REPORT TO PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Action to Recommend Acceptance of a Donation to the City for the Purchase, Installation, and Maintenance of a Tree in Central Park in the name of Judi Thomas
Report
BACKGROUND
Donations to the City of Santa Clara must be in accord with Council Policy 051, Donations to the City. Donations may be offered in the form of cash, real or personal property. A "designated donation" is the term used when a donor specifies intended use by a particular City department, location, or purpose. The City has received a request to accept a donation of funds for the planting a tree in Central Park in the name Judi Thomas served the youth of the City of Santa Clara as dance teacher, creative dramatics teacher, and choreographer for the Roberta Jones Junior Theatre program from 1978-2015. Judi was an exceptionally warm and kind teacher, who nurtured the dancing skills of thousands of young participants. Judi passed away in 2016 after a long and courageous fight with cancer. Her legacy of creativity and community-building continues through the memories of her students in Roberta Jones Junior Theatre and in the programs she helped to create such as Fine Arts Camp Extraordinaire and Imagine Me.
DISCUSSION
Staff in the Parks & Recreation Department has reviewed the request to plant the tree and confirmed that it is allowable and conforms with the City donation policy. The donation will enable the City to recover all costs associated with purchase and installation of the tree and donor plaque. Long term tree maintenance is currently budgeted in the Department's operating budget and a new tree will replace trees in the park landscape plans that have been lost over time. Planting of an incense cedar tree or a tree with a similar canopy and characteristics will benefit the City of Santa Clara and Central Park. Central Park has experienced a loss of large canopy trees, such as redwood trees due to increased water stress and chang...
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