The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines and procedures for considering and receiving proposed donations of memorials and/or monuments to the Village of Ridgewood. Historically, the Village of Ridgewood has been enriched by the generous donations of individuals and entities in support of the Ridgewood community. Additionally, in the past, these requests have been reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Therefore, a written policy is needed to establish an approval process and technical standards as to the placement, size, and materials for such donations. The Village will review any such proposed donations for the purpose of assisting the donors in reaching their intended goals while recognizing the mission, goals, plans, resources, and limitations of the Village as a whole. It is intended that this policy provide a thoughtful review process which considers the intentions of the donor, is sensitive to the needs and desires of the community, and is sensitive to the costs associated with proposed gifts and donations, including long-term costs of maintenance and care. The Village encourages donations while at the same time must manage aesthetic impacts and mitigate ongoing maintenance costs.
All departments and staff of the Village of Ridgewood, all Village residents, and all potential donors are to adhere to the guidelines set forth in this policy.
This policy shall cover all donation(s) and gift(s) to the Village of Ridgewood and any of its departments or staff. The Village of Ridgewood retains sole discretion to determine whether to accept or decline any proposed donation, and if accepted, determine conditions or terms for any acceptance including, but not limited to, its location within the Village. This policy shall not be construed to create any right for any individual or organization to make any improvement or place any items on any public property within the Village of Ridgewood regardless of whether the proposal meets any or all of the criteria laid out herein. Notwithstanding the permanent nature of the donations contemplated by this policy, the Village of Ridgewood maintains continuing control and authority over the donations described herein, and reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to relocate, decommission, or remove entirely a previously authorized donation. The Village, with the assistance of its Parks and Recreation Department, may determine that a park has an adequate amount of dedicated benches, landscape features, and/or memorials, and is considered full.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
DEDICATED BENCHES A long seat for several people, typically made using wood, metal, or stone, redeveloped, or reclaimed, using donor funds or bequests in commemoration of a person, event, or place as applicable.
DONATION(S) Shall include the free and voluntary offering or presentation of any item(s) of substantial value proposed to be given or donated to the Village of Ridgewood including, but not limited to, endowments; public improvement projects or proposals; structures or portions of structures; money; materials; equipment; improvements to facilities or land; statues; monuments; memorials; tributes; sculptures; murals and other similar types of works of art; plaques; and graphics or signs.
DONOR A private individual, for-profit company, nonprofit organization, public agency or any other entity wishing to make a donation or gift to the Village of Ridgewood.
LANDSCAPE FEATURES Memorials that take the form of landscape features, such as water fountains or trees; any enhanced, redeveloped, or reclaimed areas of the Village that commemorate a person, group, or an event that occurred or may occur.
MONUMENT/MEMORIAL An item or object established to preserve the memory of a deceased person(s) or an event that occurred in the past. Any statue, sculpture, mural, item defined as donation(s)/gift(s) above or other structure or landscape feature designed to perpetuate in a permanent manner the memory of any person, group, event or other significant element of history.
PARK AMENITY Typical park improvements that contribute to the traditional use of park land such play structures, shelters, sports facilities, trails, etc.
PUBLIC ART Works of art including, but not limited to, paintings, prints, sculptures, and murals.
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT/PROPOSAL May include a funded, partially funded or unfunded capital project(s) request consisting of real property, structures, portions of structures, materials and/or equipment for construction or renovation of a structure or landscape feature. Maintenance activities such as weeding or replanting established gardens are not considered public improvement projects for purposes of this policy.
TRIBUTE An item, object or gift designed to acknowledge the contributions of a living person(s) to a society. Projects recognizing groups such as persons with cancer or AIDS are also considered tributes.
The several sections of this ordinance are declared to be severable. If any section or portion thereof shall be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, such decision shall apply only to the specific section or portion thereof directly specified in the decision, and shall not affect the validity of any other provisions, sections or portions thereof of the ordinance. The remainder of the ordinance shall remain in full force and effect. Any other ordinances whose terms are in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed as to those terms that conflict.