2013/03/13 Council Agenda Packet

EXCERPT Everett Historical Commission Minutes November 27, 2012 Members Present Members Absent Visitors Staff Mark Soine Neil Anderson Michael Whitney Dave Koenig GaryMeisner Mark French Marilyn Boyd Jan Meston Barb Hardman Paul Van Slyck Jack O'Donnell Ross Johnson Jim Staniford Paula McCullough Allan Giffen Dave Ramstad Jerry & Joni Smith Paul Kaftanski, Parks Staff Paul -Erick Johnson Barb Lamoureaux Public Hearing on Proposed Name for New Plaza Jan Meston: Paul Kaftanski, Parks and Recreation, is here this evening to present the proposal. As we advised the Historical Commission earlier, we have developed a procedure for involving the Park Board in the public outreach for comments on this proposal. The naming policy calls for the Historical Commission to coordinate with the Park Board. The process we have established is to have a public hearing and Historical Commission discussion this evening, then the public hearing will be continued until the January Historical Commission meeting. In the meantime, on December 1 1th we will present the minutes of this evening's meeting and public comments to the Park Board for their discussion and recommendation. Information from the Park Board will come back to the Historical Commission in January. Paul Kaftanski asked that I mention that if other name suggestions come forward this evening, he is not in a position to comment on them. We are just at the beginning of the public comment period, so it is appropriate to get ideas on the table and go forward with the public review process. Paul Kaftanski: Good evening. I arrived in the department in June of 2006, and the project under construction now, which will be substantially completed and open for public use in a few weeks, was a concept at that time. There were some conceptual drawings. As we have taken action items before City Council, the place has had a variety of working names. We've called it the Everett Performing Arts Plaza, Everett Performing Arts Downtown Plaza, Downtown Plaza, the Plaza. It is much like Everett Station before that facility was opened. As we became aware that City Council wanted to revisit its own naming policy, we stood back and did nothing regarding a potential name for the new plaza. Once Council took action on its naming policy in late August, the plaza had been under construction for several months already. The current naming policy states that we should have a name as soon as possible, before construction is complete or shortly thereafter. We realized we needed to move quickly, so we spent time to come up with a name which is a reference point for dialogue. The name is short, it's snappy, it's functional, it's consistent with the policy in my mind, although it may be pedestrian sounding.