HomeMy WebLinkAboutCS Rename Falkirk Greenhouse____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
Council Meeting: 04/09/2019
Disposition: Resolution 14654
Agenda Item No: 4.c
Meeting Date: April 2, 2019
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: Community Services
Prepared by: Ashley Howe,
Senior Recreation Supervisor
City Manager Approval: ______________
TOPIC: REQUEST TO NAME THE GREENHOUSE LOCATED AT THE FALKIRK CULTURAL
CENTER
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NAMING THE FALKIRK CULTURAL CENTER’S GREENHOUSE THE
“MULRYAN UC MARIN MASTER GARDENER GREENHOUSE”
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a resolution naming the Falkirk Cultural Center’s greenhouse the “Mulryan UC Marin Master
Gardener Greenhouse”.
BACKGROUND:
Kathleen Cerf, daughter of former San Rafael Mayor Larry Mulryan met with Community Services
Director, Susan Andrade-Wax and Senior Recreation Supervisor, Ashley Howe in October 2018 to
request that the City name the greenhouse at the Falkirk Cultural Center the “Mulryan UC Marin Master
Gardener Greenhouse” in recognition of the accomplishments of former Mayor Larry Mulryan and the
Marin Master Gardeners relating to the greenhouse. The naming of the greenhouse, along with a plaque
or memorial to serve as a designation of the naming, would commemorate the contributions made by
former Mayor Mulryan for his involvement in the procurement of Falkirk Cultural Center, as well as the
Marin Master Gardeners’ role in restoring the greenhouse and the development and continued
maintenance of several demonstration gardens. Any such plaque or memorial would be paid for by a
donating party, and its content would need to be approved by the Park and Recreation Commission.
Per the San Rafael Community Services Plaque Policy, recognition intended to rename or designate a
name for a park or public facility, or a portion of a park or facility, must be approved by the Park and
Recreation Commission and the City Council (Attachment 1).
ANALYSIS:
Former Mayor Mulryan served the City of San Rafael for 22 years, including two years as a Planning
Commissioner, eight years as a Councilmember, and 12 years as Mayor (from 1979 to 1991). In 1991,
the City Council recognized former Mayor Mulryan for numerous contributions and achievements,
including the acquisition of the Falkirk Cultural Center (Attachment 2).
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2
Former Mayor Mulryan’s involvement in the acquisition of the Falkirk Cultural Center began in 1973 when
he learned that the Dollar family, the owners of the Falkirk Cultural Center for nearly 100 years, wanted
to sell the property, demolish the buildings, and convert it to apartments. At the time, Councilmember
Mulryan did not see this as the best use of the property and took the opportunity to tour the buildings and
grounds. From his tours, he determined that the facility and grounds were a unique and beautiful piece
of property and that the City should consider purchasing the Falkirk Cultural Center. At this point,
Councilmember Mulryan separately approached other Councilmembers and put the matter of use and
possible acquisition on the agenda to begin the process of obtaining City Council approval to purchase
the property. Mulryan and City Council negotiated the proposed purchase amount of $275,000 and
created a ballot measure to approve the purchase.
In 1974, voters approved the purchase of the Falkirk Cultural Center and its surrounding grounds, totaling
over eleven acres. In 1975, the City of San Rafael formally designated the Falkirk Cultural Center as a
community cultural center. The Falkirk Cultural Center has since hosted many art exhibits and community
celebrations, and is a popular venue for private events.
Years after former Mayor Mulryan served on the City Council, he volunteered as a member of the Marin
Master Gardeners, a division of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) program. The
Marin Master Gardeners joined the Falkirk Cultural Center greenhouse renovation in 2002 as a
community service project. Following the completion of the greenhouse renovation, the Marin Master
Gardeners continued to collaborate with the Falkirk Cultural Center in landscaping the surrounding areas,
building a greenhouse garden and utilizing the greenhouse to propagate and grow plants for sale and
use on the Falkirk Cultural Center grounds.
