HomeMy WebLinkAboutTriangle Park Historical Monument Sign Concept as recommende I' Dept. ID CS 13-009 Page 1 of 2
Meeting Date:6/17/2013
CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
MEETING DATE: 6/17/2013
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Fred A. Wilson, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Janeen Laudenback, Interim Director of Community Services
SUBJECT: Approve the concept of placing a Historic Monument Sign in Triangle Park as
recommended by the Historic Resources Board (HRB) and Community Services
Commission
Statement of Issue: The National Park Service recently listed the Main Street Library on Triangle
Park on the National Register of Historic Places. At the request of the Historic Resources Board
(HRB), the Community Services Commission approved the concept of a monument sign describing
the history of Triangle Park and proposed wording for the plaque. There is a need for City Council
to review and .approve the concept of a monument sign and proposed wording for the plaque per
Resolution 2004-90, regarding park naming and memorials. -
i
Financial Impact: N/A - Funding for the plaque and monument base will be privately funded, no
General Funds will be used.
Recommended Action:
Approve the concept of placing a monument base and plaque in Triangle Park; and approve the
proposed wording for the plaque as recommended by the Historic Resources Board and
Community Services Commission.
Alternative Action(s): Do not approve the concept of placing a monument base and plaque with
the proposed wording in Triangle Park and direct staff on how to proceed.
Analysis: The Community Services Commission ("Commission") received a request from the
Historic Resources Board (HRB) for a custom park identification sign to include a monument plaque
describing the history of the park. The request for an identification sign was based upon the recent
official naming of Triangle Park and inclusion to the City's park inventory as identified in the General
Plan. The call for the monument plaque was based on an anticipated inclusion of the Main Street
Library on Triangle Park on the National Register of Historic Places. On November 14, 2012, the
Commission referred the request from the HRB to the Park Naming and Memorials Committee
("Committee")for review.
The Committee conducted a public meeting on December 6, 2012, to review the issue. Due to the
amount of verbiage proposed for the plaque, the Committee opted to treat the park identification
sign and plaque separately, recommending that a standard park identification sign be installed at
Triangle Park without a plaque attached, and recommending the concept of placing a plaque
explaining the history of the park as a separate monument sign. The Committee then
recommended the wording for the standard park identification sign to read: . "Triangle Park,
Established 1912, Second Oldest Park in Huntington Beach." The Committee's recommendations
were approved by the Community Services Commission on January 9, 2013, and as part of the
approval, directed the Committee to reconvene to review the proposed language for the plaque.
Item 16. 1 HB -262-
Dept.ID CS 13-009 Page 2 of 2
Meeting Date:6/17/2013
On February 14, 2013, the Committee conducted another public meeting to review the proposed
language from the HRB. Prior to submitting the recommended wording to the Committee, members
of the HRB worked with staff to review various city records regarding the history of Triangle Park.
Based on this research, the proposed information for the plaque concurs with historic summaries
and records from City archives, including past ordinances and meeting minutes of the Board of
Trustees (precursor to City Council) from the early 1900's. With some modifications, the Committee
recommended Commission approval of the proposed wording with a caveat that the final sentence
of the proposed language be added should the Main Street Library on Triangle Park be successful
in their bid to be included on the National Register of Historic Places (Attachment 1). On April 16,
2013, the State of California Office of Historic Preservation notified the City that the property has
been listed on the National Register of Historic Places and listed on the California Register of
Historic Resources (Attachment 2).
Staff and the HRB also discussed the material and style for the plaque. HRB presented samples of
historical signs used in the City of Butte Montana (Attachment 3). The signs are made of aluminum
which holds up better to the elements than bronze and provides for a clearer canvas for signs with
considerable verbiage. A final recommendation from the Committee was that no City funds be used
for the plaque or monument base.
On April 10, 2013, the Community Services Commission approved the Committee's
recommendations for the proposed wording and design of the plaque. Per Resolution No. 2004-90,
Section 9, the monument wording must have the concurrence of both the Community Services
Commission and City Council (Attachment 4). The recommended action is therefore to approve the
concept of a monument sign in Triangle Park and the wording as proposed.
