CC 02-07-23 Item #13 Supplemental Memo to Council Questions Att 07 - Mid Peninsula Open SpaceMidpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Board Policy Manual
Site Naming, Gift, and Special
Recognition Policy 5.01
Chapter 5 – Historical/Cultural
Effective Date: 8/25/93 Revised Date: 9/12/18
Prior Versions: 8/25/93, 9/14/94, 6/24/98, 9/12/01, 10/8/08, 1/13/10, 10/27/10, 11/13/13
Board Policy 5.01 Page 1 of 4
I. SITE NAMING
All District site names and signs should be kept as simple and functional as possible. When a
property is acquired, either as an addition to an existing preserve or for the establishment of
a new preserve, a name will be recommended in the Preliminary Use and Management Plan.
In most cases, "open space preserve" is appropriate as part of the name; however, there
may be circumstances when another designation may be used. In some cases, a temporary
name may be retained until the next Comprehensive Use and Management Plan review.
A. Open Space Preserves
The name given to each open space preserve should be general enough to remain suitable if
the site is enlarged, but specific enough to give its location some significance. Properties
added to an open space preserve may not always be contiguous with that preserve.
1. Preserves shall be named after:
a) Geographical features of broad, general significance to the
preserve;
b) Historical persons, cultural names, uses, or events broadly
associated with the locale.
2. Preserves shall not be named after any individuals other than
historical persons as noted above.
B. Preserve Areas, Trails, Site Improvements, Historic Sites and Unnamed Natural
Features
This designation refers to specific locations, land formations, trails, natural and physical
features, staging areas and other site improvements, and areas of significance within
open space preserves. Recognition of significant land gifts, including "bargain" purchases,
will be negotiated at the time of the gift or bargain purchase.
1. Preserve areas, trails, site improvements including benches and
bridges, historic sites and previously unnamed natural features shall ordinarily be named
after:
Board Policy 5.01 Page 2 of 4
a) Geographical, botanical or zoological identification;
b) Historical persons, uses, or events associated with the site, or
persons and organizations listed in Section III: “Special Recognition”.
2. Preserve areas, trails, site improvements, historic sites and unnamed natural
features may in rare instances be named after a living individual who has made an
outstanding contribution to the District, subject to approval by the Board of Directors.
II. GIFT RECOGNITION
The purpose of the gift recognition policy is to provide an opportunity for the District to
recognize and commend individuals or groups that have made significant contributions of
cash, equipment, materials, goods or professional services toward the enhancement of the
District, its programs, and its facilities.
A. Unsolicited Cash Gifts:
Up to $25 Postcard of thanks
$26 to $499 Letter signed by General Manager
$500 to $1,999 Letter signed by President of the Board
$2,000 to $4,999 Letter signed by President of the Board and District gift
item (note cards, etc.)
$5,000 to $9,999 Letter signed by President of the Board and framed
photograph of favorite District preserve
$10,000 or more Letter signed by President of the Board and Resolution and
framed photograph of District preserve and mention in a
District publication*
*These items will be provided only if desired by the donor.
III. SPECIAL RECOGNITION
The Legislative, Funding and Public Affairs Committee (LFPAC) shall be the committee
designated to discuss all requests that meet the criteria of the policy for special recognition
made by members of the Board of Directors, and after deliberation shall forward a
recommendation to the full Board for a vote.
The General Manager or his/her designee will review constituent bench dedication requests to
determine eligibility based on the policy guidelines outlined below in Section III D.
Constituent bench requests may be brought to LFPAC if there exists ambiguity regarding
whether the request meets the requirements below.
The District places benches in its preserves for three distinct purposes:
A. District Rest Benches
Board Policy 5.01 Page 3 of 4
These benches provide constituents with a place to rest. District staff places these benches
without involving a District committee or the full Board. Regular benches must be either a
backed or a backless standard bench as described in Section V below.
