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ADOPT POLICY FOR ACCEPTING PARK DONATIONS, MONUMENTS, MEMORIALS, AND <br />OTHER IMPROVEMENTS <br />By: Al Haugen, Management Intern <br />Background: <br />The City of Ramsey Police Department currently administers the Adopt -A -Spot program which is an informal <br />crime prevention program which allows individuals or groups to engage in volunteer park beautification projects <br />and maintenance. The Adopt -A -Spot program has only been used in the past for litter removal in City parks, <br />trails, and in one cemetery. This program does not include a policy for considering more permanent park <br />beautification proposals including monuments and memorials. Because of a recent proposal for a commemorative <br />park beautification project, a formal policy to guide the consideration of park donations was developed by staff <br />and reviewed by the Parks and Recreation Commission on March 12, 2009. <br />Notification: <br />No notification was made for consideration of this new policy. <br />External Policy Scan: <br />Research was conducted on policies used by local units of government for accommodating and regulating private <br />memorials on public property, and other park donations. Most memorial policies studied require donated <br />improvements to be consistent with an existing parks plan or previously identified needs. Some cities will <br />consider proposals for donated memorial improvements not already identified as needs, but require that they don't <br />detract from the primary purpose of the park. Policies differ on the types of memorials allowed, forms of <br />recognition, donation levels, focus of memorials, funding sources, and responsibility for maintenance and <br />installation. <br />Recommendation: <br />Case # <br />On March 12, 2009, the Parks and Recreation Commission voted to recommend that the City Council adopt the <br />Policy for Accepting Park Donations, Monuments, Memorials, and Other Improvements. <br />Funding Sources: <br />Preparing research and creating new policies are handled through normal staff duties <br />Council Action: <br />Staff recommends that City Council adopt Resolution #09 -04- adopting the Policy for Accepting Park <br />Donations, Monuments, Memorials, and Other Improvements. <br />-125- <br />