COUNCIL ITEM OF SPECIAL INTEREST: REQUEST TO ASSESS POSSIBLE INSTALLATION OF A PERMANENT FLAG POLE IN THUNDERBIRD CONSERVATION PARK
Staff Contact and Presenter: Erik Strunk, Director, Public Facilities, Recreation and Special Events
Purpose and Policy Guidance
This item is follow up to a Council Item of Special Interest (CIOSI) by Mayor Weiers related to the possible installation of a permanent flag pole in the Thunderbird Conservation Park (TCP).
Background
At the December 6, 2016 City Council Workshop Meeting, the Mayor requested staff analysis of how to go about installing a permanent flag in the TCP and possibly working with the Chamber and veterans on the issue. In subsequent discussion, the Mayor indicated preference for the possible installation of a new 20-25’ flag pole (with an aircraft warning light on top), with solar lighting, to specifically fly the United States Flag without restriction (24 hours per day, 365 days per year). All required funding, design, necessary construction equipment and ongoing maintenance would be provided and coordinated by non-city personnel, with City oversight.
Analysis
This request would involve initial input from the Parks and Recreation Division, the City Attorney’s Office, Engineering Division, the Building Safety Division, the Planning and Zoning Division, the patrons of TCP, residents and other interested parties (e.g. - the Glendale Chamber of Commerce - Veteran’s Affairs Sub-Committee, regional conservation organizations, etc.) and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission.
If Council does provide staff direction to move forward, it is envisioned this CIOSI will consist of the following policy development phases:
• Phase I of this initiative will consist of a follow-up workshop discussion to provide an overview and receive Council direction of the key elements that need to be further researched and assembled. Examples of these elements include:
a) A legal review of the U.S. Flag Code and the City’s current “Dark Sky Ordinance” to ensure there are no policy issues that would restrict such use of the TCP for this initiative.
b) A comprehensive review of the TCP Master Plan document to determine if there are any potential conflicts with initiative and its designation as a conservation park.
c) A review of any initial construction concerns and/or building techniques regarding planning and zoning, engineering and/or building safety and ongoing maintenance (this would include any structural criteria related to the proposed flag pole and the use of solar lighting technology).
d) The design and creation of an input process to determine public sentiment as related to the proposed initiative. This would include a public outreach initiative to partner with area residents, business, patrons and all other stakeholders as related to the TCP.
e) A comparative analysis of policies/guidelines used by other local/national jurisdictions as related to similar conservation parks.
f) Development of a cost estimate for planning, design, construction and ongoing maintenance, per existing city levels of service. This would include staff time to administer the partnership agreement, verification of half-mast displays as required by state/federal mandate, etc.
Approximately 30-40 staff hours would be required for Phase I and it would be completed within four weeks.
• Phase II would consist of a public input phase during the March/April 2017 time frame. This would also include formal review and recommendation by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission. The item would then be returned to Council for formal review and direction in late April/May 2017. It is estimated that Phase II would take approximately 40-50 staff hours.
• Phase III would consist of a final review by the City Council. Should the direction be to move forward with the project, it will then be necessary to draft a formal resolution and agreement with a local community group to design, construct and maintain the new flag pole. The preparation of these documents would take approximately 5-10 hours. This would be completed by June 2017.
It is estimated this CIOSI should be completed in approximately six months and would amount to approximately 90-100 staff hours.
Community/Public Benefit
This would be determined as part of the CIOSI.
Budget and Financial Impacts
This would be determined as part of the CIOSI.