DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Janet A. Martin
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: District 7
SUBJECT:
Renaming of Thunderbird Hills Park to Jane Dubel Park
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the renaming of Thunderbird Hills Park to Jane Dubel Park in Council District 7.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City Clerk received a request from Joe Diaz, Vice President of Donaldson Neighborhood Association, to rename Thunderbird Hills Park to Jane Dubel Park located at 4741 Callaghan Road. Mr. Diaz states that Mrs. Dubel has dedicated her time and effort in pursuit of projects beneficial to the organization and community. She has been President of the Thunderbird Hills Neighborhood Association for the past twelve years and some of the initiatives she has successfully advocated for have been sidewalks, speed bumps, National Night Out events, and toy and/or fund drives for the Wounded Warriors at the Fort Sam Houston Fisher House.
During her time as Thunderbird Hills Neighborhood Association president Mrs. Dubel worked towards pursuing the acquisition of land for the development of a neighborhood park in District 7. She advocated to the Bond Committee and elected officials for a new park to be considered as part of the 2012-2017 Bond Program. As a result of her efforts the voter approved Bond Program included $350,000.00 towards acquiring and developing a new park in the Thunderbird Hills neighborhood. She helped to secure the resources of Disney/ESPN to acquire the park playground equipment through a KaBoom! grant. She was also a big part of the driving force behind getting volunteers to help on the build day for this initiative in November 2014.
Renaming the Thunderbird Hills Park to Jane Dubel Park will commemorate and recognize this long-time civic leader for her invaluable contributions to the community.
Staff followed the renaming process in accordance with Ordinance No. 2011-03-31-0239. A committee was established to hold a public hearing on this proposal. The committee consisted of Tama Lingerfelt, Community Representative selected by Councilman Cris Medina, District 7 and Homer Garcia III, Acting Assistant Director of the Parks and Recreation Department. Notice of the public hearing and renaming was advertised twice through the San Antonio Express-News and The Rivard Report. It was also placed on the City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation website and through a general media release. Direct notification was mailed to forty-four (44) residents and businesses within 200 feet of this public park. Two additional notifications were mailed to the neighborhood associations that are active around the Thunderbird Hills Park area. The Department received six hundred sixteen (616) notices in favor and six hundred seventeen (617) in opposition of the proposed renaming.
The public hearing was held on Tuesday, June 23, 2015, at 6:30 p.m. at the Forest Hills Library. Thirty-nine (39) members of the public attended the hearing with thirty-four (34) in favor and five (5) in opposition of the proposed renaming. After review of the responses and the public input received on the proposed renaming, the committee concurred with the request to rename the Thunderbird Hills Park to Jane Dubel Park located in Council District 7.
ISSUE:
This ordinance authorizes the renaming of the Thunderbird Hills Park to Jane Dubel Park. This action is consistent with the City’s policy to rename a facility (or city property) to honor local leaders or persons.
ALTERNATIVES:
The City Council may elect not to rename the Thunderbird Hills Park to Jane Dubel Park and allow it to retain the name of Thunderbird Hills Park.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no General Fund impact from this action.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends consideration of the renaming of the Thunderbird Hills Park to Jane Dubel Park.