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Home My WebLink About1989-11-07; City Council; 10353; Establishment of a Carlsbad Founders Day. “u” ?I EZ LJKi m .r( .a x::: $ .; ok +I 2: u Clr” OF CARLSBAD - AGEND-BILL ‘ ;I (,i “. c3 32 AB# /o, 3 5 3 TITLE: DEPT. HD. fv MTG.Ir/7/gq ESTABLISHMENT OF A CARLSBAD FOUNDERS' DAY CITY ATT&&& DEPT.- CITY Mcgsg- RECOMMENDED ACTION: ;/&-*&id ,,L ( (-, ;/II * ‘. Consider the attached suggestions on a Founders' Day and take appropriate action. I ITEM EXPLANATION: The City Council received a request that a Carlsbad Founders' Day be established to recognize those who were instrumental in bringing cityhood to Carlsbad. This request was discussed at the May 16, 1989 Council meeting, when it was decided that all commission, committee and board members would be asked for their input. Attached is a summary of the responses received for your consideration. I EXHIBITS: 1. Summary of Founders' Day suggestions. - October 19, 1989 TO: CITY MANAGER FROM: Assistant to the City Manager ESTABLISHMENT OF A CARLSBAD FOUNDERS' DAY As requested, the Research Office has contacted all commission, committee and board members for their input on the establishment of a Carlsbad Founders' Day. The suggestions were quite varied, but all who responded showed enthusiasm for such an event. Listed below are the people and/or organizations who responded to your request for suggestions: Camille Mitkevich - Soroptomist International, Carlsbad - Suggests that we honor those who discovered and settled the area which became the City of Carlsbad. This should be done during a Founders' Day Dedication and Dinner, at a location which should be able to accommodate a minimum of 250 people. The event should include entertainment from the schools, and music from Carlsbad's finest adult musicians. Founders' Day medallions could be presented to those founders who are still alive, and all should be honored on a bronze plaque to be housed at City Hall. The setting of the event should include as much historical memorabilia as can be displayed appropriately, to include models of buildings and sections of the City. The color theme would be Carlsbad's colors. The cost would be covered by the ticket price, with personal invitations to be sent to all current and retired City employees and VIPs. Reproductions of the invitations could be published in the Carlsbad Journal, La Costan, and Blade Tribune. Thomas Brierlev thinks the establishment of a Carlsbad Founders' Day would be a worthy project. He suggests looking into the City of Carlsbad archives to find the names of those who should be honored for their efforts in establishing the City. The local newspapers could also assist in identifying the non-governmental, or non-political type individuals, who were essential to the growth of the City. Mr. Brierley suggests that many founders' days have honored selected people with plaques, commemorative trees and the like. The purpose of the day is realized when all the community pours into a designated area for a block party, shares potlucks from old recipes, wears clothing styles of earlier times, and exhibits a true feeling of the pioneer spirit. Thelma Haves suggests honoring the first settlers, and the family descendants of those who still live here; those who took care of the legal necessities to make it a city; all of us who found Carlsbad City Manager Page 2 October 19, 1989 and, like Brigham Young, said "This is the place." She also says we should solicit ideas from all citizens, especially students, and says we may be able to fill in the gaps of all of Carlsbad's sidewalks if we imprint in each square a donor's name with one of those we are honoring. Rather than one single event, we should encourage each group to do its thing - City officials, merchants, schools, media, civic and cultural organizations, and others who can be encouraged to join. John Straver suggests presentations, newspaper stories and plaques for the recipients, and placing them in City Hall, or in outdoor markers, at some City location. The type of event could be a community picnic, or a dinner. He also suggests that presentations are made the same week as the event, at the City Council meeting. Sue Ladouceur suggests that an opportune time to commemorate those chosen would be at the dedication of a new City Hall. A plaque to hold the names of Marron, Kelly, Schulte, Smith, Wadsworth, Magee, Borden, Chase, McClellan, Kettner, and others, would enhance the building and be an event in civic pride. A name could be added each year of one Carlsbad citizen who has exemplified the founders' spirit. Another event that would lend itself to a founders' celebration would be the barbecue to raise money for our 4th of July fireworks. Let the bands play and civic pride ring out. The event could be added to by our Historical Society having displays, noted citizens in costumes of the past, and then naming the founders. Glenn yo$;; believes the first.Founders' Day should honor the entire City but not be limited to those. He also suggests that the initial'year for celebrating Founders' Day should be 1990, on a Saturday, during the latter part of July, around the time when the City incorporated. Kav Christiansen thinks a Carlsbad Founders' Day is a fine project to recognize and thank our founding citizens, such as Manuel Castorena, Ray Ede, Benny & Molly Acuna, and Natalie Vermilia. David Dunne believes the early founders of a community in this locale, and those individuals primarily responsible for incorporation as a city should be honored. We should honor them by Council Resolution proclaiming a Founders' Day, provide them with a Certificate of Appreciation, place their names on a brass scroll hung in a prominent place in one of our public buildings, and perhaps at a dinner, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, or other appropriate organization. Milton B. Cooper recommends that the names of those instrumental in bringing about the incorporation of Carlsbad be read at a City Council Meeting with a brief synopsis of their contribution to that City Manager Page 3 October 19, 1989 effort; that a press release be prepared extolling their civic mindedness and laying the foundation for incorporation; and that the Carlsbad merchants be queried regarding a Founder's Day Sale. If agreeable, banners and signs should be put up around the city. Marjorie Howard-Jones suggests honoring those who played an important role in incorporation and then those whose lives have been identified with the growth of this city. Her candidates would be Manuel Castorena, Ray Ede, Allan Kelly and Walter Glines. She would like to see the west facing wall at City Hall be considered the Founders' Wall, and have plaques mounted representing each honorary as they are awarded. This honor could be awarded at an annual Founder's Day Open House at City Hall, when the community would be invited to visit offices, receive light refreshments (perhaps all day long), and generally get better acquainted with the city in a more personal way. Peder Norbv thinks that the Big Bang Barbecue that raises money for the 4th of July is a perfect event. The event could be called the Founders' Day Barbecue and would raise money for the 4th of July while recognizing our past city fathers. Also during this day, other special events could occur, such as a parade for those founders still living. Members of the Traffic Safetv Commission suggest that those who have served the city in various capacities in the past should be honored at a yearly celebration such as a picnic party. Members of the Parkino Authoritv suggest scheduling a Founders' Day in the summer, such as the week immediately following Labor Day. Members of the Buildinq Authority are 100% in favor of a Founders' Day and also think September (the week following Labor Day) is a good idea. One member gave the names of Kay Christiansen and Glenn McComas as honorees. Members of the Parks 81 Recreation Commission offered the following suggestions for consideration: The general consensus was that it was a good idea. A bronze bust located in the courtyard of City Hall would be a good location if a statue of sorts was to be erected. Establish a memorial dinner to honor future citizens initiated honorarily - perhaps a 4th of July celebration, or during the Spring or Fall Faires. Those persons initiated should have had a role in the incorporation of the City, should be school board members, or someone responsible for the overall benefit to the community. City Manager Page 4 October 19, 1989 Members of the Historic Preservation Commission have forwarded the following suggestions: A Founders' Day Parade could be organized, with a theme that would tie into another activity such as the Book Fair, i.e. a historical parade with a historical theme at the Book Fair. This could feature entrants dressed in early settlers' costumes, and featuring old cars, or wagons. City Hall and other City buildings could hold "open house" with different areas having different honorees, and foods. Another idea is "Pick a Project," where members of the community would respond by assisting with a community project. PHIL CARTER jw:pgk