PREPARED BY: MATT RODRIGUEZ DATE OF MEETING: 02/20/2024
SUBJECT:
TITLE
CONSIDER RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO APPROVING THE FACILITY NAMING RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMUNITY SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE FOR THE CITY’S NEW PARK PROJECT SITE LOCATED AT 2600 MORAGA ROAD, SAN PABLO - LEONARD R. MCNEIL PARK (MCNEIL PARK)
CEQA: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA.
Label
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt Resolution
Body
Compliance statements
FY 2023-25 Council Priority Workplan Compliance Statement
Continue to pursue passive / active recreational park development opportunities City-wide (i.e. 2600 Moraga Road) is a City-council priority contained in the FY 2023-25 Council Priority Workplan, effective May 1, 2023.
BACKGROUND
The City Council previously established a formal process and criteria for the consideration of requests by business owners, organizations, property owners, residents and City staff for the naming of City Facilities and for acceptance of donations.
Previous City Facility Naming Issues and Policies
On October 4, 1999, the San Pablo City Council adopted Resolution No. 1999-115 adopting names for facilities located within the San Pablo Community Resource Center and Adopting a formal policy for “Naming and Memorializing Public Facilities.”
On February 4, 2013, the San Pablo City Council adopted Resolution No. 2013-023 repealing the previously adopted Resolution 199-115 and naming the Baseball Field at Davis Park in the memory of Robert Foreman, longtime President of the San Pablo Baseball Association. The City Council also included a directive to City staff to develop a new Facility Naming Policy.
On June 5, 2017, the City Council established a temporary City Council Ad-Hoc Subcommittee to develop a new policy for facility naming and donations received from individual and local community organizations. The temporary City Council Ad-Hoc SubCommittee was established by City Council Resolution No. 2017-109 with former Vice Mayor Calloway and former Councilmember Morris formally assigned and affirmed by said Resolution pursuant to San Pablo Municipal Code Section 2.16.070 to work with City staff to draft/develop a formal City Council on Facility Naming and Acceptance of Donations for all City facilities.
New Facility Naming Policy Adopted
On September 18, 2017, upon recommendations made by the City Council Ad-Hoc SubCommittee, the San Pablo City Council adopted a “Policy for the Naming, Dedication and Sponsorship of City Facilities and Acceptance of Donations" per City Council Resolution #2017-188.
Under the newly adopted policy, the San Pablo City Council provides a process and procedure contained in the following sections of the policy:
Section I. Naming & Renaming of City facilities
Section II. Naming Criteria for all City facilities
Section III. Donations and Sponsorships
Section IV. Special Events/Promotions
Additionally, under the policy requirements, the City’s Community Services Standing Committee (CSSC) is designated as the entity that reviews/recommends these types of formal requests to the City Council. The City Council is designated as the entity exercising final action and approval on all such requests for facility naming/renaming and acceptance of donations.
Policy Procedure (Section I & II): Facility Naming (City Facilities & Parks)
The City Manager has outlined the following procedure for the naming of City facilities and parks as contained in the current adopted policy which includes:
(1) Create a “Facility Naming List” of appropriate names solicited by public or other sources; and
(2) All names are reviewed by the CSSC, and then at least three (3) names are presented to the City Council as a recommendation; and
(3) The City Council approves a name for new City facility by majority vote (via Resolution)
New Facility Naming: 2600 Moraga (SPARC PROJECT)
On October 24, 2023, the CSSC (Cruz; Pineda) reviewed the policy procedures outlined by the City Manager for City staff to commence the “Facility Naming List” for 2600 Moraga Park Site (formerly called SPARC) pursuant to Sections I & II of the adopted City Council policy for presentation at a future CSSC meeting for additional review and consideration.
Under Sections I & II of the adopted policy requirements, priorities considered in the official naming of all City facilities, including parks and recreation facilities, include in order of importance, the following policy criteria, as follows:
Category I: Historic Names
Category II: Places and Feature Name
Category III: Individuals, Groups or Organizations
CSSC Review: Proposed Facility Naming List for 2600 Moraga Park Site
On January 23, 2024, the CSSC met and reviewed the following six (6) potential park facility names proposed by City Manager’s Office and City staff for CSSC review and consideration per City Council Policy (#2017-188) which include the following categories and names:
Category I: Historic Names
• Alvarado Park (Significance: Historic family name connected to San Pablo’s History)
• Castro Park (Significance: Historic family name connected to San Pablo’s History)
• Huchin Ohlone Park (Significance: Historic Native American Tribe connected to San Pablo’s History)
Category II: Places and Feature Names
• College Park (Significance: Park location is adjacent to Contra Costa College)
• San Pablo Creek Park (Significance: Park location in close proximity to nearby San Pablo creek)
Category III: Individuals, Groups or Organizations
• McNeil Park (Significance: Leonard R. McNeil (Deceased); San Pablo resident; 30-year public servant; Former San Pablo Mayor and Councilmember; Former Board Member, West County Wastewater District; Adjunct Professor at Contra Costa College; Passed away nearly 5 years ago on April 14, 2019)
Upon further deliberation and review, the CSSC members recommended the following “Facility Naming List” which include their “Top 3” names for the 2600 Moraga Park Site for City Council formal consideration and approval in ranked order of importance, with “McNeil Park” selected as their top recommendation to the City Council, as follows:
• Category III: Individuals, Groups or Organizations McNeil Park
• Category I: Historic Names Huchin Ohlone Park
• Category II: Places and Feature Names College Park
City Council Review
This evening, the City Council may consider adoption of the CSSC recommendation by majority vote via Resolution to formally name the 2600 Moraga park project site, as follows:
• Leonard R. McNeil Park (McNeil Park)
Alternatively, the City Council may authorize a public outreach process to obtain public feedback on proposed Facility Naming List determined by the CSSC. Once public feedback is reviewed, the City Council may formally reconsider all Facility Names recommended by the CSSD, and adopt a new park facility name by future Resolution
FISCAL IMPACT
None associated with this action.
ATTACHMENT:
Att A - Resolution
Att B - Current City Council Facility Naming Policy (Adopted via CC Resolution No.2017-188)