HomeMy WebLinkAbout9A Naming Request Cawley Field Report
Phone 952.447.9800 / Fax 952.447.4245 / www.cityofpriorlake.com
4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: DECEMBER 3, 2018
AGENDA #: 9A
PREPARED BY: LORI OLSON, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
PRESENTED BY: LORI OLSON
AGENDA ITEM:
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE NAMING OF
THE ATHLETIC FIELDS AT LAKEFRONT PARK “THE PATRICK F. CAWLEY
MEMORIAL FIELDS”
GOAL AREA AND
OBJECTIVE:
Desirable & Sustainable Development
1. Preserve and enhance Prior Lake’s small-town feel.
DISCUSSION: Introduction
This agenda item seeks approval to name the ball fields at Lakefront Park in honor
of Warrant Officer Patrick F. Cawley, a Prior Lake veteran, who was killed in action
during the Vietnam War. The request was put forward by the VFW Post 6208.
History
Under the city’s Parks and Streets Naming Policy, anyone may request the
renaming of a city street, park, facility or other public amenity. Under the policy,
the approval of such requests is the responsibility of the City Council. The City
Council acts upon a recommendation from the appropriate city advisory
committee, which in this case is the Citizen Engagement Committee (CEC).
The city has a history of naming public parks to acknowledge the service of local
veterans. In 2000, Thomas Ryan Memorial Park was named in honor of Thomas
L. Ryan, another Prior Lake veteran who was killed in action during the Vietnam
War. Memorial Park was named to acknowledge the memory and service of all
Prior Lake veterans. In addition, the fields at Ponds Park were named for Bill
Mangan, the city’s park and recreation director from 1977-1995.
Current Circumstances
A member of the VFW Post 6208 had been in Washington, DC at the Vietnam
Memorial and noted that two, not one, Prior Lake resident had been killed while
serving his country during the Vietnam War. The member brought this to the
VFW’s attention, which contacted the city to ask about honoring this veteran, Mr.
Cawley, in a similar fashion. Patrick Francis Cawley was born on April 10, 1948
and lived his entire life in Prior Lake. He was a helicopter pilot for the U.S. Army
and was shot down over Cambodia on May 21, 1970.
City staff researched local parks to assess naming options. Staff determined that
the athletic fields at Lakefront Park would be an appropriate selection given the
size and popularity of the park. The VFW supported this recommendation.
To honor Mr. Cawley, the city would install a permanent, free-standing sign by the
Lakefront Park athletic fields as well as add a plaque to the fields’ shelter, similar
to the signage for Mangan Fields at Ponds Park. The city would pay for the
signage and installation.
At the November 15, 2018 Citizen Engagement Committee meeting, the CEC
reviewed and unanimously approved this recommendation to name the athletic
fields at Lakefront Park the “Patrick F. Cawley Memorial Fields.”
FINANCIAL
IMPACT:
The cost to the city for installing the signage and plaque should be less than
$1,000 and can be absorbed within the existing budget allocation.
ALTERNATIVES: 1. Motion and second to adopt a resolution authorizing the naming of the
athletic fields at Lakefront Park the “Patrick F. Cawley Memorial
Fields.”
2. Motion and a second to table action and provide further direction to city staff.
RECOMMENDED
MOTION:
Alternative #1
4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
RESOLUTION 18-___
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE NAMING OF THE ATHLETIC FIELDS AT LAKEFRONT
PARK “THE PATRICK F. CAWLEY MEMORIAL FIELDS”
Motion By: Second By:
WHEREAS, The VFW Post 6208 submitted a request to name a city park in honor of Warrant
Officer Patrick F. Cawley, a Prior Lake veteran, who was killed in action during the
Vietnam War.
WHEREAS, Under the city’s Parks and Streets Naming Policy, anyone may request the renaming
of a city street, park, facility or other public amenity.
WHEREAS, The city has a history of naming public parks to acknowledge the service of local
veterans.
WHEREAS, Patrick Francis Cawley was born on April 10, 1948, lived his entire life in Prior Lake,
and was a helicopter pilot for the U.S. Army. He was shot down over Cambodia on
May 21, 1970 during the Vietnam War.
WHEREAS, City staff researched local parks to assess naming options and determined that the
athletic fields at Lakefront Park would be an appropriate selection for this honor.
WHEREAS, At the November 15, 2018 meeting, the Citizen Engagement Committee reviewed
and unanimously approved this recommendation to name the athletic fields at
Lakefront Park the “Patrick F. Cawley Memorial Fields.”
WHEREAS,
The city will install and pay for a permanent, free-standing sign by the Lakefront Park
athletic fields and add a plaque to the fields’ shelter to honor this veteran.
WHEREAS,
The City Council concurs that the athletic fields be named in honor and in memory of
Patrick F. Cawley.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE,
MINNESOTA as follows:
1. The recitals set forth above are incorporated herein.
2. The athletic fields at Lakefront are hereby named the “Patrick F. Cawley Memorial Fields.”
3. Staff is authorized to proceed with the installation of memorial signage and plaques at
Patrick F. Cawley Memorial Fields.
Passed and adopted by the Prior Lake City Council this 3rd day of December 2018.
VOTE Briggs McGuire Thompson Braid Burkart
Aye ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
______________________________
Frank Boyles, City Manager