City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 5, 2012
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: RASHAD M. YOUNG, CITY MANAGER
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION TO NAME THE BALLFIELD AT THE LEE CENTER THE KELLEY CARES MIRACLE FIELD
BODY
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ISSUE: Naming of the ballfield located at the Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson Street, The Kelley Cares Miracle Field.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council: (1) receive the recommendation of the City Council Naming Committee to name the ballfield located at the Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson Street, The Kelley Cares Miracle Field; and (2) set the proposal for public hearing and consideration on Saturday, September 15.
BACKGROUND: On June 20, 2012, the City of Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities received a letter from the Board of Directors of the Miracle League of Alexandria proposing the naming of the ballfield located at the Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson Street, The Kelley Cares Miracle Field. (Attachment 1).
Their proposal would continue to honor an Alexandria organization which has been instrumental in supporting therapeutic recreation opportunities for City residents for a number of years. The Kelley Cares Foundation has been responsible for donating and contributing to funding efforts resulting in the multi-sensory room at the Lee Center; the purchase of a passenger van for the assisted transport of special needs individuals; a mobile multi-sensory lab to extend opportunities in the City's public schools; and a variety of technical equipment to help City residents with special needs function better.
In addition to their contributions above, the Kelley Cares Foundation, in partnership with the Miracle Baseball League of Alexandria Advisory Board, set a goal to raise $135,000 to supplement the City's contribution of $285,000 to fully fund the conversion of the Lee Center ballfield to a Miracle Field. This goal was achieved in May 2012. Construction of the City's Miracle Field, a rubberized surface baseball diamond that allows individuals with special needs the opportunity to play outdoor sports in a safe and fun environment, began in July and will be completed by late September 2012.
DISCUSSION: In response to the proposal from the Board of Directors of the Miracle League of Alexandria, the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities solicited public comment on the proposed ballfield naming from July 29, 2012 through July 23, 2012 (Attachment 2).
Community members were notified of the public comment period by City eNews, the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities website, and through "word of mouth" assistance from the Miracle League of Alexandria Board of Directors and the Kelley Cares Foundation. Public comment received was unanimously in favor of the proposal to name the ballfield at the Lee Center as The Kelley Cares Miracle Field.
On August 15, 2012, the City Council Naming Committee (Councilman Frank Fannon, Councilwoman Del Pepper and City Manager Rashad M. Young) held a meeting with William Rivers, Chairman of the Miracle League of Alexandria, and Lindsey Swanson, Director of the Kelley Cares Foundation, to discuss the naming proposal. The City Council Naming Committee voted unanimously to recommend to City Council that the ballfield at the Lee Center be named The Kelley Cares Miracle Field.
I recommend that Council schedule these proposals for public hearing and consideration on Saturday, September 15.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1. Proposal to name ballfield at the Lee Center The Kelley Cares Miracle Field
Attachment 2. Public comment on the proposed ballfield naming
STAFF:
Michele Evans, Deputy City Manager
James Spengler, Director, Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities
Jack Browand, Division Chief, Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities