Proposal
June 14, 2002

Tere K, of the New Facility Transition Committee, made the following formal proposal to the Live Oak UU Church Steering Committee about creating a labyrinth at the Church’s new facilities on El Salido Parkway.

Decision Making Proposal

Date Proposed

June 14, 2002

Decision Description

Labyrinth Design and Location

Committee or Member Proposing

Tere K, for the Labyrinth sub-committee of the NFTC

Proposal

To get approval for the chosen location and design of a labyrinth to be located on the El Salido Parkway property. We would like to begin construction the labyrinth as soon as finances are approved following the upcoming Growth Fund Campaign for the new facility.

How does this benefit the church?

Once we can begin construction of the labyrinth, we can begin making “our mark” on the new property before we assume possession of the buildings. It will provide a beautiful and long-lasting meditative space for our church and the surrounding community.

Background

Limestone rocks have been gathered by church members and moved to the Hatch property and then over to El Salido for use in the labyrinth. The project was initially slated as a Live Oak youth endeavor, who subsequently lost interest, and has since been taken up by the labyrinth sub-committee of the New Facilities Transition Committee (NFTC). There is no committee to oversee land use at the new property, though the NFTC has approved the plan for presentation to the steering committee.

Research

Members of the labyrinth sub-committee have visited multiple labyrinth sites around the Austin area and carefully considered different options in order to choose the optimal location, building materials and layout to create a labyrinth that is beautiful, long-lasting, low maintenance and wheelchair accessible.

Cost

At this time, we are not asking that any money be appropriated. We are just asking preliminary approval for the labyrinth concept, the location, and the design. We are also asking approval for allowing the placement of a temporary labyrinth. At a later time we will put forward a proposal for funding for a permanent labyrinth. We expect that proposal to be in the neighborhood of $5,000.

Budget amendment required?

No. If yes, what is the Finance Committee’s recommendation?

Action Required if Adopted and Who is Responsible

None required. The sub-committee will “scalp” the grass at the selected location and spray-paint a “test” labyrinth pattern at the site.

Supporting Material

Site-plan diagrams with to-scale representation of the labyrinth and photo of similar labyrinth will be presented at the Steering Committee meeting.

The original plan to create a permanent labyrinth called for work to be performed during the fall of 2002 and spring of 2003 while the weather was more moderate. There was also the issue of raising the money to build the labyrinth. However, the Church was focused on moving to the new facilities during the spring of 2003, and the labyrinth work had to wait until the fall of 2003.