REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Al Zelinka, City Manager
VIA: Chris Slama, Director of Community & Library Services
PREPARED BY: Chris Slama, Director of Community & Library Services
Subject:
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Consider for approval the naming of the area known as the “Secret Garden” located in Huntington Central Park East, as recommended by the Community & Library Services Commission
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Statement of Issue:
A segment of parkland unofficially referred to as the “Secret Garden,” located just north of the Huntington Beach Central Library (Attachment #1), was developed in 1992 as a demonstration xeriscape garden showcasing drought tolerant plants. According to the Huntington Beach Tree Society (Tree Society), since October 2014, volunteers have spent approximately 24,000 hours restoring and maintaining the garden in collaboration with the City’s Community & Library Services and Public Works Departments. At this time there is a need to formally name the area “Secret Garden” as recommended by the Community & Library Services Commission.
Financial Impact:
Not applicable.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Approve the recommendation by the Community & Library Services Commission to formally name a parkland area located in the eastern section of Huntington Central Park as “Secret Garden.”
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve the recommended action, and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
At the July 26, 2021 meeting of the Huntington Central Park Collaborative (Collaborative), Tree Society volunteers discussed the desire to install a monument sign to properly identify the area. The Tree Society informed the Collaborative that they had raised funds and hired a professional firm to design an arched entry sign bearing the name of Secret Garden. Given that the subject location has never been officially named, staff determined that adding a sign was premature and informed the Collaborative and volunteers that vetting the item through the park naming process would be in order first, followed by appropriate processes for design approval before moving forward.
In accordance with the Park Naming and Memorials Resolution No. 2017-25, staff consulted the Historic Resources Board (HRB) Chair, Kathie Schey, to determine if the HRB needed to review the naming of the subject area, or if there was any known historical significance that would warrant further considerations in carrying out the naming process. According to Chair Schey, there is no known historical significance that suggests naming the garden otherwise. Mrs. Schey was in full support of officially naming the area as the Secret Garden.
At the July 20, 2022 Community & Library Services Commission meeting, the Commission approved the recommendation to City Council to name the area in Huntington Central Park as “Secret Garden.” Should City Council approve the recommended action, staff will continue to work with Tree Society volunteers on signage design approvals and subsequent installation processes.
Environmental Status:
Not applicable.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Infrastructure & Parks
Attachment(s):
1. Location Site Map
2. Park Naming and Memorials Resolution No. 2017-25