TAMRMS#: B06
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Renaming of Transit Facility
Presented by: Anthony Lake, Director, Public Works & Transit Department
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RECOMMENDATION(S)
recommendation
That the Dez Liggett Transit Facility be re-named as "Liggett Place"
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PURPOSE OF REPORT
To seek Council's approval for a new name for the building currently known as the Dez Liggett Transit Facility
ALIGNMENT TO PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
N/A
ALIGNMENT TO LEVELS OF SERVICE DELIVERY
Customer Service Access:
Front Counter Services
Service Name:
Cemetery Management
Service Definition:
Respond to clients’ cemetery needs, requests, complaints and inquiries about cemetery standards, fees and appointments.
Current Service Level:
Office appointment hours are Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Interment appointment hours are Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Interment ceremonies may be held outside of the standard hours; however, additional charges may be required.
Please reference the Cemetery Bylaw for additional information https://stalbert.ca/city/cemetery.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
N/A
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Public Works and Transit will be assuming responsibility for the administrative and customer relations aspects of operating the Cemetery, effective January 1, 2020, and will handle those duties out of the facility currently known as the Des Liggett Transit Facility. As a result of that corporate reorganization a renaming of the facility is requested.
The Dez Liggett Transit facility was dedicated to Desmond (Dez) Liggett after major renovations to the facility in November of 2010. Dez had been St. Albert's Transit Director for 24 years prior to his retirement in 2009. As stated by the Mayor at the time "the naming was an easy choice since Liggett is synonymous with public transit in St. Albert".
Administration of Cemetery functions often requires sensitive and empathetic personal interaction with members of the public, especially if they are still grieving a recent personal loss. To avoid customer service staff having to refer clients to the "Transit" facility for Cemetery services a process to achieve renaming of the facility was initiated.
In an attempt to honor the intention of the original dedication, the first thought was to retain the name Dez Leggitt Transit Facility for the garage and bus storage area, and come up with some other name for the administration area. As pointed out by Communications, that would have essentially provided two identification references for the same facility which is to be avoided if possible in order to minimize confusion.
Discussions then took place with Dez Liggett himself, at which time it was learned that the strictly "Transit" aspect was not necessarily for Dez a primary aspect of his long and fond association with St. Albert. Dez provided some naming recommendations that would both avoid the dual identity challenge and present a facility name that was less functionally specific while still respecting Council's desire to honour his service to the community.
In the result, in collaboration with Dez and our Corporate Communications group, we are happy to present "Liggitt Place" as the recommended new name for this City building.
This name is consistent with the naming convention used for several other civic facilities, such as: St. Albert Place, Beaudry Place, Maloney Place and Charter Place.
As per Council policy CC-C-05 Municipal Naming, Council is required to approve the name change before it can be implemented. Upon Council approval, Administration's prepared communication plan, signage upgrade request (illustrations attached) and staff orientation will be commissioned.
Public Works and Transit wishes to express their sincere appreciation to Dez Liggett for his collaboration in proposing a new name for the facility.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
Full consultation and collaboration took place with Dez Liggett to ensure that we honored the intention of the original dedication of the Transit building.
Through discussion with Dez Liggett, no public rededication ceremony is requested or required.
Associated department staff were also consulted for advice.
IMPLICATIONS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
Financial:
All changes are anticipated to be managed within current budget allotments and no
additional funds are being requested.
Legal / Risk:
N/A
Program or Service:
N/A
Organizational:
Re-orientation with corporate customer service staff regarding the naming of the building will be required.
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
N/A
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Report Date (Council Meeting Date): Dec 16, 2019
Author(s): Anthony Lake
Committee/Department: Public Works & Transit Department
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer: Kerry Hilts
Chief Administrative Officer: Kevin Scoble