In 2009, the Cooperative Extension program entered into a five-year agreement with the City to design,
fund, install, and maintain two formal gardens on the Falkirk Cultural Center grounds, in addition to
maintaining the greenhouse garden and utilizing the greenhouse for plant propagation. The Succulent
Garden and Mediterranean Garden were subsequently completed, utilizing funding and volunteer labor
secured by the Marin Master Gardeners; the Marin Master Gardeners also provided community education
relating to the on-going maintenance of the gardens.
The agreement term was extended an additional 15 years, from 2012 to 2017 and again from 2017 to
2027. The extended agreement authorizes UCCE program and volunteers to continue to develop and
maintain demonstration gardens, conduct educational seminars and workshops for the public, and utilize
the greenhouse for plant propagation and sales. Their continued presence and volunteer efforts at the
Falkirk Cultural Center has dramatically improved the function and purpose of the greenhouse and
grounds, and volunteers serve as a unique educational resource for the community.
At their March 21, 2019 meeting, the Parks and Recreation Commission considered the request to name
the Falkirk Cultural Center’s greenhouse noting the name would be determined through further
discussions between Community Services Director, Susan Andrade-Wax, Recreation Supervisor, Ashley
Howe and Kathleen Cerf on behalf of Larry Mulryan and the Marin Master Gardeners. The Commission
approved the request and directed staff to present the request to the City Council for their review and
consideration.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Financial impact is limited to installation performed by Department of Public Works staff.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 3
Per the San Rafael Community Services Plaque Policy, the donating party (the Cultural Arts Service
League) will pay for the fabrication costs associated with plaque or memorial that is to be placed at the
Falkirk Cultural Center greenhouse.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt a resolution naming the Falkirk Cultural Center’s greenhouse the “Mulryan UC Marin Master
Gardener Greenhouse”.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. San Rafael Community Service Plaque Policy
2. City Council Resolution 8532
3. Resolution
Policy and Procedure
For the Placement of Plaques and Memorials
In Parks and Public Spaces
The Purpose of this Policy is to provide for
the recognition of San Rafael residents, organizations, or businesses
instrumental in the preservation, renovation or installation of park and
recreation facilities
The provision of consistencies in type, placement, installation and size
of memorial and
The protection of all park and recreation facilities for the benefit of all
citizens
The definition of a plague is a flat slab, or disk engraved or ornamented for
mounting.
The definition of a monument is a structure, sculpture, inscribed stone, or marker.
The definition of a memorial is a monument, petition or written statement that
serves to remember a person or event.
1. Plaques, signs, monuments or memorials shall be installed, constructed or
placed in a park or public place only with permission of the Community
Services Department on the recommendation of the Park and Recreation
Commission.
2. Plaques, signs, monuments or memorials must recognize a San Rafael
resident, organization, or business who has made a substantial contribution to
the purchase, improvement or programming at the location in which the
recognition appears.
3. Plaques, signs, monuments or memorials must be affixed to a park bench,
bolder, entry kiosk or other appropriate fixture.
ATTACHMENT 1
4. The size of a plaques, sign, monument or memorial shall be scaled to the
fixture and appropriate to the environment of the facility in which it is placed.
Bench plaques shall be no larger than 6”x 8”. Signs shall be no larger that
11”x 14”. Monuments shall be no larger than 18”x 20”. Appropriate materials
shall be bronze, stone, or other durable material
5. No plaques, signs, monuments or memorials shall be installed on existing
park furnishings or amenities.
6. The Parks and Recreation Commission must approve materials and design of
the plaques, signs, monuments or memorials.
7. The cost of the plaques, signs, monuments or memorials, the installation,
fixture and the replacement will be borne by the donating party.
8. The Superintendent of the Parks Division of the San Rafael Public Works
Department will determine the optimum location for the plaques, signs,
monuments or memorials which must be affixed to a park bench, bolder, entry
kiosk or other appropriate fixture.
9. The Park and Recreation Commission may approve the design and size of
items sold in park fundraising campaigns that recognize of donations by the
contributor. Such campaigns will have a defined project, a finite period of
solicitation, and will apply 100% of the donation to the park project for which it
was solicited.