B. Constituent Bench Dedications
These are benches which have been requested by constituents in order to honor or memorialize
a member of the public and are funded by the requestors who must pay $5,000 for a 10-year
term. Requests must be in reference to a significant supporter or a volunteer, as defined in
Section III D below. The General Manager or his/her designee reviews requests to determine if
they meet the eligibility definitions. Requests that are administratively declined because they
do not meet the eligibility definitions may be appealed to the General Manager for a second
review. Eligible requests will be administratively implemented.
a) Constituent bench dedications shall only be selected from and placed in
locations that have been pre-determined by the District and/or approved by the Planning and
Natural Resources Committee and/or by the full Board of Directors.
b) If a request for a constituent bench meets the eligibility requirements,
the requestor(s) shall pay for the cost of constructing, installing and maintaining a bench and
plaque by contributing $5,000 to cover the 10-year dedication term of the bench.
c) Bench plaques will be 2 x 6 inches in size.
d) Benches must be one of the two District standard bench designs.
e) Constituent bench dedications will have a term limit of 10 years. After
10 years, the original donor will have the option to contribute an additional $5,000 donation for
each additional 10-year term. Should the original donor decline to renew an existing bench, the
bench will be offered to the public for re-dedication.
C. District Bench Dedications
These are benches which are installed by the District in response to requests by members of
the Board of Directors to honor "Founders," "Significant Supporters", and “Volunteers”.
a) LFPAC can initiate a bench request and refer a decision to the full
Board or individual Board members can initiate a bench request which will be referred to
LFPAC for discussion before it is referred to the full Board for a final decision. Honorees must
be "Founders", "Significant Supporters", and “Volunteers” (per policy Section III D below).
b) For these benches there are no design specification limits or limits
on their location. The District will pay for the lifetime cost of the bench.
D. Founders, Significant Supporters, and Volunteers
"Founders", "Significant Supporters", and “Volunteers” are eligible for special
recognition, including memorials.
"Founders" shall be defined as an individual or group of individuals who participated in
the formation of the District, or were significant supporters of the formation of the
District.
Board Policy 5.01 Page 4 of 4
"Significant Supporters" shall be defined as individuals or group of individuals who have shown
conspicuous or noteworthy support for the District through extraordinary contributions of time
and effort to the advancement of the goals, philosophy and mission of the District.
“Volunteers” shall be defined as individuals or groups of individuals who donated a minimum
of 250 volunteer hours and 5 years of service to the District by working for the District’s docent
or volunteer program.
IV. RECOGNITION OF HISTORIC SITES
A. A recognition monument, normally in plaque form, may be considered by the
Board if it is in relation to a specific existing building or other remaining structure of
significant historic value. In such cases, the plaque will be affixed or in close proximity to the
structure itself. If there is no structure, then recognition may he considered for inclusion on
District informational materials or trail signage. Such a site, in the absence of a building or
structure, will ordinarily not be physically marked except as determined by the Board on a
case-by-case basis as part of the Use and Management planning process for the
corresponding open space preserve.
Any Board-approved memorial names shall be included in site brochures, maps, or
other informational materials.
V. STANDARD BENCH DESIGN SPECIFICATION
A. District Rest Benches and Constituent Bench Dedications, described in III (A) and
(B) above, are limited to either of the two following standard bench designs:
Backed bench:
Dumor - Bench 88, recycled plastic slates (color: CEDAR), steel leg supports
(color: BLACK, IMBEDDED)
6’ or 8’ lengths
Backless bench:
Dumor - Bench 103, recycled plastic slates (color: CEDAR), steel leg supports
(color: BLACK, IMBEDDED)
103-60PL 6' long, 3 supports
103-80PL 8' long, 3 supports
B. The General Manager or LFPAC can at any point bring designs to the Board
that differ from the District’s standard bench designs.
Commemorative Bench Program
Application Form
Bench recipients must be a significant supporter or a volunteer in order to qualify for a commemorative
bench.
A significant supporter is defined as a constituent who have made a significant contribution to
the District through displaying conspicuous or noteworthy support for the District through
extraordinary contributions of time and effort to the advancement of the goals, philosophy, and
mission of the District.
A volunteer is defined as a constituent who has volunteered a minimum of 250 volunteer hours
and 5 years of service to the District in the District’s docent or volunteer program.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name of individual to be commemorated:__________________________________________________
Is the individual a significant supporter or volunteer ? Yes __ No__
Please describe how the individual has made a significant contribution to the District or qualifies as a
volunteer (use back if needed):
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bench Requestor Information
Name:________________________________________________________________________________
Phone: ______________________________E-mail Address:____________________________________
Address:_________________________________ ____________________________________________
City: ___________________________State: ______________ Zip Code:___________________________
Relationship to Bench Recipient:
Please provide any additional notes or comments (use back if needed):
Complete the application form and submit to the District office:
Memorial Bench Program
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
5050 El Camino Real
Los Altos, CA 94022