ITEM TITLE:
Discussion Item: Gold Rush Days Golden Rock Award Judging
SUBMITTED BY: Elise Sorum-Birk, Deputy City Clerk, Staff Liaison
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: n/a
Unencumbered Balance: n/a
Funding Source: n/a
RECOMMENDATION:
n/a
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
At a prior meeting, Elise Sorum-Birk, in her capacity as a Gold Rush Days Board Member, requested that the commission consider assisting with the judging of the submissions for the “Golden Rock” award, recognizing beautiful gardens or landscaping. Commissioners were open to participating.
This discussion will be on the process and timeline for judging nominations for the Golden Rock award and what support or resources commissioners need as they take this on.
The nomination form is online at valdezgoldrushday.org and deadline for entries is Saturday, July 25th and judging must occur prior to the Golden Opportunities Luncheon on Wednesday, July 29th.
Categories are:
1. Beds & Borders (For gardens which frame, line, or shape a space with thoughtful planting, showing strong structure & visual impact.)
2. Container or Patio Garden (Celebrating beauty & creativity in limited space -porches, balconies, planters, and other container-based gardening)
3. Kid-Grown Garden (A new category for gardens primarily maintained or created by children or families with young gardeners.)
4. Overall Residential Landscaping (For home gardens which show outstanding plant health, creativity, cohesion, and care across the full landscape)
5. Business Beautification (For businesses whose gardens or landscapes enhance the look and feel of their public space, creating a welcoming atmosphere)
6. Garden-to-Table Business Garden (A new category for businesses who use what they grow - herbs, flowers, or produce - as part of their services {e.g.
restaurants, cafes, florists, farms, etc.)
7. Harbor Blooms (for gardens grown on boats, floats, docks, or harbor spaces)
8. Karen Stewart Award (For a beginning gardener showing promise, enthusiasm, and creativity in their early efforts.)
If entries aren’t received in each category, the judges are encouraged to look around the community to seek out particularly good examples of the category.
If a judge is nominated for a specific category, they will abstain from judging that category but may judge for all other categories.