STAFF REPORT
PARKS AND
RECREATION
DATE: May 23, 2023
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
FROM: Marisa Garcia, Park, Recreation, and Community Services Director VIA: Grace Coronado, Administrative Officer
BY: Megan Wilke, Administrative Analyst II
SUBJECT: Acceptance of a Donation of a Memorial Flagpole from the Burbank Police Foundation to Honor the Memory of Officer Matthew Pavelka and be Installed at Johnny Carson Park
RECOMMENDATION
Accept the donation of a memorial flagpole valued at $19,035 from the Burbank Police Foundation (BPF) to honor the memory of Officer Matthew Pavelka and be installed at Johnny Carson Park.
BACKGROUND
BPF is a non -profit organization established in 1997 to support the Burbank Police Department and promote public safety in the Burbank community. BPF works to provide resources and funding for police equipment, technology, training, and community outreach programs that help enhance the Burbank Police Department’s ability to serve and protect the citizens of Burbank.
Through partnerships with local businesses, individuals, and organizations, BPF raises funds to support a range of initiatives, including youth programs, crime prevention efforts, and support for officers and their families in times of need. BPF is governed by a volunteer board of directors and is funded entirely through private donations and grants . BPF has offered to donate a memorial flagpole honoring Matthew Pavelka, a fallen Burbank police officer who lost his life in the line of duty on November 15, 2003.
DISCUSSION
In November 2022, BPF president, Michael Hastings, contacted the City and offered to donate a memorial flagpole to honor the memory of Officer Matthew Pavelka. Officer Pavelka was a United States Air Force veteran and had served with the Burbank Police Department for 10-months before he tragically lost his life in the line of duty in 2003. In collaboration with BPF, Johnny Carson Park was identified as the ideal location for this installation. The memorial flagpole will be installed on Riverside Drive adjacent to the
2 existing Requiem sculpture and to the right of a proposed new Pavelka plinth (Attachment 1).
BPF and City responsibilities and obligations regarding the installation and maintenance of a memorial flagpole on City property are outlined in Attachment 2. BPF is responsible for designing and installing the memorial flagpole, obtaining any necessary permits or approvals, and providing documentation related to the memorial flagpole’s condition and provenance. The City's obligations include accepting the donation and planning for and providing space to install a memorial flagpole, waiving permit fees, providing ongoing maintenance for the infrastructure, and providing documentation to BPF for tax deduction purposes.
Consistent with the City’s Administrative Procedure VI -12, Contribution of Merchandise or Money to City Departments, it is the City’s policy that items valued at $5,000 or more be formally accepted by the City Council (Council) at a regularly scheduled meeting.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The proposed activity consists only of minor alterations to existing City park land and facilities and the addition of a limited number of small structures and is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to 14 Cal. Code Regs §§ 15303, 15304.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is minimal fiscal impact associated with staff oversight in managing and coordinating installation efforts of the memorial flagpole at Johnny Carson Park.
CONCLUSION
Officer Pavelka dedicated his career to serving and protecting the residents of Burbank and he made the ultimate sacrifice while serving . The memorial flagpole will pay tribute to his sacrifice and ensure that his memory lives on. Staff requests Council formally accept BPF’s donation of a memorial flagpole to be installed at Johnny Carson Park in honor of Officer Matthew Pavelka.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – Design Concept Renderings
Attachment 2 – Donation and Indemnity Agreement