The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 12/19/2017 - RESOLUTION 2017-114 NAMING THE LOUNGE AT THE FORTAgenda Item 20 Item # 20 Page 1 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY December 19, 2017 City Council STAFF Alyssa Johnson, Graduate Management Assistant Wendy Williams, Assistant City Manager Cyril Vidergar, Legal SUBJECT Resolution 2017-114 Naming the Lounge at the Fort Collins Senior Center after Former Mayor and Councilmember Ann Azari. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this item is to name the lounge at the Senior Center the “Ann Azari Lounge” in honor of former mayor Ann Azari. Ann was a devoted public servant in the Fort Collins community who served ten years on City Council and as Mayor. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution. BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION Ann Azari, a highly regarded City leader and community member, served on Fort Collins City Council from 1989-1999, three years as Mayor Pro Tem and three terms as Mayor. During her tenure on City Council, Ann worked to set the city on a progressive path by encouraging regional cooperation, inclusiveness, and partnerships. Her efforts to “build a city” through mediation and moderation of community factions during the debate over growth and land-use issues are examples of her commitment to cooperation and inclusivity. Ann was also a champion for diversity; she diligently celebrated the various cultures in the Fort Collins community through her work on the Cultural Diversity Task Force. Ann’s passion for the community extended beyond her role in local elected office as she owned and operated Caspian Ltd., a downtown imports store, and served on the boards of the Downtown Development Authority, the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce, the League of Women Voters of Larimer County, the Platte River Power Authority, and the Girl Scouts Council. In addition to her local public service, Ann was active nationally as chair of the U.S. Department of Commerce Census 2000 Advisory Committee, co-chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Census Task Force, and member on the National League of Cities Advisory Council. Following her death in 2009, Recreation Department staff contacted Ann’s family, who expressed support for recognizing her devotion to the Fort Collins community by naming a City facility or portion thereof after her. The Senior Center lounge, renovated during the Senior Center Expansion Project, was identified by staff as the preferred portion of the facility to honor Ann because it reflects her community-oriented spirit. Agenda Item 20 Item # 20 Page 2 Per City Code Section 23-141, the City Council is responsible for naming City facilities or properties when such facility is to be named for an individual. City Code provides that names for City-owned or -operated properties or facilities shall be adopted and amended by the City Council by resolution, and. • Except as set forth in [Sec. 23-141 (e)], the City Manager shall not recommend naming City-owned or - operated properties or facilities, or portions thereof, for living persons, and shall not offer for sale or auction the name or naming rights of any such property, facility, or portion thereof. Sec. 23-141 (c). • A resolution adopted by City Council approving a City property or facility name pursuant to this section shall include a description of the donation or other significant service, benefit or significance to the community that is the basis for the designation of the name approved. The resolution shall further provide that the City may modify or remove the approved name in the future in the event the City Council determines such modification or removal to be appropriate in light of changed circumstances or other matters of public interest or convenience. Sec. 23-141 (d). • A property or facility or a portion thereof may be named for a deceased community member or other significant contributor to the community, as set forth in this subsection. To be eligible for naming consideration under this subsection, a person must be deceased for no less than twelve (12) months at the time of nomination, and be a former City officer, employee, or volunteer, another person important in the history of the City or a former citizen of exemplary character deserving of special recognition. Persons or entities for which a property or facility or portion thereof is named hereunder shall be determined to have provided significant service or direct benefit to the community, or to have achieve historical significance, that has endured, or will endure, over many years. Sec. 23-141 (f) (emphasis added). PUBLIC OUTREACH Although no Council-appointed board or commission made any formal recommendations, the Senior Council/Expansion Commission (non-appointed) determined it would be appropriate to name a portion of the completed Senior Center Expansion Project after Ann and discussed potential naming options. -1- RESOLUTION 2017-114 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS NAMING THE LOUNGE AT THE FORT COLLINS SENIOR CENTER AFTER FORMER MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBER ANN AZARI WHEREAS, on September 1, 2015, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 090, 2015, which repealed and enacted City Code Section 23-141 regarding the naming of City properties and facilities for persons or entities; and WHEREAS, Ann Azari, who served as a City Council member (1989-1993), Fort Collins Mayor (1993-1999), and member of the City’s Cultural Diversity Task Force, passed away in September 2009; and WHEREAS, during her tenure with the City, Ann Azari provided significant service and direct benefits to the community by bringing together diverse interest groups and fostering a tradition of inclusivity that has enduring historical significance in the City’s growth; and WHEREAS, the Senior Center Expansion Project (the “Project”) was a capital project approved by voters in 2005 under the Building on Basics Capital Program; and WHEREAS, the Project focused on increasing fitness and wellness facilities, activities, and programs for the City’s active adult population, including improvement to administrative, wellness, lobby, storage, and restroom areas of the Fort Collins Senior Center facility located at 1200 Raintree Drive in Fort Collins; and WHEREAS, construction of the Project was complete in 2015; and WHEREAS, following completion of the Project, the City Manager asked Recreation Department staff to provide recommendations for naming portions of the Project, including individual rooms and spaces; and WHEREAS, in evaluating potential names for the Project, staff considered preferences by the Fort Collins Senior Center Expansion Committee to honor influential member of the community by naming portions of the Project after such individuals, including Ann Azari; and WHEREAS, staff subsequently identified the lobby/lounge area of the Project as an appropriate space to name after Ann Azari (the “Property”); and WHEREAS, Section 23-141 of the City Code states that names of person or entity to be applied to City-owned or -operated properties or facilities shall be adopted and amended by the City Council by resolution which includes a description of the donation or other significant service, benefit or significance to the community associated with the recommended person or entity that is the basis for the approved name designation; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 23-141(g), staff has identified and obtained the consent of Ann Azari’s next of kin to name the Property in honor of the former City mayor; and -2- WHEREAS, the City Manager and staff have recommended to City Council naming the lobby/lounge area of the Project the “Ann Azari Lounge”; and WHEREAS, upon consideration of the recommendations of the City Manager and after further review and consideration, City Council finds it to be in the best interest of the City to name the Senior Center lounge after Ann Azari. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes and adopts the determinations and findings contained in the recitals set forth above. Section 2. That the City Council hereby directs that the lounge portion of the Senior Center Expansion Project be designated the “Ann Azari Lounge.” Section 3. That the City may modify or remove the approved name in the future in the event the City Council determines such modification or removal to be appropriate in light of changed circumstances or other matters of public interest or convenience. Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this 19th day of December, A.D. 2017. _________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________ City Clerk