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Recommendation to rename the portion of El Dorado Park West, north of the Parks, Recreation and Marine administration offices, "Good Neighbor Park." (District 5)
DISCUSSION
On June 17, 2008, Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske sent a memo (Attachment A) to the Parks and Recreation Commission requesting that the portion of EI Dorado Park West, which is north of the Parks, Recreation and Marine administration offices, west of the senior and teen centers, and south of the parking lot (Attachment B) be renamed "Good Neighbor Park." The Parks and Recreation Commission voted to support this name change.
The Fifth Council District is 11.47 square miles in area, making it the largest council district in the City of Long Beach. Within this council district are several neighborhood organizations working to maintain and improve the quality of their neighborhoods. Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske supports existing and emerging neighborhood organizations through the Fifth District Good Neighbor Network. This network provides the opportunity for neighborhood organizations to share information and to work together with City Council to ensure that the neighborhoods are represented in City government decisions.
The specified section of EI Dorado Park West has been the location of several community events, including the annual ham radio "Field Day," an area offered from time to time by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine as an outdoor recreation area, as well as the location for the Fifth Council District Good Neighbor Festival.
Administrative Regulation 8-7 applies to the naming of all public land, buildings, and facilities.
AR 8-7 provides several policies to guide the consideration of a naming request.
· The name should incorporate Long Beach whenever important for civic recognition or identification;
· A name in honor of a recognized geographic area, a topographic feature,
or a historically significant event may be appropriate;
· A name in honor of persons or families who have donated the land or a substantial
portion of the improvement costs may be appropriate when applicable;
· A name in honor of a person or persons who have served the nation, the
State of California, and/or the City of Long Beach in an exceptional or distinguished
manner may be appropriate if warranted by service of major significance;
· A name in honor of a living person, or of a deceased person within one
year of their death, is not appropriate unless the significance of that
person's contribution is worthy of an exception to the policy;
· A name in honor of a person is not appropriate when a name honoring
a different person has previously been given to the same site, building,
or facility;
· A name in honor of a person is not appropriate if that person has been
overly recognized in the past;
· A name may be selected through a competition or a contest.
Renaming the park site "Good Neighbor Park" is appropriate under the category of civic recognition. The Good Neighbor Network is a supporting organization encouraging the formation of neighborhood associations and promotes their representation in City government decision-making. The name of "Good Neighbor Park" is appropriate, as it promotes a sense of community, as well as recognizing and publicizing a civic organization within the City of Long Beach.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Gary J. Anderson on August 11,2008, and Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on August 18, 2008.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on September 2, 2008, so that the renaming can be complete prior to the Fifth Council District Good Neighbor Festival, which will take place later in September.
FISCAL IMPACT
The recommended action will have no fiscal impact.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
Phil T. Hester
Director of Parks, Recreation and Marine
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PATRICK H. WEST |
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CITY MANAGER |