JACO'S ON THE AGENDA!

After over a year of public and private meetings, locating the appropriate application, awareness concerts, collecting signatures, taking the proper protocol (baby)steps, this Grassroots Effort has NOT been in vain.

http://www.myspace.com/grassrootsop

THANKS TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU!

There will be a public discussion by the commissioners regarding naming of the park after Jaco, inviting the public to give their pros and cons.

NOVEMBER 7
is when your presence will be the driving force behind an Arts Park named after Jaco, which will bring a future of Music and Art to our area, and for the rest of the world. Below is a link to the PDF file regarding Oakland Park's upcoming Agenda which includes the naming, from which I have extracted some and pasted below.

http://oaklandpark.govoffice2.com/vertical/Sites/{9B75100F-5E3E-47B4-9310-6CD66186236D}/uploads/{29E98890-6CA1-4B14-ADAB-CF7A990E04B6}.PDF

PDF file. Starts on page 31:

1 Resolution R 1998 044 and Policy for Naming Renaming
Parks or City Property for Persons Organizations
2 Naming of Dog Park Agenda Packet February 15 2006
3 Application and Biography for Naming of Downtown Park to be Jaco Pastorius Park

During a City Commission workshop on October 24 2007 the process for naming city owned parks was discussed The Commission requested the item specific to naming of Downtown Park be brought back to the November 7 2007 regular Commission meeting for additional discussion.

There has been a recent request about naming the park specifically for former Oakland Park resident Jaco Pastorius On March 7 2007 a large binder of
information a formal application including various biographical information see attached and petitions from local state national and international supporters
was submitted to the City officially requesting the naming of the park be Jaco Pastorius Park

There are a total of
28 Oakland Park names
208 throughout Broward County
59 in Miami Dade County
49 in Palm Beach County
49 throughout the State of Florida
68 supporters in the United States
34 International signatures and
322 online names as submitted

When I reviewed the online petition website at wwwpetitiononline.com/jacopark on October 26
2007 there were total of 508 signatures

It has been concluded that based on R 1998 044 the application meets the following requirements set by the City for naming of a park

1 The naming or renaming of a park designated facility or area of public property will be considered through an application process Complete
2 The candidate or active organization for whom the park is to be names must be deceased Complete
3 The candidate or active organization must have contributed significantly to the City of Oakland Park and its citizens Commission Determination
4 The name of the candidate or active organization and their accomplishments must be presented in writing with the application by the nominator Complete Attached
5 Each request will be considered at the time of application only There will be no waiting lists of names to be assigned Complete
6 The City Commission will have the final decision as to the naming renaming of a park designated facility or area of public property Commission Meeting on 11 28 07
7 Applications must be submitted to the City Clerk at least six 6 weeks prior to the meeting at which the naming is to be discussed.

Application to Name the Proposed Downtown Park:

We the undersigned hereby tender our application to name the proposed Park within the Community Redevelopment Area of the City of Oakland Park Florida as detailed below

The Downtown Park Development section of the Community Redevelopment Plan identifies a park planned on the 348 acre site located on Dixie Highway immediately north of NE 38th Street and west of the Florida East Coast Railroad The development of this site would allow for greater pedestrian access to open space in the Downtown The Park will play an integral role in the enhancement of life in Oakland Park for both business and residents.

The downtown area has already become the site of city events such as Oktoberfest and the Oakland Park Art and Music Fest An important component of the Park Development will be Public Art and a place in which to hold art and cultural events It is a logical extension of this intention and goal to consider naming the Park after one of Oakland Park s own renowned artists Jaco Pastorius The World s Greatest Bass Player

Jaco grew up on these streets and went to school at Northeast High His innovative techniques and challenging compositions forever changed the landscape of jazz and rock music. Since his 1976 debut to today Jaco is admired around the world Despite the tragic loss of this talented artist in 1987 at age 35 his music and memory live on stronger than ever.

Near the end of Jaco's life he occasionally mentioned a project he was contemplating He would call it Dixie
Highway and it would represent a return to his roots and the things that influenced him. Perhaps
the park will be his latest opus his Dixie Highway project

It would be a well deserved tribute for the city he was proud to call home to honor its native son. The naming of the new downtown park at 38th Street Dixie Highway for Jaco would be a fitting and lasting memorial to a man who heard music in the life of Oakland Park. It will be a welcoming place for residents and visitors from afar a place devoted to the creative human spirit.

