City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 6, 2017
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
City Council Public Hearing and Consideration to Rename the Cora Kelly Recreation Center the Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center.
BODY
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ISSUE: City Council consideration of renaming the Cora Kelly Recreation Center the Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1. Consider the renaming of the Cora Kelly Recreation Center the Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center; and
2. Schedule a public hearing for Saturday, September 16, 2017 and adopt the recommendation of the City Naming Committee to rename the Cora Kelly Recreation Center the Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center.
BACKGROUND: Leonard “Chick” Armstrong served as a youth football and basketball coach with the City’s Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities for more than 35 years. Mr. Armstrong was more than a coach, he spent countless hours mentoring and counseling youth on the values of getting an education, avoiding drugs and other negative behaviors, and being a positive role model to other young men and women in the community. Many of the youth
Mr. Armstrong coached and mentored went on to be productive citizens in Alexandria and throughout the metropolitan area. For eight years, Mr. Armstrong served as the Commissioner of the Johnson-Siebert Summer Adult Basketball League that served hundreds of young adults. In addition, his commitment to building youth through athletics earned Mr. Armstrong the 2005 Mid-Atlantic Recreation & Parks Sports Alliance’s Sportsmanship Award.
DISCUSSION: In response to the proposal from Councilman Willie Bailey, the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities (RPCA) solicited public comment on the proposed renaming of the Cora Kelly Recreation Center from May 15, 2017 through June 16, 2017 (Attachment 1). Community members received notifications of the public comment period by City eNews, neighborhood canvassing of the eNews release, the RPCA website, and through “word of mouth”.
On July 17, 2017, the City Council Naming Committee (Councilwoman Del Pepper, Chair; Councilman Timothy Lovain; and Lance Mallamo (Absent), Director, Office of Historic Alexandria) held a meeting with Councilman Bailey to discuss the proposed renaming and to review public comment received (Attachment 2). The City Council Naming Committee voted unanimously to recommend to City Council that the Cora Kelly Recreation Center the Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center.
The current name of the recreation center, Cora Kelly, was named for its proximity to the Cora Kelly Elementary School, rather than named directly for Cora Lee Webster Kelly, a beloved Alexandria teacher. City Council will consider whether to name the recreation center after a person for the first time. The name of the elementary school would remain unchanged.
FISCAL IMPACT: $7,500 to $10,000. The renaming of the facility will require the replacement of existing signage and reprinting of all material with new name. RPCA will pursue potential PARKnership opportunities to offset expenses.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Community notice of proposal to rename the Cora Kelly Recreation Center
2. Public comment received for the proposal to rename the Cora Kelly Recreation Center
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
James Spengler, Director, Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities
Jack Browand, Division, Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities