REGINA PLANNING COMMISSION – APRIL 10, 2019
Kaitlyn Brown, Capital Crossing Advisors, representing Cornerstone Holdings, addressed the Commission.
The Commission adopted a resolution to concur in the recommendation contained in the report.
Recommendation #3 does not require City Council approval.
Councillors: Bob Hawkins, and Barbara Young (Chairperson); Commissioners: David Bale, Frank Bojkovsky, Andre Kroeger, Adrienne Hagen Lyster and Celeste York were present during consideration of this report by the Regina Planning Commission.
The Regina Planning Commission, at its meeting held on April 10, 2019, considered the following report from the Administration:
RECOMMENDATION
1. That Capital Crossing MR2 be named Biden Park.
2. That Riverbend MR4 be named Jerry Tell Park.
3. That this report be forward to the April 29, 2019 meeting of City Council for approval.
CONCLUSION
In accordance with the City of Regina’s (City) Civic Naming Committee Guideline, which was adopted by Council in November 2018 (CR-18-116, Policy #2018-OCC-G00005), the Administration has consulted with the applicable developers, Community Associations and Zone Boards to identify names for t wo neighbourhood parks, Capital Crossing MR2 (Appendix A), located in Hawkstone, and Riverbend MR4 (Appendix B).
During the consultation process, the Argyle North Community Association and North Zone Board expressed a desire to have the Capital Crossing MR2 park named in honour of Mr. Len Biden, a resident who has made significant contributions to the north zone community through his volunteer work. This name is consistent with the guidelines; therefore, Administration recommends that Capital Crossing MR2 be named Biden Park.
The developer in Riverbend submitted the name Mr. Jerry Tell for consideration for Riverbend MR4, in honor of an individual who contributed significantly through leadership activities with sport, health and education organizations and service clubs. During the consultation process with the Arcola East Community Association and East Zone Board, the Community Association indicated that they did not support parks being named after people and preferred an alternative, although they did not provide an alternative for consideration. As the Civic Naming Guideline supports naming parks after residents who have made a contribution to the community, Administration recommends moving forward with assigning Jerry Tell to Riverbend MR4.
BACKGROUND
The Civic Naming Committee Guideline requires the Administration to consider requests from developers, Community Associations and Zone Boards for names to be assigned to parks. Names are first submitted to an internal Civic Naming Committee, which considers the names within the context of the Civic Naming Committee Guideline, adopted by Council in November 2018 (CR05-101). Upon approval by the Civic Naming Committee, names can be assigned to public open space with Council approval.
As part of the process for naming parks, names proposed by developers are shared with impacted Community Associations and Zone Boards. Through this review process, a desire has been expressed by the community to adopt names aligned with Regina’s Cultural Plan which recommends that the naming of streets, parks and other civic assets be done in a manner that celebrates Regina’s unique history and cultural diversity and that it tells the whole story of Regina.
DISCUSSION
Capital Crossing MR2
In September 2018, Cornerstone Holdings Ltd. contacted the City regarding the naming of the MR2 park space located within Capital Crossing with a request that the park be named “Brighton”, a name that was approved for use as a street or park name prior to 2000. The Argyle North Community Association and North Zone Board were notified of this request and informed the Administration that they have concerns with the name “Brighton” and do not support it as they feel this name does not represent their community from a cultural or historical perspective. The origin of this name is not recorded in the Civic Naming List.
Instead, the Community Association and Zone Board have expressed a desire to have the park named in honour of Mr. Len Biden, a resident that has contributed from a community development perspective to Regina, and in particular this area of the city.
Len Biden is a long-serving community organizer in north Regina. Biden joined the Argyle Park Community Association in the 1990s, remaining as part of the community association through two subsequent name changes for the organization. He has been the representative for Argyle North on the North Zone Board for multiple years. Biden was also involved in setting up and running the North Zone Soccer program, when it was first being developed. Biden also worked with Dr. Hanna and St. Timothy schools to ensure the schools were updated on community events and also ran the Dr. Hanna lunch program for years.
The name “Biden” was approved by the Civic Naming Committee in December 2018 as it meets the criteria for park names. Cornerstone Holdings Ltd. has acknowledged the request of the community but prefers to move forward with their initial name request of “Brighton”.
Riverbend MR4
In December 2018, the developer for the Riverbend subdivision, Tell Properties Ltd., contacted the City regarding the naming of the MR4 park space in this area. At that time, they informed Administration that they would be requesting the name “Jerry Tell” in honour of Mr. Jerry Tell. This name is approved by the Civic Naming Committee and is on the Civic Naming List.
Jerry Tell (1932-2017) was a local entrepreneur and volunteer. He was the owner and operator of Cindercrete Products Ltd., leading its expansion during the 1970s and 1980s, and later became a developer. Tell was also a member of Queen City Kiwanis, president of the Rotary Club of Regina, president of the Regina Boys Hockey League, and a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, Hospitals of Regina and Luther High School. He also supported non-profit groups by painting their logos on Cindercrete trucks, helping to keep them top of mind in the community.
When consulting with the East Zone Board and Arcola East Community Associations, they expressed that their preference is not to name parks after people who have made a contribution to the community or have significant historical or cultural connections to Regina. However, in accordance with the Council approved Civic Naming Committee Guidelines, names of people are approved for use as street and park names. This is also supported by the Regina Cultural Plan
Policy Alignment
In November 2018, Council approved a new Civic Naming Committee Guideline. A fifty per cent target was established for the assignment of Indigenous names to parks within a concept plan. In 2018, one park was named by Council. That park was assigned an Indigenous name; the two proposed names in this report are not Indigenous names. These parks exist in subdivisions that had approved concept plans prior to the Civic Naming Committee Guideline being approved. Because the concept plan areas are nearing completion and in both situations, Riverbend MR4 and Capital Crossing MR2 are the last park to be named within the concept plan area, the target will not be met. Administration is assessing existing concept plans to ensure the targets are achieved as names are assigned.
Due to the alignment with the Regina Cultural Plan and Civic Naming Committee Guideline, Administration is recommending the names Biden and Jerry Tell be assigned to Capital Crossing MR2 and Riverbend MR4. The names will also be translated into Cree syllabics for placement on the signage.
RECOMMENDATION IMPLICATIONS
Financial Implications
There are no financial implications for the City related to the naming of the parks included in this report. All park signage will be installed within the parks at the expense of the developer.
Environmental Implications
There are no environmental implications associated with this report.
Policy and/or Strategic Implications
The Civic Naming Committee Guideline contributes to the harmony of the city of Regina by providing an opportunity for Community Associations as well as other public organizations to participate in public process, allowing them to be informed and engaged in what is happening within their community. Park naming also supports the action from the Regina Cultural Plan to “ensure that the naming of streets, parks and other civic assets is done to celebrate Regina’s unique history and cultural diversity and that it tells the whole story of Regina.”
Other Implications
There are no other implications associated with this report.
Accessibility Implications
There are no accessibility implications associated with this report.
COMMUNICATIONS
Community Associations, Zone Boards and developers were consulted during the park naming process to solicit ideas for names for the park spaces.
Once names are approved by Council, all park spaces will contain a park sign with a decal that explains who or what the park is named after, with a short biography.
DELEGATED AUTHORITY
In accordance with the Open Space Park Naming Policy and Procedures, City Council approval is required to name park space.
Respectfully submitted,
REGINA PLANNING COMMISSION
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