HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-08-20; Inquiries on Potential Memorials and a Community Run for Jack Munday; |Barberio, Gary| Lancaster, Kyle|Memo ID# 2020176
To the members of the:
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Aug.20,2020
Council Memorandum
To: Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
From: Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager, Community Services
Kyle Lancaster, Parks & Recreation Director
Via: Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager ~
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Carlsbad --
Re: Inquiries on Potential Memorials and a Community Run for Jack Munday
This memorandum provides a chronology on recent inquiries related to potential memorials and
a community run event for Jack Munday.
Background
On June 24, 2020, the Carlsbad Police Department responded to a single vehicle rollover collision
on the corner of Carlsbad Village Drive and Valley Street. Seven teens were transported to local
hospitals for minor to serious injuries. Tragically, 16-year old Carlsbad resident, Jack Munday
passed away from his injuries. Since the tragic accident, the Munday family and family friends
have been in contact with several City Council Members regarding the concept of a memorial
and a community run event for Jack Munday.
Discussion
On July 1, 2020, Ms. Nicole Check contacted Mayor Hall on behalf of the Munday family to
request a permanent memorial in honor of Jack Munday whose life was lost tragically in a car
accident on Carlsbad Village Drive on June 24, 2020. Ms. Check requested a plaque, bench or
sculpture near the Hemlock Avenue beach access stairs, a place of sentimental importance to the
Munday family. California State Parks owns the coastal bluff and picnic facilities/turf plateau
where Hemlock Avenue intersects Carlsbad Boulevard. City Parks & Recreation staff therefore
forwarded Ms. Check's email on July 1, 2020, to the California State Parks' local sector
Superintendent, Ms. Lisa Urbach, for consideration.
On July 13, 2020, city staff inquired with Ms. Urbach on the status of her review and was
informed she would need another day to provide a determination. On July 14, 2020, Ms. Urbach
responded that State Parks does not support a memorial on the state department's property
near Hemlock Ave and they hoped the family could find a spot on City of Carlsbad property that
could serve as a memorial to help find comfort during this time of loss. City staff immediately
notified Ms. Check of Ms. Urbach's determination. City staff also provided Ms. Check with
information about the Parks & Recreation Department's Memorial Program, whereby there are
opportunities for memorial benches and trees in several city parks.
Community Services Branch
Parks & Recreation Department
799 Pine Avenue, Suite 200 I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 760-434-2826 t
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
August 20, 2020
Page 2
I .
On July 14, 2020, Ms. Check and Ms. Joanna Munday contacted staff, thanking them for their
efforts and requesting additional clarification and help. City staff provided Ms. Check and Ms.
Munday with the contact information for Ms. Urbach, plus the contact information for the city's
Transportation Director, Mr. Tom Frank, as they had expressed a desire for consideration of a
memorial in the public right of way along Carlsbad Village Drive, near the accident site. City staff
identified a past City Council Resolution (No. 2018 -123) that authorized the installation of
memorials for two fallen police officers in the public right-to-way. Carlsbad Municipal Code
Section 11.44.040 authorizes the city to place signs expressing the city's own message to the
public on city property, including public rights of way.
On July 31, 2020, staff sent Ms. Check and Ms. Munday an email message, inquiring if they had
an interest in considering a memorial bench or tree within a city park (under the referenced
Parks & Recreation Department Memorial Program). Additionally, on July 31, 2020, Ms. Jill
Armstrong, sent an email to staff asking about the possibility of hosting a community run event,
from Carlsbad High School to the Hemlock Avenue access to the Tamarack State Beach, in
memory of Mr. Munday, in January or May 2021.
On Aug. 3, 2020, staff called Ms. Armstrong and discussed potential community event run
scenarios and route options. The topics included the challenge of hosting events during the
COVID-19 pandemic and the current hea_lth orders prohibiting public gatherings; and the
feasibility of the use of public right of way, private property and California State Parks property.
Ms. Armstrong also asked about the private property ownership on the northeast corner of
Carlsbad Village Drive and Valley Street, should there be community interest in placing a
memorial near the accident site. Following up on Ms. Armstrong's inquiry, staff sent an email
message to the city's Traffic Engineer, Mr. John Kim, to inquire about the public easements and
private property's ownership at that intersection. Mr. Kim responded that the public right-of-
way was eight feet behind the curb face along Carlsbad Village Drive, and that permission from
the private property owner would be required to place a memorial outside of the right of way.
Staff informed Ms. Armstrong of the above and provided her with the private property owner's
contact information. On Aug. 6, 2020, Ms. Armstrong replied to staff, expressing her gratitude.
On Aug. 14, 2020, Ms. Munday contacted staff, indicating she had reviewed a couple of potential
memorial locations with City Council Member Schumacher and wished to discuss their
availability further. Those locations were the Ocean Street Sculpture Park and the Carlsbad
Village Drive public beach access. Staff advised that the Ocean Street Sculpture Park is owned by
California State Parks (except for the east side of the parking lot) and thus its previous
determination would apply to this location as well. Staff also advised that while the Carlsbad
Village Drive public beach access is city-owned, it is not considered a park, and the existing Parks
& Recreation Department's Memorial Program is specific to city parks. Staff did, however,
indicate availability for a memorial bench or tree at the city's following coastal parks: ,Magee,
Maxton Brown and Cannon. Staff also provided an overview of the standards for the benches,
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
August 20, 2020
Page 3
trees and accompanying plaques. Lastly, staff provided Ms. Munday with the information that
was conveyed to Ms. Armstrong on Aug. 6, 2020.
Next Steps
Staff will continue to provide assistance and guidance to Ms. Check,.Ms. Munday and Ms .
. Armstrong on these inquires as needed. Ms. Munday indicated she would like staff to participate
in a telephone conference with City Council Member Schumacher in September (exact date to be
determined).
cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Celia Brewer, City Attorney
Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager, Public Works
Robby Contreras, Assistant City Attorney
Allegra Frost, Deputy City Attorney_
Tom Frank, Transportation Director
Kristina Ray, Communications & Engagement Director