Environmental Status: The project is classified as exempt under Section 15303 of CEQA
guidelines.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Enhance economic development
Attachment(s):
1. Proposed Plaque Wording for Triangle Park
2. Letter from State of California dated April 16, 2013
3. Historic Sign Sample
4. Resolution No. 2004-90
HB -263- Item 16. - 2
ATTACHMENT # 1
Item 16. - 3 Hy -264-
PROPOSED PLAQUE WORDING FOR:
TRIANGLE PARK
Triangle Park has been a centerpiece in Huntington Beach since the turn of the last
century. In 1901, the West Coast Land and Water Company — predecessor to the
Huntington Beach Company — divided its first tract of land. By 1904, the park area was
designated Block 505, referred to by locals as the "triangular park." With the
organization of the Orange County Baseball League in 1910, parkland became a strong
community desire. In 1912 the Huntington Beach News newspaper wrote that the park
had been named "Triangle Park" because of its shape. In 1917, the Huntington Beach
Company formally deeded the land to the City of Huntington Beach for use as a public
park. The 1920s ushered in the City's oil boom, with a rush of new residents creating
housing shortages. Triangle Park became temporary home to one of Huntington
Beach's tent cities, known as "Bungalette Court" or "Cardboard Alley". After only a few
years Triangle Park returned to park use, with trees, ornamental lighting, a putting
green, croquet, checkers, horseshoes and America's favorite pastime, night baseball
games.
Triangle Park, along with the adjacent Block 405, was part of Huntington Beach's old
Civic Center which served the community from 1923 to 1974. The Park's location and
design were influenced by Frederick Law Olmstead's City Beautiful Movement, a late
19th Century American planning philosophy promoting harmonious communities.
During World War II, the Triangle Park Horseshoe Clubhouse was used by the Red
Cross. After the war, the Main Street Library construction began, opening in 1951 and
serving as the City's sole library.
As Triangle Park enters its second century, historic palms are markers of an earlier
time. Triangle Park remains a beloved touchstone of Huntington Beach's pioneer
history in the heart of historic downtown, thanks, in part, to the residents of the city.
The United States Department of the Interior officially listed Triangle Park on the
National Register of Historical Places on April 16, 2013.
ATTACHMENT 1
xB -265- Item 16. - 4
ATTAC H M E N T #2
Item IG. - _ HB -266-
STATE OF CALIFORNIA-THE NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY EDMUND G.BROWN,JR.,Governor
OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION :I-,,
DF^'kRTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
P.( 942896
SAC.,_.n1ENTO,CA 94296-0001 2013 P 0 Pr 112 t:7
(916)445-7000 Fax:(916)445-7053
calshpo@parks.ca.gov
' I
April 26, 2013
City of Huntington Beach
Attention: Joan L. Flynn, City Clerk
2000 Main Street, Second Floor
Huntington Beach, California 92648
RE: Huntington Beach Library Listing on the
National Register of Historic Places
Dear Ms. Flynn:
am pleased to notify you that on April 16, 2013, the above-named property was placed
on the National Register of Historic Places (National Register). As a result of being placed
on the National Register, this property has also been listed in the California Register of
Historical Resources, pursuant to Section 4851(a)(2) of the Public Resources Code.
Placement on the National Register affords a property the honor of inclusion in the
nation's official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation and provides a degree of
protection from adverse effects resulting from federally funded or licensed projects.
Registration provides a number of incentives for preservation of historic properties,
including special building codes to facilitate the restoration of historic structures, and
certain tax advantages.
There are no restrictions placed upon a private property owner with regard to normal use,
maintenance, or sale of a property listed in the National Register. However, a project that
may cause substantial adverse changes in the significance of a registered property may
require compliance with local ordinances or the California Environmental Quality Act. In
addition, registered properties damaged due to a natural disaster may be subject to the
provisions of Section 5028 of the Public Resources Code regarding demolition or
significant alterations, if imminent threat to life safety does not exist.
If you have any questions or require further information, please contact the Registration
Unit at (916) 445-7008.
