Please see Attachment B for this description.
When the Council Policy 7.3.10 – Naming/ Renaming Parks and Recreation Facilities was updated in October 2005, City Council chose to not include more specific criteria to describe what makes up a “significant” contribution to the community. Since this is the first request to come before City Council based on the revised policy, approval to name the ball field in the memory of Mr. Bernhardt depends on the City Council’s decision on whether or not the contributions to the Serra Little League and the Sunnyvale community by Mr. Robert Owen (Bob) Bernhardt were significant enough to qualify having the Serra Park ball field so named in his honor.
Whether or not City Council chooses to approve the Little League’s request to name the ball field after Mr. Bernhardt could begin to set a precedent, since specific criteria by which to judge what qualifies an individual’s contribution to the Sunnyvale community as ‘significant’ are not identified in the policy. Depending on the number of similar requests to come before the City Council in the future, eventually the City Council may decide there is a need for more specific criteria by which to determine what makes a contribution to the community a ‘significant’ one.
The Serra Little League has agreed to donate the signage naming the ball field in Mr. Bernhardt’s honor. It is expected that the signage would be located on either the backstop of the field, or on the side of the bleachers, the type of signage, its size, materials and exact location is subject to the approval of the Director of Parks and Recreation. The donation of the signage would also be accepted in accordance to the City’s Administrative Policy regarding donations, including assurance that there are no unrealistic expectations from the Serra Little League, regarding the permanency of the life of the donated signage.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact. The Serra Little League proposes to donate the signage naming the ball field in Bob Bernhardt’s honor, subject to the approval of the Director of Parks and Recreation. Costs related to installation and maintenance is negligible and could be readily absorbed in Program 265 – Neighborhood Parks and Open Space Maintenance.
Conclusion
The Serra Park Little League’s request to name the Serra Park ball field in the memory of Mr. Bernhardt is consistent with the recently revised Council Policy 7.3.10 – Naming/ Renaming Parks and Recreation Facilities. Whether or not the contributions of Mr. Bernhardt as described in Attachment B meet the criteria of “significant” is to be determined by the Sunnyvale City Council.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made through posting of the Parks and Recreation Commission agenda and Council agenda on the City’s official notice bulletin board, posting of the agenda and report on the City’s web page, and the availability of the report in the City Clerk’s office, Library, Parks and Recreation Administration office, Corporation Yard, Community Center and Senior Center.
Copies of this report have been provided to the President of Serra Little League and to the former Serra Little League Chief Umpire who is spearheading this effort.
On January 25, 2006, the Parks and Recreation Commission provided a public hearing on the Serra Little League’s Request to Name Serra Park Ball Field the Robert Owen Bernhardt Field during its regularly scheduled meeting.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve the Serra Little League’s request to name the Serra Little League field the “Robert Owen Bernhardt Field” in memory of the contributions of Mr. Robert Owen Bernhardt and direct staff to install appropriate signage, donated by the league, naming the ball field to honor the contributions of Mr. Bernhardt.
2. Do not approve the Serra Little League’s request to name the Serra Little League ball field in honor of Mr. Bernhardt.
3. Another option as determined by Council.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Alternative No. 1: Approve the Serra Little League’s request to name the Serra Little League field the “Robert Owen Bernhardt Field” and direct staff to install appropriate signage, donated by the league, naming the ball field to honor the contributions of Mr. Bernhardt.
This is a request from the Serra Little League and other community members who are following up on their desire to name the No. 1 ball field that they regularly use at Serra Park, the “Robert Owen Ball Field” in honor of a long-time volunteer who had made a significant contribution to the League. It was initially the League’s desire to name this field after Mr. Bernhardt over a year ago and the impetus behind the study issue to revise Council Policy 7.3.10 Naming/ Renaming Park and Recreation Facilities that eliminated the five-year waiting period after someone died in order to name a facility in the individual’s honor. Approval of the League’s request will have no fiscal impact to the City, and the significant contributions made by Mr. Bernhardt to the League and the Sunnyvale community appear well deserved to have the Serra Park ball field named in honor of Mr. Robert Owen Bernhardt.
On January 25, 2006, the Parks and Recreation Commission conducted a public hearing on this report and recommend that examples of the criteria that made the contributions of Bob Owen Bernhardt so significant be stated as part of the motion so the criteria for a “significant” contribution can be defined on record. That said, the Commission notes whereas Robert Owen “Bob” Bernhardt had made significant contributions to the Sunnyvale community in a variety of ways as well as in a special field of endeavor; he had the hallmark ability to inspire and motivate others; he was recognized and widely respected by the public; he readily acknowledged the achievement of his peers and embodied exemplary qualities and skills that serve as a model for others. Bob Bernhardt set a standard of accomplishment not easily achieved yet attainable by all; he had a continuous and exemplary record of achievement and demonstrated it over a prolonged period of time. In addition, Bob Bernhardt possessed sound moral character. Therefore, the Parks and Recreation Commission recommend the Council approve the Serra Little League’s request to name the Serra Little League ball field No. 1 the “Bob Bernhardt Field” in memory of the significant contributions of their long time coach, manager, umpire and friend, Mr. Robert Owen Bernhardt.
Reviewed by:
David A. Lewis, Director, Parks and Recreation Department
Prepared by: Cathy E. Merrill, Assistant to the Director
Approved by:
Amy Chan
City Manager
Attachments
A. Site Plan of Serra Park showing the No. 1 ball field, proposed to be named in honor of Mr. Robert Owen Bernhardt
B. The significant contributions of Mr. Robert “Bob” Owen Bernhardt submitted for City Council’s consideration by the Sunnyvale Serra Little League