HomeMy WebLinkAboutRename - San Pablo Community Garde RASpiegel CITY OF PALM DESERT
SPECIAL PROGRAMS DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
REQUEST: AUTHORIZATION TO RENAME THE SAN PABLO COMMUNITY
GARDEN IN HONOR OF FORMER MAYOR AND
COUNCILMEMBER ROBERT A. SPIEGEL
SUBMITTED BY: Frankie Riddle, Director of Special Programs
APPLICANT: N/A
DATE: April 27, 2017
CONTENTS: None
Recommendation
By Minute Motion authorize staff to rename the San Pablo Community Garden the
"Robert A. Spiegel Community Garden."
Strategic Plan Objective
Approval to rename the San Pablo Community Garden does not tie into identified goals
within the Strategic Plan.
Discussion
The recommendation was made to rename the San Pablo Community Garden after
former Mayor and Councilmember Robert A. Spiegel. Mr. Spiegel has been an integral
part of the City of Palm Desert for more than 25 years, commencing in 1991 when he
served as a Planning Commissioner. In 1995 he became a new member of the Palm
Desert City Council, and continued to serve the City and community for the next
2lyears until his retirement in 2016. Mr. Spiegel worked tirelessly to address the needs
of the Palm Desert community. He served on many committees for the betterment of the
City and its residents, and was appointed as the City Council Liaison to the Community
Gardens Committee on August 26, 1999.
Mr. Spiegel was instrumental in bringing the concept of the community garden to Palm
Desert. While visiting San Diego with his wife Sharon, they came across a community
garden, part of a movement that was currently taking off in many communities. This
movement looked to utilize vacant lots as places for community residents to gather and
share interests, build a sense of community, supplement food sources for neighborhood
residents, and generally put to good use vacant lots that tended to be attractions for
debris and other negative elements.
STAFF REPORT
RENAMING OF SAN PABLO COMMUNITY PARK TO
ROBERT A. SPIEGEL COMMUNITY GARDEN
APRIL 27, 2017
PAGE 2
Since the San Pablo lots sat vacant for many years, and, at one point, the City
attempted to give the lots to the adjacent residents without success, Mr. Spiegel thought
the concept perfect for this location. Subsequently, when Councilmember Spiegel
suggested turning the lots into a community garden, the City Council members and the
surrounding neighborhoods were receptive to the idea. The community garden concept
appeared to be a good fit, not just for the utilization of the half sized vacant lots that
were too small for building a residential or commercial building, but for the area in
general.
Based on the above and consistent with the City's Parks and Facilities Naming Policy
approved through Resolution No. 2015-33, Naming Principals Item No. 5 —An Individual
or family who has contributed significantly to the community or the facility, renaming the
San Pablo Community Garden to the Robert A. Spiegel Community Garden is an
approved criteria.
If the City Council approves this recommendation, Mr. Spiegel will be so notified and a
naming ceremony will be planned for a future date.
Fiscal Analysis
The above request will not have a negative effect on the FY 2016/2017 Budget.
Submitted By: Approved:
Frankie ' le Lauri Aylaian
Director of Special Programs City Manager