10. Recognition intended to rename or designate a name for a park or public
facility or a portion therein must be approved by the Park and Recreation
Commission and the City Council.
11. Requests for plaques, signs, monuments or memorials must be made in
writing to the Park and Recreation Commission c/o the Director of Community
Services. The request will be agendized for a future meeting of the
Commission.
RESOLUTION NO. 8532
CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
PRESENTS THIS
RESOWITION OE RPPRECIRTION
TO
Lawrence E. Mulryan
WHETJMS, Larry Mu(ryan is retiring after serving the City of San -IRpfaef for 22 years, including two
years as a Planning Commissioner, eight years as a Counci(member, and 12 years as Mayor;
cid
VHEJMR5, during his lengthy service to the community, Larry astutely and with exceptional ability
framed the issues and ran effective and productive meetings (occasionally interjecting bits
of humor where appropriate); and
WXDMIXS, Larry provided continuity of readership during a cri tica(period ofSan Ufaefs history,
serving as an agent for constructive change in important projects such as the creation and
imprementation of the *development Agency; and
WEJV—gS, Larry devoted untold hours in carrying out his service to the community, whether in
meetings, on the phone or digesting reams of materia(,• and
WEJZT-5LS, innumerable important programs were accomplished during his tenure such as open space
acquisition, the acquisition of F'afkt:rk the commencement of the paramedic and child care
programs, the achievement of a signif cant number of affordable housing units, the
completion of several neighborhood plans and the Genera(Plan update; and
WEREAS, Lary participated in al(of these efforts with enthusiasm andgenuine concern about the
quality of life of SanlZqfaef residents and the fucal stability of the City organization.
N -P W, gYfEPEFM, BE IT 'SOLVED that we fellow Councifinembers do express our warm and deep
appreciation to Larry Mufryan for his limitless energy and personal contributions to the
City of San ?gfaef on behalf of aff our citizens.
MAYOR
ATTESTED BY MY HAND THIS
DAY OF
COUNCILMEN
CITY MANAGER
CITY CLERK
if -N-, P %
fCCJY -e52Z
ATTACHMENT 3
RESOLUTION NO. 14654
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL AUTHORIZING THE
NAMING OF THE GREENHOUSE LOCATED AT THE FALKIRK CULTURAL CENTER AS THE
“MULRYAN UC MARIN MASTER GARDENER GREENHOUSE”
WHEREAS, Kathleen Cerf, representing former Mayor Mulryan and the UC Marin Master
Gardeners has requested that the City of San Rafael name the greenhouse located at the Falkirk
Cultural Center for former Mayor Larry Mulryan and the Marin Master Gardeners; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Mulryan’s involvement in the acquisition of the Falkirk Cultural Center began
in 1973. Mr. Mulryan approached other City Council members about the possible acquisition and
began the process of obtaining full City Council approval to purchase the property. Mr. Mulryan
and the City Council negotiated the proposed purchase and created a ballot measure to purchase
the property; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Mulryan volunteered as a member of the Marin Master Gardeners and
together they joined the Falkirk Cultural Center Greenhouse renovation in 2002 as a community
service project. Following the completion of the Greenhouse renovation, they continued to
collaborate with the Falkirk Cultural Center in landscaping the surrounding areas, building a
greenhouse garden and utilizing the greenhouse to propagate and grow plants for sale and use on
the Falkirk Cultural Center grounds; and
WHEREAS, the Park and Recreation Commission recommended, and the City Council finds
that the Greenhouse at Falkirk should be named after Larry Mulryan and the UC Marin Master
Gardeners in recognition of their contributions to the Falkirk Cultural Center and the City of San
Rafael;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of San Rafael
hereby authorizes the naming of the greenhouse located at the Falkirk Cultural Center as the
“Mulryan UC Marin Master Gardener Greenhouse”.
I, Lindsay Lara, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution
was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City
of San Rafael, held on Tuesday, the 2nd day of April 2019, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Colin, McCullough & Mayor Phillips
NOES: Councilmembers: None
ABSENT: Councilmembers: Gamblin
Lindsay Lara, City Clerk