HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-06-060 - Policy Development - Recognition Commemoration
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Community Services
Report To:
Date of Meeting:
Submitted By:
Prepared By:
Community Services Committee
May 1 , 2006
Ward(s) Involved:
Date of Report:
Report No.:
Subject:
Ann Pappert, General Manager, Community Services Dept.
Ann Pappert, General Manager, Community Services Dept.
(Ext. 2394)
All
April 26, 2006
CSD-06-060
POLICY DEVELOPMENT - RECOGNITION/
COMMEMORATION
RECOMMENDATION:
For information.
BACKGROUND:
The purpose of this report is to share staff's preliminary examination of existing corporate
policies related to evaluating how the City wishes to mark significant events, individuals or
occasions through the development of markers, memorials, monuments, legacy events and/or
acknowledgement ceremonies provided by, or in partnership with, the municipality.
REPORT:
Kitchener has a very rich history with numerous stories to tell; a fascinating and diverse
'present' and great expectations for its future. The stories and legacies about Kitchener reflect
the history of our shared home and may evoke distinctive responses from our broad public.
Cities create land-marks such as memorials, monuments, and plaques that are placed in the
public sphere to celebrate these stories, individuals or events, often representing what citizens
hold 'near and dear'. Kitchener has many fine examples of markers within its parks, facilities
and public spaces.
As there are many stories, there are many public points of view on what merits the dedication of
a marker and/or legacy event or acknowledgement by the city, in public space. At present, while
there is no single cohesive policy that responds to public requests in this regard, Kitchener does
have policies that provide processes related to the flying of flags, the acquisition of artworks and
artefacts and their placement in the public domain.
The City of Kitchener's Flag Policy (1-442) provides direction and policy on the flying of flags
flown at City Hall consistent with the City's policy of the issuing of proclamations. Policy No 1-
Report No. CSD-06-060
Page 2
340 entitled Guidelines for Art/Artifact Acquisition and Management addresses acceptance of
donations, acquisitions and deaccessioning. Policy No 1-205 entitled Corporate Archives Policy
provides for oversight of archival materials by the City. Policy No 1-485 entitled Public Art Policy
(2003) provides guidance for artwork in publicly accessible places thorough competitions,
installation of works, documentation and maintenance. Policy No 1-815 entitled Public Arts and
Acquisitions Trust Fund provides a financial mechanism for acquisition and management of
significant artworks.
How the City determines what story, individual or event it wishes to acknowledge remains
somewhat unclear. In the pursuit of greater clarity around the scope of this matter, staff
contacted a sample of Canadian municipalities to gain knowledge of their policies and
processes. The outcome was mixed. Fredericton, N.B and Grande Prairie, Alberta had no
policies. Vancouver's Board of Parks and Recreation utilizes their Review Guidelines for the
Donation of Public Art or Memorials. In Vancouver, their guidelines identify that an evaluation is
required as to whether the cause being memorialized is significant to a large enough community
to warrant placing it in a public park and conformity to Human Rights legislation. Further, they
grapple with whether the markers purpose is significant enough to over-ride technical or
aesthetic concerns.
Staff has met to discuss the need for a cohesive corporate approach for evaluating and
recommending markers, commemorative events and ideas arising from the public, to Council.
Ideally, in the area of markers, such a policy or guideline should identify acceptance conditions
and criteria along with contemplation of design, social and merit issues weighing the suitability
of the proposed work to the site, park, social impact, relationship of proposal to the history of the
site, relevance, consistency, compatibility and suitability. Issues related to the nature of the
sponsorship, funding, concerns related to educational or interpretive plaque and the public's
response to the proposal are assessed.
At present, staff is discussing an approach towards addressing this identified need and will
report back to Council on progress. The four policies identified in this report seem to provide
enough context for processing these issues by staff and committees for Council, in the interim.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no budget implications at this time.
COMMUNICATIONS:
Staff in Corporate Services, Community Services and Development and Technical Services is
working cross-departmentally to share information and approaches.
CONCLUSION:
Staff have identified the need to develop a cohesive corporate policy that provides oversight for
how the City wishes to mark significant events, individuals or occasions using markers,
memorials, monuments, legacy events and ceremonies provided by or in partnership with, the
municipality.
Ann Pappert
General Manager, Community Services