And our city will finally recognize one of its brightest lights

1 Proposed Name of Park Jaco Pastorius Park
2 Property description The site for Jaco s future park is a triangular property in downtown Oakland Park the 348 acre site located east of Dixie Highway immediately north of NE 38th Street and west of the Florida East Coast Railroad
3 History of the land relative to the naming application This 348 acre site is wedged between Dixie
Highway and the Florida East Coast Railroad with the tip pointing at the intersection of Dixie Highway and NE 38th Street This is just a few blocks from Jaco s teenage home 1586 NE 37th Street where he began his journey with the electric bass guitar The FEC tracks run right along the property something Jaco no doubt would have appreciated since he was fond of the train and said he heard music as it went by.
4 History of the person/feature/organization relative to the naming application This proposal is submitted by the friends of Jaco Pastorius with the support of many city residents
5 Jaco s contributions to the City of Oakland Park and its citizens Increased the world's awareness of Oakland Park by his accomplishments and notoriety
A hometown hero to Oakland Park residents
Recorded in Oakland Park bringing business to the City
Performed in Oakland Park bringing more business
Generally contributed to the community by playing music patronizing local businesses e.g. Modern Music Artisan Mobile Recorders various eateries etc. participating in public programs utilizing public parks and being a good neighbor
6 Jaco s accomplishments and accolades. Loving father to four children. Countless music awards worldwide.
Performed with many legendary musicians. Grammy Award with Weather Report. Florida Heroes Award awarded by The Florida Chapter of the Recording Academy@
Moretti Award given annually by the Cultural Foundation of Broward 1988 Recognized as musical innovator. His compositions are jazz staples. His original compositions are regularly performed and recorded. He is continually praised by the best musicians. He performed worldwide. Dozens of tribute songs have been written for him. Complete festivals and portions of festivals worldwide dedicated to Jaco
7 Proposed Design Aspects and Elemental Concepts of Jaco Pastorius Park include a large Council Oak in the center with paths radiating from it This is recognition of Jaco s affinity for the Seminole Indian tribe and our native flora The oak tree is the symbol of Oakland Park and provides shade, a signature brick walkway around the tree, a basketball court Jaco s favorite recreational sport, a racquetball court a sport Jaco played in Oakland Park, an amphitheatre for year round live performances by local and national artists and ultimately an annual festival in Jaco's honor
an Indoor outdoor cafe for morning coffee afternoon lunch socializing relaxing wi fl etc. lush landscaping featuring native plants with an exception made to Include crotons which Jaco enjoyed for their color and design and are common in South Florida landscaping a pond fountain or similar water feature which could be named Barbary Coasf atter one of his
compositions a mural at the park featuring Jaco and his influences the people and places of Oakland Park.

0 an Arts Center with space for performances classes and exhibits about Broward s music
history with a permanent space for exhibits about Jaco
0 Continuum Comer an area at the southern tip of the park dedicated to Jaco It would feature a
labyrinth allowing meditation while on the twisting path In the center the visitor would find the
360 Circle a mosaic installation depicting cratons and other things Jaco enjoyed The mosaic
would be comprised of glass tile shells guitar picks and various bits from South Florida and
around the world offered by fans of Jaco The Circle s name Is both a nod to Jaco s favorite bass
amplifier and a sort of full circle for Jacos memory since the park Is In Jaco s hometown The
name Continuum Comer Is derived from the tiUe of one of his most famous compositions
8 Included with this application to name the park in the memory of a deceased Individual Jaco Pastorius
are petitions from residents of Oakland Park and fans of Jaco worldwide

This application for the naming of a City Park is submitted with the understanding that

This application will be presented to the Mayor the City Commission and the City Manager for discussion
and consideration at an upcoming City Commission Meeting

The proposal will then bel advertised for public comment as specified by State and City Statute for public
comment

BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!!

Wonderful!
Ingrid, will you represent me there in my square absence? (you can keep my rectangular pic in your pocket )
I'll be there in spirit that's for sure!

The Best,
Örjan

Listening To: The Coltranes..Steve Reich

Me too, so spiritually we have the Northern European part covered then

JJ

Good luck tomorrow. Jaco really deserves this.

Thanks, you three! Sure wish you lived nearby, I know you would be here, right?

At the first meeting 10 people showed, 6 spoke (thank you so much), the last meeting 3 people showed, we all three spoke. Of course Robert and I are 2 of them. LOL

Sounds pathetic, but it isn't, it is what it is, and truly up to Jaco, and how important his legacy is.

Yes, Jeroen, Robert Rutherford hasn't given up on his dream, and focus, all the necessary paperwork, the red tape was addressed, and here we are, at the deciding juncture, the decision will be made solely based on what has been presented at those two prior City Hall meetings, outlined in the Agenda.

Sure would be nice if it wasn't just RR and me showing up at the meeting tomorrow.

"Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them."
~~Albert Einstein

of course I would have been there to speak!!! I'm sure any of us in the area would have.

any news yet?