THE CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT OF CENTRAL SAANICH CENOTAPH COMMITTEE Monday, April 3, 2017, 4:00 PM Council Chambers AGENDA 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 3. ADOPTION OF MINUTES 3.1. Draft Minutes of the Cenotaph Committee Meeting of December 13, 2016 Pg. 2-4 4. NEW BUSINESS 4.1. Referral from the Committee of the Whole Meeting - March 27, 2017 Recommendation: [Council referral] That (Resolution 235.17) the Centennial Park Cenotaph staff report, dated March 20, 2017, be referred to the Cenotaph Committee and that the Cenotaph Committee be requested to provide their preference of site options A, B, or C. Pg. 5-20 5. ADJOURNMENT Excerpt from the Minutes of the Committee of the Whole Meeting held on March 27, 2017 Staff Report - Centennial Park Cenotaph March 20, 2017 Centennial Park Cenotaph Slideshow Excerpt from the Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting held on January 9, 2017
THE CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT OF CENTRAL SAANICH Minutes of the CENOTAPH COMMITTEE Meeting Tuesday, December 13, 2016, at 4:00 PM Council Chambers PRESENT: ABSENT: Members: Councillor Jensen Ed Widenmaier Norma Sealey John Hannam Staff: Bonnie McKenzie, Manager of Community Services Andrea Giese, Administrative Assistant Councillor Graham David Spence Malcolm Green Les Fernstrom 1. CALL TO ORDER Councillor Jensen called the meeting to order at 4:07 p.m. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 2.1. December 13, 2016 Cenotaph Committee Agenda CEN11.16 MOVED That the agenda for the December 13, 2016 Cenotaph Committee meeting be approved. CARRIED 3. ADOPTION OF MINUTES 3.1. Draft Minutes of the Cenotaph Committee - October 12, 2016 CEN12.16 MOVED That the Minutes of the October 12, 2016 meeting of the Cenotaph Committee be approved. CARRIED Page 2 of 20
4. NEW BUSINESS 4.1. Referral from Council Meeting - November 7, 2016 Recommendation: [Council referral]: That (Resolution 969.16) staff forward the correspondence dated October 17, 2016 from M. Isitt to the Cenotaph Committee for review and comment. Correspondence dated October 17, 2016 from M. Isitt General discussion ensued. It was agreed that M. Isitt's proposal to combine a cenotaph with a performance stage/pavilion within Pioneer Park was not favoured and was considered out-of-scope for the Committee to comment on. 4.2. Referral from Council Meeting - December 5, 2016 Recommendation: [Council referral]: That (Resolution 1156.16) Council forward the staff report dated November 25, 2016 and scoring criteria to the Cenotaph Committee for discussion and to provide comments back to Council. That (Resolution 1157.16) Council specifically ask the Cenotaph Committee, after its discussion of the scoring criteria, to recommend a preferred site. Excerpt from the Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting held on December 5, 2016 Staff Report dated November 25, 2016 entitled "Cenotaph Site Review" Excerpt from the Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting held on October 17, 2016 General discussion ensued. Members stated that the Municipal Hall and Fire Station #1 sites had been eliminated previously and therefore should not be included in the short-list of potential sites. CEN13.16 CEN14.16 MOVED That the Cenotaph Committee recommends that Centennial Park, Pioneer Park and Saanichton Green be considered as the "top 3" sites, without reference to the scoring chart. CARRIED MOVED Amended Motion: That the potential sites be ranked in order of preference as: #1 - Centennial Park Cenotaph Committee Minutes December 13, 2016 Page 2 of 3 Page 3 of 20
#2 - Saanichton Green #3 - Pioneer Park CARRIED CEN15.16 MOVED That Cenotaph Committee recommend the potential sites be ranked in order of preference as: #1 - Centennial Park #2 - Pioneer Park #3 - Saanichton Green DEFEATED 5. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 4:43p.m. Chair Cenotaph Committee Minutes December 13, 2016 Page 3 of 3 Page 4 of 20
EXCERPT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING HELD ON MARCH 27, 2017 235.17 MOVED That the Centennial Park Cenotaph staff report, dated March 20, 2017, be referred to the Cenotaph Committee and that the Cenotaph Committee be requested to provide their preference of site options A, B, or C. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY Page 5 of 20
The Corporation of the District of Central Saanich COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE REPORT For the Committee of the Whole meeting on March 27, 2017 To: Patrick Robins Chief Administrative Officer File: From: Bonnie McKenzie Manager of Community Services Priority: Strategic Operational Date: March 20, 2017 Re: Centennial Park Cenotaph RECOMMENDATIONS: That Council endorse the site identified as "Site C" within the staff report entitled Centennial Park Cenotaph, dated March 20, 2017, as the location for a new memorial cenotaph. BACKGROUND: At the Regular Council Meeting of January 9, 2017, Council endorsed Centennial Park as the preferred location for a community cenotaph, and requested staff identify potential sites within the park for consideration. Additionally, staff were directed to advise the anonymous donor of Council's decision and encourage his continued participation with the project. Accordingly, three sites have been identified. These are illustrated in Appendix A attached and analyzed below. Contact was made with the Donor s representative to provide an update on Council s decisions to date and to encourage his continued involvement. A response has not been received. 1903 Mount Newton Cross Road, Saanichton, B.C. V8M 2A9 Phone: 250-652-4444 Fax: 250-652-0135 Page 6 of 20
To: Patrick Robins, Chief Administrative Officer March 20, 2017 For: March 27, 2017 Committee of the Whole Re: Centennial Park Cenotaph DISCUSSION: When reviewing potential locations within the park a number of key elements were considered: the memorial should be accessible to the community, both in the sense that all people regardless of mobility should be accommodated with appropriate access, and also in the sense that the cenotaph should be situated where it becomes a landmark experienced frequently in the day-to-day activities of many community members. This includes easy, multiple points of access for ceremony participants (laying wreathes, speaking) and for those attending. The site should also be accessible to service vehicles; the cenotaph should reflect the character of Central Saanich and its citizens, its agricultural roots, its natural surroundings and its close community relationships. This translates into a modest form, durable practical materials, personal involvement; the site should