Sincerely,
Rz.
dwz� IA*k�
Carol Roland-Naomi
State Historic Preservation Officer
Enclosure: National Register Notification of Listing
ATT9 HB _267_AT 2 Item 16. - 6
April 25, 2013
The Director of the National Park Service is pleased to send you the following
announcements and actions on properties for the National
Register of Historic Places. For further information contact Edson Beall via voice (202)
354-2255, or E-mail: <Edson Beall .nps.gov>
This and past Weekly Lists are also available here:
hftp://www.nps.gov/history/nr/nrlist.htm
Our physical location address is:
National Park Service 2280, 8th floor
National Register of Historic Places
1201 "1" (Eye) Street, NW,
Washington D.C. 20005
Landscape Architecture Month:
hftp://www.nps.gov/histo!y/nr/f`eature/landscape/index.htm
WEEKLY LIST OF ACTIONS TAKEN ON
PROPERTIES: 4/15/13 THROUGH 4/19/13
KEY: State, County, Property Name, Address/Boundary, City, Vicinity,
Reference Number, NHL, Action, Date, Multiple Name
CALIFORNIA, ORANGE COUNTY,
Huntington Beach Public Library on Triangle Park,
525 Main St.,
Huntington Beach, 13000157,
LISTED, 4/16/13
Item 16. - 7 ATTA HB -268_!SIT 2
ATTACHMENT #3
yin -269- Item lti. - R
Historic Sign Sample
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ATTACHMENT 3
Item 16. - 9 xB -270-
ATTACHMENT #4
RES OLUTION NO. 2 0 0 4-9 0
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF HUNTINGTON BEACH ESTABLISHING ITS POLICY
FOR THE NAMING OF CITY PARKS, PARK FEATURES AND
COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND REPEALING CONFLICTING RESOLUTIONS
WHEREAS, the City has established a vigorous program to provide suitable park and
recreation areas for its residents; and,
It is desirable that appropriate names be selected for the City's parks and that the City
recognize donations of park/pier furniture and/or park play equipment, and that a policy be
adopted by the City Council to accomplish this purpose,
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach does hereby
resolve as follows;
1. That the policies contained in this resolution shall be instituted for the naming of
the City's parks, park features and community facilities, and to recognize donations of park/pier
furniture and park/play equipment.
2. That parks adjacent to schools be named the same as the school.
3. That if an entire park or sizable portion of a park which is not adjacent to a school
is donated by an individual or family, it may be named after the donor.
4. That if the park is neither adjacent to a school nor donated, all or in part, it may be
named after past Huntington Beach mayors who are no longer members of the City Council
("former mayors"). In addition, other individuals, including past council members, or other
names may be proposed_The names of these persons may be considered when their unique
contributions have had a City, state or national impact, are marked by excellence and are worthy
of honor.
5. That in addition to parks, other community facilities such as lakes, park features
of Huntington Central Park, structures(other than restrooms and benches), groves of trees,
walkways, playing fields, group camp and picnic sites, gardens, play equipment areas, meadows,
amphitheaters, vistas, bridges and wildlife refuges may be named after former mayors to honor
them for their service to the City.
6. That if park or pier furniture such as picnic tables, benches,trash cans, or play
equipment is donated by an individual, civic organization, family or business,the donor may
receive recognition by having the name of a person, family or business placed on the donation.
Examples: (a) A donation in memory of a relative could be given to the City for a pier.bench
with the following options:
04rcso/naming parksl9128/04 I
Item 16. - I I AM HB -2 t 2-NT 4
Resolution No. 2004-90
I. The name only, including the year;
2. In honor of (individual's name), including the year;
3. In memory of (individual's name), including the year.
(b) a modular piece of play equipment and a park bench could be funded by a donation from a
company with the bench placed immediately adjacent to a new tot lot with the inscription"This
tot lot is donated to the City of Huntington Beach by Company.III
7. That if a business or other entity offers to pay the City in exchange for the City
naming a facility or park after the business,then the City may enter into an agreement for the
same. The agreement must be prepared by the City Attorney and approved by the City Council.
8. That only one park,park feature or community facility shall be named for an
individual.
9. That all recommendations for park/pier memorial naming shall have the
concurrence of the Conununity Services Commission and the City Council.
10. That Resolution No. 2001-64 and all other resolutions in conflict herewith are
hereby repealed.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach at a
regular meeting thereof held on the 15th day of November , 2004.
Mayor
REVIEWED AND APPROVED: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
L11 :2--4�- re��� .1 . K�0 2�2s�
City dministrator �� dy City ttorney
INITIATED AND APPROVED: 04
Dir ct of Community Servi
04resa/naming parks/4/27/04 2
ATTI HB -273-!NT 4 Item 16. - 12