TITLE
Recommendation to accept donation of open space near the southeast corner of 20th Street and Santa Fe Avenue (1640 West 20th Street) and recommend Molina Park as the name for the mini-park proposed for the site. (District 1)
DISCUSSION
First District City Councilmember, Bonnie Lowenthal, has requested the City accept the
donation of a parcel of land at 1640 W. 20" Street from the Molina family and that the
new mini-park be named Molina Park (Attachment #I). An aerial photo showing this
site is attached (Attachment #2).
Pursuant to Administrative Regulation (AR) 8-7, the City Council referred the request to
the Parks and Recreation Commission for consideration of the proposed name. The
Parks and Recreation Commission considered the action on August 18, 2005,
concurred in the recommendation to accept the site for a park and to name the park,
Molina Park, and is forwarding their recommendation to the full City Council for
adoption.
The site is located in the southeastern portion of the westside community, a high-
density neighborhood with a large number of children. This area, east of Santa Fe
Avenue, has no park areas, Although the area is primarily developed with single or two-
story dwellings, the overall density is high because many of these homes and duplexes
are built on small lots and tend to be occupied by large households. The site is just
over one-eighth mile (the sem'ce radius adopted for mini-parks) from Admiral Kidd Park,
but that park does not serve the younger children of this neighborhood because Santa
Fe Avenue provides a major barrier to access. Thus, the site meets all the location
criteria established in the Open Space and Recreation Element of the General Plan and
is ideally situated to serve the westside community east of Santa Fe Avenue.
AR 8-7 applies to the naming of all public land, buildings'and facilities, and 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 in honor of another
person has been given to the same site, building, or facility in the past.
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.
Naming the park site after the Molina family is appropriate under the category of
persons who have served Long Beach in an exceptional or distinguished manner of
major significance. Mary Molina was a Long Beach schoolteacher who also served as
Regional President of the Parent Teacher Association. As such, she was a role model
to her community and to her family, inspiring her family to carry on a tradition of active
contributions to the community. The family, and Molina Healthcare, have been active
participants in city health fairs and other events and have contributed over 400,000
books to the Book Buddies program. Additionally, the community has benefited from
their successful business with 500 employees at three Long Beach locations, their
continued residence in Long Beach, and the public benefit of the nature of the business
they are in, low cost health care.
The naming for the Molina family is also appropriate under the criteria of naming a site
for the person or family donating the property.
This letter was reviewed by Senior Deputy City Attorney Donna F. Gwin on September
8,2005, and Budget Management Officer David Wodynski on September 12,2005.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action on this matter is not time critical.
FISCAL IMPACT
The recommended action will have no fiscal impact: however, future expenditures for
improvement and maintenance of the open space as a mini-park will need to be
budgeted.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
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Respectfully Submitted,
[Respectfully Submitted,]