be appropriately respectful by providing a setting which befits the personal and public reflection on loss, sacrifice and gratitude - while the avoiding conflict with the many other uses in the park; the design should anticipate the future addition of elements as the community may, over time, seek new ways to memorialize past or future events; the design must be functional for a large community ceremony, with access to power/water, washrooms, facilities for hosting a reception, etc., and with accessible parking in close proximity along with connections to the transit system, major cycling route and trail system; the siting should allow for approach and assembly, with sufficient space for the monument, assembly space and beckoning edges, providing for a wide range of participation from active involvement in the ceremony to observation from a distance. Potential to incorporate a parade/procession to the monument; overall the memorial cenotaph should stand as a landmark and precinct within Centennial Park, commanding a distinct space for the special purpose of the monument and its associated community uses. The site should avoid conflict from other uses, distractions and sensory bombardment. The venue should allow for quiet reflection, respite, calm and a spiritual connection to the natural surroundings. The site must be compatible with adjacent uses both for the wreath laying ceremony on November 11th and throughout the year. The design should avoid placement where the monument would be susceptible to misuse or desecration. Ideally, the site chosen would not impose itself into or displace other park uses. With consideration to the above, all three sites are found in highly visible locations within the park, which could be developed to support a large public assembly and require little, if any, tree removal. No significant or insurmountable impediments are anticipated with any of them. Attributes of each site are identified below: Site A - Wallace Drive - North Positive good visibility from Wallace Drive, permitting casual surveillance by passersby open green space, with large trees (Big-leaf maples) nearby parking available sufficient size for a large gathering youth interaction likely Negative potential conflict with adjacent uses (warm-up zone, errant balls, tree roots) activity noise and visual distractions not conducive to peaceful enjoyment, quiet reflection Page 7 of 20
To: Patrick Robins, Chief Administrative Officer March 20, 2017 For: March 27, 2017 Committee of the Whole Re: Centennial Park Cenotaph poor drainage weather exposure (wind, rain, sun) access challenges Site B - Wallace Drive - South Positive visible from Wallace Drive, permitting casual surveillance by passersby barrier-free access quieter, "protected" precinct established landscaping surrounding, offering respite from prevailing winds, rain and sun parking available sufficient space for large gathering with temporary closure of driveway Negative requires relocation of picnic shelter (planned replacement) fair drainage youth interaction less-likely Site C - Hovey Road - West Positive located within the main entrance to Centennial Park visible from Wallace Drive, drawing interest to the monument enhanced security - located adjacent to the park caretaker's residence barrier-free access improved transition between existing trail network and the developed section of Hovey Rd parking available sufficient space for large gathering favourable drainage youth interaction likely Negative potential conflicts between pedestrian and vehicle traffic (accessing adjacent residences) weather exposure (wind, rain, sun) Options Council can: 1. Endorse one of the identified sites (A, B, or C) within Centennial Park for construction of the cenotaph and instruct staff to develop preliminary designs for Council consideration; or 2. Reject the three identified sites. Request staff review the attributes of an alternate site of Council s choosing. Although any of the three identified sites would support a cenotaph, staff favour Site C, due to its position of prominence within the Park and the potential to create a peaceful precinct to honour those fallen in times of conflict. Development of Site C, would improve the entrance corridor to Centennial Park, whether one is walking, driving, cycling or on horseback. Sites A and B located along Wallace Drive would be seen by many people each day, however, the interaction would be expected to be fleeting and impersonal. If the goal is to create cenotaph that supports both an occasional large public assembly yet also, is inviting for quiet contemplation and personal reflection, then Site C will do this best. As the main entrance to Centennial Park, incorporating the memorial cenotaph into the Hovey Road corridor will Page 8 of 20
To: Patrick Robins, Chief Administrative Officer March 20, 2017 For: March 27, 2017 Committee of the Whole Re: Centennial Park Cenotaph significantly improve what is currently found and will draw visitors to the new feature for a closer inspection. CONCLUSION: Given the Cenotaph Project was identified as a strategic priority for 2017, endorsement of one of the identified sites, A, B or C, is recommended. Upon selection of the Site, next steps would include development of conceptual design drawings for the cenotaph and report back to Council for further direction. ATTACHMENTS: Appendix A - Site alternatives within Centennial Park. Administrator s Recommendation: I concur with the recommendation contained in this report. Patrick Robins Chief Administrative Officer Page 9 of 20
C B A Page 10 of 20
Centennial Park Cenotaph Review of alternative locations March, 2017 Page 11 of 20
C B Page 12 of 20
Site A Page 13 of 20 View looking north from Hovey Road.
Page 14 of 20 View of Site A looking southwest across Wallace Drive.
Site B Page 15 of 20 View looking southwest across Wallace Drive.
Page 16 of 20 View looking west from Wallace Drive.
Page 17 of 20 View of Site B looking northwest from Wallace Drive.
Site C Page 18 of 20 View looking west down Hovey Road, main entrance to Centennial Park.
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EXCERPT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON JANUARY 9, 2017 11.17 MOVED AND SECONDED That Council endorse the recommendation of the Cenotaph Committee to put the Cenotaph in Centennial Park, and direct staff to identify potential sites within the park. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 12.17 MOVED AND SECONDED That the anonymous donor be contacted to inform them of the decision of Council and note that Council hopes that he or she will continue with their participation. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY Page 20 of 20